Is Houston For Me? (important life decision -- please help!) (Dallas: apartment, insurance)

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by cebu077

But I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY love San Diego...The thought of living there brings me real joy. Yes, I'm well aware that no place is a utopia...But for me, San Diego would come close.

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY think you need to move to San Diego and either love it or get it out of your system. Definitely don't move to Houston and spend the rest of your life wondering, "What if...?"

[bamba_boy]

The last two notes remind me of myself when I was in my early 20's leaving college. I had visited SoCal once when I was 5 years old ... Costa Mesa, Orange County... and barely remembered it but remembered it beeing really really neat. I got 4 job offers for Los Angeles, Houston, Midland, and Tulsa. Like you, I was trying to get out of the MidWest so no way I was going to Midland or Tulsa (I guess not technically MidWest but as you say "same mentality") so I took the job in Los Angeles. I was young, dumb, and full of fun (thought you'd have to bleep me, fooled you!) and went out there in a beat up 20 year old car that sprung a gas tank leak in the Mojave Desert and barely made it to Barstow for patching up.

Had no money so I had to wait two weeks to get a refridgerator for my unfurnished little rent house 30 miles from my job just west of downtown LA in a semi-dangerous neighborhood east of East LA. It was very tough, I didn't have nearly enough money to live even close to a middle class life... but here's the kicker... I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Had no money but I'd offer to work late on Friday's so I could take a pool car home and drive it to Venice Beach or the cool San Berdu Mountains on the weekends and watch the break dancers, crazy skateboard tricksters and throw snowballs and get fresh-pressed apple cider ... maybe in the same weekend (could be 30 in the mountains and 70 in Santa Monica or Laguna Beach). I got my first look at San Diego going to a time share presentation that gave me $150 cash for gas and food ... paid for my weekend explorations.

Now after 4 years of this poverty, though, and being nearly shot in a parking lot as a bystander to two gangs shooting it out I was ready to go. It was also very tough working your butt off, doing overtime, and saving NOTHING for owning a house and locking in the rent/mortgage monthly payment with rents going up and up and up.

My company shut down in LA and I got transferred to Houston. Instant 8% raise with no income tax, and I was able to buy a house with 3% down and the same payment per month but went from renting a near-ghetto 3/1 1200sqFt bungalow to a nice neighborhood 5/3 2500sqFT house with mortgage interest deduction. Trust me, the beach-quality factor was just not that big a problem! Also, the guy who said Houston has no culture or entertainment, at least for a big city, must have some aversion to getting in his car and coming downtown. Houston is one of only 3 or 4 cities in US - I think it's NY, LA, ChiTown, and SF as well - that has ALL the major companies, opera, ballet, symphony, major playhouse. Also, it has all the major sports (all at major league level except Hockey of course and it does have hockey at the top minor league level) and a ton of good music clubs and small arena/large megaclubs - Verizon Theatre, Toyota Center (also NBA & Hockey), Cynthia Woods Pavillion in the suburbs (Woodlands), Arena Theatre, the new Mo. City Muni Theatre (just SW of town) ... on and on. We also have a huge international festival with live music and ethnic food, a huge motion picture festival, and a FREE covered outdoor theatre in Miller Park who gets city funds and corporate sponsorships for top professional acts (including our own symphony and playhouses) .

The plan I'd suggest for you (as your very own Dr. Phil) is to get San Diego out of your system, it'll be cool years later to know where all the scenes in movies and TV shows were shot because you lived there! If you really rocket up the corporate later or start your own lucrative business you'll have found a place in paradise (well NEAR paradise for weather at least, the traffic REALLY sucks ... even compared to Houston). However, just know that 30,000/yr in Houston lifestyle is 100,000/yr in SoCal. San Diego is a little cheaper than desireable neighborhoods in LA, but not much, and I didn't find it as liberal. It's more of an extension of very conservative John Wayne-country Orange County than an extension of West LA (Santa Monica/Palisades/W.Hollywood are probably the most free-thinking areas).

You're single, you can always live for awhile in a very small apt or get room-mates; If I were you I'd go for SoCal if you get a good job. Then you can get married, start having kids, and if you haven't made your first million but still need a house for them, you can come join us plebians in Houston ... and you'll have all those great memories.

