The Villa Bay Motel

Every so often we get these unique gems that we get to work with in real estate. A good bunch of my auction properties are diamonds in the rough. Properties with potential. Properties with stories. Properties with history. Properties pregnant with opportunity.

The Villa Bay Motel is one of those properties. It's located in the heart of the Texas Coastal Bend, in Aransas Pass, Texas. Aransas Pass is located right in between Rockport, Port Aransas, Portland, & Ingleside.

The Coastal Bend is known for many things: fishing, refineries, vacationing, the beach...& SO...for properties like the Villa Bay Motel, it attracts a variety of customers. You may see contract workers, working on one of the projects in the gulf, a refinery worker, or any other industrial type worker that is looking for a place that offers weekly rates. You may also find fishermen and women, needing a place to lay their head before heading out the next morning. You may also meet some locals that have visitors coming in, that need a place to stay, tourists visiting the beach or attending one of the many festivals in the coastal bend, or someone just needing a shower from spending all day at the beach.

It is amazing how the Coastal Bend has bounced back from Hurricane Harvey. You can see the opportunity and potential as you make the drive.

One thing about The Villa Bay Motel, is it stood strong when many things around it did not. Hurricane Harvey was not it's first rodeo. In fact, it was even able to house some that were distraught and homeless from the aftermath.

There is something special about a property that has survived and thrived in hard times. If those walls could talk... they would have quite the story to tell.

This property is up for auction. The auction closes Thursday, June 18th at 6 PM. Here is the link to the auction.  Here is a link to the Terms & Conditions. 

Here is a link on how to log in: CLICK HERE!

Here is a link with all of the details. LINK TO DETAILS Be sure to click the "Documents" tab under the picture of the hotel. You will find everything from a survey to the property condition statement to the number of rooms & MORE.

Link to Loopnet Listing HERE!

Buck Up & Bid! BId! BID! This property has the potential to become your retirement investment, the boutique hotel you've always wanted, your opportunity at coastal living with income potential, OR anything else you want it to be.

We will be at the property tomorrow, if you would like to preview it, talk with us, or get additional information. You can also call or text me at: 979.421.0325 or email me at heather@buckupauctions.com.

Heather Schoenst Kaspar
Auctioneer TXL 17037, BAS, CAI
Realtor, GRI, SRES
Buck Up Auctions & Realty
My Real Estate Expert, LLC.
heather@buckupauctions.com
Call/Text 979.421.0325

Rhythm

About half way through last week I realized I had gotten out of rhythm. Let's be honest, we are all a little out of rhythm with our "normal" being interrupted. I noticed the NEW rhythm was off.

My husband works shift work and I am SUPER grateful that his position is still essential, but getting used to his shift schedule was an adjustment. I felt like I was finally getting into a rhythm with it & THEN.....Covid-19.

I learned that things are relatively consistent when he's off or working days, but those night runs.... The effect it has on me is....I wear myself out the first couple days & then I FINALLY pick my head up and realize that I can't do the same amount of work those days as I do others. I'm not saying that is how it works for everyone, but that is what it's like for me.

Then....what I felt like I was FINALLY getting a handle on was: not completely loading my workdays up on Kyle's off days. That was a bad habit I picked up, but not on purpose.....just trying to balance my workflow.

I really had to be a student of it for several months before I learned these things & then....many times...I'd get halfway through a night run before I realized it.

I bring all this up because we are such creatures of habit. The Covid-19 pandemic has rocked EVERY habit, every schedule, every process, every rhythm....

Even the things that SEEM to have not changed, have changed, because EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON. HAS. CHANGED.....which changes the rhythm.

There is something about the awareness I have of the rhythm and the constant struggle I find myself in to maintain the rhythm....when really.....EVERYTHING around me is trying to knock me out of rhythm...that is sticking with me.

I believe SO strongly in Christ....as much as I possibly can & know how to....and I believe there is SO much divine power, in taking what the world sees or perceives & turning it on its end....like the cross. The cross was meant for death & destruction & suffering & punishment & JESUS turned it into LIFE, REDEMPTION, HEALING, & ABUNDANT LOVE & BLESSINGS. Our God colors outside the lines...OR He sees lines that we cannot.

