The Where I Live series aims to showcase our diverse city and region by spotlighting its many vibrant neighborhoods. Each week a local resident invites us over and lets us in on what makes their neighborhood special. Have we been to your neighborhood yet? Get in touch to share your story. If your story is selected and published, you will receive a $250 stipend.
We bought our home in Terrell Heights 30 years ago, after returning from a long stretch overseas with two little ones in tow. We were drawn to its strong property value, proximity to great schools, and the promise of growth. It felt like a practical decision at the time — but it has become much more.
Our home has always reflected who we are. It’s a blend of the places we’ve lived, the communities we’ve learned from, and the values we carry — warmth, openness, and connection. Even when we left again after just a year to continue our work overseas, it remained a quiet constant in the background of our lives.
For decades, we built our identities as humanitarian and development professionals, moving where we were needed. Then, 25 years later, everything shifted. DOGE abruptly ended our work in humanitarian and international development. We found ourselves without a livelihood — and without the roles that had defined us for so long.
Within a month, we had to decide where to go and how to begin again. Our Terrell Heights home was waiting for us.
We returned not just to a house, but to a sense of grounding we didn’t realize how much we needed. Our neighborhood welcomed us back warmly, and in our absence it had grown into something even more vibrant — parks, a farmers market, a community garden, porch concerts, and a strong sense of connection and safety.
Before returning to San Antonio, we lived in a place with no sidewalks at all, so even though they aren’t abundant here, we’ve truly come to appreciate the ability to navigate on foot and move through our neighborhood with ease. It’s also about accessibility — something that matters more and more to us as we grow older — and being able to reach the places we love without always relying on a car has become invaluable.
We’ve spent countless hours walking, enjoying the rhythm of daily life — from quiet streets to nearby gathering spots. The proximity to the McNay Art Museum has been a particular gift, and we’ve also come to love the Sunset Ridge Farmers Market and Charis Park, a space beautifully transformed from a parking lot into a vibrant community hub, along with the many lovely restaurants just a short stroll away. It’s a lifestyle that feels both connected and deeply grounding.
We are acutely aware of how fortunate we are to have a home to return to. To have shelter, stability, and a place that holds our history while giving us space to rebuild. After years of movement and uncertainty, that is no small thing.
Now, we are investing in this home in a new way — upgrading, planting trees, and truly putting down roots. Our home is no longer just a smart investment; it is a reflection of resilience, continuity and hope.
And we are deeply grateful to be rooted here — in a vibrant neighborhood, in a city that continues to grow and welcome, and in a place that has given us not just shelter, but a true sense of belonging.
