How would one get "bored" in Austin? (Portland: credit, tech jobs)

[Glenn Ross]

If you want to keep from getting bored in any city, it's totally up to you. if you're introverted and sit back waiting for people to come to you, you're going to get bored very quickly. But if you seek out others who share your interests, then you will start having fun. Since we're not allowed to promote here, let me just suggest you stay online and look for a site that will allow you to meet up with people who share similar interests. Or there are hundreds of nonprofits out there who need volunteers. I moved here and joined a group to meet girls and it worked. We've been married for 25 years. Had I just sat in my apartment watching TV that wouldn't have happened.

Carpe Diem! Hit the ground running and find people who do what you like to do whether it's mountain biking or coding.

[radiolibre99]

Believe me! I'm a typical extrovert Texan. I love meeting people and I'm not easily bored. This thread was really just me wondering how could anyone get bored of Austin? It seems it has an endless array of things to see and do.

[gabetx]

I get bored when it rains non-stop for days, and days, and days and days, and days, and days and days.......... and days.

Especially when it is on my days off!!

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I know that we could just be vague and say that it's all about the person but there could be some reason why someone who's not easily entertained might find Austin boring. I wouldn't think so due to all the stuff I listed. I can't just ask them cus a lot of them making the claims are on this board. They might not ever reply. I was wondering if people could speculate as to how or why someone get bored. I didn't just think they might be incomplete inside but that perhaps the the city is too small, idk.

It is about the person. You're asking others to speculate on whether you'd be bored here. You could just as easily ask people to speculate on what might excite you about living in Austin, and the answers would be just as irrelevant.

I've lived in Austin since 1985. I've never bee "bored". Annoyed, yes, but never bored ... until this thread. This is a very boring thread. Extremely boring. Insufferably so.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

It is about the person. You're asking others to speculate on whether you'd be bored here. You could just as easily ask people to speculate on what might excite you about living in Austin, and the answers would be just as irrelevant.

I've lived in Austin since 1985. I've never bee "bored". Annoyed, yes, but never bored ... until this thread. This is a very boring thread. Extremely boring. Insufferably so.

You're bored but maybe it's just you. Perhaps you'd be better off posting in other threads that interest you more.

Anyways, I wasn't really asking for people to tell me why I'd be bored but why the heck would anyone think it's boring? Do these people think it's too small? It's all speculation. Would one just have to be a thrill junkie to get bored?

[centralaustinite]

I'm kinda with Austin-Steve on this one, this thread is going on and on . . .

BUT

Here's one insight: Austin is kinda like a kaleidoscope, sometimes you have to shake it up and kinda squint to see the beauty. Some people, especially those from Northern and NE cities with a different architectural tradition (older, brick, built before cars) just see Austin and all other Sunbelt cities as a barren, soul less collection of endless strip malls and parking lots. And there are times and places (especially when running errands in July) when I think we all think that for at least a moment. The more typical NE entertainments of big old museums, pro sports, and European-ethnic food just aren't here.

For some people, it can take time to see the pleasures of Austin (swimming holes, trails) the history here, the traditions here. The seasons are kinda backwards to many as well -- October-February can be the best time to be outside and having fun, while our summers are something to endure. I think this was always mentioned upthread but Austin is a town that rewards participation. It is a place "to go, do" not "go and see." Other places have more pre-ready to see.

okay, that's it. I'm out!

[B00ST]

Originally Posted by Westerner92

I'd be at risk of getting bored more easily in large flat cities like Houston and Dallas since I'm not made of money and prefer to participate in my own fun rather than be entertained. There's no doubt there's more high culture and more niche activities to pay for in larger cities.

That's the thing about Austin that so many people don't seem to get. Though it's growing fast and coming more into the spotlight, it's still a relatively small city. You still have to participate in the culture for it to be sustainable and impressive for its size. You can't just observe it. You can't just attend an open mic night; you have to get up on stage at some point. You can't just go to Eeyore's birthday and complain there's nothing to it (I heard that in passing this year); grab a bongo and a pipe and make a goof of yourself. Go find a local band you like (there's probably one that fits your taste) and promote them rather than complain that Austin made up its live music reputation because you heard only crappy cover bands on Dirty 6th once. You think the farmer's markets here suck? Go grow your own vegetables and sell them! Is Austin not weird enough for you to be entertained? Be weird and watch how people embrace you. I could go on and on.

Point being, Austin is an active and open culture. It's not here to cater to you. Even then, it does have a great night life.

Compared to Houston and Dallas (and arguably LA because traffic makes it hard to escape the city), Austin has way better and way more outdoor recreation as well.

I tend to live by the saying "only boring people get bored", and if you run out of fun in Austin, I'm of the personal opinion that you have messed up priorities in life.

Not really. Austin just happens to have less couch potatoes proportionally than the larger Texas cities.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

I'm kinda with Austin-Steve on this one, this thread is going on and on . . .

BUT

Here's one insight: Austin is kinda like a kaleidoscope, sometimes you have to shake it up and kinda squint to see the beauty. Some people, especially those from Northern and NE cities with a different architectural tradition (older, brick, built before cars) just see Austin and all other Sunbelt cities as a barren, soul less collection of endless strip malls and parking lots. And there are times and places (especially when running errands in July) when I think we all think that for at least a moment. The more typical NE entertainments of big old museums, pro sports, and European-ethnic food just aren't here.

For some people, it can take time to see the pleasures of Austin (swimming holes, trails) the history here, the traditions here. The seasons are kinda backwards to many as well -- October-February can be the best time to be outside and having fun, while our summers are something to endure. I think this was always mentioned upthread but Austin is a town that rewards participation. It is a place "to go, do" not "go and see." Other places have more pre-ready to see.

okay, that's it. I'm out!

I think it's going on and on cus I find it rude not answering people who were kind enough to respond. They also bring up so many things I didn't know about Austin so I think it's great.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by radiolibre99

I think it's going on and on cus I find it rude not answering people who were kind enough to respond. They also bring up so many things I didn't know about Austin so I think it's great.

I answered your questions well I thought. Austin appeals to a certain typeset of people and even at that is whim to the weather. My excitement here could be likened to a graph of the population of a maturing country. At first, it's greatly increasing, then not as much, then at some point it starts to slowly decline.

I've basically done everything there is to do here multiple times and it starts to get old and boring. It's still more interesting than other places I've lived for long periods of time though. It doesn't help that I've gone through two divorces and have a lot of baggage here. It is what it is.

[radiolibre99]

Originally Posted by cBach

I answered your questions well I thought. Austin appeals to a certain typeset of people and even at that is whim to the weather. My excitement here could be likened to a graph of the population of a maturing country. At first, it's greatly increasing, then not as much, then at some point it starts to slowly decline.

I've basically done everything there is to do here multiple times and it starts to get old and boring. It's still more interesting than other places I've lived for long periods of time though. It doesn't help that I've gone through two divorces and have a lot of baggage here. It is what it is.

Youve answered my question for sure, man! Thanks. I'm sure the baggage doesn't help but if ya didn't have it would you still find it boring? I mean that would prove the other posters that say it's all about the person.