I just finished a meditation course on acceptance. 10 minutes of meditation for 10 days. The words "LET GO" keep coming to mind. The main lesson was: identify what you are resisting & do simply that...IDENTIFY IT & watch how identifying the resistance automatically causes you to accept it.

Listen....with a combination of ALL kinds of things that have been happening & spending SO. MUCH. TIME. trying to create a rhythm....and I mean trying; to the point of wearing myself out.... I think I'm going to BUCK UP & LET GO.

In rhythm or out of rhythm....something is gonna happen. For once it is "okay" to not be what others expect you to be OR what you expect yourself to be. It's okay if you are, but its also okay if you're not....because we are ALL trying to figure it out. You wouldn't think that accepting is as hard as it is. In fact, it doesn't really make ANY sense to TRY & create a system....we should just allow it; let it flow from us and trust that we are equipped to handle what comes next & not try to plan for a future calamity, but more for the here and now. ENJOY IT. What can we each do here & now?

Car Parades!

One thing that is "new" since social distancing was advised is CAR PARADES. In place of birthday parties, parents are organizing Birthday Car Parades. It is really for ANY special occasion.

The skilled nursing facility my Uncle Fritz is in (Giddings Residence & Rehabilitation Center) organized a car parade for all of the residents!

It was really a special event for all of us to experience. The kids and I worked together on posters & we all got to SEE Uncle Fritz and all of the other residents, nurses, aids, & staff. Not a huge post today... The pictures say enough.

Uncle Fritz is front row wearing grey!

We were able to tell him we loved him, say hello to the other residents, & THANK all of the staff at the facility!!

Buck Up & find CreaTiVE ways to come together!! God Bless you ALL!

Today was One of THOSE Days

Something I have been noticing about myself lately is that, for the past several weeks, I have had one day a week that just WEARS. ME. OUT. I don't think it has anything to do with the day. I think it has ALL to do, with my "tank" approaching empty and I need to fuel up.

Since the kids have been out of school, I have found myself spending more time with the kids on their work & finding fun things to do as a family, because we ALL need it----but, in turn, also staying up MUCH later. The best way for me to describe it is: I find it necessary to get the same amount of work done in a day & I find it necessary to do the things I'm doing with my family. I am quite satisfied with the progress & the FuN things we've been doing, BUT I'm not real satisfied with...the adjustment. I'm a night owl. I have always been. Now, I can get it together & do the early morning thing BUT, given the choice....this girl will stay up late over getting up early every. single. time.

Also....I need my sleep. Sooooooooo I've found myself the last several days working until 3 A.M. Then, I'm usually UP by 8:30, but it takes me a little longer to REALLY get moving. Losing the 2+ hours I normally have in the A.M. is....annoying me a little. I'm still getting it all done....& really, then some, but it's thrown my routine & others' off a little. At least, that is what it feels like.

I've said it before though....we are ALL trying to figure out how to adjust and NAVIGATE this change. I post this here, because....it's a real wrestle. I'm not so sure it is a bad one, but one I am experiencing nonetheless. Maybe....this is an opportunity for me to trust more. Maybe, this will re-direct me to going in God's direction & not my own or anyone else's.

To finish up my initial thought....when I say the "tank" is approaching empty...I mean it. One thing life has taught me is....I WILL crash, if I don't refill & let the engine rest. I. ATE. IT....walking out of the house this morning. It was one of those falls that not only hurt, but SHOCKED you into AWARENESS. I thought I was walking just fine, until REALITY...literally, knocked me on my butt. I became immediately aware that....it was time to put it in neutral and coast a little while.

One of my biggest blessings is this crew of people right here. This is my Buck Up! Family. I am grateful to have them & grateful that they have plenty to keep themselves busy, even if it takes me a little longer to get it together. Even when I slow down for a moment, THIS crew keeps EVERYTHING going! Buck Up Baby! LEAN ON your people & BE THERE when someone needs to lean on you. God Bless!

We are missing a few in this picture, but I APPRECIATE them all the same!

An EXPLOSION of Creativity

Art, CreaTIViTy…..I'm seeing it EVERYWHERE, in every way. MOST ESPECIALLY, THIS week, I have found myself DRAWN to poetry, art, design, art & science projects & differnt forms of art & expression. The words I would tie to my most recent experiences with ART are: curiosity, a retreat, an escape, a release, joy, light, connectedness, memories, reminders, a glimpse. 