[catfancier]

Originally Posted by Topaz

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY think you need to move to San Diego and either love it or get it out of your system. Definitely don't move to Houston and spend the rest of your life wondering, "What if...?"

What Topaz said. I was going to post just about the same thing.
Go to San Diego...you will MAKE it work somehow, because you will be happy and passionate about your environment. And I'd add that you would be crazy to move to Houston without visiting at least once first...find the money somewhere (credit card) or whatever, if you still think it's your better choice.

I am a Cleveland native. I moved to NYC metro after college and stayed 30-plus years before moving to Houston metro last year for family reasons. I'm not "in love" with it...yet...but my life is still in flux. It would not have been my first choice-- Southern California would have been!

I'm not a rabid Suze Orman fan but I was watching her cable show once and a youngish woman like you wanted to move to Florida, LOVED Florida, had friends in Florida...but was worried about moving so far from home and family and didn't have a job. Suze told her to MOVE TO FLORIDA, because it's where she REALLY REALLY REALLY (like you and SD) wanted to be. To make ends meet you possibly can get a roommate and take some entry level job if you have to for starters. Good luck in your decision.

[Sampaguita]

What catfancier, Topaz & bamba_boy said.

I grew up in NY, went to school in San Antonio, stayed 4yrs more to work and then spent the next 15 yrs living/working in Santa Barbara & San Diego. Wouldn't trade those 15 yrs in SoCal for anything. I loved it there. Met my husband, got married & gave birth to my children there. Moved to Houston last year for family reasons as well.

Like catfancier, I'm not in love with Houston...yet...but I have hopes for that as my family takes root here alongside my brother's growing family & that of our cousins. As I've grown older, being near family has become more important again and while I loved living in San Diego (and I am politically fairly liberal), the draw of celebrating our families lives together was much stronger than staying put in SoCal where we really didn't have family.

I'd go for San Diego and see how that pans out. You may find it's your paradise - for the rest of your life or just for a portion of the times to come.

[Kandy]

My sister is 30, single, liberal minded and also has a 15 pound dog. She moved here 6 months ago from SoCal. She has said that she is surprised how much she likes it here. She has had no trouble making friends. Here only real complaint is that she doesn't feel as "safe" here. Nothing has happened to her personally, but compared to the other cities she has lived in, the crime rate here is high.

[Malvie]

I agree with Topaz, Catfancier, BambaBoy and Sampaguita:

Look, if you really, really love San Diego, move there and find a way to make it work. You're young, free, and have the rest of your life to worry about settling down.

My story is similar to some of the others: I grew up on Air Force bases, mostly in Texas; born in Dallas, graduated high school San Antonio, college in Waco. When I graduated, I lived in Houston for a year (ahh, but what a year it was...), then Dallas a year, then Los Angeles. Back to Dallas, then to NYC.

I love my middle-aged life here now; it's comfortable and I have all the services of a massive, modern American city without having to be too "urban". But I wouldn't take ANYTHING for the times I had in Cali and NYC. LOVED IT. LOVED IT. LOVED IT.

I was young then, like you are now. I put up with the tiny 300 square foot apartments, roommates, lack of comforts, etc---in LA, it was all about going to the beach; I lived for it. In NYC, it was all about the partying; I lived for it.

Now I'm more into comfort and family; I have a beautiful home here, luxurious, with cars and dogs and a nice life. Family close by. 20 years ago, I'd have screamed if I thought I would like living like this. It's all about where you are in your life.

And, some people are just made differently. One of my friends, from Spring, always wanted to be a Mommy; she found a nice guy at aTm, married him, and they made babies one-two-three. She never worked outside the home, raised her children, and now is a grandmother at age 52. She's very happy with her life and I applaud her for that. My life--well, I surfed, partied like a rock star, had a job in NYC that required international travel, went backstage at the Met, have been to 46 US states (no Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or Montana); danced the night away, closed many bars, eaten at swell restaurants, partied at Mardi Gras, sunned on the beach---and now here I am at 52: not enough energy for all that any more. So I work in my yard and play with my dogs and visit my family. Which of us had the better life? We BOTH did, it just depends on what you want.

Go to San Diego, be young, and have a great life. When you're ready, Houston will still be here.






p.s. About once a year, you'll find me, (now) fat and middle aged, Ray-Bans, shorts, sandals, t-shirt, with graying hair, sitting on the beach at Santa Monica, under a palm tree, drinking a bottle of good California red, watching the sun sink slowly into the Pacific....

