Riedel Communities

How will rising gas prices affect living in the Texas Hill Country?  If you are retired, it may not matter much but if you are commuting, it may matter a lot.  It depends on your level of income to absorb the additional cost or your desire to live in the Hill Country regardless of the extra expense.

Buying more fuel efficient cars can obviously minimize the affect but also can life style changes and better travel planning.  I think twice before driving 20 miles to HEB for a gallon of milk.  Paying an extra $1.00 a gallon at the convenience store just up the road makes much more sense than the $6.00 cost for round-trip gas to HEB.

If you find yourself constantly needing to return to the city for shopping and entertainment, than that is probably where you need to be living.  I think the Hill Country is for those who would see that as a burden and would try avoiding those trips as much as possible.

My vision for the future of living in the Hill Country is a Village type community, where most everything we need is within or close to the Village.  People are already working more-and-more from their homes thanks to today’s communication technology.  Villagers could produce most of their own food which could be shared at a local growers market?  Smaller family owned stores could also provide some of the more basic needs, thus limiting trips to the city.  Local entertainment would not have to be costly, just simple activities and events that bring neighbors together.

Houses in villages will be smaller and definitely more energy efficient, thus reducing reliance on the grid.  Water could be supplied by proven rainwater collection systems.

The bottom line is that Village living would significantly minimize the effects of rising gas prices, possibly making it of no consequence.