Are you feeling led to move to Texas? Perhaps to a small town or a charming rural farmhouse? I have experienced this very thing! Let me share our moving journey from the very beginning and how we found the right place for our family. Plus I’ll share 5 ways to KNOW you are being led to move to Texas:
A Feeling We Should Move to the Country in Texas
You are not the only one feeling the urge to move your family! A number of others are currently experiencing the same tugging feeling in their heart that it is time to go. But where? A large number of people are feeling drawn to the Lone Star State!
I was born and raised in Texas but I still experienced this same pull to leave the city and move to a small town in my home state. Let me share our experience and some ways you can tell you’re being led to move to Texas:
The Idea Seemed to Come Out of Nowhere
My husband and I were living in a busy, congested suburban neighborhood in Houston. In December 2017 we were driving to my sister’s house on the far west side of the city when I blurted out of nowhere “we should move to the west side of town, out into the country”. My mouth seemed to say the words without me thinking about them. My husband blurted “Okay!” almost instantly, perhaps surprising himself as well. As soon as it was said, something about the idea just felt deeply, calmly right.
The Area Hunt Begins
A couple weeks later in early January 2018 my husband texted me a country house listing in a small town called Magnolia, Texas. I had no idea this little wedge shaped slice of rural paradise existed! Sprawling acreage homesites were tucked between You-Pick farms, grass fed beef cattle ranches and a cut-your-own Christmas Tree Farm. When we drove out to the area for our first showing, something just felt so…right! I knew our family was on the correct path and a move was in our future.
The Five Month House Hunt
My husband and I knew in our hearts leaving the overcrowded suburbs was right for our family. We were dreaming of raising our son in wide open spaces with plenty of wholesome outdoor time in nature. We began de-cluttering and fixing up our suburban home for sale while scouring Zillow every evening to compare listings we liked. Our house was ready to be listed by March but we had nowhere to go. None of the rural houses we had looked at were a good fit.
A Little Leap of Faith
Since we were only moving an hour across Houston, we calculated that it would be cheapest if we moved ourselves. This would require renting a storage unit in advance and the largest U-haul on moving day. Getting the storage unit near the area where we were house hunting made the most sense; that way we could move boxes to the unit every weekend when we were already out that way for house showings. I used my map app to look at the available storage locations (there were two) and felt at peace about signing the contract with the one I selected. So we had a storage unit and some of our belongings in it across town but NO HOUSE!
The House Hunt Seemed to Fizzle Out
In late May, I was standing in our suburban home amid boxes packed, stacked, and labeled for our usual weekend storage unit run. But we had run out of houses to be shown. Well, except for this one that we had been ignoring all spring because the few online pictures were blurry and quite gloomy. I suggested to my husband that we go look at the “pixelated yellow house” since it was only 15 minutes from our storage unit. Then we could say we had toured just about every house available and we wouldn’t plan on doing any more runs to the storage unit until more properties came on the market. That Saturday, with a car crammed full of boxes, we drove to our unit, unloaded, and then dashed to the house showing.
We Just Knew It Was Right
As we pulled into the neighborhood of acreage homes, craning to see around the trees blocking our view, we had to trust the driving directions and pull into the driveway the app indicated. As we rolled under the freshly leafed-out, enormous trees I gasped aloud. THIS was that ugly pixelated house? We had been so wrong! I was staring at the darling farmhouse of my dreams!
How Things Began to Fall Into Place
During our showing, we wandered into the sprawling half acre back yard, which shares a fence with a 27 acre horse farm. The property felt serene and had a calming influence on all of us. While in the yard with our realtor, I glanced to our left and saw the next door neighbor filling deer and bird feeders in his yard (there were no fences between the one acre homesite properties). I waved and called out hello, which he responded to by walking over, trailed by a fluffy long-haired cat. The neighbor was friendly and introduced us to Oreo, their outside cat, who wanted pets from everyone. He kindly answered our questions about the house and seemed hopeful that it would sell. I remember telling him that we were likely going to put in an offer. The thought of purchasing it just felt so natural. We said good-bye and I turned to take one more look out at the pasture while I inhaled the fresh spring breeze blowing through the yard. Yes, this was right. I felt absolute peace. Even our realtor could sense we had found the best home for our family.
5 Ways to Tell You’re Being Led to Move to Texas
The very first impulse may strike out of the blue. Perhaps someone made a comment, or you saw something online or had the thought suddenly come to mind while on a trip. No matter how the impetus first arrived, it will not get out of your mind. You find yourself pondering the possibility every single day, during quiet moments. Maybe wondering how it would work or if moving is the correct thing to do. And yet the thought keeps popping up frequently, as if you’re being drawn to Texas and don’t know why.