Tonight, I will share images of some of the pieces, quotes, and artwork that have been inspiring to me this week, in one way or another. You can also check out my Pinterest Boards & FOLLOW ME there at: www.pinterest.com/HDSKaspar. Main boards to check out would be: "Words to Live By...," "Jesus," "Mother Mary," "William Blake," "Art," & "Animals." (God's CREATION is the MOST amazing.)

Reflecting, yet again, on personal experiences..... part of the "overwhelm" I, (& I believe, many others feel) is an EXPLOSION of creativity....literally. I see it everywhere in EVERYTHING. Here are some examples from my life: 

• Fundraising auctioneers brainstorming & CREATEing online, virtual, & tailored alternatives for fundraising, due to social distancing restrictions.
• Livestock exhibitors & their parents finding CREATIVE alternatives to the typical show/sale environment. 
• CREATIVE ways to share, explain, educate the public on how different industries are handling this shutdown and what it means for business.
• Businesses shifting & adjusting to find a way and CREATE a way to adapt & offer their goods/services in a variety of different ways.
• The adjustment of our own "typical" marketing campaigns, to find new ways to reach people.
• Business owners changing their business plans as the observe the changes they are seeing before their eyes.
•  The GAZILLION different ways people are staying connected to those they can't see. 
• ART pieces & social media posts encouraging ALL the "essential" workers.
• ART pieces & social media posts encouraging people in general.
• I have experienced more CREATIVE negotiating tactics & creative excuses :)........just being honest. 
• Face masks, as a form of EXPRESSION.
• SO MANY more Facebook games & challenges, seeming to all be geared at finding a connection.
• An OVERWHELMING increase in email MARKETING, with many different messages.
• The many ways President Trump and other government leaders are keeping us informed. 
• The ways communities are COMING TOGETHER & creating ways to show support to: high school seniors, athletes, college graduates, the elderly, the struggling, the recently unemployed, area non-profits, medical employees, city officials, EMS/EMT, doctors, nurses
• The documentaries that are replacing some of the MUCH MISSED sporting events.
• Strategic plans for non-profits changing and adapting & how they are communicating that change. 

I could keep going. I find myself being more creative & I'M LOVING IT! I've missed it. In fact, I had no idea I has gotten so far from it. I'm glad to be back! Buck Up Baby & let yourself be as CREATIVE as you want to be. Don't put ANY limits on yourself & ENCOURAGE CrEAtivIty in others. God bless ALL of you!

William Blake

William Blake

William Blake

William Blake

William Blake

William Blake

Nay-Sayers & Go-Getters

I've called life surrounding this Covid-19 pandemic overwhelming. I think sometimes the "overwhelm" comes from certain things being SO much clearer, than they were before. I don't think it is a bad thing. I think the realization of it, is simply something we haven't been used to.

I would say that I EASILY have conversations with an average of 30 people a day. One of the things that has become a daily norm for me, is figuring out what motivates people. For the most part, people just aren't that transparent & not because they don't want to be, but...it takes courage to be transparent, UNLESS....your scared or nervous or uncomfortable.

Once our government leaders started making recommendations & we all started becoming more aware and educated about COVID-19, I noticed fear & uncertainty motivating behavior in a way that was foreign to me. Please know that my thoughts are my thoughts. They are without judgement. I have learned that God has made some of us "Nay-Sayers" & some of us "Go-Getters," because that is how His plan works. That does not always make it easy for one to understand the other & SOMETIMES....depending on the triggers and motivators, we can be both on different layers. What I saw, was how people (especially those I regularly interact with) handled fear, change, and uncertainty. In fact, I've been able to see how complete strangers react. I have been able to see how some basic reassurance on something unrelated can pull someone out of fear-motivated behavior.

What has become so clear to me is that people lean one way or the other. They search for fault and make excuses to justify behavior they can't understand right now OR they find a way and make a way...the move. Fear, change, & uncertainty motivates people differently. We HAVE to be there for each other. We have to KNOW that we are all doing our best. Some things make some of us scared beyond belief. Some of us are so covered up with something so foreign to us, that we are literally just reacting and doing our best to make it. Some of us know no other way except to find a way and make a way.

