how to convince yankee mother-in-law about Austin (San Antonio, Lakeway: townhome, taxes)

[blakesq]

HI all,

My wife and I live in New England. I am from TX originally, and my wife and her mom are from New England. My wife and I want to move to Austin (I will be moving my biz to Austin). I love austin, and my wife has really liked Austin on the two trips there we have taken there. However, my wife's mother, is not crazy about the moving to Austin. It would be nice if she did though, because we are having our first baby in the Fall. So, what are some things we can tell my mother-in-law to convince her about Austin. She and my wife will probably take a trip together to Austin in April. Thanks in advance! Oh, my mother-in-law is a tennis instructor, and of course she is worried about the heat.

[kiacook]

I guess the first question is: why do YOU want to move here?

[mlassoff]

It's surprising your mother-in-law who it seems is a life long New Englander doesn't want to be ripped away from a her career, life and friends because you like Austin. As someone who is also from Connecticut and doesn't like Austin, I'd tell you to let her stay where she's happy. The people who are most enthusiastic about Austin were never dragged here.

There's a lot of things offered in New England that you can't find down here in Texas. And for some, like me, Texas will never be home. Just because you are enthusiastic about it doesn't mean everyone is and simply needs to "see the light."

[capcat]

Is your mother-in-law moving here with you? Austin's a great place, but you don't need to convince anyone else. You're considerate to want her opinion, but I'm guessing both your and your wife's parents made their own decisions in their lifetimes.

[TexasHorseLady]

Are you trying to get your MIL to move with you? Or just to get her on board with the two of you moving down here?

Also, I have to agree with capcat. My daughter is in Canada; my son is in San Antonio (and before that was in NYC, D.C., Annapolis). While I miss them when they're so far away, they need to live their lives for themselves, not for me.

[mm57553]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

It's surprising your mother-in-law who it seems is a life long New Englander doesn't want to be ripped away from a her career, life and friends because you like Austin. As someone who is also from Connecticut and doesn't like Austin, I'd tell you to let her stay where she's happy. The people who are most enthusiastic about Austin were never dragged here.

There's a lot of things offered in New England that you can't find down here in Texas. And for some, like me, Texas will never be home. Just because you are enthusiastic about it doesn't mean everyone is and simply needs to "see the light."

Very well said.

[blakesq]

WEll my mother-in-law would immediately move with us to FL or California, but we weren't crazy about FL, and California seems to be having lots a troubles with their economy, taxes, etc. She just seems to have a common bias against Texas that many Yankees have.

As for why we want to move, we want a more laid back life, make our money go farther than it does in New England, play tennis outdoors most of the year, rather than pay huge fees for indoor tennis. Those are some reasons for moving. I could come up with more i am sure.

Originally Posted by mlassoff

It's surprising your mother-in-law who it seems is a life long New Englander doesn't want to be ripped away from a her career, life and friends because you like Austin. As someone who is also from Connecticut and doesn't like Austin, I'd tell you to let her stay where she's happy. The people who are most enthusiastic about Austin were never dragged here.

There's a lot of things offered in New England that you can't find down here in Texas. And for some, like me, Texas will never be home. Just because you are enthusiastic about it doesn't mean everyone is and simply needs to "see the light."

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by blakesq

WEll my mother-in-law would immediately move with us to FL or California, but we weren't crazy about FL, and California seems to be having lots a troubles with their economy, taxes, etc. She just seems to have a common bias against Texas that many Yankees have.

As for why we want to move, we want a more laid back life, make our money go farther than it does in New England, play tennis outdoors most of the year, rather than pay huge fees for indoor tennis. Those are some reasons for moving. I could come up with more i am sure.

All good reasons for you to move-- And you may find yourself very happy. (As an aside, look in to World of Tennis in Lakeway. I lived there 3 years... Great townhome community focused on tennis).

However they are not your MIL's reasons apparently. Austin is still in Texas and Texas is not for everyone.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by blakesq

WEll my mother-in-law would immediately move with us to FL or California, but we weren't crazy about FL, and California seems to be having lots a troubles with their economy, taxes, etc. She just seems to have a common bias against Texas that many Yankees have.

While I agree with mlassof that Texas is not for everybody, just as Connecticut is not for everybody (or any other place is not for everybody, for that matter), your last sentence there indicates not a common bias, but a common prejudice.

[kiacook]

This is actually one thing I really love about Austin - there isn't a whole lot of trying to convince people of anything going on here - as you can see by the responses I'd maybe think about just trying to show her different things in Austin that she might like and let her make up her own mind.
Maybe if you told us why she would move to FL or CA or what she's looking for in a move, we can tell you if Austin has it, might work for her or what you can show her to challenge her preconceived notions.