Where are all the kids??? Please HELP!!!

[remcycle]

Brat fest? LOL do you have any idea what they put in a brat?

Yeah, we're getting pretty set in staying the verona district. My only problem with that is that when we leave seminole forest, then it'll involve moving further out of town, and I'm *already* at the edge of bus coverage territory. I take my bike with me everyday and sometimes bike the whole way, other times just throw it on the front of the bus for a stretch, and it's imperative that I remain able to do that.

Which segways into my next comment to Megan about Austin. It's not a walkable (and HORRIBLE on a bike...Mad has got us SO spoiled in that regard) city AT ALL, unless you live right in town. From Zilker Park up to UT and between the freeways on the east and west sides, you can get around pretty easily on foot. Anywhere outside of those boundaries, however, and you'll NEED a car with good air conditioning. I'd say car or bike, but cycling during the day in 115 degree weather isn't practical (read: bound to kill you).

So yeah, I don't miss the heat at all. I feel pretty spoiled right now when I look at the weather down there that my family doesn't have to contend with anymore.

As to comments about it being "laid back", I'll admit it USED to be. Back in the 90's it was such an awesome city that the heat was almost worth dealing with. Things have changed quite a bit though. If you had been there back then, the differences now would astound you. It used to be just how Madison is now, but perhaps a bit more communal because people didn't have to spend the winters hibernating.

My suggestion would be to stay up north somewhere and try to beat the snow (my answer to beating the snow would be moving out to Portland or Seattle). Then just visit Austin when there's a need (SXSW...um, can't think of much else I'd travel back there for. ).

[Megan1967]

Hey Remcycle -

Yeah, I noticed it was not a really walkable city. Things are much more spread out (of course it is over twice the size). I didn't get to see nearly as much as I would have liked, so I don't feel I have much to make an opinion on, but it did not remind me of Madison, not really at all. The West Lynn neighborhood I saw looked really cool, but I don't have $350K laying around + 2.1% - 2.5% property taxes.

I mainly looked in RR because that was where I could afford a house and it was pretty much like any suburb anywhere.

Madison is by far the coolest city I've lived in (albeit, I've only lived in three other places, all in Wisconsin). I'm very bummed that I can't afford to live in central Austin because the rest of the area felt pretty generic.



I would recommend checking out the Monroe/Regent Street area if you can afford it. Very good schools. Randell/Lincoln - a paired elementary school, Van Hise Middle School and (I believe) Madison West for high school. West is one of the the best HS in the state. Very pricey neighborhood though, but your property taxes are pretty much nothing compared to the Austin area so you'll be able to afford more than you think. Madison is 1.9% I think.

[jbear182]

Originally Posted by Megan1967

Hey Remcycle -

Yeah, I noticed it was not a really walkable city. Things are much more spread out (of course it is over twice the size). I didn't get to see nearly as much as I would have liked, so I don't feel I have much to make an opinion on, but it did not remind me of Madison, not really at all. The West Lynn neighborhood I saw looked really cool, but I don't have $350K laying around + 2.1% - 2.5% property taxes.

I mainly looked in RR because that was where I could afford a house and it was pretty much like any suburb anywhere.

Madison is by far the coolest city I've lived in (albeit, I've only lived in three other places, all in Wisconsin). I'm very bummed that I can't afford to live in central Austin because the rest of the area felt pretty generic.



I would recommend checking out the Monroe/Regent Street area if you can afford it. Very good schools. Randell/Lincoln - a paired elementary school, Van Hise Middle School and (I believe) Madison West for high school. West is one of the the best HS in the state. Very pricey neighborhood though, but your property taxes are pretty much nothing compared to the Austin area so you'll be able to afford more than you think. Madison is 1.9% I think.

Randall is paired with Franklin. Franklin is k-2/Randall is 3-5. Hamilton is the middle school. The areas that feed into these schools are great.

[Megan1967]

Thanks for the correction - I should have looked it up.

[kt35]

Try McFarland. There are so many kids here you'll be beating playmates off with a stick. When looking at houses, look for playgyms in the backyard. There's one behind nearly every house in our neighborhood. Lots of kids under 10. Parkview Estates off Country WAlk in McFarland. Excellent school district too, although I hear that Verona's is excellent too. Don't give up. It's really hard to settle into a new community. Try volunteering with the school when your daughter starts or invite her schoolmates over (may help in engaging conversation with parents) so you can get to know people.

[Luv4ThePaws]

I didn't know where else to post this, but how about mom's groups in the area? Any prenatal yoga classes where pregnant moms could connect? Maybe a "Mommy and Me" type place as well? Thanks so much! We are considering a move, and I want to make sure I can meet people when we have kids in a year or two!!