Please give me 10 reasons why NOT to move to the Austin area. (Waco: crime, schools)

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by manbehindthecurtain

The Hill Country is beautiful but not quite like anything I have experienced in the North Pacific Coast area.

I doubt that anyone was under the delusion that Texas has the beauty of the NW. It doesn't. Next topic....

Originally Posted by manbehindthecurtain

My advice to you is this - if you have a choice and you don't have to move, then don't. Stay where you are. If you do move it will be that much harder (financially) to move back to the PC. My wife and I have both encountered a lot of people who are finding this out the hard way.

Excellent advice!

This is exactly why people need to spend some time and effort to learn more about life here. I've known many people who moved here and are happy as can be, and others who have moved away because they hated it. There is no way to predict how someone will feel about moving to a place that has virtually nothing in common with their familiar surroundings. It's REALLY DIFFERENT here, and if you move without doing a thorough investigation of life in Austin then you're gambling with tens of thousands in moving costs and other expenses.

We do our best on city-data to give information, but words on a forum cannot possibly tell anyone what they will feel about a place after moving there. Visit first. Then visit again. Take the whole family. Explore, imagine, envision, and pay attention to the negatives as well as the positives. This isn't paradise for most people. It is for me only because it fits what I like. I know people who think North Dakota is paradise and would never consider leaving there. Take THAT into consideration before you believe the hype about a boom town like Austin. It's great for some people, mediocre for others, and horrible for others. Nobody can predict what you will feel about living here.

Going back to the endless comments in countless threads about insects and deer and scorpions and other problems, I consider these to be positive aspects of Texas. If you want to live in isolation from nature then don't move here. To me, it's a joy to confront the "problems" of nature. It tells me that humans have not yet perfected the technology to destroy all sources of inconvenience and discomfort. Bring it on. I hereby cordially invite a scorpion to fall from the ceiling onto my face tonight. It would be a refreshing reminder that we're biological organisms living in an ecosphere that is complex, fragile, unpredictable and vital to our sustained presence on this planet. We can control it all if we want, but the price we'll pay will be our own extinction.

[manbehindthecurtain]

Originally Posted by TheHarvester

I hereby cordially invite a scorpion to fall from the ceiling onto my face tonight.

[twange]

Originally Posted by TheHarvester

If you want to live in isolation from nature then don't move here. To me, it's a joy to confront the "problems" of nature. It tells me that humans have not yet perfected the technology to destroy all sources of inconvenience and discomfort. Bring it on. I hereby cordially invite a scorpion to fall from the ceiling onto my face tonight. It would be a refreshing reminder that we're biological organisms living in an ecosphere that is complex, fragile, unpredictable and vital to our sustained presence on this planet. We can control it all if we want, but the price we'll pay will be our own extinction.

Awesomely put (I know that's not a word but...). Most people feel that humans are here to dominate nature, not live with it. When something becomes an inconvenience, we need to "get rid of it" instead of learning how to co-exist. Edward Abbey once said that if you really want to learn about an area, get down on your hands and knees and look closely...

I just had a week of that. As of now, Austin still holds up for me.

As to the earlier post about the hill country not being as beautiful as the PNW...I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. Anyone who is moving to Austin from the NW, and expecting something similar doesn't know their geography and will be very disappointed. The interesting thing about Central Texas for me, is how it just seems to be on the edge of a few different ecosystems:tropical, desert, woodlands.

I've backpacked through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, California, New England etc...and while the Hill Country is not nearly as dramatic, I still find it in my heart to call it beautiful and lovely. It's gentle and subtle in the way that Pennsylvania is but with a lot more rugged textures. I can't wait to dig in

It's like comparing Nebraska and California. They're just different.

[Logan Park]

Austin Texas, is like the safest city In America, I can't give you one reason not to move there.

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by twange

Most people feel that humans are here to dominate nature, not live with it. When something becomes an inconvenience, we need to "get rid of it" instead of learning how to co-exist. Edward Abbey once said...

I tried to give you points for just mentioning Edward Abbey but every time I try to prop you I get that annoying "you must spread some reputation around before..." So, my apologies for spreading reputation all over you. I'm sure you can remove it with a caustic industrial solvent.

