Anyone move to Austin....and hate it? (Dallas, Howe: crime, homes)

[twange]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

Depends where in CO. I mean if your on the front range, then Austin has it beat for beauty. The front range of CO is flat and brown (and cold). Austin has more trees, and the lake travis area is quite nice actually. Just moved from Austin to Colorado, and then moved again to AZ (where I am very happy finally). Austins heat/humidity factor just killed it for me. I tried as hard as I could to like it. There were so many things that it had going for it, but I was to darn sticky to enjoy any of it. Stayed inside all summer and watched 5 seasons of 24 instad of enjoying Texas.

Glad to see you finally found a place that feels right! You sure do move a lot

BTW, back up North where I'm from, 5 seasons of 24 ain't NEARLY enough to get you through the long, grim winters

More like:
TV/Movies
-All 6 seasons of The Sopranos
-All 5 seasons of 6-Feet Under
-Lord of the Rings Trilogy(with all of the extra DVDs, documentaries etc...)
-6 Seasons of Northern Exposure
-Both seasons of Twin Peaks
-Ken Burns "The Civil War"
-The Beatles Anthology
-The entire Stanley Kubrick collection
-The "Man With No Name" trilogy of Sergio Leone(Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns)
-3 Seasons of Deadwood


Books
-The complete works of Charles Dickens
-The complete works of William Shakespeare
-Tolstoy's War and Peace and Anna Karenina

This would be an adequate start to get you from November to April.

Maybe.

[artsyguy]

ya. Why leave Dallas? East Dallas or Fort Worth have a real laid back feel that you'd probably really like.
I think Austin is lame.

Originally Posted by sunshine4000

I moved here in 06 from Dallas to move to a "smaller" city with a more laid back feel. Well since I've been here I have seen tremendous change. The traffic is worse than I ever saw in Dallas. I have encountered a lot of rude hipsters as well who are extremely judgemental and pretentious. Worse than any of the tools in Dallas.

Also it seems there is a lack of quality jobs. You have to work a lot harder to make enough to get by. The housing is horrible. If you want to live in the best part of town, 78704, you have to live in a crappy apt. built in 1970 that has not been updated and the landlords do not care because everyone wants to live in 78704. I personally cannot afford a house in the area. The Californians have destroyed our market because they think the houses are cheap so they're moving down here in droves.

The waitstaff at restaurants are indifferent. Maybe they are bitter about their jobs?

Also, as a female I have trouble meeting quality men, whereas I haven't before and am always told what a catch I am. But I can't seem to find a good quality guy to date. I don't fit in with the hipsters, but at the same time am not into the boring Cedar Park/Roundrock set either. I have met a lot of other women who have a lot going for them who can't seem to get a date either!

Just my .02 cents. I hope this helps. What I DO love about Austin is the outdoors, esp Town Lake. But I will be moving soon so I can get higher pay and actually buy a home.

[lemon&lime]

Well, ok, minus all the traffic and Californians. I lived in Austin in the early 90s and left in '94 specifically to get away from the rude pretentious hipsters who apparently have never left! All the men I dated had borderline personality disorders and one of them used to contact me every so often ten years later even though the relationship was abusive just so he could continue to harass me! Last summer I found his MySpace page and he had listed his age as ten years younger. Definitely a tool and has not changed at all. Oh just writing about it is upsetting. I never had a good job or though I did manage to manifest a couple of good places to live. Certainly Austin has its appeal. In the late 90s I lived in the Hill Country for a while and miss the laid back, quiet feel of the area. But Austin was just intolerable on several levels and I would never move back.

Originally Posted by sunshine4000

I moved here in 06 from Dallas to move to a "smaller" city with a more laid back feel. Well since I've been here I have seen tremendous change. The traffic is worse than I ever saw in Dallas. I have encountered a lot of rude hipsters as well who are extremely judgemental and pretentious. Worse than any of the tools in Dallas.

