to Winter in South Texas Taking the Road Less Traveled

by Eryn Reddell Wingert

Rob and Gloria Taylor start the new year heading south. Way south. The couple hails from Belleville, Ontario, Canada, and after the holidays, their sites are set on Alamo, Texas. By car or RV, that’s a 2,000-mile stretch--if you took the shortest route recommended by Google Maps. But the Taylor’s aren’t direct-route people. They enjoy meandering off the beaten path.

The couple met on a blind date on Friday the 13th (January 1995), and they’ve been traveling together ever since. They wed in the summer of 1996 in their garden under a pergola built by Rob and his dad; they catered their own reception and cleared out the garage for the dance floor.

Gloria retired last year and Rob followed suit, submitting his resignation on the last day of a vacation in St. Lucia. They love to be together and enjoy visiting warm destinations.

Gloria is no stranger to South Texas. Her parents, Gerald and Donna Russett, have been winter visiting since 1999 and have a home in Alamo Palms RV Resort. Gloria would visit them for a week or longer each year, sometimes driving her parents back home.

During those trips, they would meander home, visiting cities like Memphis, Tennessee, and Paducah, Kentucky, along the way. Subsequently, Gloria would blog about their adventures to the delight of her friends.

Rob’s first real foray into “Winter Texan living” took place in 2022. The Russetts had opted to stay in Canada, so he and Gloria stayed at her parents’ Alamo home and tackled a multitude of home-improvement projects.

“Rob’s really handy and can fix anything,” says Gloria.

When they weren’t re-covering chairs or fixing faucets, the Taylors trekked the nearby Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge, played cards with friends, and walked the beaches of nearby South Padre Island.

The Taylors are part of a new generation of retirees choosing to experience South Texas during the winter months--a very active generation. In addition to their projectbased pursuits, Gloria practices yoga at the “fantastic gym” while Rob enjoys the woodshop and water volleyball.

Together, they like to hike and feed their culinary passion through home cooking and visiting local restaurants. Rob says there are plenty of options within close proximity.

They report they are seeing more couples in their 50s visiting Alamo Palms; some are even third-generation. And, Gloria says, she’s seeing a shift from what was offered in the late 1990s to today, such as the addition of pickle ball courts. (Alamo Palms has indoor and outdoor courts.)

But one thing remains the same, Gloria says. The people here love Winter Texans!

“There’s so much here to do!” Gloria says, as she and Rob begin to list the amenities and activities offered at Alamo Palms: darts, dancing, card games, and live entertainment. “Honestly, you can never do it all,” says Gloria.

Then there’s the swimming pool. Gloria and Rob really light up, talking about the pool. “We’ve travelled a lot, and to find a pool that’s as warm as this one…” Rob trails off as Gloria declares, “Oh, it’s spectacular!”

The Taylors have made great friends and enjoy the broader community of the Rio Grande Valley. In the spring, they were already planning their next winter visit. They want to visit SpaceX, hike Estero Llano Grande, spend time in San Antonio, and maybe even venture on a tour of the art community of San Miguel de Allende in Mexico.

Rob and Gloria carried on the tradition of meandering home. On their way back to Belleville in March, their path took them to West Texas, with a stop in San Angelo, a weekend with friends in Albuquerque, and a family visit in Ohio, and Gloria creatively shared their adventures with friends and family.

Once home, Rob helps the Russetts with their farm and Gloria returns to her part-time dream job at a local florist. Her parents are considering a return to Alamo in 2023, which would mean the Taylors would come down in their 35-foot RV. Gloria emphatically added, “One way or another, we’re coming!” because, as Rob says, “It’s winter camp for adults!”