The following story was written by Marilee Marks of RE/MAX Centex, REALTORS  for Waco Young Professionals and is published here with her permission.

When asked to describe Waco, Texas, I tell people it’s just like Hawaii without the water.  But this is not the truth.  The majestic Brazos River and expansive Lake Waco are beautiful recreational water areas. You just can’t surf.

And more than 400 acres of Cameron Park run along towering limestone bluffs that overlook the Brazos and Bosque rivers. Although Cameron Park is smaller than Central Park in New York City, it has the distinct advantage of being populated by friendly Texans.

I plan to spend my life in Waco. I was born and raised in Seattle, a city some claim is among the most beautiful in the United States. My brother lives there. But give me Southern hospitality and Texas sunshine.

I don’t want to live in a car wash, no matter how green it gets. I want the politeness and charm of Texans in a small city, not the hustle bustle that is characteristic of a sprawling metropolis.

I want a city that, like Goldilocks’ porridge, is just right. For me, that’s Waco.  Waco is big enough for everything I need on a day-to-day basis. We have a farmer’s market, a great zoo, a Barnes and Noble for hours of book browsing, and great restaurants. Our family frequently visits a small family restaurant where everybody knows everybody. It’s wonderfully friendly, and the food is good and decently priced.

We have the big cities too! For a night on the town to see things like big name bands or for serious shopping, I’m 90 minutes away from Dallas and Austin. This lets me occasionally breathe in the atmosphere of a larger city without being smothered by it the rest of the time.

And Baylor University, my alma mater, is important to me. I’m proud to be from a town whose university is home of the 2012 women’s basketball champions, the 2011 Alamo Bowl champions, the winner of the 2011 Heisman Trophy, and even the 2012 equestrian champions. Baylor’s baseball and tennis teams are just as impressive.  Almost every day I can find musical events, theater, public lectures and other activities at Baylor. It’s a full life and I love it!

On a personal note, I’m engaged to a great guy who teaches in Waco. We know of no better place to raise our family. Waco runneth over with Christian values. This is the environment in which I want my children to be raised. I want them to learn solid values while not being stifled. Waco is the perfect place for this.

I don’t like the rat race of the big city. As actress Lily Tomlin said, “If you win the rat race, you are still a rat.” I also don’t care much for the stifling life in a small town. Perfectly in the middle is Waco, where everything I enjoy most is at reach. It’s a great place to spend your life.

Marilee Marks is a realtor with RE/MAX Centex, Realtors and the Business Development Chair for the Waco Young Professionals.

CONTACT

254-652-2553
Marilee@MarileeM.com