Also it seems there is a lack of quality jobs. You have to work a lot harder to make enough to get by. The housing is horrible. If you want to live in the best part of town, 78704, you have to live in a crappy apt. built in 1970 that has not been updated and the landlords do not care because everyone wants to live in 78704. I personally cannot afford a house in the area. The Californians have destroyed our market because they think the houses are cheap so they're moving down here in droves.

The waitstaff at restaurants are indifferent. Maybe they are bitter about their jobs?

Also, as a female I have trouble meeting quality men, whereas I haven't before and am always told what a catch I am. But I can't seem to find a good quality guy to date. I don't fit in with the hipsters, but at the same time am not into the boring Cedar Park/Roundrock set either. I have met a lot of other women who have a lot going for them who can't seem to get a date either!

Just my .02 cents. I hope this helps. What I DO love about Austin is the outdoors, esp Town Lake. But I will be moving soon so I can get higher pay and actually buy a home.

[sunshine4000]

Thanks for understanding. Yeah I lived in East Dallas and LOVED it, but I moved to Austin for Town Lake, hill country, etc. and Dallas just had too much concrete for me. I loved the people here way back when I used to visit, but I just did not expect so many pretentious hipsters who make fun of others based on their clothes and hair. I've heard it over and over since I work with a bunch of hipsters who are grown adults who refuse to talk to someone because they aren't covered in tattoos and in the latest hipster attire.

Don't get me wrong, I love Austin. Its just the traffic and hipsters, and lack of quality jobs as well as low pay- all are wearing on me so I'm going to move and I know I can always come back!!

Another thing I forgot to mention. TOO MANY homeless people. You cannot go downtown without getting harrassed. I feel sorry for them of course, but after the 500th person that you give money to in one day, you don't feel like giving any more out. I love "weird" people like Leslie, but sometimes the other ones who hang out downtown are very mean and it is scary when you are a female. Don't tell me this is in every city. I lived in Dallas for 9 years and yes we did have a homeless problem but it wasn't this bad. I don't know why they put a homeless shelter in the middle of the bar district??

Oh, the heat doesn't bother me since I'm a Texan through and through!!

I think if I weren't ready for settling down and having a family, I'd probably like it a lot more since the bar/party scene is thriving here. I'd party with the best of the hipsters! Either that or if I were already married. I'm sure Austin works out fine for a lot of people. I'm just giving my 2 cents!!

[artsyguy]

I'm living with a roommate that has borderline personality disorder.
A complete fake phoney and control freak.

I like the hill country and some aspects of the laid back culture but it isn't as cool as Dallas. Dallas has lower cost of living and probably more job opportunities. And a huge gay scene.

I personally don't think Austin is too liberal. And I like liberal!

I have not ran into too many of the hipsters. I am one of the hippest people ever, people think I am in the fashion industry BUT I know I don't associate with rude and pretentious people (the ones you call Hipsters??) nor have I really ran into too many. I've been out on 6th street and out and about on other streets and have maybe run into only a few rude and dumb people here and there.

But for example I met a new friend at a dance club and we were sort of teasing other people that were dancing funny or were dressed really goofy (amongst ourselves). My new friend had iniated it and I was going along with the flow. It wasn't a big deal to me because these guys really looked funny. Then suddenly the guy turned things around and said we arn't any better or we don't look any better for making fun of them. So I was like what?? I was making fun because they looked or danced funny not because I thought I was superior.

Originally Posted by catrinac

Well, ok, minus all the traffic and Californians. I lived in Austin in the early 90s and left in '94 specifically to get away from the rude pretentious hipsters who apparently have never left! All the men I dated had borderline personality disorders and one of them used to contact me every so often ten years later even though the relationship was abusive just so he could continue to harass me! Last summer I found his MySpace page and he had listed his age as ten years younger. Definitely a tool and has not changed at all. Oh just writing about it is upsetting. I never had a good job or though I did manage to manifest a couple of good places to live. Certainly Austin has its appeal. In the late 90s I lived in the Hill Country for a while and miss the laid back, quiet feel of the area. But Austin was just intolerable on several levels and I would never move back.