[Sampaguita]

^^^I'd rep you if I could (again)!

"Which of us had a better life? We BOTH did it just depends on what you want..."

Well said!

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by Malvie

p.s. About once a year, you'll find me, (now) fat and middle aged, Ray-Bans, shorts, sandals, t-shirt, with graying hair, sitting on the beach at Santa Monica, under a palm tree, drinking a bottle of good California red, watching the sun sink slowly into the Pacific....

I love your posts, Malvie. I'd rep you again if the system would let me. You sound like a totally fun person.

[Jaymanbikes]

One of the things we love about Houston is we save enough money to take nice vacations. It doesnt matter where you live you always want to get away....

[NoonieJR]

I'm a 31-year-old single white female with liberal-leaning views. I've lived in Ohio my entire life and I despise it. I'm currently looking to move to a REAL big city (Cleveland, OH doesn't count!) with a vibrant young, single set and thriving downtown scene. Does Houston meet this criteria?
THE DOWNTOWN SCENE HAS CAME A LONG WAY... DOWNTOWN USED TO BE FULL OF CRACKHEADS AND BUMS AND THERE STILL SUM BUT NOT LIKE IT USED TO BE.. THERE ARE BARS AND VENUES ON EVERY CORNER IN DOWNTOWN NOW FOR ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE AND IT FITS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.


I need some hardcore, very truthful answers. I'm thick-skinned, so feel free to be blunt! Here are a few more questions:


1.) I'm aware that Houston is hot, but is it humid? The Midwest is extremely humid in the summer months, but I'm not sure how it compares to Houston in this regard. How often does it rain? Does Houston have many days of plentiful sunshine?
HOUSTON IS THE MOST HUMID/ HOT CITY IN AMERICA.. KEY WORD (CITY).. MOST AIR CONDITIONED CITY IN AMERICA! LOL.. IF U WANT HUMIDTY AND SWELTERING HEAT, THEN YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE!


2.) Are there job opportunities in Houston for people in the public relations field?
I DON'T KNOW BUT I'M SURE WITH THIS LARGE POPULATION, THERE WOULD BE!


3.) I've heard that Houston is quite a cultural mecca, and that it is rising in the ranks. Would you
say there are plenty of cultural/artistic entertainment options in Houston?
HOUSTON IS VERY CULTURAL.. YOU CAN FIND EVERY COUNTRY AND CULTURE IN THE CITY


4.) I have a small dog (15 pounds). Is Houston a dog-friendly city? Would I be able to find decent/nice apartment complexes that allow small dogs?
I DONT KNOW!


5.) How does the cost-of-living in Houston compare to other major cities? For example, L.A., NYC, Chicago, Boston. What is the average rent for a decent/nice one-bedroom apartment located in or very close to downtown? IVE LIVED IN DIFFERENT PLACES AND HOUSTON IS CHEAPER THEN THOSE CITIES YOU NAMED!

6.) How close to the ocean is Houston, in hours? Are there any lakes in or near Houston? Living near the water is extremely important to me.

DEPENDING ON WHAT SIDE OF TOWN YOU ARE ON.. BUT NO MORE THEN A HOUR (I THINK).. FROM MY SIDE OF TOWN I'M ALOT CLOSER THEN MOST OF HOUSTON.. BUT THERE IS WATER IN, AND ALL AROUND HOUSTON.. IT IS THE BAYOU CITY (NEW ORLEANS HAS THAT NAME TOO)

7.) Is there racism and/or racial segregation in Houston? Again, I'm liberal and very open-minded, so the less of the above, the better.
I THINK IN THE INNER CITY, RACISM IS NOT A ISSUE.. MAYBE OUT IN THE SUBURBS IT IS (I DON'T KNOW) IT IS DEFINATELY NOT LIKE ALABAMA.. I'M BLACK AND THE ONLY TIME I FEEL RACISM IS FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.. THEY LIKE TO DO ILLEGAL SEARCHES ON ME ALL OF THE TIME (I'M SERIOUS).. LOL BUT FOR THE MOST PART ITS NOT BAD. I THINK CHICAGO IS MORE RACIST THEN HOUSTON.