By Shannon Williams
One thing that I did not know about living in Crystal Beach, was you have lots of company! I moved to the CB full time in August of 2013. We lived beach side for about 6 months, as Paul was building our home (Bay Side). I knew I would have more houseguest than when I lived in a small-town in West Texas (Big Spring) but did not know how full our house calendar would get. In the 47 years that I lived Big Spring, houseguests were not something you had often and it was usually family at holiday time. I knew more people would want to visit cause of the beach, but I thought it would be mostly during the summer, but little did I know it would be year round event.

Just today, I took a dear lifelong friend to the airport after her very short visit, and rushed home to be here in time for the company arriving tonight. Full disclosure, my friend came to help me with the annual making of the Christmas Candy and goodies, and tonight’s company is coming so they can leave on a cruise. Houseguests now come for all sorts of reasons, the beach, close to Houston, the cruise ships, but they come back just to come back to Crystal Beach for no reason. I was trying to explain it to another old friend about why I lived here. They had called to catch up, while I was on the ferry and they had lots of questions about my lifestyle.

When you tell people that we are limited in places to shop or to eat, there is no fast food (but some nice food trucks), to go to a Walmart or the movies or mail a package to UPS, you either have to ride the ferry and all that goes with that or drive at least an hour East. It was hard to explain why I love it here, to someone who has never been here. I don’t like living in large cities, I love going to them and all they have to offer, but living there is a another game.

During my travels for work, a few times I had to stay extended periods of time in either Houston or the San Francisco Bay Area, and it was clear to me that I am not a city girl; but it is not just the beach or the size of Crystal Beach, its all of it. So, why after 11 years, does this feel like just where I am supposed to be, how to explaining it all. Opening your door on a crisp fall morning and taking in that wonderful smell that is in our air, the sunsets are beyond any I have ever seen and I have seen many in many different places and I have not even started about the people that make this such a great place. Yes, I don’t like having to travel over an hour for many of the things I want or need, but it seems like just a tradeoff. It would be great to have more stores or places to eat, but we have more than enough for most of my needs… (Warning …… Shameless plug…… Please go eat and shop locally this time of year, if we don’t support these businesses during the slow time, they cannot make it and most time you can find what you need here, maybe only a few choices, but if you needed it is here.)

I see the ferry as my homecoming, it’s a little peaceful (usually) ride on the sea with all kinds of wildlife, scenic views and tons of ships and other marine things to look at. I try not to be face down on Facebook as there is just too much to see, no matter how many times you have been on it before. Where else can you drive and see so many birds just driving to the grocery store. Most of us are minutes from a walk on a beach, who gets to do that! There are plants and flowers of every kind. You can spend hours driving around and just looking at all the different and unique places someone calls home. The weather itself is just fascinating, so much to learn about it all. The history alone is rich and so fun to learn about.

I have lived in very strong communities that people helped and cared about each other, but it is at a whole nother level here. Some many people taking action to make someone else life better, to be there when they are needed, to share our joy and divide our grief, the folks in Crystal Beach make it happen. You can find some many different types of people here and most have a story . they are glad to share with you.

I guess all of this comes from the question from my friend, in that “are you ever moving back home and I said, I am home !

[SW: Dec-10-2024]