The most frustrating place for me in the beginning was the grocery store & not because they didn't have the things I needed. It was frustrating because I was witnessing a clash of the "Nay-Sayers" and the "Go-Getters." I overheard people judging people purchasing boxed meals. I observed as people made comments about people bringing their children with them. I watched as people looked sideways at people with full carts. There was plenty of good things to observe such as: comradery in the uncertain, conversation that was therapeutic between strangers, AMAZING customer service, and kind faces. All these good things did not take away the awareness of the other. It was present with the other.

In an effort to truly document these experiences; fear motivates or triggers people & uncertainty motivates different actions and reactions from people. One thing that I believe to be true, is it is authentically how they are feeling in that moment. The reactionary words may not be how they really feel, but the FEELING....the fear....the confusion, is REAL. Whatever it is, is not good or bad. It just is & we are ALL essential in getting to the other side of this and being there for each other.

I listened to a meditation today & the topic was ACCEPTANCE. When we respect each other enough to LET THEM BE WHO THEY ARE, we release ourselves and them to live and experience and just be. We are ALL struggling & wrestling & we are all in this together. Buck Up Baby & ACCEPT people for who they are, just how they are.

Quote from my Headspace app today. 

I LOVE Headspace: https://www.headspace.com/

I'm also happy to report that today was the MOST PLEASANT the grocery store has been in weeks. There was more people in there than what I've seen lately. There was also more food and necessary products. The entire mood was more positive.

I Can See Through The Clearing

As I continue to document this overwhelming journey of change, I focus on the positive through the transition. I am a worker. I feel most comfortable and that I bring my best value when I'm working. Doing is important to me. I have also learned that there are many different ways to work and many different things to work on.

We all change and there is NO QUESTION...I have changed. I have grown. Different things have become important to me in the different stages of my life. I have also....forgot....some of the special things about myself, as I was striving for what SEEMED to be where I needed to be heading.

I reached a point where something had to give. My business was growing. I made some decisions that were in line with what I believed and where all the arrows were pointing, but it was a place I'd never been before and I had to figure it out. There was no road map. When you go on a journey, like I tend to find myself on, you latch on to every shred of light & explore it and respect it & do what you can to do it justice.

I look at my work as my calling. My entire professional journey has been searching for the light, catching a glimmer, & being obedient to follow it & see where it leads. Where I found myself was seeing beams of light shooting from many different directions. I went from searching for the light to chasing the lights...trying to catch them all. Then I started disappointing myself that I was not able to do them all justice. Then I found myself in a place where, at the end of the day, I didn't have anything left to give, but WANTING to keep digging in & being there & doing things. That's when I realized my self-care was....well....non-existent. In that.....it was no wonder it was hard for me to find my special. It took LOTS of conversations with God to get myself to the place where I could recognize it. Then, :) I found myself catching a glimmer, and being obedient to get on a path to self-care, accepting the TRUTH that I was enough for God - the EXACT way He found me & that is all that matters. I had been SO FAR from making choices for ME....I truly did not know how. I read scripture everyday & THAT gave me the breadcrumbs I needed to take me down the right paths. There is a planner that has made ALL the difference. It has helped me focus on what is important & for that reason, I will share it here, in the event it will help someone else.

www.successaddax.com

In reviewing my planners & KNOWING what my life goals are, my long-term & short-term goals & the plans I have in place to get there. Also knowing that I am approaching a year (give or take) of using this planner, I can see MAJOR progress from where I started. Things that were HARD, hard, hard for me are very clear. Things that were such a struggle for me are natural.

I was spending much of my day tying up loose ends of homework between my two oldest. I was doing my best to have a balanced day for the kids: meal time, playtime, homework time, down time, chore time. I found myself relaxing into it. I was going with the flow & achieving OUR balance, PLUS getting a few extra work things & home project things done. As I sat down reflecting, updating SLACK & the number of "To-Do" channels I had pending were ALMOST completely trimmed back & it was relatively effortless. What caused me to reflect is.....technically I've taken on more tasks (like we all have); in some cases more and in some cases drastically different, PLUS maintaining what can still be maintained, yet.....the balance in my life & my family's is the best I've been able to recognize & BE PROUD OF in quite a long time.

