Hipstercrite Life

Big Sky, Big Country

As a freelancer, taking a vacation when you’re supposed to is kind of terrifying, but I gave in to the fact that there wouldn’t be much work to do over the holidays and tried to enjoy my time off. I managed to succeed! Though I was unable to go home to visit my family, I spent the holidays with my boyfriend and his wonderful family. I have a trip planned home at the end of January ($200 round-trip ticket to Upstate New York on Southwest!), so I’ll definitely get some family time in soon and Grandma can stop using here Jewish guilt powers to make me feel bad about it.

Though Texas is a big ass state, one of the beauties of it is its proximity to other cool areas. Along with my boyfriend’s cousin and her boyfriend, we snuck over to Santa Fe for a few days last week. Driving through the American Southwest is one of the most cathartic trips one can experience. I’ve driven alone and with friends or family through the Southwest countless times now and I always love it. Living in cities for the past seven years, it’s refreshing to see miles and miles of untouched land. I always feel as though I’ve been transported back into time. It’s funny to think that the entire state of New Mexico has a population only slightly more than the Austin metropolitan area (New Mexico population- 2,082,224, Austin population- 1,716,291). I love the adobe style of architecture in Santa Fe and it’s love for vibrant colors and art. Santa Fe and New Mexico are such inspiring areas. No wonder they call New Mexico the Land of Enchantment.

This trip I got to learn about oil drills from someone who works on them, eat posole for the first time, visit the Anasazi cave dwellings (Mulder would be proud) and try quite possibly the most spicy chile I’ve ever tried at Horeseman’s Haven, Santa Fe) It burned holes through our bowels. Seeing snow in the desert was also a first. I’m so used to gray and gloomy winters in upstate New York and loved the 45 degree temperatures and bright, sunny blue skies in Santa Fe. If only all winters could be so beautiful around the country!

Below are some pictures I took on my phone from the road. Some have filters, some don’t. New Mexico really doesn’t need a camera filter.