Originally Posted by twange

As to the earlier post about the hill country not being as beautiful as the PNW...I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. Anyone who is moving to Austin from the NW, and expecting something similar doesn't know their geography and will be very disappointed. The interesting thing about Central Texas for me, is how it just seems to be on the edge of a few different ecosystems:tropical, desert, woodlands.

Beautifully stated! I absolutely LOVE the fact that I am within a half hour drive of many different ecosystems, the clash of cultures, the dividing line between east and west, and so on. It's not just nature, it shows up in culture. East of I-35 you're in the South and you hear it in the accents, you see it in the menu of the restaurants, it's harder to get your ice tea without sugar over there. As you go west of downtown, you have to ASK for sugar in your tea if you want it, the air is different, the accents turn from drawl to twang, the architecture changes and the trees aren't as tall.

North of Austin you're in the Bible Belt. South of Austin you're in Tejano Nation, with very little Bible Belt vibe. The music is different in each place. And the air masses collide here, not like they do in Oklahoma and Kansas, but they do collide on occasion.

Originally Posted by twange

It's like comparing Nebraska and California. They're just different.

Yup. The Sand Hills of western Nebraska are almost MORE inspiring and breath-taking to my eyes than the magnificent glacially sculpted wonders of Yosemite. But I'm a weirdo, and I'm happy that I'm in the tiny minority about this because it means I can go to western Nebraska and drive 20 MPH through the hills without worrying about seeing another car because everyone is busy visiting Yosemite or Yellowstone or Disneyland or, most likely, their local shopping mall. Have fun, y'all, if ya need me I'll be somewhere you can't find me.

[twange]

Originally Posted by TheHarvester

I tried to give you points for just mentioning Edward Abbey but every time I try to prop you I get that annoying "you must spread some reputation around before..." So, my apologies for spreading reputation all over you. I'm sure you can remove it with a caustic industrial solvent.

It's the sentiment that counts. Abbey changed the way I looked at the world, people, government etc... or I should say "validated" the way I see things.

[manbehindthecurtain]

Originally Posted by twange

As to the earlier post about the hill country not being as beautiful as the PNW...I'm not sure that's a fair comparison. Anyone who is moving to Austin from the NW, and expecting something similar doesn't know their geography and will be very disappointed.

I'm not sure if you are refering to my post but I would like to clearify. I realize I came off trying to compare the two areas. I guess I was just trying to point out what a lot of people tell me they miss most from PNW... they just don't realize it until they move out here. 6 months into living here you realize you can't go to the mountains or take a 1 hour drive to the coast to go surfing, etc. My father is having withdraws. He and my mother recently moved to Waco after living in Sparks, NV. They have only been here for 7 months and they are already taking frequent trips back to the mountainous regions.

Before people move out here they really need to think about this.

[love roses]

Harvester, I loved your description of North, South, East and West of Austin.

[Txstar]

Originally Posted by manbehindthecurtain

I'm not sure if you are refering to my post but I would like to clearify. I realize I came off trying to compare the two areas. I guess I was just trying to point out what a lot of people tell me they miss most from PNW... they just don't realize it until they move out here. 6 months into living here you realize you can't go to the mountains or take a 1 hour drive to the coast to go surfing, etc. My father is having withdraws. He and my mother recently moved to Waco after living in Sparks, NV. They have only been here for 7 months and they are already taking frequent trips back to the mountainous regions.

Before people move out here they really need to think about this.

I know it's not the mountains, but Enchanted Rock is only about a hours drive from Austin and has some breath taking views. It's a nice day trip where you can bring the family and take a nice hike up Enchanted Rock and enjoy the scenery for a couple of hours. Then you can always spend the rest of the afternoon shopping on Main street in Fredericksburg.

[twange]

I know it's not a day trip but Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe National Park in West Texas are pretty special as well. About 8hrs...and not very crowded

Manbehindthecurtain(great name). Good point. People should know what they are getting into. I just think regions should be taken at face value...which I suppose is easier said than done