Moving to Granbury, Tolar, Glen Rose (St. Paul: sex offenders, crime rate, new house)

[AustinTraveler]

Okay, I googled this thing and it's definitely not a love bug. Kissing bug is way too nice a term for this blood sucker!

Yukk.

[momof2dfw]

Jonathon,

The train to Granbury you have heard about is the Tarantula Train out of Grapevine. It is not a commuter train but rather a sightseeing adventure.

[Roma]

One more thing Jonathan,
WATER! My husband ran into the previous owner of our home yesterday at the store. He has properties in Tolar. He told my husband, that one of his properties which he owned 10 acres in Tolar, he sold 5 of the acres to a company that drills for water. He said at first he was leasing them the land then they came to him with a offer he couldn't refuse and sold them the 5 acres. So not only do you guys in Tolar have "natural gas" but also "underground water" and somehow the natural gas guys need the underground water. I don't know the whole details, so check this all out too. I hope you have a good real estate agent that goes over all this with you before signing.
Good Luck!

[loves2read]

Jonathan--
before buying property here and relocating based on something you have seen in Internet search--would it be feasible for you to come for visit--maybe stay for 2-3 months in a rental of some kind---you could see for yourself how well you like this area before making such a monumental change-
If drier climate is what you are looking for would it not be easier to move to part of England or the Continent before moving here---
It just seems such a drastic remove...

[Jonathan.Lowe]

Originally Posted by loves2read

Jonathan--
before buying property here and relocating based on something you have seen in Internet search--would it be feasible for you to come for visit--maybe stay for 2-3 months in a rental of some kind---you could see for yourself how well you like this area before making such a monumental change-
If drier climate is what you are looking for would it not be easier to move to part of England or the Continent before moving here---
It just seems such a drastic remove...

A very good point, there's no subsitute for seeing just what a place is like before commiting to a permanent move. I am looking for a place to rent in and around the Tolar regeon, it's a lot cheaper than staying at B&B or a Hotel for six months, in fact it would be cheaper to buy a place than stay in most of the hotels I've looked at.

I would like to find some place to rent in or near Granbury, however the only place I've looked at is in Stephenville. That's much further from DFW than I wanted to go.

We did consider moving to England, house prices are much higher there and the weather is not much different to that here in Ireland. The South East of England is much Drier but we would need double what we get for our Irish property.

France, was on our list of possible places to move but I would have to learn a new language; besides, my wife has some family in the US that we would like to visit. I also want to see the Grand Canyon and several other places, if we get around to it.

I know we could fly over to visit the various places of interest.:-)

Jonathan.

Ps. I'm busy at present trying to read up on all the Bugs that we will have to learn to live with.

[loves2read]

ROMA--
people who drill for natural gas need water to cool the drill bit going into the earth at very high speeds and getting very hot, to lubricate the hole where the pipe is being placed---but I think the people who bought the land for water rights want it to sell to other people--maybe to start a private water system--so they need a dependable water source--many times water is purchased from an underground source by the gallons per minute pumped out--even with a long-term contract that can be very expensive--so guess they decided to control the source and bought the land which controls the water under it---

Water will be just as valuable or more than natural gas or oil in the next decade--we can get energy from the sun or other products--but where do you get water--especially with the climate change coming and if you don't live by the ocean to reclaim sea water--cities will go to war over water rights in the future--check out FTW wanting to get water rights from Oklahoma's southern regions to feed TX growth--

JonathonL--you won't have to worry about bugs that much if you have screens on your home which most people do to open them w/o getting bugs--mosquitos are problems only during certain times of year and certain times of day--if you don't have any standing water around your house for them to propagate in, you don't really need to worry that much---it has been so dry most cities haven't needed to spray during the summer like they used to...
Flies are bothersome and so are wasps and what we call yellowjackets--like a wasp but "yellow" and more aggressive IMO---but this is not the Congo or the Central American jungle...have a pest company come spray your house once or twice a year if you really have a problem w/bugs...
Termites are something we have here in the soil which can get into foundations and walls/roofs of homes and eat wood---they swarm usually in the spring and are pretty easily seen at that time but can come up from ground between cracks in slabs and get into your woodwork also--that is why some people have pest company come inspect once a year...

