Is Austin as great as the top 10 lists say? (Houston: to buy, living in)

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by jobert

Outside of natural beauty, the city does not offer a lot. I guess it takes a certain type of individual to live without certain basic amenities in a metropolitan area of 1.4 million people and be okay with it.

Please describe what "certain basic amenities" you're speaking of. Often, when I hear this description of Austin, it turns out that the person making the description doesn't know about a whole lot of things that exist in Austin and clearly didn't go to the trouble to find them, and then says the city doesn't have them.

So, just to be sure that this is not one of those cases, what is missing that is a "basic amenity", in your opinion.

[twange]

Originally Posted by jobert

Outside of natural beauty, the city does not offer a lot. I guess it takes a certain type of individual to live without certain basic amenities in a metropolitan area of 1.4 million people and be okay with it.

LOL! I'm not sure what you're implying but I don't think Austin is so limited in "basic amenities" that only a "certain type of individual" can live here. I'm a big-city lover. My favorite cities to visit are NYC, SF, Montreal and Toronto(in that order). No, Austin does not currently posses many of the standard urban amenities that most OLDER, established metropolitan areas do. Agreed. But I've still found enough here to occupy, entertain and enlighten me. And I like the people. Maybe it's just not a good fit for some?

For the one-millionth time: Austin is in the middle of a transition. It's neither the funky college town it use to be nor a big metropolitan city. There are some who liked it the way it used to be and some who don't want to wait for what it will be. All we have at the moment is THE WAY IT IS NOW. I suggest you find some things about Austin that you like, and focus on those things. And enjoy them. If you can't live with that(or don't want to wait for what the future may/may not bring), you'll need to move on.

[thedude72]

Wow!!! That southern wit it just so snappy and clever,ugh!!!! another reason for leaving thanks for the reminder.

Originally Posted by TexasGirl@Heart

Borikwa69,
ENJOY your research trip to Austin! You and your family are going to LOVE it! Most people on this forum are very helpful so please ask if you have any questions after your trip! Try to ignore the ones that are negative and not helpful. They are just bitter with their own life! (And the sad part is yes, they are serious in their responses). So as for your deductions..."if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck...it must be a duck!"

[thedude72]

Maybe that's the only way the city of Austin can survive is to entice a bunch of people to move here, over populate the city so the local buisness can absorb that revenue.

[ikkyu]

I love Austin, but before you move here...Understand a few things...

It's hot here, to use a colloquialism - "it's hotter than two rats copulatin' in a wool sock" from May thru September. If you don't care for heat, stay away or move to your second home in Vancouver for those 5 months.

The allergies are brutal... "Cedar Fever" is much like the flu without all the cool weight loss. The end of December, January, February are vicious for cedar. Elm, oak and ash are pretty high as well-particularly in February and March. Stock up on Claritin, theraflu and/ or steroid injections. Stay away for those 4 months.

March means SXSW, unless you have a platinum badge for it, forget the film festival or the music festival-you can't get in any of the cool shows with your piddly ass pass. Save your money and go to the free shows at Auditorium shores or spend the money on a band at one of the live shows at a big venue like Stubb's. The interactive fest is a little different-you can go to more stuff with your pass but without the platinum badge nobody will pay attention to what you say except other loser/poser/neophytes like yourself. Unless you have the money, stay away for March as well.

The ACL festival is mostly known for Heat stroke, Zilker Lung and the Hotels taking advantage of folks from out of state. "Zilker Lung" is what you get from the dust at Zilker Park where they have the festival. Even though the park is right on the Colorado River (Town Lake), they can't seem to get the hoses to reach that 100 feet and as a result the park is Hot, Dusty and crowded. The festival is not up front about their lineup (who/when) and you cannot re-enter the all day festival if you leave. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel start the festival at 11 am, the last act goes on at 9pm. Put your big girl panties, load up on water, sunscreen, and an niosh approved air filter and a tent on or stay home-or be prepared to stroke on out of here.

Why I like it...

I like to Kayak on town lake, I rent downtown and can be in my Kayak in 5 minutes. I like to camp...pedernales, krause springs, enchanted rock, reimers ranch, hamilton's pool, etc... are all scenic and peaceful.

I like the conversations I get into... a wide variety of people with a wide variety of interests.

I like pretentious people who use words like "colloquial".


