Yesterday we drove southwest of Houston to visit high school friends we haven't seen since we stayed with them after our cruise out of Galveston, Hank and Kathy Mroczkowski.  We visited and cought-up and went to lunch and then drove to visit their friends, Dan and Michele Bretch, who live about half way to Austin in Columbus, TX.  They own and operate EPO (Electronic Parts Outlet) in Houston.  They have built and live in a home in Columbus which is entirely self-reliant.  They capture and store rainwater and use solar cells for electricity and are totally disconnected from the grid.  It was extremely interesting and we could have spent days listening and exploring.  Dan's current passion is building a retail center not far from their home which is again totally self-reliant.  It will demonstrate and be a workshop for the technology, it will do the same for hydroponics as well as sell the resulting produce and it will provide artist galleries and workshops.  Dan & Michele provided dinner and we got back to Hank and Kathy's at midnight so we spent the night and returned to the trailer this morning.  Thanks again to Hank, Kathy, Dan and Michele for a thoroughly enjoyable and interesting visit.  Nothing better than dear old and brand new friends.