Are TOO MANY people moving to Austin? (Post, West: condos, quality of life)

[TexasHorseLady]

Agreed. Austin, and, frankly, most of Texas, is not and never was Southern (unless you count Mexico as "Southern").

[hillcountryheart]

Originally Posted by cBach

SW Austin is like the East Bay of the Bay Area, or think the N VA suburbs of DC.

SW Austin is more like Berkeley than Oakland, although it's neither. 80s Austin was more like 70s Santa Fe than to Oakland or Houston, because Austin's always been about creative types. Or perhaps Austin was more like Champaign, Illinois, with a funky offbeat college town vibe - until the Californians started their invasion in the early 90s and severely diluted the population.

I'm tired of young people looking at me and wondering why anyone over 40 could possibly live here unless they had a wad of cash and some good plastic surgery. I didn't have that attitude when I was a teenager, but we didn't obsess over every facet of our image, either.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Agreed. Austin, and, frankly, most of Texas, is not and never was Southern (unless you count Mexico as "Southern").

"Most" must exclude the eastern 1/3. Topographically, culturally - heck, even down to the pine trees stretching to the sky, East Texas - behind the Pine Curtain - might as well be Mississippi.

The debate has raged on here forever. Texas is its own unique blend of Western and Southern. It is neither, exclusively. There are elements of each. We are on a seam, and our culture reflects that.

[RoadWarrior12]

They even like *gasp* pork BBQ in east TX.

[TexasHorseLady]

I was bred, born, and raised in East Texas. It is MORE like the South than the vast majority of Texas, but the South it is not; the influences that are so strong in the rest of Texas have had their influence there, as well. One could accurately say that it was influenced by the South just as South Texas and part of West Texas was influenced by Mexico.

[orngkat]

My resounding answer to the question remains YES! I have nothing against too many people but as an earlier poster said the new Austin seems to value little other than:

Build, advertise, sell. Build more!

I think it there is very little thought given to the long-term quality of life in this city. Just keep them coming, throw up some over-priced, tinderbox VMU apartments on arterials. Fell the woods and greenery for large business complexes. It only seems to be about greed and money.
For those of us who have been here a LONG time, the laid-back feeling is mostly gone. I walk through my neighborhood and wonder who are these people tearing down our neighborhood bit by bit and putting in gigantic houses?
We're not in Austin anymore.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

I was bred, born, and raised in East Texas. It is MORE like the South than the vast majority of Texas, but the South it is not; the influences that are so strong in the rest of Texas have had their influence there, as well. One could accurately say that it was influenced by the South just as South Texas and part of West Texas was influenced by Mexico.

I don't think we are that far apart. It is just that when one drives I-20 westbound, it is difficult to tell the difference between Jackson, Shreveport, and Longview. It isn't until you get to Terrell, that it changes - and the change from Terrell to Mineral Wells is like you drove from Mississippi to Wyoming.

To get back to the original point, Austin IS southern. It is also western (especially southwestern), with a strong Hispanic flavor. We may be more balanced between all the influences than any city in the state. But they are all in the stew called Austin.

[lighthouse2000]

In the 20 year plus that have been visiting Texas, I would say that in general it may have some characteristics from the south, some of the west but mostly is a really unique peculiar nice blend.

In Austin I find a nice blend of people, and even that many people don't like to even think about, I like the Californians that I have met here. I like Austin, still is Texas but with its own relaxed style. I prefer it over Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by scm53

But they are all in the stew called Austin.

With or without beans?

[scm53]

Originally Posted by cBach

With or without beans?

See, that's the problem. Some folks think any spicy stew is chili. So they put pasta, tomatoes, rice .....