Moving to Dallas or Austin from Boston - Please help!!!

[JustWantedToGiveMy2c]

Also, it doesn't look like my other post made it through, although I think this point was already made. Here is the definition of materialism:
ma·te·ri·al·ism (m-tîr--lzm)n.1. Philosophy The theory that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena.
2. The theory or attitude that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life.
3. A great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.

Notice the 2nd definition. Realizing that money and a nice pad make life more comfortable (and not wanting to sit on the street begging and "intellectualizing") does not make you materialistic, it makes you REALISTIC! Materialistic is obviously the adjective of "materialism" and it does not mean someone that values material objects, it means someone that values material objects ABOVE ALL ELSE.

Sheesh. I get the clever little point you were trying to make about pointing out hypocrits, but trying to avoid materialistic people and at the same time wanting your own bed to sleep in and food to eat does not make you a hypocrit.

[JustWantedToGiveMy2c]

Originally Posted by ar8739

Whatever you just said is intellectual because i don't get any of it, but it sure reminds of a few classes i took in college

Haha. That's probably cause I said it pretty retardely. This was the part of the reply that irked me. "If you want to understand the real world of matter and energy and space and time, you won't do it by building an intellectual fantasy in your head. You do it by observing the material world and regulating your behavior to maximize your ability to control it."

I mean this sentence itself is intellectual. This guy had a bad experience with some self-appointed guru and is trying to make the argument that anything "intellectual" is somehow misguided. It's like the dude who keyed on "materialistic".

Instead of thinking through what people are saying (that's called being "open-minded" btw, another buzz-word) these people are just responding to set stereotypes they have in their mind in relation to certain words. I'm not a fan of hippies or snobby self-proclaimed "intellectuals" but i'm not then also a materialist or an anti-intellectual.

Why would you want to be dumber? Being smarter and thinking about things is probably the best thing you can do, ever, both for making money and manipulating the material world (read: throwing ****), things that seem to be pretty important to some people on this board.

[vivianleighe]

Definitely Austin. I moved from Mass to Dallas, and previously lived in Austin ...

If you have a choice, AUSTIN. I wish I'd have had a choice ...

Good luck!

[LAnative10]

Originally Posted by Joei

I just find this hard to believe. I actually want to move from DFW to Boston cause I cant stand it here. I only visited Boston once last month for a week, but coming from a non-white person who has lived in the south all my life (originally Miami)...Boston seemed to have little hangups over someone being black than it is here in Dallas.

As to the O.P., I know we are 2 different people but I just didnt get that rudeness in Boston as I do here in Dallas. And I know rude because Miami people are as about rude as it gets in the south.

I read through this entire thread, but just because Dallas has things to do and this and that...Theres more to it. Like someone here said, you will do ALOT of driving. Last year I arrived here with about 144,000 miles on my car. Right now Im close to 170,000. Now uptown area is close to alot of things, but seems like no matter where you live DFW will 'stick it to you' because you may need to go someplace that is far away. Whereas in Boston, I had no car and was able to get to every place I needed within a 5-10 mile radius (airport, train,gym,every store,hotel,list goes on) that in DFW, would be about 20 miles or more in some cases. And dont forget about the blue laws here. Im not sure how it is in Boston (I stocked up on wine that week I was there)...but Texas has seriously gay blue laws. You may have to drive 50 miles just to buy liquor, so stock up boy.

This area just cannot compare to the northeast. I havent met any true-Northeasterns to come to Dallas and love it enough to stay. Its 2 different worlds. And once you leave Dallas, you're in Mexico. Irving, Arlington, part of Fort Worth and Dallas are all Mexico. They are very tight people here in Dallas who are clickish and have known each other for years. They arent open to outsiders much, unless its just for casual fun (sex).

If you're from the east coast, I'd seriously consider taking a couple more trips before settling here, its not all that.

Drive 50 miles to buy booze? Where do you live, Tyler?

And you think those places are all Mexico? You were just complaining that Dallas has hangups about race, yet appearantly you do to.

We just moved from LA and we love it here! We live in a diverse area with lots of all kinds of people (race and age).