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by twange

Glad to see you finally found a place that feels right! You sure do move a lot

BTW, back up North where I'm from, 5 seasons of 24 ain't NEARLY enough to get you through the long, grim winters

More like:
TV/Movies
-All 6 seasons of The Sopranos
-All 5 seasons of 6-Feet Under
-Lord of the Rings Trilogy(with all of the extra DVDs, documentaries etc...)
-6 Seasons of Northern Exposure
-Both seasons of Twin Peaks
-Ken Burns "The Civil War"
-The Beatles Anthology
-The entire Stanley Kubrick collection
-The "Man With No Name" trilogy of Sergio Leone(Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns)
-3 Seasons of Deadwood


Books
-The complete works of Charles Dickens
-The complete works of William Shakespeare
-Tolstoy's War and Peace and Anna Karenina

This would be an adequate start to get you from November to April.

Maybe.

Don't forget about Desperate Housewives, I became quite addicted to this chicky flicky series. The guys at the Pflugerville Hollywood Video were our only frineds, they knew us by name.

Yes, your right, I moved WAY too much in 2007.

[twange]

Originally Posted by artsyguy

I am one of the hippest people ever,

And humble too.

Hmm, maybe the reason you don't notice the "hipsters" is because you are one of them?

This conversation is getting so boring. Not everybody likes Austin. So the f*ck what? That's why there are a lot of cities to choose from.

Oh, and artsyguy, maybe your experience here in Austin has a lot to do with your living situation (which sounds VERY frustrating and trying). Good luck with that, it sounds miserable.

[S&AMOM]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

Depends where in CO. I mean if your on the front range, then Austin has it beat for beauty. The front range of CO is flat and brown (and cold). Austin has more trees, and the lake travis area is quite nice actually. Just moved from Austin to Colorado, and then moved again to AZ (where I am very happy finally). Austins heat/humidity factor just killed it for me. I tried as hard as I could to like it. There were so many things that it had going for it, but I was to darn sticky to enjoy any of it. Stayed inside all summer and watched 5 seasons of 24 instad of enjoying Texas.

I lived in CO Springs right near the mountains. While there are some scenic spots to live in Austin it takes some $$$ to live in those exclusive areas. It may not be as green as long but I love Aspen trees and miss them so much. I will be happy to kiss cedar trees bye-bye. Honestly to me there is just no comparison but everyone has their own ideas of beauty.

I'm glad you found what works for you. I also stay in all summer but now that my kids are getting older I cannot do that and be a good mom. My kids want to run and play. Hopefully we will be moving within the next year if jobs workout.

[love roses]

That's so true about how much $$$ it is in Austin to live in the scenic spots. Of course, there are those places in Colorado, but it IS more accessable for others than it is here. You definitely aren't priced out of many areas in the foothills or mountains. Except maybe Aspen.

[sberdrow]

Originally Posted by S&AMOM

I lived in CO Springs right near the mountains. While there are some scenic spots to live in Austin it takes some $$$ to live in those exclusive areas. It may not be as green as long but I love Aspen trees and miss them so much. I will be happy to kiss cedar trees bye-bye. Honestly to me there is just no comparison but everyone has their own ideas of beauty.

I'm glad you found what works for you. I also stay in all summer but now that my kids are getting older I cannot do that and be a good mom. My kids want to run and play. Hopefully we will be moving within the next year if jobs workout.

Co springs is the only spot on the front range I think is pretty. Oddly enough, after checking out denver, while living in Austin, I was glad to return to lush green Austin. The front range is dead and brown for about 7 months a year. Now I live in Phoenix, and even it is greener than the front range. Austin was also KING when it came to the great scenic bike paths. You have to go to Boulder to find decent paths on the front range. I am not speaking of the rest of Colorado, just the front range. Texas, with its faults has one strong thing I will remember, I was always greeted with a friendly smile no matter where I went. Not so in Colorado. No, other than the springs, I would not perfer moving back to CO, over Austin. Good thing I don't have to make either decision anymore. BTW if your into boating, don't move to Colorado, stay in texas.