May 22, 2017. Trying to become Texans

LOCATION:  Our new tiny house in Retama Village, Mission, Texas

WEATHER:  Hot.  High about 95.  Mostly cloudy

 

We got up early with a long "to-do" list before us.

 

First we tried to get our Texas drivers' licenses.  Easier said than done.  We went to the location that the internet site had given me.  It seemed a bit odd....big parking lot but no cars.  A big Texas emblem in front with a cross.  But this is Texas, so maybe crosses in government offices are OK?  George went in.  Turns out it is a Baptist church.  They get people like us so often (due to the incorrect address on the website), that they have printed out a map to guide people from the church to the DMV.  Of course, the print-out includes lots of encouragement to join their church when one "has gone on the incorrect route".  

 

Finally we found the DMV.  We quickly learned, however, that the office is only for renewals.  To get an initial Texas driver's license, one has to go to the bigger city of McAllen.   So off we went, about 15 miles away.  We arrived, only to find out that the process for applying for a license is quite complicated.  They gave us a long list of documents required for the application.  It is quite daunting.  We'll have to work on the list and return in a few days. 

 

We hurried back to the house for the final walk-through with the builder. We think it looks really good, and there are only a few minor things to be done.

 

Here is the view of the kitchen.....    

 

 

Here is the dining room/living room, unfortunately already being filled up with our junk....    

 

Another view of the kitchen....    

 This is our front door - nice French doors.      

 

We bought a bed and mattress at a furniture shop.  At this point, George is so sick of shopping that he agreed to anything I liked.  We should be able to pick it up in a few days.  We also looked at more refrigerators.  We still need to find some sort of table and chairs and maybe a portable kitchen island.  This is all so exhausting!

 

Back home, we relaxed in our new house.  I cooked dinner in the house and we sat in our camp chairs to eat.  The tiny house seems huge to us and there are a lot of empty spaces here.  It is so pleasant inside with A/C, ceiling fans, a nice bathroom and lots of space.  I put a few kitchen things in cupboards.  We have so many cupboards!

 

We will continue to sleep in the camper until the bed arrives.  Miraculously the refrigerator in the camper started working again.  Yeah!!!!  

 

Here is a map showing our location.  It is bound to be warm here even when it is cold everywhere else in Europe and North America, so we are looking forward to our northern friends to come visit!!!!!

 

DINNER:  Not a gourmet dinner for our fist night here, but it was ok ----- stir-fried rice with leftover SPAM and peas.