Please give me 10 reasons why NOT to move to the Austin area. (Houston: high crime, find a job)

[TexasHorseLady]

Okay, I get caught in this sometimes. I speak to an issue, and someone thinks I'm talking about them, specifically. You are actually quite civil in your presentation and your argument for the specific topic of sidewalks (which was actually, for me, simply an example, not the primary issue), but there have been others who are not and who get the backs up of people who love their city and make it even more difficult for those who DO love Austin and ARE civil to get their point across (on this thread, elsewhere on city-data, and in real life - even some who THINK they're being civil when telling us how awful Austin is and how we should fix it by making it Just Like Where They Came From because it's what passes for civility where they came from, Lord help us!).

Lord, if I would've known BOTH of you were Scorpios...I would have shut the hell up about a thousand words back

Yes, well, that's why we don't just let it be general knowledge - nobody would talk with us!

[twange]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

Okay, I get caught in this sometimes. I speak to an issue, and someone thinks I'm talking about them, specifically. You are actually quite civil in your presentation and your argument for the specific topic of sidewalks (which was actually, for me, simply an example, not the primary issue), but there have been others who are not and who get the backs up of people who love their city and make it even more difficult for those who DO love Austin and ARE civil to get their point across (on this thread, elsewhere on city-data, and in real life - even some who THINK they're being civil when telling us how awful Austin is and how we should fix it by making it Just Like Where They Came From because it's what passes for civility where they came from, Lord help us!).

Lord, if I would've known BOTH of you were Scorpios...I would have shut the hell up about a thousand words back

Yes, well, that's why we don't just let it be general knowledge - nobody would talk with us!

First of all, I want to apologize to everyone who keeps checking this thread only to see the same 3 folks volley one topic back and forth

I get where you're coming from. I used to DESPISE when someone from NYC - who inevitably moved to Cleveland for "family", "better schools", or "cheaper housing"- would do nothing but pine for NYC, put Cleveland down, ridicule it's citizens, restaurants, music and culture. I grew up during the worst times that city ever saw(until now), suffered through much national shame and ridicule. Nobody ever had anything good to say about the place. Always at the top of the worst lists I promise you, I will never do that here or any other city. I just find Austin very fascinating especially right now when so much is happening so fast.

BTW, how long do I have to live here before I can protest and advocate against change I find that gaping hole(soon to be Barton Place Condos) behind Austin Java on Barton Springs Rd totally hideous, offending and a scary precedent. I'm all for condos DT, or in place of a parking lot, but not in one of the most endearing parts of town, where they need to rip out gorgeous old pecan trees.

Sick.

[TexasHorseLady]

Oh, hey, you can protest and advocate against change from the moment you hit the city limits! It's our local favorite sport, didn't you know?

And I agree with you - it's an abomination to build that there.

[love that sunshine!]

What can you tell me about the bugs? If you spray for them (indoors and/or outside) do you have the problems mentioned with Critters: Rattlesnakes, poisonous centipedes, black widow spiders, scorpions, fireants, etc? This "bugs" me....

[Rooster24]

1. Hot, humid weather
2. High property taxes
3. Overhead utilities wires & building that are falling down - unsightly!
4. Food - restaurants are "okay", not a huge list a A+ venues
5. Limited direct flights from airport
6. Land locked
7. Bugs - Fire ants!!!
8. Limited arts
9. Music capital? - great for smaller bands, bigger bands go to Dallas, Houston or SA
10. Bums on every corner

[Trainwreck20]

Limited direct flights from airport

Had an article in the Statesman that showed that for the first time ever Austin had more direct flights than San Antonio. Mostly due to the arrival of Jet Blue. On the flip side, it also said that some of the direct flights that are currently there will wither with the high cost of flying now.....

[Moonlady]

Originally Posted by love that sunshine!

What can you tell me about the bugs? If you spray for them (indoors and/or outside) do you have the problems mentioned with Critters: Rattlesnakes, poisonous centipedes, black widow spiders, scorpions, fireants, etc? This "bugs" me....

There have been a dozen or more threads devoted to this topic. I did a search and came up with the following threads:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/searc...archid=6386656

[achtungpv]

Originally Posted by Trainwreck20

Had an article in the Statesman that showed that for the first time ever Austin had more direct flights than San Antonio. Mostly due to the arrival of Jet Blue. On the flip side, it also said that some of the direct flights that are currently there will wither with the high cost of flying now.....

Isn't every flight a direct flight to somewhere? It may not be to your chosen end destination but you'd be dang happy if you flew to Houston, Dallas, El Paso, etc. on a regular basis.

[Trainwreck20]

Heh, you're right, of course, and I don't remember the article exactly, but I think it actually said direct flights to out of state .

[iceshots]

I love the Austin airport. I have been flying in bi-weekly for almost two years. I always find it a welcoming place every time I land. That said, my favorite saying (in jest)about Austin is "you can't get there from here!" That has changed recently with direct flights from Toronto to Austin. I just hope the cutbacks do not kill that route.

keep reading these lists about why not to moveto Austin. It may not be the perfect place, (where is?) and some other locations will ALWAYS have SOMETHING that is better than Austin, but in my opinion, it has one of the BEST mixtures of everything you are looking for in a small to medium sized city. It does not have some of the BIG CITY amenities, but it also does not have the same problems.

I grew up in a big city, moved out when I was twenty, and have enjoyed small to medium sized towns ever since. Each person has their own likes and dislikes. I hope you all get to live where you want to and feel comfortable.

One man's drink is another man's poison. That is what makes the world interesting.

In one month we make the big move and become Texadians. (Texas - Canadians).

Here are some of the things I am looking forward to.

High Heat, low humidity (compared to up here in the summer)
No more snow! (The ice storm in Austin a couple of years ago was quite fun!)
Very friendly people. ( I love driving around neighborhoods looking for houses and having people waving as I do.)
Better traffic (compared to what I go through right now)
Shorter commute time
No state income tax (after higher property taxes, I am still way ahead)
Lower sales tax (Ontario has Federal AND Provicial sales tax)
Seeing the stars at night
Sending my daughter to a good high school and not havingt to pay private school tuition to do it.

Looking forward to becoming one of you.