Has anyone moved to Austin and regretted it? If so, why? (Beaumont: crime, home)

[rickc007]

Originally Posted by migol84

I'm not too informed on that current situation but there certainly does seem that Austin has a high IT job market. I myself had a few friends, and acquaintances that moved from the Silicon Valley to Austin because of this. Although they did say that Austin pays less, however, the cost of living and quality of life is much better than living in Mountain View, or Palo Alto. Plus a lot of these nerds feel like that the night life and work is in Austin as opposed to traveling from San Jose to San Francisco just to party. That's almost like driving from Austin to San Antonio.

Exactly, it' AMAZING I can live this close to the city, pay so little for housing,
and make so much money

Thank You Austin

[hoffdano]

Originally Posted by eepstein

Yes, we all know that Austin is BOOMING with those minimum wage jobs which Texas leads the nation in!

If only you had your eyes open.

Austin battles shortage in high-end software engineering talent

There is a shortage of people to fill the openings for highly skilled (and very well paid) software professionals.

[austin-steve]

Indeed.

Austin salaries vary greatly, depending on the size of the company and its ability to raise venture capital. For top-level, experienced software programmers with key skills, pay can range from $130,000 to $150,000 a year, up from $100,000 to $120,000 over the past couple of years, according to HireStarter.com.

Senior software engineers with experience in traditional programming languages like C++ can earn between $100,000 and $120,000, and workers with mobile programming skills can make $120,000 to $150,000. Some established software startups are paying "north of $150,000 for programmers. That was almost unheard of before," Davis said.

...

Whaleshark grew from 30 employees to 100 over the past year and plans to add up to 50 next year. Even with deep pockets — Whaleshark has raised $300 million in venture capital — finding the right people is the company's biggest challenge, said CEO Cotter Cunningham .

The company has started offering up to $2,000 for any employee who makes a successful referral. And it is sweetening its perks: Breakfast and lunch are catered several times a week; there's no vacation policy — employees can take what they want ; and new employees can choose their own computer system and get a cellphone allowance.

"Those things are what it takes to stand out," Cunningham said.

Opportunity abounds for those willing to get off their butts and learn a skill in demand. And it's not just software. There are a lot of "blue collar tech" jobs all over the country, including Austin, for which only 6 to 24 months of tech school training is required and which can put a non-college grad at a $50K salary within 2-3 years.

Steve

[Slunkmonky]

I moved to Austin 2 years ago from Scranton. Granted, it doesn't take a lot to beat Scranton but I've also been all over the world as a soldier,, lived in or at least experienced other states and such.

I have no regrets moving here, but here is what I miss.

1. Driving to other major cities. I never hear anything good about Dallas or Houston. In PA I could drive in hours to Boston, New York City, Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Washington DC,, all as day trips even. I could see history, art, famous places, shows. I miss that, but I didn't really take advantage of it all that much anyway. I still prefer Austin.
2. Driving period. I could drive 25 miles in a half hour in PA. If I drove 25 miles north from South Austin I'd probably just settle down up there and find a new job.
3. I guess that's it...

I made more money up there in PA even after paying state income tax. I paid almost half as much in rent. My job here sucks as much as my job sucked in PA. So why do I like it here better? I like the heat. I used to ride my bike home from work in 104 degree heat 14 miles from south to north so it was all gradually uphill. Human beings are meant to withstand more than that. We don't need air conditioning in our cars down here, it's just nice to have. Well ok, maybe when you are sitting still on I35.

I like the people. At work I talk to people in the frozen north all day and most of them are OK but some of them are just nasty people from the weather. I have lived in Upstate NY and Afghanistan (-30 to 125) so even when I lived in the north I was tired of how out of sorts people get in the winter. In Austin people get realllly crabby when it rains, but that's barely a problem at all anymore.

The only thing that has irked me about Austin is the hatred of Californians. As a rural raised person my perspective is that Austin is pretty much like Southern California,, If you google for blogs and such about why people hate california pretty much everything people complain about is easily found here. I've been accused of being a Californian because I was using chopsticks in a Chinese restaurant.... I hope that person was just visiting Austin from someplace else.

As far as Austin being Texas or it's own universe I've heard it several ways. My army friends from San Antonio or Houston have said that Austin wasn't Texas. I was at a roadside store/bar/daycare/taco stand once and it smelled like my alcoholic neighbors living room in 1993. It felt Texas-ey and not Austin-ey I guess. I felt way out of place for a taco. On the other hand I went towards Lockhart to a shooting range that was 5 miles down a dirt road from nowhere and people there were so talkative, friendly, gregarious. Mind you I pulled into the parking lot on a 250cc scooter that was burnt Orange and had the UT longhorns on it (I bought it used like that, I don't know anything about UT.) It didn't shock them. Nobody shot me. I'm sure if I keep going there I might learn some things about our socialist muslim president i hadn't known before, but people in small towns all over are like that, not just in rural Texas.

