[One Man Book plays "Flowers Don't Say Anything."
[One Man Book plays "Flowers Don't Say Anything."

(Maria Hayes) When we look at this place a lot of times we go,
(Maria Hayes) When we look at this place a lot of times we go,

Why do we need to go anywhere else?
Why do we need to go anywhere else?

Because you want a sunset? We have it. You want a sunrise? We have it.
Because you want a sunset? We have it. You want a sunrise? We have it.

Everything's right here on the ranch.
Everything's right here on the ranch.

[Maria Hayes clapping]
[Maria Hayes clapping]

(Maria Hayes) Here, puppies. Let's go. Come on, Lady.
(Maria Hayes) Here, puppies. Let's go. Come on, Lady.

[Maria Hayes whistling for dogs]
[Maria Hayes whistling for dogs]

It's called Bikhers Whale Ranch, and we're located in Del Valle,
It's called Bikhers Whale Ranch, and we're located in Del Valle,

just off of Wolf Lane, east of the airport.
just off of Wolf Lane, east of the airport.

I love it. I get up in the morning, I get a cup of coffee,
I love it. I get up in the morning, I get a cup of coffee,

go out my front door and watch the sunrise.
go out my front door and watch the sunrise.

The sun rises in the front of the house and then make my way outside.
The sun rises in the front of the house and then make my way outside.

Go to work out in the fresh air.
Go to work out in the fresh air.

Pretty much every day I'm on some piece of equipment.
Pretty much every day I'm on some piece of equipment.

[tractor engine revving]
[tractor engine revving]

I love being on the tractor.
I love being on the tractor.

You get on the tractor,
You get on the tractor,

nothing else matters.
nothing else matters.

[cow mooing]
[cow mooing]

We have 16 cows, a donkey, a mule named Willow
We have 16 cows, a donkey, a mule named Willow

and three chickens. Living out here on the ranch,
and three chickens. Living out here on the ranch,

it is a much less stressful life.
it is a much less stressful life.

And that's the biggest point because as you get older,
And that's the biggest point because as you get older,

you just want to start eliminating as much stress as you can.
you just want to start eliminating as much stress as you can.

(Maria Hayes) Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
(Maria Hayes) Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Yes, so I got to get some things to fix this
Yes, so I got to get some things to fix this

because she jumped right through.
because she jumped right through.

(China Widener) Oh. (Maria Hayes) You see? (China Widener) Yeah.
(China Widener) Oh. (Maria Hayes) You see? (China Widener) Yeah.

(Maria Hayes) And then I got to find out where she got through over there.
(Maria Hayes) And then I got to find out where she got through over there.

If you hold that.
If you hold that.

(China Widener) Yeah. (Maria Hayes) I can get the fork. (China Widener) To put it down? (Maria Hayes) To push it down some,
(China Widener) Yeah. (Maria Hayes) I can get the fork. (China Widener) To put it down? (Maria Hayes) To push it down some,

hopefully without killing you.
hopefully without killing you.

Let's not chase them through the fence again.
Let's not chase them through the fence again.

[tractor engine revving]
[tractor engine revving]

When we first moved here, we were the only only people that lived on the street.
When we first moved here, we were the only only people that lived on the street.

So over the last two years, we have several neighbors now.
So over the last two years, we have several neighbors now.

But then when we look outside, we're going to see roofs instead of trees.
But then when we look outside, we're going to see roofs instead of trees.

And that's that's kind of the thing that is a little disappointing
And that's that's kind of the thing that is a little disappointing

about the growth. But just the fact that we're going to lose all this land.
about the growth. But just the fact that we're going to lose all this land.

We're going to lose the possibility of more cattle
We're going to lose the possibility of more cattle

or sheep or whatever, just just general livestock being out here.
or sheep or whatever, just just general livestock being out here.

That's what Texas is all about, right?
That's what Texas is all about, right?

Ranches and cows.
Ranches and cows.

Just recently, our property taxes increased by 50%.
Just recently, our property taxes increased by 50%.

Tesla not too far away.
Tesla not too far away.

They bought what they bought and they're building what they got.
They bought what they bought and they're building what they got.

Driving up the property values, making it
Driving up the property values, making it

so that even if a piece of land does go up for sale,
so that even if a piece of land does go up for sale,

none of the people out here can afford it.
none of the people out here can afford it.

[Maria chopping zucchinis]
[Maria chopping zucchinis]

(Maria Hayes) I guess leasing's gone up too?
(Maria Hayes) I guess leasing's gone up too?

(China Widener) Well yeah because if they're going to continue to lease
(China Widener) Well yeah because if they're going to continue to lease

now land is going to be less available, so that drives the price up
now land is going to be less available, so that drives the price up

even for leasers and that's the cycle of,
even for leasers and that's the cycle of,

(Maria Hayes) No more cows in Travis County?
(Maria Hayes) No more cows in Travis County?

And I guess it's it's a lot like
And I guess it's it's a lot like

a lot of East Austin people sold their property for three times what they bought it for.
a lot of East Austin people sold their property for three times what they bought it for.

But then to go where?
But then to go where?

There's not a whole lot we can do because it's not like
There's not a whole lot we can do because it's not like

we can't buy up all the property around us, because between us
we can't buy up all the property around us, because between us

and our neighbors, we just don't have the means to do that.
and our neighbors, we just don't have the means to do that.

[dog barking in the distance]
[dog barking in the distance]

Yeah, I think we got in at just the right moment.
Yeah, I think we got in at just the right moment.

Now if we were trying to get in to this
Now if we were trying to get in to this

property, especially, we would we'd never be able to get it.
property, especially, we would we'd never be able to get it.

The price would just be way too high.
The price would just be way too high.

We've kind of decided that we're we're we're really not
We've kind of decided that we're we're we're really not

we're not planning on going anywhere.
we're not planning on going anywhere.

We're just going to stay here and see what happens.
We're just going to stay here and see what happens.

Would we be sad and hurt if we had to move? Oh, we'd be quite upset.
Would we be sad and hurt if we had to move? Oh, we'd be quite upset.

[tractor engine revving]
[tractor engine revving]

We both have fallen in love with this,
We both have fallen in love with this,

this whole property and the whole concept of the ranch.
this whole property and the whole concept of the ranch.

And I kind of feel like it was just where I was meant to be.
And I kind of feel like it was just where I was meant to be.

[One Man Book plays "Flowers Don't Say Anything."
[One Man Book plays "Flowers Don't Say Anything."