Time to Chill

Chill, y'all: 3 suburbs near San Antonio are among the most relaxed cities in America

San Marcos is one of the most-chill cities in America.

The laid-back lifestyle is a mainstay of our culture, so it should come as no surprise that we're in proximity to some pretty chill towns. In fact, San Marcos, Cedar Park, and Georgetown were recently named three of the most relaxed small cities in the United States.

Real estate website Movoto looked at cities with a population between 50,000-60,000 and ranked them based on low levels of unemployment, cost of living, crime rates, population density, commute time, average work weeks, and the percentage of earnings spent on rent. Movoto also considered the number of relaxing escapes in the city, such as massage parlors, yoga studios, and outdoor parks to determine the top 10 chill spots.

According to these factors, Cedar Park, near Austin, ranks fifth. "One of the main reasons Cedar Park ranked so well was for its high number of parks per capita," says Movoto. "There also seems to be a lot of room for other relaxing amenities, specifically, massage businesses, and yoga studios."

The next Central Texas city on the list is Georgetown, No. 7 due in part to its low population density. "Not only do Georgetown's residents have plenty of space; they also have plenty of parks and jobs, ranking 13th and 12th in these categories, respectively," Movoto points out.

Last but not least is San Marcos at No. 10. Movoto believes that our neighbors to the north have discovered the perfect balance between work and free time, and we agree. "The average work week here is just 32.8 hours, and just 3.4 percent of residents are unemployed," says the real estate website. "San Marcos also had the ninth lowest cost of living — a score of just 86, compared to the national average of 100."

These three Texas towns are pretty chill, but the most relaxed cities in the country are Richland, Washington; Dubuque, Iowa; and Manhattan, Kansas.

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FELINE GOOD

San Antonio foundation pounces on bold program to return ocelots to the wild

Recover Texas Ocelots/ Facebook

A San Antonio nonprofit is working to conserve Texas ocelots.

In Texas, wildlife conservation is far from a simple equation. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, over 93 percent of the state is privately owned, including vital habitats for big cats. Balancing protection measures with the desires of landowners requires a deft hand.

Still, one San Antonio nonprofit is hoping it has found the right formula for ocelot recovery. The East Foundation, a local ranching operation and agricultural research organization, is proposing the Programmatic Safe Harbor Agreement with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, to support reintroducing species into the wild. A 30-day public comment period began September 15.

Following the proposal, the East Foundation will release ocelots onto a section of its San Antonio Viejo Ranch in Jim Hogg and Starr Counties — an area marked as unoccupied ocelot habitat. Landowners in neighboring counties can voluntarily sign up to allow the cats passage on their acres, exempting them from future conservation activities.

Working with the Recover Texas Ocelots project, East Foundation has assembled large amounts of data on ocelots, ranging from prey habits to behavior with other carnivores. This research informed the organization's conservation strategy.

The need for protection is dire. The distinctively spotted wild cats have been officially listed as endangered since 1982. The state's sole breeding populations live in far South Texas, where much land is devoted to ranching.

"The largest population of ocelots remaining in Texas (and, by extension, the United States) occupies East Foundation ranch land in Willacy County," explains Dr. Jason Sawyer, Chief Science Officer for the East Foundation, via a release. Several estimates place that population between 50 and 100.

"So, we have demonstrated that good land stewardship associated with normal ranching activities is not in conflict with ocelot recovery," he continued, "and we want to continue ranching operations while also providing an opportunity to expand these populations."

Plan details and other conservation efforts can be found online. Comments will be accepted through October 16, with full specifics available at the Federal Register.

"The assurances provided in the Agreement offer a path for lasting and effective partnerships that accomplish conservation goals while removing the barriers that have historically impeded these efforts," said Neal Wilkins, Chief Executive Officer for the East Foundation. "We are excited to lead an effort like this in South Texas, where we successfully operate, and where wildlife conservation and ranching have been vitally important for more than 100 years."

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