Hey I live in Houston. I moved to the edge of town 9 years ago. There were cows in the fields across the street from us. They'd end up in our yard. Two lane curvy road that flooded when it rained. Tons of trees everywhere.
Now the city has grown out to us. Straightened and widened the road to 5 lanes. Nine new traffic lights on a 4 mile strip. The cows are mostly gone. Tons of neighborhoods, stores, restaurants, new schools. Most of the trees plowed down and piddly ones replanted in landscapes. Now we're just like the rest of suburbia. Ugh. Northwest Houston is growing like wildfire.
If only I could move out on 2 acres, though the mowing would get old. At least it's about to slow down. You get to mow less in September, take off maybe Oct-Feb (maybe 1 or 2 mows then). The Hill Country is my fav.
Keep up the good work. Your exercise and eating habits will pay off over time.