Is Austin Heaven? (Spring, Hamilton, Barton Creek: appointed, find a job, transfer)

[Pippa]

I want to live somewhere where it's easy for me to get a job with a BA and fluent Spanish (years experience in HR, teaching ESL, coordinating etc), where I will sweat for at least a few months out of the year, where I can get around well with just a bike or the bus, where men are men (oh i had to), where people are happy and hospitable and where there are swimming holes that I can get to without driving.

Is Austing really all this?

[txgolfer130]

I think it fits most, but some of your expectations may be a little too far fetched. Easy to get a job...probably not easy, but not really hard either. Sweat a few months? Check. Get around w/ a bus or bike? Check, but not to everywhere (Austin really isn't that small). Swimming holes w/out driving...well depends on where you start, now doesn't it? Barton Springs is central though.

[TexasHorseLady]

It can be. Heaven? No, but pretty darned good! It fits most of your criteria (as said, walking to the swimming hole really depends on where you are in the area and which swimming hole - there are several)

[readymade]

I'm not sure how easy it is to get around without a car. The public transportation system (from what I've heard) really sucks. I guess it would depend on where you live, and how far you're willing to bike.

As for the men, I'm married, but I still have eyes and there are some cuuuuuuute guys here. And they're flirty as hell!

People here seem to me to be very happy & EXTREMELY hospitable. You'll definitely sweat for more than a few months here, heh. I think it's hard to find a job ANYwhere and here is no exception. I haven't yet gone swimming, but there are a bunch of swimming holes around and, of course, the lake.

I think your spanish will definitely come in handy here (as opposed to, say, the north east) too!

[brattpowered]

Originally Posted by Pippa

I want to live somewhere where it's easy for me to get a job with a BA and fluent Spanish (years experience in HR, teaching ESL, coordinating etc), where I will sweat for at least a few months out of the year, where I can get around well with just a bike or the bus, where men are men (oh i had to), where people are happy and hospitable and where there are swimming holes that I can get to without driving.

Is Austing really all this?

You can get these things but they won't be ideal. For example, the swimming holes you heard about mostly dry up during the hottest months. The most famous ones have gone downhill in quality-- Barton Springs has become cloudy and Hamilton Pool has turned brown due to development.

You can get around by bike or bus, but you will be REALLY sweating on the bike and the bus requires a lot of transfers and can stand to run more frequently.

The people are happy and hospitable enough.

[atxcio]

Barton Springs and Deep Eddy pool are fine. Both are walking distance from downtown and some south/west neighborhoods. Barton Springs is very clear during drought times like this -- and it doesn't dry up. Hamilton pool I haven't been to recently, but it's not walking distance from anything.

The swimming holes that do dry up seasonally are places like Twin Falls on the Barton Creek greenbelt (dry now) and Bull Creek upstream from Lakewood park (probably dry, or very close to it).

But Heaven? If you are thinking that way, you will surely be disappointed. It is very laid back and friendly here, that is true, but it is Texas and car culture still rules. There are a few walkable neighborhoods, and there is decent bus service within the city limits... but in reality, you are going to need to do some things (probably a lot of things) that require a car. You shouldn't move here hoping to find utopia -- that's something you provide. If you find that you thrive in the friendly, laid back atmosphere, and start to love the natural/exercise things you can do here, then maybe it will become like heaven to you. Otherwise, it will just seem like a typical mid-sized city, which in many ways it is.

[carolinajack]

Amen pippa amen, i am following you right to Texas darlin

[Alatex]

The "swimming holes without driving bit" screams Barton Springs.
For your criteria, look for a place as close to Town Lake as possible.
The hike & bike trail and Zilker Park are the very best of Austin, IMO.

[BJB817]

No, Iowa's heaven. Haven't you ever watched "Field of Dreams"?