Mid-30s ultra-liberal NO KIDS couple with great dogs thinking of moving to Austin. Help? (West: condo, houses)

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by ATXIronHorse

Only a few neighborhoods in central Austin are truly liberal. This is Texas. You may want to just stay in California or move out east to MA or Vermont.

YEAH! Only slack jawed, mouthing breathing fundamentalists for us!

[Jennibc]

Originally Posted by achtungpv

YEAH! Only slack jawed, mouthing breathing fundamentalists for us!

Isn't there a happy medium between the two And I got to tell you we'd heard that Austin was really liberal before we lived there and when we moved to Austin we were shocked. Coming from the Northeast and having lived in Seattle, we didn't find it very liberal at all. So I guess it depends on one's vantage point. I think if someone that self identified as ultra-liberal and was looking for some sort of liberal mecca, he or she will be disappointed upon arrival.

[twange]

Well, this isn't a political forum but there is a lot of speculation that suggests that Texas will probably shift BACK to the Democratic party by 2020, maybe sooner. That doesn't mean it will become "typically" liberal, but it does suggest a more moderate swing. Texas voted Presidential Democrat from 1848 to 1972 with the exception of the years of the Civil War an Reconstruction, 1928, 1952 and 1956. Most of Texas' major cities usually support Democrats while the suburbs generally support the Republican Party. This pattern really isn't any different from many other states, except that Texas is so huge.

The country is seeing a lot of demographic shifts, Texas is no exception. Especially in the Southwest where the Latino vote has become very prominent.

[WillysB]

Well, this isn't a political forum but there is a lot of speculation that suggests that Texas will probably shift BACK to the Democratic party by 2020, maybe sooner.

That can't really mean much. Texas was big Democrat until Ann Richards got 'Bushed' in that turkey shoot... what, 14 or so years ago?

A gal from NYC set my politics chart straight when she explained a liberal democrat in Texas might still be more conservative than a conservative republican in NYC.

The OP would probly need to qualify her take on the 'liberal' agenda before anyone in Texas would be able to pass judgement on whether or not Austin would satisfy the criteria.

Austin is chock full o' kids, everywhere. UT is graduating a 16 year old this year, and that is a kid.

OTOH, pink hair around downtown wouldn't be a problem. Maybe juvenile, but acceptable.

[figureskater]

Originally Posted by kimsalt

Hey, all... my thread topic says it all. We are a mid-30s, ultra-liberal couple who are looking to move from Southern California to Austin. We don't much care for kids (don't hate them, but don't want to live near somewhere like a school where they'll be all over the place) and are very interested in figuring out where in Austin would be a good place for us. We're currently looking to rent, probably in the $1,000 range for a 2 or 3 bedroom that accepts pets. Does this sound do-able? Do you have any suggestions on appropriate parts of town for us? We'd love your input! Thanks in advance.

Kimsalt,

Did you find what you were looking for? Did you already move?

We are a couple of the same profile as you guys, also looking for a kid-free neighborhood in Austin. I would be grateful if you shared your experiences regarding how is it over there so far.

[centralaustinite]

Are there really ANY kid-free neighborhoods in Austin? I know that it can be done in DC and Boston and I guess NYC but I live central and have three kids and my block is full of kids. I know folks with kids in downtown condos and folks with kids on the east side. In fact, you'll find kids at the ACL fest, on art trails, in coffee houses.

This is a young and actively reproducing town! The hipsters in the central city have kids too. If "kid-free neighborhood" is really priority, I'm not sure Austin is your town. (Best bet for kid-free is a downtown condo)

[neddy]

I agree with central, 50000 kids over at UT also so kid free might not happen anywhere around Austin.

[mark311]

I agree with most of the other posters. Austin is a great place to raise a family above everything else, so that's what you get pretty much everywhere.

I also would have a hard time calling the Austin area "ultra" anything. It's very balanced and laid back. Anyone that is too "ultra" or out there on either side of the fence tends to be on the outside from what I've seen (unless you're Leslie Cochran).

[HappyTexan]

If you are ultra liberal from California looking for the same here in Texas..you won't find it by a long shot. Austin is liberal but compared to other Texas cities which are more conservative.
I don't think you'd say Austin was liberal compared to the same definition used in California.

[StephanieRN]

I am from Ohio originally, and lived in Socal for 11yrs. Just moved here 6mo's ago, and feel like I am back in bible belt Ohio. Actually had a coworker refer to a job applicant as a "devout christian which means he has integrity and morals". Apparently he is confused. LOL! Yes, being a texan is truely a state of mind and they speak it frequently! So, if you are looking for ultra liberal and child free (they start reproducing at a young age here)place? Look elsewhere.