Leaving Long Island for Texas

[MBAVisionary]

I've lived in Houston for 36 years though have a farm midway between Houston and Austin which is where we're currently relocating to, at least for the time being. Both sons live in Austin. I hate the traffic in both Houston and Austin (and I hate it in Dallas too, so there's that). I want to want to move to Austin to be closer to our sons, but I don't care for the flora and terrain and it is WAY less diverse than Houston. That said, the people are generally more easy going in Austin and the younger vibe is refreshing. For all it's faults, I do still love Houston. Houston has a rich, vibrant culture and history. hate the summers, yes, but I can't imagine living where it truly gets cold.

You've experienced a much different part of Houston than I have. It would appear all the big cities in Texas have traffic. Even smaller ones like Plano and Frisco, tons of traffic around rush hour. The people where I'm at are "nice enough". Haven't really struck up much of a conversation with any of them but might do the occasionally wave or give them mail if the postman leave it in the wrong box. Or I might mow the lawn even a little on their side so everything looks nice. One of my neighbors is selling their house, it's over 2k square feet, bigger lot, more renovations.Fully expecting it to go for the low $4XX range.

We went to Houston last time largely for the culture Holey Moley, Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern / Linear Park, Downtown Aquarium, dinner at The Galleria that was super overrated. 2024 we saw the McGovern Centennial Gardens, Museum of Natural Science, Space Center Houston (Saturn V rocket is something else to see in person). Most of those things don't exist in Dallas.

I enjoyed San Antonio for more of the laid back vibe. Went to the missions, saw Enchanted Rock but didn't walk all the way up it. We did a cabin in Llano that was a unique mostly positive experience aside from the bugs. Cafe Homestead in Waco was a unique experience. We definitely weren't from there but the food and service were top notch. Paris Tx had a nice little tourist area complete with their own Eiffel Tower

I haven't been to Austin since 2017. I enjoyed it last time. That was as part of a small group though in my early 30s vs the two of us now. Have a small thirst for adventure still but appreciating winding down and getting quality sleep more. Drinking used to be a thing most millennials did regularly. Now too much just gives me a headache or hangover. Most of my partying type friends have settled down.

 

[junkanoo]

I've lived in Houston for 36 years though have a farm midway between Houston and Austin which is where we're currently relocating to, at least for the time being. Both sons live in Austin. I hate the traffic in both Houston and Austin (and I hate it in Dallas too, so there's that). I want to want to move to Austin to be closer to our sons, but I don't care for the flora and terrain and it is WAY less diverse than Houston. That said, the people are generally more easy going in Austin and the younger vibe is refreshing. For all it's faults, I do still love Houston. Houston has a rich, vibrant culture and history. hate the summers, yes, but I can't imagine living where it truly gets cold.

Hopefully, Houston is far different from what I saw in the late 70's. I went there for a job interview with Shell.

Shell set me up at a downtown hotel close to their headquarters. I got there in time for dinner. Downtown was deserted. Looked like somebody called in a bomb threat. Bell Captain at the hotel said that by 6 pm. all white people were gone to their bedroom communities and the popular restaurants had moved there too.

However, one thing that can't be remade is the weather. It was late April and was already blast-ball hot and humid.

 

[citrine]

Come to New Mexico instead.... better food, great weather, awesome jobs, not many people, and it is a safe haven for the LGBTQ community, especially Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

 

[Mark1]

Houston, TX. You couldn't pay me to live there!
Wait, apparently you can, as I lived there for 20 years.

 

[ls99]

Well over 40 years ago passed through Texas.
Having learned American English in NY state, when I asked a question at the Texas welcome center, first response was a blank stare, after a few repeats of the question I was to told, yew suure tawlk funny, cain't unnerstand a word yew said.
The real funny part, having done Basic training in South Carolina, and additional intensives in Georgia, I had no trouble understanding her.
I ended up doing hundreds of pushups in Fort Jackson, until finally gained enough proficiency in southern languages to understand commands First ones I got was: Drop, gimmie twenty.

Western PA fits fine, even learned to understand Pittsburhgese.

 

[braumeister]

Western PA fits fine, even learned to understand Pittsburhgese.

Yinz are ahead of a lot of folks.