I love how much fun my life is here, how many new things I try, how great of shape I'm in even compared to when I was an Army private. I feel like I don't have to even give it that much effort to have this much fun, it just comes to me as part of the flow. Austin isn't the only place on earth to do these things, but it's a great choice IMO.

It's not perfect, but if you regret moving here, you left something more 'you' or you didn't try to make it a home. The only reason I don't like my job is that every time I go to put a resume together I get sucked into pleasure activities instead. You can find success here, but even with a bad job, I'm satisfied for what else I have.

[testmo]

give Dallas or Houston a shot. They are both neat cities but don't have the same type of history/historical buildings that the NE has (which is unique to that pocket of cities all relatively close together)

[feesha]

I don't regret moving here but one thing I don't like is the amount of people everywhere I go. It's daunting! The traffic is awful, the drivers are rude, and when I'm out shopping the people aren't the nicest. I'm not having an easy time fitting in here. Before we moved to the Austin area I expected to love it. I'm from a small Texas city and my idea of friendly is much different. On the plus side I'd say Austin is much more diverse than what I'm used to. Just expect to be honked at if you're lost or not speeding.

[migol84]

Originally Posted by rickc007

Exactly, it' AMAZING I can live this close to the city, pay so little for housing,
and make so much money

Thank You Austin

careful, because this "flaunting" of your success can make others jealous and thus you risk being called an "austin snob".

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by Slunkmonky

...

The only thing that has irked me about Austin is the hatred of Californians. As a rural raised person my perspective is that Austin is pretty much like Southern California,, If you google for blogs and such about why people hate california pretty much everything people complain about is easily found here.
...

I agree, for the most part. I grew up in S. Cal and left at age 19. Arrived in Austin at age 23 and it immediately reminded me of home in many ways. Still does. I do think there are some cultural differences, but not enough to disagree with your comments.

I went towards Lockhart to a shooting range that was 5 miles down a dirt road from nowhere and people there were so talkative, friendly, gregarious. Mind you I pulled into the parking lot on a 250cc scooter that was burnt Orange and had the UT longhorns on it (I bought it used like that, I don't know anything about UT.) It didn't shock them. Nobody shot me.

Points for imagery alone. Would like to have seen that.

Yes, you don't have to venture far outside Austin at all to encounter "country" folks. Some really good quality people too if you get past initial assumptions.

One of my lawn guys is like that. He was checking a vacant property for me yesterday that needs shaping up. He called and asked (in thick southern accent) "you want me to make it look good, or make it look real good? It'll cost a little more to make it look real good".

I told him. "let's make it look real good" and he said "you got it".

I'm not sure what he's going to charge me but I know it will be fair. And I know it in fact will look "real good", though "plain good" would probably have been good enough.

I'd much rather deal with people like that than more "sophisticated" companies that bid everything and get it signed before starting. I like that Austin still has a good urban/rural cultural mix if you get out and meet different people.

Steve

[breezzy32]

I have enjoyed reading what everyone has written (especially SlunkMonky, I eat with chopsticks too) I am considering moving to the Round Rock area (was gung ho for Albuquerque til I found out they have the same weather temps as Long Island, NY...burrr) so I scanned Google maps to find a place warmer now than where I am, parks, airports and close to a city without living in one.

I have heard everyone mention its hot...Good, my bones and muscles need that (no, Im not that old!) I don't mind some humidity or rain but the way the posts sound its as if it were FL. Does it rain a lot? More than east coast NY? Is it more humid than east coast NY? I saw one post where a man found it uncomfortable to ride his motorbike because of humidity. I just obtained my license and want to ride (thats also why I am looking into Round Rock...curvy roads, less traffic)

Is there more rainy days than sun? When it does rain (I get the thunderstorms, kinda looking forward to seeing one) will it rain for WEEKS or just a couple days then sun again?

I've heard about the electric companies (here we only have one and they are out of control!!!), which one should I choose. Someone said to watch out which electric company you get.

I think that I'm a pretty friendly person so I would like to be around more friendly people. I have lived in NY for 15yrs and my neighbors stay to themselves. If I make them Xmas cookies they look afraid (I live in low crime area). Also, when they drive by and see you (my family waves) they look straight ahead like they don't see you. All cashiers here don't look at you. They check their cell phones while your trying to pay (I have even held out my money and had to wait with money in air while they finished texting or checking for texts) or they are yelling 3 lanes down about who did what, who cheated on who and how wasted they got last wkend or want to get this wkend. INSANE...I WANT OUT PLEASE..

everyones help is appreciated. Thank you.

[TerryDactyls]

I've been here since 1993 and we are always in a draught. Don't worry about rain. I moved here from Washington, D.C. It isn't humid (unless you're use to the desert). As for electric companies, you're stuck with whoever services where you live.