Austin Reminded Me of California (Dallas, San Antonio: living in, fence, moving)

[hello13685]

Hello Everyone,

I live in San Antonio, and am just back from a weekend trip to Austin. While I had visited Austin briefly a few years ago, I must say I was surprised at how beautiful it was. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten that. I felt like I had sudenly been plopped down in civilization, and I couldn't figure out what it was. Perhaps it had something to do with how clean and organized things looked? Or the nice cars and hilly, beautiful landscape, even in the city? I don't know, I just guess the feel was so crisp, like California--not rag-tag, if that makes sense. And we drove up to a lookout point to see the beautiful night skyline. I still have no idea where I'm going to move, but to those considering a move to Austin, it really did strike me as being a gem in Texas, and I would not hesitate to live there, at least from an aesthetic and cultural feel perspective. Thanks for listening, and I hope this helps someone who's on the fence about it!!

[southwest1230]

A quick comment. At this point, San Marcos is in the metro Austin area statistically.
Wait a few more years, and they will prob lump san ant. AND austin in the same metro
area, so you will then actually be living IN the Austin metro area, albeit not in the Austin
city limits. How can you live so close, about 45-50 minutes away from Austin, and only go there every couple years? I know people that commute to Austin daily from San Antonio. I think you should visit more often than every two years!

[imaterry78259]

I agree-the two cities should stop bashing each other and join together to be one big metroplex- Austinites you really got to truly visit SA and SA spends some quality time in Austin

[neddy]

I agree that the two cities should work together more. Austin however needs to get thru this growth spurt and needs to est. who they are first. As pretty as it is, Hello you still don't strike me as the type of person that could truly be happy here.

[hello13685]

Are you saying that they will describe Austin-San Antonio just as they currently describe Dallas-Fort Worth?

And Neddy, you are probably right about the Austin fit, but I just thought I'd say how beautiful your city is.

[CravenClan]

Hello, I thought you had a nice positive thing to say about Austin, i hope it was as beautiful as California (without the attitude of California!!??) I saw nothing but a compliment, so i do not know where the "you would not fit" part came from, I saw nothing in your compliment to state otherwise...

Nice compliment though, i hope it is great as we are visiting there in two weeks!!!

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by CravenClan

Hello, I thought you had a nice positive thing to say about Austin, i hope it was as beautiful as California (without the attitude of California!!??) I saw nothing but a compliment, so i do not know where the "you would not fit" part came from, I saw nothing in your compliment to state otherwise...

Nice compliment though, i hope it is great as we are visiting there in two weeks!!!

How do ALL californians find out about Austin? is it through wom, newspaper, internet. many californians have this attitude that austin is "mecca". to that, i say that you should have seen austin 15-20 years ago when it was REALLY austin.

[neddy]

Hello, since I am from SA and have heard what you are looking for(from the SA board for better part of a year or more) in a place to live that is why I don't think you would fit cause from what I have seen in your post it would not be stimulating enough for you after that newness had run out. Since I have been up here with the boys since June I have come to have fun but its seems to lack what you are missing down in SA. I know the OP was saying Austin was nice, I just don't want the OP to get blinded by beauty so to speak. I could be completely wrong..who knows..that is why I said the OP wouldn't fit. not everyone does and Austin is having problems going thinking its a smallish town to now becoming a big town (if not a city).

[AustinGuy]

Originally Posted by hello13685

Or the nice cars and hilly, beautiful landscape, even in the city? I don't know, I just guess the feel was so crisp, like California--not rag-tag, if that makes sense.

Surely, Austin is a very nice and sometimes beautiful place, but it doesn't compare to the beauty of California or the Pacific Northwest. It seems like people from the west coast who've never been here have the perception that Austin is some sort of mini-California oasis in the middle of Texas. I'm not sure where this rumor got started, but it isn't true.

[wehotex]

Originally Posted by AustinGuy

Surely, Austin is a very nice and sometimes beautiful place, but it doesn't compare to the beauty of California or the Pacific Northwest. It seems like people from the west coast who've never been here have the perception that Austin is some sort of mini-California oasis in the middle of Texas. I'm not sure where this rumor got started, but it isn't true.

yeah, i have to agree with that statement. west austin certainly has its beautiful hills, but they are "hills", not "mountains" like the kind that i saw in california. the vibe is unique for texas, imo a plus, but i limit that vibe to central /south austin, not the northwestern suburbs. i'm considering moving back to austin myself, but also have to be realistic that is has become a LOT more crowded and expensive than before. An austin friend told me that there was a newpaper article that pictured an aerial view of downtown austin in which all of the "proposed" new high rise developments would dwarf the frost bank tower (tallest bldg in downtown austin). scary thought! austin WILL be like California, but more than likely the kind of california that we were trying to escape