[ApartmentWiz]

I'm sure you could be happy in either city, but Austin caters more to a younger (22 and under) crowd and doesn't have as much to offer. Dallas, because it is connected to an entire Metroplex, has a ton more to offer and a lot more to do and see with a wide variety and mix of all ages and all forms of entertainment. People are materialistic everywhere. In general, the people in Texas are very friendly when compared to other places. I would recommend that you contact a local Apartment Locator in the Dallas area and ask them to put together a custom list of recommended properties that match what you are looking for. They are local area experts and can help you find the perfect place. Their services are completely FREE. Moderator cut: no advertising for RE services

[aceplace]

Originally Posted by JustWantedToGiveMy2c

Also, it doesn't look like my other post made it through, although I think this point was already made. Here is the definition of materialism:
ma·te·ri·al·ism (m-tîr--lzm)n.1. Philosophy The theory that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind, and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena.
2. The theory or attitude that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life.
3. A great or excessive regard for worldly concerns.

Notice the 2nd definition. Realizing that money and a nice pad make life more comfortable (and not wanting to sit on the street begging and "intellectualizing") does not make you materialistic, it makes you REALISTIC! Materialistic is obviously the adjective of "materialism" and it does not mean someone that values material objects, it means someone that values material objects ABOVE ALL ELSE.

Sheesh. I get the clever little point you were trying to make about pointing out hypocrits, but trying to avoid materialistic people and at the same time wanting your own bed to sleep in and food to eat does not make you a hypocrit.

Oh boy, how did I let slip the chance to engage this argument.

Exactly how does one assign a value to something that is not made of matter, i.e. is not a material "object". For example, a funny story. You hear it from somebody, you laugh, you tell it to somebody else, they laugh. Is it worth any money? If if you don't value it in terms of money, how else do you measure its value? Basically, you want to determine how many funny stories are equal in value to a $200 mountain bicycle, for example. If you think someone values material more than non-material "things", you have to define the value of those non-material things in order to compare it to the value of his material.

You're the one who says that a materialist values material objects above all else, but I say it's impossible in practice to compare the value of, say, a TV set to the value of a non-material thing such as a funny story, or any other non-material object. And so it is impossible to decide if a particular individual is or is not a materialist.

So we have, for example, Mr McGregor. He has an ordinary job, a tolerable but unexceptional marriage, he is not particularly cultured or intellectual, but he is an avid gardener. His yard and garden is the showplace of the neighborhood. He is actually quite proud of his garden, and it is really the center of his life. Is he a materialist? And if he meets your definition of materialism... what in the sam hill is offensive about it?

[hamptons9]

Boston is an amazing city(would be my second living choice next to Dallas) and Dallas is a nice practical city. I have traveled all over and keep coming back to Dallas. The cost of living, the weather, opportunities, friendly people( however Dallas has become as transient as LA lately. Everyone is moving here because of the attributes above. Of course because where Dallas is geographically and the relative short history here it lacks charm and history as some coastal cities have. But what we lack you can live like a movie star on a reasonable salary here and have money left over to travel to your favorite places. Since we are centrally located virtually almost every US city is a 2 to 3 hr plane ride away. SO you can have the best of both worlds and have more take home money in your pocket since we do not have STate Income tax. Something to consider with the cost of living going up at enormous rates.

[urbanangel]

Hi I'm 28 born and raised in Dallas moved to Austin in 2000 lived there for 9 years and just moved back to Dallas. I miss Austin more than I ever thought I would. There is tons to do in Austin. The people are amazing! I have nothing negative to say about Austin other than the fact that all highways have 3or4 names and there are no shortcuts so definitely live and work in the same general area if possible. The Austin airport is amazing and super easy to get in and out of though the actual location of the airport is a lil out of the way. If you haven't made your move please take my advice you won't regret it.

[CoolShivers]

I live in Dallas and work in Austin sometimes. Having grown up in New England, "Keep Austin Weird" is more like Boston than Dallas. If you like the outdoors, Austin has the hill country. If we're being honest, Dallas is flat and ugly. Best of luck to the former Bostonian in Dallas.

[mysterymachinebl]

Originally Posted by urbanangel

Hi I'm 28 born and raised in Dallas moved to Austin in 2000 lived there for 9 years and just moved back to Dallas. I miss Austin more than I ever thought I would. There is tons to do in Austin. The people are amazing! I have nothing negative to say about Austin other than the fact that all highways have 3or4 names and there are no shortcuts so definitely live and work in the same general area if possible. The Austin airport is amazing and super easy to get in and out of though the actual location of the airport is a lil out of the way. If you haven't made your move please take my advice you won't regret it.

The Austin airport isn't that amazing. You have to fly through either Dallas or Houston to get anywhere.