Stephenville is ralther nice town--still isolated enough that it has not succummed to urban sprawl...

but if dry weather is important factor in your choice, have you considered New Mexico or Arizona---some people do not find that type of country appealing--desert type--arid landscape--but there are some towns like Ruidoso or Cloudcroft that are in mountains so you have a little of both--Taos and Santa Fe are very expensive---Alburqurque has some nice areas but also high crime/gang problem---Carlsbad New Mexico might be worth considering--farm/ranch land mostly -- military base there and of course the Carlsbad Caverns tourist/geological attraction...Fort Stockton in TX is nice--have been though there several times but have no idea what it would be ike to live there--fairly isolated from any other town...
El Paso has great climate but crime is problem and LARGE hispanic population--English is really second language there--but beautiful city vistas...

Have you considered home exchange program---know that apparently there are many out there--don't know who might like to swap with you from TX area but there might be someone--what is going on in your area of Ireland--any colleges--major businesses--other reasons people might want to come and stay for month or so---if there is then maybe there is someone who would consider house swapping somewhere in this area--you could make foraging expeditions if it was in a reasonable search area to towns you want to visit in addition to other travel you plan to do...

[loves2read]

I read up on the conenose bug as well---very dangerous and a real bloodsucker--I have seen those bugs around from time to time and did not realize how dangerous they are--apparently they can carry a parasite realeased in the bite which causes Chagas’s Disease--very dangerous and potentially life-threatening...I can understand why you are very wary of them...from what I read they seem to be more prevalant in Mexico and Central America but guess they can spread anywhere they can--could be brought into this area because of trucks on the NAFTA highway chain carrying produce and products that are infected with the pests and they stop where the deliveries are made...

I don't think this bug will be that common or easily found--but now that I know what they look like--I know they are around..
and they are definitely not what we call "kissing bugs"--those are the May flies that swarm in May after they are hatched and copulate as they fly---people sometimes call them the F-bugs...for that habit...they can be horrible nuisance when you drive since they get your headlights and windshield covered in their squashed bodies...

[bluebonnettgal]

Hi Jonathon, I lived in Tramore Co Waterford for five years and then moved back to Texas so I know what you are going through ! Texas has the same feel as Ireland does ..it is magical in its own right...Where Ireland is damp, 100 shades of green and a mixture of modern/Viking influences Texas is warm/hot , alot of shades of brown/green wide open spaces with the Western/Cowboy influences of the Old West.......opposite yet similar. You will find Texas warm and welcoming and enough Irish pubs and shops to still have Irish beans on toast ,Crunchies, Flakes and Guinness ! Texas has Irish Fairs and Irish dancing classes too for your children. I do agree with the previous postings on renting for a few months while you search for what area you want to live ...each are is different and has its own nuances...dont let bugs scare you off ! You can use your Irish drivers license for a month or two before having to take your test so go ahead and rent the car, there are no round-a-bouts in Texas and you should brush up on the rules of the road , but you will make the driving transition just fine if you become familiar with it first ,since we drive on the other side ! But just remember that the drivers side is closest to the middle of the road !Cead Mile Failte from Texas for you and yours !

[Jonathan.Lowe]

bluebonnettgal,
How did you enjoy Tramore when you were there. I've lived in Co Wexford for Thirty Three years and have only been in Tramore at the most, five times. I used to visit Waterford Airport on a regular bases, however as my eyesite has let me down I've had to give up any idea of learning to fly for the moment.

I don't think the bugs will bother me too much, it's my wife that may be bothered by them. I'd be worried that she would leave the screen doors open letting them in.

Driving in Texas, Cars are cheap, Gas is cheap, road tax is cheap, it's the insurance that's giving me the most concern. I simply can't get any idea what it's going to cost to insure something like a Ford Focus or a Mustang. Plenty of sites offering insurance but they want all sorts of details I don't have so I can't get a quote. Ditto for health insurance.

Thank's for your encouragement,

Jonathan

[Jonathan.Lowe]

Originally Posted by loves2read

I read up on the conenose bug as well---very dangerous and a real bloodsucker--I have seen those bugs around from time to time and did not realize how dangerous they are--

Hi loves2read,
Almost put off by this one until I read that the way to keep them away from your home is to clear all brush and undergroth near to your house and chalk all cracks and small holes in the outside walls. Giving myself a lot of extra work.

How difficult is the drivers test as we plan on staying for up to six months. I beleive that I can use my Irish drivers lisence for a while, is it two months?

I don't have anything against Ireland, my children are all over 20, they've got jobs and I want to do something different before I get over 60. The states have always interested me and Texas is a good place to start. I may find the over 100 summer temps are too much for me not been born to it, however I do like the mid 80's to 90's. My wife has always said that she would like a hotter climate, so, I'm calling her bluff.

It's just the constant rain, unreliable summers; it may rain, that's got me looking for a change of scene.

Again thank's for your helpful suggestions, they have helped to keep things in perspective.