The Psychology Behind the Happy Life of Don and Lisa Lucas
By Bruce X Forey | Photography by David Teran
It’s always interesting how happenstance brings two people together who end up being soul mates. This is the case for Don and Lisa Lucas. Both shared plenty of things in common before they met. After 26 years of marriage, their mutual interests continue to evolve while discovering new ones along the way.
Their path together started with a military connection. Lisa moved from Ohio to San Antonio as a young child after her father was transferred here for a military assignment. Don is from Illinois and took a civilian job working on a research project at the former Books Air Force Base. Both have advanced psychology degrees. Both have education careers. Don is a professor of neuropsychology at Northwest Vista College. Lisa is a wellness counselor at Alamo Heights Junior School. Lots of harmony taking place here. So, it’s not surprising a mutual friend thought they would hit it off. Both were invited to join a group of friends at a weekly billiards outing at Click’s pool hall.
“He’s cute, but he’s single, so I thought there’s got to be something seriously wrong. That’s the first thing that’s going through my mind,” Lisa recalled. “And then I got to know Don. He’s just silly and loves to joke around.”
After meeting at Clicks, they clicked and got married. They looked for a community to establish roots. Lisa grew up in Castle Hills. She was familiar with the Alamo Heights area and the quality of the Alamo Heights I.S.D. schools. The couple bought a 1955 home in the Oak Park/Northwood area. It was their diamond in the rough and a joy to own.
“The entire house was white and rat-infested. There was nothing in the backyard except for a telephone pole right in the middle of it. But we created our definition of nirvana,” Don said.
Here, they developed another bond; both really enjoyed spending spare time working on their home. Don and Lisa continually look for ways to get more of the happiness it brings.
“Our refuge is our house,” said Lisa. “We’ve been here for 25 years. We just love our home.”
Lisa tends to work on the yard and decorating. Don takes care of remodeling projects and prides himself as a self-taught handyman.
“Lisa will imagine something, and I’m like, okay, I think I can do that,” Don added. “Then I’ll watch 1,121 YouTube videos. I’ll do it wrong 99 out of 100 times, but then I do it right, and it’s a great feeling of satisfaction.”
Living in the same home for a quarter century, the Lucas’s are close with their neighbors. So close, they share a backyard stone archway with their next door neighbor.
A unique family activity is the Lucas’s passion for scuba diving. When they were getting serious as a couple, Lisa made it clear Don needed to embrace her love for the hobby.
“Don got certified for scuba diving, so that’s what we did for our honeymoon,” she said.
Now, Don enjoys exploring underwater as much as Lisa does.
“It feels like you are flying, feels like you are floating; it’s just an unbelievable experience.”
Scuba diving is truly a family activity. Their two daughters, Sember and Rayen, are certified scuba divers. Family vacations often center around diving in beautiful locations.
Sember and Rayen attended Alamo Heights schools from kindergarten through high school. That meant both went to the junior school while mom was on the job.
“It was kind of a good and bad,” she stated. “You always got to see your children, and you knew about all the kids they were hanging out with. But when they make mistakes, you work for the district, and that’s kind of the bad part.”
Lisa says some of her educator peers ask about living in the same area where you work. She says some feel uncomfortable seeing students while shopping or dining out. However, Lisa embraces it.
“I run into students everywhere we go. When I hear someone say, Miss Lucas! I like it. It’s the small-town feel that Alamo Heights gives. I feel blessed.”
Don and Lisa Lucas
