SA vs. Austin?? (San Antonio, San Marcos, Howe: insurance, credit, school)

[nsid23]

I apologize to the mod's, I also posted this in the SA forum, thought it related to both and may get different opinions from both forums.


Hello, I've browsed and browsed these forums and found a lot of really really good information and opinions on this site in regards to both SA and Austin. Here's my dilema and hopefully and I can get some helpful feedback, I'd really appreciate it.

I'm a single, attractive, 23 year old male, I currently live in the Des Moines, Iowa metro area where I've been for the past 5 years. I work full-time at a big insurance company that I've been with for close to 3 years. I take college classes at night and am about 30 credits short of graduating, which would take a little over a year's time. I know if I say "I'm not getting any younger" and want to do it now, I'm going to catch heck cause I know I am still pretty young, but I really do feel that way, that I need to do it asap.

The company I am with has just opened a new office in San Antonio and has offered me to relocate. I have been down to SA 3 times in the past 4 months for a week at a time each. I really did the best I could to venture out to try and see the city. I found that I liked it. However, some people and I went to Austin on a Saturday for a day and night out, and I was blown away. I loved it. Seemed more of a fit for me.

I hope this doesn't sound shallow at all, but the number one interest I have and deciding factor of a place for me to move would be the nightlife. I am a very outgoing person and love to be "where the fun is," lively spots with singles, having fun.

I live in Iowa and if you can imagine the nightlife here isn't the greatest. When we were out in SA we went down to the riverwalk area for bars and I thought they were okay, but nothing over the top. And every local I spoke with said that no locals even go downtown, that its more of a tourist spot. Even ventured out one night to the Flying Saucer, and I was much more impressed with the waitresses opposed to any female patrons there.

Everyone I spoke with said that Austin would be a much better fit for me, and I guess I just wanted to explain my situation on here to see if it still held true. I've already looked into what the commute from Austin to SA would be like on this forum, and not have heard one good thing about it. So I've forgot about that option. I originally wanted to move to Phoenix, but I really enjoyed Austin and would be cheaper to live there as well.

So I guess what I'm asking is

A. Does SA have a nightlife that I missed?
B. Should I risk losing my senority and my company and try to switch companies in effort to live in Austin?
C. Should I just take the year to finish school, and try to relocate from there?
D. How do the two (SA and Austin) compare with single ladies (21 - 26 range)?



Thank you so much for your time reading this book I just wrote and any advice or insight will be appreciated!

- nsid23

[ericbramlett]

I hope this doesn't sound shallow at all, but the number one interest I have and deciding factor of a place for me to move would be the nightlife.

That's funny - I moved to Austin when I was 23 for exactly the same reason.

To answer your questions:

A. Does SA have a nightlife that I missed?

No - if you went to the River Walk, that's pretty much it.

B. Should I risk losing my senority and my company and try to switch companies in effort to live in Austin?

Depends on how important it is to you.

C. Should I just take the year to finish school, and try to relocate from there?

If it's that important to you - there are a ton of universities in Austin - have you considered any?

D. How do the two (SA and Austin) compare with single ladies (21 - 26 range)?

They don't - Austin's single women are pretty hard to beat, in both appearance & attitude.

Good luck! You're in a better position than I was! I moved down here with no money, an unmarketable degree, & no job!

[ericbramlett]

Man...I just read your other post. You've already talked yourself into Austin, just line everything up!

[210]

Originally Posted by ericbramlett

No - if you went to the River Walk, that's pretty much it.

Wrong.

They don't - Austin's single women are pretty hard to beat, in both appearance & attitude.

Opinion, cool. But not true at all.

I do not want to get in a war of words with anyone so I'll leave it like that.

[deeptrance]

In order to avoid the SA/Austin debate, which gets heated because San Antonians get rather defensive (take that as a hint) --- I'll just say that Austin and SA are VERY different when you get to the heart of each city.

In the suburbs, they don't differ much. But sunbelt suburbs are pretty much the same everywhere. If you're willing to pay the premium to experience central Austin, then it's a wonderful unique city. If you live in Austin's suburbs, then forget about it and stick with SA because it's less expensive and suburbs are suburbs are suburbs....

[nsid23]

wow. well this thread got closed in the SA forum, sorry to stir up such a heated debate, I really had no idea it would. But weighing my options and from what I've seen, and heard, I'm going to stay in Iowa for another year, finish my degree, try to advance myself within my company here, and hopefully be in Austin in a year.
Thanks for the input!

[jread]

You could also finish your degree in Austin at St. Edward's (they have an excellent evening program for working adults).

Given your criteria, Austin is the city for you... hands down.

If you have to work in San Antonio, then why not look for something in the middle, such as San Marcos (an excellent town)?