Where would you move if you were to leave Austin? (Houston: job market, quality of life)

[motherofthree]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

I don't need any winter to speak of, but these past four summers have been nuts! IF, and it's a big IF, we were to move, I'd be looking for a tad less heat.

Two years ago Austin was perfect for me but the heat is getting old. I like no winters too but I don't want a summer like this again.

I want: very few days below freezing, summers that rarely get above low 90's, low humidity, and no worries about earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes. Does such a place exist?

[AustinGuy]

San Diego or Vancouver, BC

[capcat]

Originally Posted by motherofthree

Two years ago Austin was perfect for me but the heat is getting old. I like no winters too but I don't want a summer like this again.

I don't know that it's ever been perfect for me, but I've gotten comfortable here. However, I agree....the heat is really getting old. More than that, the lack of rain. Not just for the plants. For the sound of the rain. For something different.

[opalminor]

somewhere where water actually falls from the sky once in a while...

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by motherofthree

Two years ago Austin was perfect for me but the heat is getting old. I like no winters too but I don't want a summer like this again.

I want: very few days below freezing, summers that rarely get above low 90's, low humidity, and no worries about earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes. Does such a place exist?

I would say worrying is your own problem and you can control that. California has plenty of areas that have everything you want. From a probability point of view you should worry when you drive on the highway more than you should worry about an earthquake, tornado etc. It is completely irrational to worry about those extraordinarily rare events but not worry about the single biggest risk factor you have in your life.

[dave bacon]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

We weren't attracted by the 'marketing conspiracy' that so many talk about; but, the published weather data did make me more comfortable about out decision to relocate here for 'family reasons'. Unfortunately, we arrived just in time for the four hottest, driest, dustiest, longest summers on record. I don't need any winter to speak of, but these past four summers have been nuts! IF, and it's a big IF, we were to move, I'd be looking for a tad less heat. We're not quite old enough to do the 'summer in the mountains' thing, even though we have a place in Highlands, NC(where the temps are 20-30 degrees lower than Austin during high summer).

It would be interesting to 'figure' how our decision might have been different IF the four summers PRIOR to our move had been so blazing hot as the last four. We're both from the 'deep South', so we understand heat, but CHOOSING to move to a convection oven is looking like an odd selection, indeed.

Nah, we're not goin' anywhere...just might have to rethink that 'summer in the mountains' idea.

I agree with you Rick, I moved here 5 years ago - where are the published average highs of 95 to 96 in July and August and only 12 days of triple digits? Is this heat an anomaly or climate change?

[cBach]

Originally Posted by dave bacon

I agree with you Rick, I moved here 5 years ago - where are the published average highs of 95 to 96 in July and August and only 12 days of triple digits? Is this heat an anomaly or climate change?

The new averages just came out and the new average highs are 97 to 98 in July and August. Still better than 107 though.

[eepstein]

Keep in mind those "averages" are over the past 120 years. Over the past decade (for example), the average highs in the summer in the Austin area are upper 90's to 100. Lows are mid to upper 70's.

Winters are also getting colder and dryer as well. Snowfall is occuring every year lately, and freezes are becomming more and more common.

The "high desert" climate of west Texas is slowly moving to the east. I would consider Austin's climate to be "semi arid" similar to that of San Angelo.

Originally Posted by dave bacon

I agree with you Rick, I moved here 5 years ago - where are the published average highs of 95 to 96 in July and August and only 12 days of triple digits? Is this heat an anomaly or climate change?

[Frodo2008]

Originally Posted by oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots

Can I answer if I'm from Hutto? Good question. Haven't found the place yet. Somewhere where there is never a threat of tornado, hurricane, or earthquakes, or tsunamis, or volcano's. lol Looking for a small town from about 100 years ago, lot's of trees, no big box stores, quaint, out in the middle of no-where. Perhaps, considering renovating an old missile silo. I'm partially serious in this post. Most of all looking for a much slower pace. Hutto, Austin, surrounding areas are too fast for my taste. I wish people would SLOW DOWN. But, that's my controlling nature, eh?

Smithville, TX is exactly what you're looking for. It's very small and the pace is very slow. There aren't any box stores or franchises there. It's a few small local businesses and that's it. They don't even have a McDonald's or a Wal-Mart there. If they don't have a McDonald's or a Wal-Mart then you know they're really small.

Smithville is a place you move to when you want seclusion and peacefulness.

[sxrckr]

Originally Posted by AustinGuy

Vancouver, BC

That sounds like heaven right now....