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.
Three years ago, I moved from my childhood home in Mico, a small community in Medina County with a population of 2,250, to a new house in San Antonio. Riverstone at Westpointe was a new neighborhood still under construction just northwest of SeaWorld. The houses were small and built close together. I was not impressed.
I was leaving a house my family helped build in a rural community for a three-bedroom in the suburbs. Despite my initial disappointment, I have grown to love our new neighborhood. Transitioning from small-town Texas to suburban living has opened my eyes to new benefits and opportunities.
When I arrived at Riverstone, a prominent sign adorned with a cascading water feature signaled a new beginning. While I expected challenges when we moved to a smaller house, like the lack of storage for all our stuff and less space for our three labradors, we’ve made adjustments and taken advantage of new opportunities.
We might have less house and yard space, but we also have access to amenities like a swimming pool with waterslides and a small gym with great workout equipment for the first time. And luckily our house is on a cul-de-sac where the dogs can play.
My neighbors in Riverstone at Westpointe are warm and friendly. From the beginning, they made me feel like part of the community. Take, for instance, my high school graduation, which took place on our football field. My family didn’t have the best view from the bleachers. However, the son of a sweet elderly couple next door took photos of me waving to my family.
When my little sister and I get hungry, we love hitting up the Mexican Cowboy food truck off Potranco Road. There, we discovered the most amazing birria quesadillas, just a five-minute drive from our house.
The best part of living in Riverstone is proximity and convenience. When I attended Medina Valley High School, I had to take a two-hour bus ride to Castroville from my house. Now, as a college sophomore, I have a mere 20-minute commute to Our Lady of the Lake University, where I am studying mass communication.
I am no longer limited by time and distance. During my freshman year at OLLU, I got a work-study position as a tour guide, a part-time job at a theater, joined a sorority and was appointed as a volunteer deputy registrar to increase voter registration. No longer isolated, I am fully involved in school and work — and more connected with my friends.
Living at Riverstone at Westpointe has been a unique experience. From the beautiful surroundings to the top-notch amenities and friendly neighbors, this community truly feels like home.
