Meet the Storins

Phil and Rochelle Storin don’t do anything halfway, but Kissing Tree’s location halfway between Austin and San Antonio was a huge draw for the couple. “We lived in San Antonio for 6 years before moving to Austin, where we lived for 37 years, and we love the city’s events and activities,” Rochelle says, “the Kissing Tree Lifestyle Team set up a bus that went to San Antonio for the Battle of Flowers parade. They also had a bus that took residents to Austin for Esther’s Follies and a ZACH Theater show, so you can go to either city and do all the fun things offered in that city.” 

Too much work

Rochelle first heard about Kissing Tree from an ad on the radio, and after her husband was complaining about how much work it was to take care of their yard in the heat, she and a girlfriend came to check it out. “We were thinking about downsizing – we lived in Lakeway on 2 acres with more than 50 trees. We were raking 30 to 40 bags of leaves 2 to 3 times a year along with all the other yard keeping chores – it’s a lot of yard work!”

Too much fun

At that first visit, Rochelle was smitten, particularly by the activities calendar. “After the pandemic, a lot of my groups and volunteer activities went by the wayside,” she says. “I was so excited about Kissing Tree’s bridge group, mahjong group, canasta, and the running group. And Kissing Tree is only 4 miles away from the university, so I could audit some classes.” Rochelle was also attracted by Kissing Tree’s beautiful amenities. “I just loved the lovely resort pool, the lap pool, and the fitness center. We are pickleball players – we have been playing twice a week at the YMCA in downtown Austin.”

Finding the right home

At first, Phil wasn’t sure about living in San Marcos, but once he saw the amenities in person, he was sold. “We chose a Monroe in a flipped plan, just like the model,” Rochelle says. “The enlarged garage along with a golf cart garage grabbed me immediately. Phil is a woodworker, so we’re setting up his workshop in the golf cart garage. He was also excited because the main garage is big enough to park his Ford F-150 inside!”

Building a future

The Storins have already sold their home in Austin’s Lakeway area, and they will close on their Kissing Tree home in Berclair at the end of July. “We’ve been going down about once a week to see the progress,” Rochelle says. “And we have met all the neighbors on our cul-de-sac! We can’t wait!”
If you see the Storins around The Mix or out walking their three rescue dogs (Moose, Delilah, and Tallulah), be sure to say hello. And if you’re ready to find your own dream home, check out our Quick Move-in Homes or plan a visit to see our amazing amenities for yourself.