Why we are not moving to Texas. (Austin, Fort Worth: appointed, real estate)
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Yes... rejoice....one less transplanted couple in the Austin area.
We thought we were going to move from the Pacific NW to the Austin area...
My partner and I ( gay) have spent the last week or so wandering the Texas Hill country and spending sometime in downtown Austin.
We had our heart set on Wimberley...all the pre-visit research said this town fit our lifestyle and needs.....surprisingly it was our least favorite place. I don't really get the attraction. The town was boring and the traffic barreling thru the town square did not fit a small town feeling.....no sidewalks into town didn't help as well. We went to several other small towns.....Lockhart, Elgin, Smithville, Bastrop...as a gay couple we did not feel comfortable,( all be it we did not give these places much time) We liked the town and homes of Bastrop. I could have lived there but wondered what life would have been like always a bit paranoid about how people "saw us'.......The other towns seemed depressed and the town squares deserted or dying.....the revival slow.
The city of Austin is wonderful....we are truly enjoying our stay.... we just can't afford it and not looking for an urban/suburban developement experience.....
This trip was important...we realized we have it really good in the Seattle area.
Hey, at least you didn't waste your time.........not only is no place for EVERYONE, but I would hate to live in that place, because then it wouldn't be FOR anyone. Glad to see you still had a good time visiting, and we think the Pac NW is pretty awesome out here in Austin too....
Did you get a chance to check out Fredericksburg, which is about 80 miles west of Austin. That is about as charming of a small town you can find in the hill country (imo, of course)?
Yes, if you are in the PNW, I would certainly stay there. And are you saying small Texas towns aren't the most friendly for gay people? I've never heard such a thing...
I agree, Texas is huge and you can't compare one part to it in a whole. My partner and I live in NJ, 10 minutes outside of NY/Manhattan. Were thinking of moving to the Austin area: Round Rock, Leander, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, etc. We have been talking to 2 realtors, one straight and one gay to get 2 different perspectives. We heard the further north you go the less comfortable you will feel. if you stay around the Austin area you will be fine. Its pretty much the same thing as living in NJ. Were flying down the 1st of November and will be meeting with the realtors, and honestly were very excited. All of the research we've done and all the conversations on the phone with these realtors we can't wait to see it. Maybe you should have spoken with some realtors to both gay and str8 two get some opinions. The real estate is excellent compared to NJ & NY. We can get a home with double the square footage for $200k and less. Just hope the job market stays progressing out there b/c it's horrible up here. The only thing I must say is freaking me out is snakes, scorpions, fire ants and biting catapillars......what the f&@#K! I'm not afraid of animals and insects but the people on these forums act like they're in your beds, shoes,, cars windows yards,......am I going to be comfortable living there? Will we ever be able to relax on our patio and enjoy our pool without being eaten alive?
I agree, Texas is huge and you can't compare one part to it in a whole. My partner and I live in NJ, 10 minutes outside of NY/Manhattan. Were thinking of moving to the Austin area: Round Rock, Leander, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, etc. We have been talking to 2 realtors, one straight and one gay to get 2 different perspectives. We heard the further north you go the less comfortable you will feel. if you stay around the Austin area you will be fine. Its pretty much the same thing as living in NJ. Were flying down the 1st of November and will be meeting with the realtors, and honestly were very excited. All of the research we've done and all the conversations on the phone with these realtors we can't wait to see it. Maybe you should have spoken with some realtors to both gay and str8 two get some opinions. The real estate is excellent compared to NJ & NY. We can get a home with double the square footage for $200k and less. Just hope the job market stays progressing out there b/c it's horrible up here. The only thing I must say is freaking me out is snakes, scorpions, fire ants and biting catapillars......what the f&@#K! I'm not afraid of animals and insects but the people on these forums act like they're in your beds, shoes,, cars windows yards,......am I going to be comfortable living there? Will we ever be able to relax on our patio and enjoy our pool without being eaten alive?
I'm not going to lie to you; if you've never had to deal with those things before, you'll probably get bitten/stung a few times before you learn how to live with/around them.
I got used to shaking out my shoes before putting them on, always looking down when walking through grass, and never walking through grass if I couldn't see where I was going...and I still got stung by wasps and swarmed by fire ants more than once.
I think if you go anywhere, expecting it to be like the place you left, you will definitely be disappointed. Go to Austin, expecting and willing to embrace Austin - you will be happy.
We left Seattle for Austin, and it couldn't have been a better decision. I think of my inlaws right now, huddled in their way overpriced 2 bed, 1 bath bungelow in CD, probably looking at dark night sky in just a couple of hours (about 4pm) and rejoice that I am hanging here, blue skies, 75 degrees...
It's not for everyone, I guess... so it's good you made a visit before you took the plunge.
Yes... rejoice....one less transplanted couple in the Austin area.
We thought we were going to move from the Pacific NW to the Austin area...
My partner and I ( gay) have spent the last week or so wandering the Texas Hill country and spending sometime in downtown Austin.
We had our heart set on Wimberley...all the pre-visit research said this town fit our lifestyle and needs.....surprisingly it was our least favorite place. I don't really get the attraction. The town was boring and the traffic barreling thru the town square did not fit a small town feeling.....no sidewalks into town didn't help as well. We went to several other small towns.....Lockhart, Elgin, Smithville, Bastrop...as a gay couple we did not feel comfortable,( all be it we did not give these places much time) We liked the town and homes of Bastrop. I could have lived there but wondered what life would have been like always a bit paranoid about how people "saw us'.......The other towns seemed depressed and the town squares deserted or dying.....the revival slow.
The city of Austin is wonderful....we are truly enjoying our stay.... we just can't afford it and not looking for an urban/suburban developement experience.....
This trip was important...we realized we have it really good in the Seattle area.
Hi Guys! You might remember we exchanged a few emails back in May-June as we were (and still are) looking for an early retirement location as well. As I write this we're in Asheville, NC. It's beautiful here, and very accepting for a gay couple. After three days here, we're ready to get home to Fort Worth. We may look at Asheville again, but we wanted to check out a few Texas towns first, something closer to "home". We had thought of Fredericksburg and Wimberley as well. It's been years since either of us visited the area, but your description sounds like it's probably right given the influx of tourists and new residents. I was curious about Bastrop. I had read somewhere that a lot of gay people were moving into that area. Did you "sense" any difference at all? We live a very quiet, non-activist life, but don't want to feel we are looking over our shoulders all the time. Best of luck to you both. Keep in touch!
Just an observer comment - I've known a few gay gyus that live(d) in Bastrop. However, Austin is by far and large the liberal oasis in Texas. Get a few miles outside of town and you will sense the presence of the conservative majority in Texas. That's not to say however, that living there would be so bad, but it's not going to feel like Austin. You would have the proximity to a place where you can enjoy a gay bar or attend a gay/lesbian film festival but your immediate surroundings might not be as open. I would almost think it would be worse in a place like Fredricksburg, but Wimberly is close enough to Austin and home to lots of artsy types, so it may be better. I guess it's just one of those things you have tyo judge for yourself and feel.
My husband and I have been looking for a place to retire outside the Austin area and even though I enjoy some of the smaller towns, I "feel" a strong conservative presence in some areas and it just doesn't sit well with me. So, I kind of know what you mean. Best of luck to you though!
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