A list of likes; Blues on the green, Barton Springs, Deep Eddy, Deep Eddy Cabaret, Don's Depot, The Black Cat Lounge, Naus Drugs(mmm cheeseburger), fresh plus, whole foods, the blanton musuem, disc golf, KB supply is good, lots of beautiful women, Shady Grove, Bob Bullock museum, magnolia cafe, malaga, waterloo records, Parks galore.

To recap, it's hot here. Real Hot. If you like to entertain yourself and are good at it this is the place for you. You don't need a lot of money but you will need sum.

The native austinites can be a little provincial "you should have been here back in the 70's" but you can get them off that by walking away.

The calfornicators can be a little standoffish and unfriendly but you knew that already.

No time left...

[jobert]

I repent. Anything bad I had to say about this town was just me readjusting to my new surroundings. I have now been here a year and I love this town. Disc golf at Zilkers rocks, I agree, along with most everything listed above. I realized the key to appreciating Austin is appreciating what it's not for as much as what it is. If this city was like everywhere else, then where would people come to find a city like this?

"I'm looking for a comfortably small city, cheap to live, low crime, great Texas culture, low population density, great place to raise a family, outdoor oriented, natural beauty, not overly touristy, etc...."

Where would you find a place like this if Austin didn't exist?

People complain that outdoor activities are for the most part the only option here. I tell you what, that may be true, but I've also lost 15 lbs since I moved here and I feel great! I'm more rested, more tan, and fitter than I've ever been. This beats spending the winter indoors getting fat and pasty. It's hot here in the summer, yes,
duh.
but you can always take a dip in the local pools after you've been out and about. problem solved. The friendly attitude and sun is just as important on the body's health as anything else. I truly believe I will live 15 years longer because of my choice to live here.

[texastrigirl]

I really enjoy living in Seattle but I will tell you, I was about 6lbs lighter in Austin. I am a fitness instructor (Spinning and whatnot) and a triathlete/runner so that is a lot of weight for me. I can't fight it up here as well so I do believe you when you say you are lighter and feel more rested, more fit. However, now that I am skiing every weekend, I would miss that if I left. But glad to hear you love Austin now! It is a truly terrific city!!

[TexasGirl@Heart]

Originally Posted by thedude72

Wow!!! That southern wit it just so snappy and clever,ugh!!!! another reason for leaving thanks for the reminder.

And just what does that mean? You quoted me, so please enlighten me! Glad to hear you are leaving!

[thedude72]

Originally Posted by TexasGirl@Heart

And just what does that mean? You quoted me, so please enlighten me! Glad to hear you are leaving!

No need, I haven't been to Austin in almost six months and have never been happier Why wouldn't someone trying to sell something like real estate be glad to see someone like me leave Austin? People who don't like living in Austin but have no other choice to live there because the economy is so bad?, trapped and can't risk leaving to get a better job or live in another part of the country? My advice leave if you can before it's too late and get trapped there.I think a lot of people in Austin like it because of all the people who love drugs and Smoking weed. They don't want to leave because they would have to find new people to buy drugs from,and since I don't do drugs,smoke weed, heroin, do cocaine or any other illegal substance,I don't fit in with the majority of the population in Austin which is made up of drug addicts. It is the live music capitol of the world after all and musician = drugs=Crappy music unless a real professional musician is there. Since I don't do any of those things people always looked at me paranoid especially if you ever pull into a corner store and watch a person's eyes pop out of there head when you pull up, because there so worried you'll find out there doing drugs in the parking lot. Every professional business I worked for in Austin there were pot heads an people who did cocaine you name it supervisors, managers people that I thought were supposed to have morals not I want to promote this guy because we did cocaine together.I wonder how many people would still be employed or looking to move to Austin if business's required to do random drug test?they make you take one drug test before you get hired, wow!! that's it ?What's the point do business in Austin care that there professionals get high and do drugs pretty much everyday?I know corporation probably don't want the publicity or cause a big incident that would have them loose there market or involve the local news or police .

[jobert]

Yes, true. In Austin - every parking lot you pull into has people covering up their bongs and hiding their joints when you pull in. That has to be the funniest thing I've heard in a while. Can't look over at other people while in traffic or they'll freak out and cover up their weed. No one's paying attention to the road - we are all driving slow in traffic looking at each other smoking weed. lmao