Detroit to Austin (Pflugerville, Anderson Mill, Burnet: apartment complex, home, live in)

[SolAggressive]

Hi y'all!

See, I'm practicing already.

My wife and I are relocating through our employers to Austin. We're actually leaving in 4 days and I couldn't be more excited. Especially considering our 4-6 inches of snow we just got.

I've rarely heard a bad thing about Austin. And anything I have heard in the negative seems to be personal opinion i.e. I don't like tex-mex or barbecue, etc.

I have never been to Austin, but my wife has been a couple times for sprots trips and work. We're athletic business professionals, 29 and 31 years of age. We're moving to the North Austin/Arboretum area. Moving into the Riata, specifically.

I'm excited about everything and truly feel we are going to fit right in.

I guess it wouldn't be a decent post if I didnt' include a question. So I'd like to hear from other Detroiters, south-east Michiganders, or just Michiganders in general who moved to Austin.

What were the best/worst parts about the change in location? Are you 100% happy with your move? And also, what's the biggest change to get used to, culturally or otherwise?

Pumped for my move,
Neil

[jhwest]

I grew up in Southfield and the most obvious difference is the lack of minorities. There are some Indians and asians, but I rarely see blacks and I never see anyone that looks arabic. I don't think that makes people here bigoted or racist. Most Austinites (Austonians? Austiners?) seem very openminded as well as friendly.
Hardly anybody here has a Texas accent, which I was kind of bummed about. I'll be happy to never hear that flat, nasally Michigander accent again!
Also you need to get used to looking at people you pass by and saying hello. People in Michigan are so unfriendly and brusque. It really catches me off guard when some lady in the parking lot says "good morning" when I walk by. I'm not used to friendly strangers! I love it, though, and I'm trying to be friendlier, since one of the reasons I moved was being sick of mean people.
I think you'll love it here. I can't think of many ways that Detroit is better than Austin. (No Devils Night here. Shucks. Also not much good Middle Eastern food. Although I did find a good greek cafe on 183 and Anderson Mill which is really close to where you'll be. Actually, I really missed autumn. Here autumn doesn't really exist. And I sooo miss the Franklin Cider Mill.)
You're already used to oppressive hot summers, so this should be no big deal for you either. I love Austin (OK, I've only been here three months, but I think it's wonderful). I have no plans to ever visit Detroit again, and am not the slightest bit sad about that. (I might go back for a class reunion, but that's about it.)

[SolAggressive]

The friendliness is something I've been hearing about. Already just communicating with the apartment complex or even people at the secretary of state down there... My reaction to my wife right away was that it was so over the top I thought it almost sounded patronizing and insincere. I'm very use dto not making eye contact, too. but I am looking forward to that change of pace. But I have an inkling it'll take some time before I'm convinced it's real.

I'll miss middle-eastern food, but we'll find something else isntead. It's one of my wife's and my favorite treats.

Thanks for the reply!

[S6Sputnik]

One of my families best moves was from Clarkston to Austin. I hope you will look back some day and feel the same way!

[TexasHorseLady]

There are some Indians and asians, but I rarely see blacks and I never see anyone that looks arabic.

As a native Texan (back four generations at least through all grandparents), I have to boggle at this statement. Clearly, you're not hanging out in the right places! (Try Sam's BBQ in East Austin, for example, or Dot's in Pflugerville, if you want to see diversity in action.) As for someone who looks Arabic, my husband just had a chance two hour conversation at a convenience store with someone he ran into there who not only looked Arabic, but was.

Or come to one of the Central Texas Food-Centrics Meetup events - not only diversity of race but diversity of language and national origin.

[jhwest]

I'm not saying there are no blacks or Arabs in Austin. There are. I see black people every day, but not on the scale of Detroit. Relatively speaking, there is just no comparison. Visit Detroit and you'll know what I'm talking about.

[brattpowered]

Originally Posted by jhwest

I grew up in Southfield and the most obvious difference is the lack of minorities.

The 1/3 of Austinites of Hispanic heritage may take you to task on that one

Originally Posted by jhwest

Also not much good Middle Eastern food.

True, there may not be anywhere like Dearborn nearby, but there is some pretty great Middle Eastern food here, if you look for it. I think Sarah's on Burnet, and Byblos by 35 and Parmer are wonderful.

[scongress1234]

Originally Posted by SolAggressive

Hi y'all!

See, I'm practicing already.

My wife and I are relocating through our employers to Austin. We're actually leaving in 4 days and I couldn't be more excited. Especially considering our 4-6 inches of snow we just got.

I've rarely heard a bad thing about Austin. And anything I have heard in the negative seems to be personal opinion i.e. I don't like tex-mex or barbecue, etc.

I have never been to Austin, but my wife has been a couple times for sprots trips and work. We're athletic business professionals, 29 and 31 years of age. We're moving to the North Austin/Arboretum area. Moving into the Riata, specifically.

I'm excited about everything and truly feel we are going to fit right in.

I guess it wouldn't be a decent post if I didnt' include a question. So I'd like to hear from other Detroiters, south-east Michiganders, or just Michiganders in general who moved to Austin.

What were the best/worst parts about the change in location? Are you 100% happy with your move? And also, what's the biggest change to get used to, culturally or otherwise?

Pumped for my move,
Neil

Actually, you rarely hear y'all in Austin, as most residents are either highly educated Texans or out-of-staters. I heard infinitely more y'all-isms in Missouri and Arkansas on the ride out there. Austin is pretty much an island to itself, so don't worry about a northern accent. COngratulations on getting out of the jobless hellhole that is Michigan as well......could you tell the last person leaving to turn off the lights?

[TexasHorseLady]

Oh, heck, and here I was just about to congratulate them for spelling y'all correctly!

[SolAggressive]

Alright. I need to ask abotu this "Traffic" I hear about on 35...

I currently live in Madison Heights, work in Troy.

So, to get home from work I coudl take 75, all the way from exit 72 to exit 62. 10 simple miles. But I don't because that would take me 40-50 minutes. To go 10 miles.

So I take a convoluted route getting off after only being on the highway for a few miles, then some service drives and eventually home. Traffic doesn't frighten me and it doesnt' frustrate me.

Coming from Detroit (area)... Understanding the traffic of the Lodge, 94, 75... heck 696! This "traffic" on 35... come on. It's really not traffic is it? I'm going to feel like I'm flying aren't I...