Is Austin for me? (important life decision -- please help!)

[nomore07]

Originally Posted by liloo

2.) Are there job opportunities in Austin for those people in the public relations field?

-NO. Unfortunately I have to agree with the above statement saying it's saturated. It can be really tough to find a job in that field in Austin that is willing to pay. I've also personally ran into A LOT of companies with shady practices here.(Example- admittedly firing you right before Christmas to save money and then trying to re-hire you for less money in Jan.)I got lucky, but I have had some bad experiences and have seen many friends deal with sketch employers.

This is true. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

[calel]

Why not?

I don't fully expect to be working there forever. Too many variables. I'd rather be in a location that is convenient to everything, but still close to my workplace, than close to my workplace and inconvenient to everything else. If I had to change jobs, I will definitely not be 1 mile away and selling my house would be a great hassle. I'm not a downtown office worker, but working up in the high tech corridor in NW Austin.

I currently live about 8 miles away; stoplights stretch it to 15-20 minutes; that's certainly close enough.

[iceshots]

I also like a 20 - 30 minute commute to work. It gives me a sense of separation between work and home.

At one point in my life (young and single) I lived 5 minutes from work. At first it was great not having to fight traffic to get to work, and that part was always great. But then I found the downside to everything.

Because I was "just down the road" my boss would not hesitate to call me on a weekend if he was working and ask me to drop in for a few minutes so he could run something by me. At other times, I would be out doing errands or just hanging around town, and knowing that we were running tests on the weekend, I would drop in "just to see how it was going". Next thing I know I am stuck there for three hours.

If you can live 5 minutes from work, and have the discipline to keep work under control, and the location fits where you want to live, then go for it.

For me, closeness to work is a factor, but only one of many that determines where I live.

[kelly katsus]

1.) I'm aware that Austin is hot, but is it humid? The Midwest is extremely humid in the summer months, but I'm not sure how it compares to Austin in this regard. How often does it rain? Does Austin have many days of plentiful sunshine? We have had plenty of sunshine. I have natural curly hair, and the humidity really messes it up, but now that I live in Austin, I have much better hair days. That’s how I determine the humidity level.
2.) Are there job opportunities in Austin for those people in the public relations field? There are many opportunities but you just have to find them. It helps to know someone, unfortunately in most cases.

3.) I've heard that Austin is quite a cultural mecca, and that it is rising in the ranks. Would you say there are plenty of cultural/artistic entertainment options in Austin? Heck yea!

4.) I have a small dog (15 pounds). Is Austin a dog-friendly city? Would I be able to find decent/nice apartment complexes that allow small dogs? Yes, there are many parks for people that are dog lovers.

5.) How does the cost-of-living in Austin compare to other major cities? For example, L.A., NYC, Chicago, Boston. What is the average rent for a decent/nice one-bedroom apartment located in or very close to downtown? It can range from $1000 a month to many thousand a month depending on what you want to spend and what amenities you want.
6.) How close to the ocean is Austin, in hours? Are there any lakes in or near Austin? Living near the water is extremely important to me. The ocean isn’t close, but there are many lakes. Many things to do nearby Austin too and a wonderful place to live