Does that mean that each little thing happened as I planned? Heck no. My kids argued with each other or with me ALL DAY. I had to re-organize the kids' homework AT LEAST 5 times, because the youngest kept finding a way to get his hands on it (even when we thought it was out of reach). The solo cup STEAM project continued into today, as well as the frustrations with their little brother who LOVES to knock them down. There are still solo cups on the floor in the kitchen & they are totally staying there until tomorrow. Homework still took longer than I'd hoped. All of that is TOTALLY okay because, zooming out & taking a look from a BIG PICTURE standpoint...….I uncluttered our home by two bags of things that will bless someone else. Leads I hadn't had a chance to follow up with, have turned into new business. I have a good friend & colleague working beside me on a new project. I had the opportunity to teach a green auctioneer how to navigate certain situations they have not experienced yet. Although we argued...the kids and I had LOTS of fun & the three of them play REALLY well with each other (age does not matter to them). I'm continuing on my blogging journey/challenge to myself . I had GREAT conversation with my husband. I moved forward with small home projects. ULTIMATELY...I am making progress towards my LIFE goals that effect EVERYONE important to me & people I don't even know yet.

I can see through the clearing. There are certain things that this entire COVID situation is forcing us to focus on.…& they are the right things. In fact, after reflecting today, I think more things will move out of our way & we will all be able to see things more clearly. Buck Up Baby & enjoy the clearing!

Buck Up Baby!: Covid-19 Experiences

When I first started this blog, I NEEDED a place to unload all of the thoughts, ideas, and excitement I was experiencing when I decided to continue to pursue my auction career. Nine years later, I find myself in a similar situation, with a total different cause.

Ever since President Trump & Governor Abbott, started the social distancing recommendations & COVID-19 has ultimately changed all of our lives....I've been doing my best to roll with the flow. Serve where I can, tighten up on our policies and procedures, become a teacher to a 5th grader and 1st grader, navigate childcare & work, be a source of support for my family, employees & clients, figure out if SBA has a product I need to pursue, get taxes filed, checking the updates and information on the CDC website & Facebook, listening to the updates from our governmental leaders, navigating "essential" work, tracking buying and selling trends....doing what I can to keep everything going.... & well....it's time. It's time to use this space to share my experiences, thoughts, ideas, excitement.....and confusion, doubt, faith.... whatever comes.

Tonight, I want to share my appreciation for my family unit. I appreciate how, the way we care and observe one another is changing because, we have been spending more time together. I appreciate how my husband was interested in silly little details about our evening, that he normally didn't ask about when at work. I appreciate how my son was ADAMANT about all of us getting dressed up for supper at home. We weren't eating unless I put a dress on, Kylee did her make up, & Hunter put shoes on. Heath had on a button-down, nice jeans, boots, & hair gel :). I appreciate how much Hunter LOVES to dance and how he literally watches everything Kylee & Hunter to AND they are noticing it.....& changing their behavior (in a good way) because of this. I appreciate Kylee's ideas. They are really great & unique & EFFECTIVE.

The wrestle for the day was homework. I wrestled a few different ways. I think the first wrestle was how to work in the homework with the other things I needed to do & planned to do. Then the wrestle was the "plan" for homework took way longer than expected, because the kids' attitude towards it was different than it has been. Next thing you know...the two year old pulled out a large pack of solo cups. It MIGHT have taken 5 minutes until all 3 of them were making their own solo cup castles/towers. With the solo cup architecture alone I watched as my 3 kids experienced: teamwork, frustration, perseverance, measuring, strategy, tenacity, speed, distraction, communication, and accomplishment.

While things aren't how we thought they would be....I'm lovin' life. I'm also wrestling with adjustments, BUT I feel extremely blessed to have the ability to adjust & feel an unusual peace, knowing that we are ALL adusting & adapting together.

I ENCOURAGE everyone to Buck Up Baby & be KIND to one another. One thing I've noticed is, in uncertain times, REACTION to the changes screams out...making things more uncertain. TRY to relax into the change & look for the door, the window, the way to go. Some days will be better than others. We are ALL trying to do our best.