Hints Begin Showing Up
Suddenly, and without your permission, Texas is everywhere. EVERYWHERE! Texas license plates, Texas vehicle stickers, Texas items, the shape of the state, even food with the word Texas in it. To the point it almost becomes ridiculous. Maybe you just didn’t notice so many Texas things before? Perhaps. But if you keep running into the name of a state or city you’re feeling drawn to, there’s a reason for it. You can take all of these as positive nudges that you’re on the right path!
The Hints Increase
Your potential relocation is on your mind every day but you have probably remained fairly quiet about it. Don’t be startled if you begin to experience some crazy coincidences. Friends may mention a trip they recently took or family who lives in a certain area of Texas that they loved visiting. You may begin to have dreams where you see a map of the state, dream that you’re moving or that you already live somewhere in Texas. Maybe you get wind that someone is wanting to move onto your current street, if only a house was available for sale… Life may deal you a series of strange happenstances that are all intended to get you moving on this idea of relocation!
Help Arrives in Surprising Ways
When we were contemplating our country move, my YouTube app began to act as if it wanted to help! Videos on decluttering began to show up on my home feed. I had not heard of the Minimal Mom before but her declutering videos were a huge encouragement when it came to me taking action and beginning to act on our impression to move. When I stopped at the paint store, a recently added a wall organizer featured business cards for painters…and one company who helped get your house ready to list. (Their prices were great and is part of why we were ready to list in March.) Looking back, there were so many coincidental little bits of assistance, right when it was needed, all along the way.
It Feels Natural & Effortless
As you progress on your house hunt and plans to move, you’ll experience sensations of calm, peace, and a feeling of rightness. Things fall into place almost effortlessly and just work out. Tasks you set about to get done seem to be completed rather easily and more efficiently than you expected.
Until it Doesn’t
Once houses are under contract and the move is happening, you are going to experience situations that go awry. During any move you’re going to run into difficulties. (We had a distrustful house buyer, a demand for a last-minute professional roof inspection 30 minutes before closing to verify a 1/4 inch area had been caulked, followed by a flat tire on our first U-haul, and the AC at the new farmhouse broke as soon as we turned it on 3 hours after closing in 100°F heat.) Sometimes running into a bit of opposition is how you KNOW you’re doing the right thing. Even in these frustrating situations, you may find people who are unexpectedly helpful or accommodating and the issues remedy themselves quickly.
There Will Be Reassurance
Moves are stressful. You’re going to experience moments where peace and exhaustion exist together. I remember pulling up to our country house for the first time after closing and a massive buck was standing where the driveway meets the house, as if he was waiting to greet us. We found a broken glass window the next day after the broken AC, which all came after we had spent so much time and care ensuring our suburban home had been left in immaculate condition. As I sighed and stared out the back windows, a pair of twin deer fawns peeked their heads up out of some tall grass in the yard. I remember turning to my husband and asking “a house can’t be that bad if twin baby deer are living in the backyard, can it?”
Just remember that what is right may not always be easy. It is okay to feel doubt or discouragement. You will know you’re in the right place in the quiet moments. Like when our son bounded into the house with a lizard he had just caught, wild-eyed with wonder and thrill at his new country home. (You can read more about his new country adventures in this article!)
Don’t Overlook the Signs That You Made the Right Choice!
There was one morning about a week after our move where my eyes naturally opened at sunrise. Daylight was just starting to slip through the windows over our fluffy white bedding and I could hear birds singing so sweetly outside of our window. A summertime breeze made the big trees bend with their leaves caressing each other and I could hear a rooster crow in the distance. The wave of delight and overwhelming gratitude that washed over my heart in that moment took my breath away! I absolutely knew we were meant to be here.
What if Texas is Calling?
You are not alone! A huge number of people are feeling led to move to Texas, especially to small towns. And they are coming from all over so you’re not going to be the only new neighbors. If you’re feeling the pull of the Lone Star State, take some of the practical steps like researching property taxes (Texas has zero income tax) but also let your heart feel where the pull seems to be coming from. Is it the center of the state? East? West? Do you have the ability to visit the area you’re eyeing? There’s perhaps no greater confirmation than being in the right place in person and feeling the assurance that comes from such a deep knowing that you’re home.
Author’s Note: It is my advice to avoid Midland, Texas where police corruption has become so commonplace that gentle, law-abiding citizens are finding themselves arrested for no cause. Including young mothers and females of all ages.
As You Prepare for Your Move, You Might Also Enjoy Reading:
Moving from the Suburbs to a Small Town
Leaving the Suburbs for Life in the Country
Moving & Raising Kids in the Country
Pin for Later:
Leave a Reply