Seattleite dreaming of happy, sunny Austin

[jwb123]

It was kind of romantic and fun when it was just my husband and myself, but once we had children, the drizzly climate was a huge problem. Seattleites insist that it doesn't cramp their style but wet soggy parks are not that much fun.

I think you hit the nail on the head here. I didn't notice the weather as much when it was just my husband and I... but when the backyard is so swampy you can't play in it for months.... it starts to seriously suck.

[texastrigirl]

Whenever I tell people in Seattle that I just moved here from Austin, they look at me and say "Why?" and when I told people in Austin I was moving to Seattle, most said "That is so cool, I love Seattle". If they didn't, it's because they had already relocated to Austin from Seattle. Must be that total contrast that draws people in. It is one of the few hotly debated contrasts on the whole forum. You can really appreciate the heat and the sun in Austin when you have done 50's and gray for 4 months and the balmy summers in Seattle when you have done time in 98 degrees for 42 straight days. Good things about both places and both are definitely great places to live in their own regard but for very different reasons. Maybe after 7 years of Seattle DH will want to go back to Austin for another stint. He is still trying to figure out the gig that gets us summers here and winters there. One of our friends does it and loves life bigtime!

[Some Random Guy]

Hello all. Thank you for your posts.

My fiancee and I are considering a move from Portland Oregon to either San Antonio or Austin. My personal health concern is about allergies - do any of you know the specific titles of the allergens most prevalent in the area? I have heard cedar mentioned alot, but do you know which specific kind? I am trying to get a local allergist to test me for as many of your problematic allergens as possible in an attempt to determine if our planning is a good idea or not.

I do know that more sunshine would be VERY welcome!

As for the posts above concerning underemployment - I find that difficulty in Portland, so really would be hard pressed to think it would be THAT much worse in Austin - though that may be naivete talking.

Like another poster, I grew up in eastern Colorado and had HORRID allergies, mostly due to the high concentration of weeds, grasses and being downwind from Denver on a semi-regular basis. Through learning management techniques (diet, employment environment, etc) and moving here, my allergies have gotten much better. I really do wonder how dust, air pollution, weed and grass pollen would compare with the local climate.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by Some Random Guy

My personal health concern is about allergies - do any of you know the specific titles of the allergens most prevalent in the area?

I have lived in both Portland and Austin and my allergies were horrendous in both until I sought treatment. I don't know the names of the specific allergens but I do know that good allergists were able to help me in both cities.

In Austin, my "cedar fever" was so bad it was almost incapacitating to me until I got weekly allergy shots and after a few months, I was almost symptom-free. I've heard that they have since improved the treatment regimen so that it takes even less time.

Austin is wonderful...don't let fear of allergies prevent you from moving there!

[Lil_ly]

Originally Posted by jimmyjack

You'll find plenty of lawyerin jobs round here, one thing though, you better hit the tanning bed before you come on down. Folks come down here from Seattle look like they just got out of the hospital cause they're so pale.

Thanks jimmyjack. I'm not laughing.

[centralaustinite]

Regarding allergies: one issue is that there are allergens in the air all year! Your body does not get a break. There can be high mold levels at almost anytime. Spring there is oak pollen, hackberry and other trees, summer mainly mold (depends on humidity) fall there are the fall trees, mainly elm and ragweed, then from November to February there is cedar.

BUT there are top notch allergists in town too! When we are in a drought (like now) it reduces allergens. Last summer (very wet) was terrible for allergies!

[jwb123]

I had horrible allergies in WA - and I have found the only time it's bothered me here was when mold is high.

[love roses]

I laughed at (well,with) Jimmyjack. But I was thinking of my little sister (native Texan) who for some odd reason is just that fair skinned. So are her kids. We're not sure where she came from My and my middle sister have absolutely no trouble staying tan, even with sunscreen. I had on 50 spf and still got a tan.

My allergies kicked up again when we moved back to Texas, but nowhere near as bad as they were when we lived in Houston. I just take claritan or Zyrtec.

[Some Random Guy]

Originally Posted by Topaz

I have lived in both Portland and Austin and my allergies were horrendous in both until I sought treatment. I don't know the names of the specific allergens but I do know that good allergists were able to help me in both cities.

In Austin, my "cedar fever" was so bad it was almost incapacitating to me until I got weekly allergy shots and after a few months, I was almost symptom-free. I've heard that they have since improved the treatment regimen so that it takes even less time.

Austin is wonderful...don't let fear of allergies prevent you from moving there!

Thank you for your responses, folks!

Allergies are but a consideration for me. I have noticed though that drier climates or drier days here my allergies are worse than when humidity is higher - seems counter to most people's revelations.

The main reasons I hesitate to move at the moment are financial in nature - but a couple of years from now, when our retirements are vested, it would make more sense. I am hoping that whatever city we move to the job market is solid enough to assist in the transition to the new town. Current cities we are looking at include Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, El Paso, Tucson and Phoenix. (In order of preference)