my thoughts on SA (San Antonio, Austin: camp, quality of life, place to live)

[Merovee]

Originally Posted by Ophelia77

I've never really felt like SA is that accepting or friendly. I have lived here for almost 8 years and have found that you will find nice people, but you will find ALOT of very close minded people. I feel like SA lacks culture, except for the mexican culture. Although you will find different kinds of food around town, but I don't see that as "culture" really.

It is very uncultured here. People enjoy the most unsophisticated pastimes.

Also the average "Mexican" in town, regardless of if they are descended from original Tejano settlers dating back to well before this territory was part of the United States, or if they are recent Mexican immigrants, hardly knows anything about "Mexican" culture, neither our Tejano culture or actual Mexican culture from Mexico. They are not the same you know?

Yes, people are nice on the surface, but so simpleminded here. It does not make the average citizen any more interesting. Not really a complaint, just an observation.

Originally Posted by Ophelia77

SA is too big now, the planning really sux. Traffic in certain areas is just plain silly. BUT there are worse cities, I know that. I hate it when people say that Austin traffic is worse. This may have been true 10 years ago, but now, SA traffic is worse. Mostly because San Antonio never ends (thanks to suburban sprawl). Anyway, I am use to San Antonio and tolerate it because it is where I have to be for the next 4 and half years, but after that, I'm moving on!

A few have claimed to me that Austin traffic is still worse and that it is growing its own suburbs as well. I find traffic and other drivers tolerable. Many complain about both but if I know I am going to be driving in rush hour traffic I plan accordingly. Other drivers are also fine with me. Whoever finds fault in either most likely can find the actual problems as being sourced in their very own perspectives.

Of course traffic can be a problem especially with the environment, it decreases quality of life as well and stressing over it will only add to that, but it is not as bad as some consistently make it out to be by their excessive complaints.

I would not worry about others either. If you have some critical thought about the city and the most others can do is become defensive and begin attacking, then there is most likely some merit in the criticism. If you cannot find someone to rationally discuss these issues with you without taking offense just remember that the simpleminded rule this town and pleasantries will expire long before that does.

[TXsurburbanmom]

Wow, I just happened to read your post over on the Raleigh forum (because that's where I live for another 3 weeks) talking about how hot the last 2 summers in SA were. I caught my attention as from what I understand the summer in 2010 wasn't as bad as usual due to the hurricanes and tropical storms. In fact it was worse during most of the summer here in NC. I thought it funny that you had a post here about your thoughts on SA. I'm sorry you don't understand why you were perceived as posting a negative post when that was exactly how it read. You started a post complaining about SA and people who love it responded. I understand because having left it I now see what I was missing by complaining about the traffic, the heat, etc. We are thrilled to be going back to the people and places we love. I know many of my friends from other places were blown away by the friendliness of SA and many, many people who get transferred there decide to later retire there despite the traffic and heat. There must be something that works for alot of people.

Because you posted on the Raleigh Forum I find myself wondering if that is where you plan on returning to. If so perhaps you could explain the culture a bit to me because short of BASKETBALL I'm having a hard time pinpointing it. It's certainly not southern with the massive influx from the NE yet at the same time it is extremely undiverse. I've only met 1 Hispanic who was not working at a fast food place and heard on the news the African-Americans are among the poorest in the nation. It's so sad I can't wait to get my kids back to the ethnically diverse neighborhood we moved from --STONE OAK, no kidding my son's friends from school include Anglos, Hispanics, Asians, African-Americans and Arabs.

There are plenty of bad things about SA. The sad tree ordinance situation that makes SA less beautiful then where I am now. The traffic, the crime (although I'm in a little bitty town here and there are lots of safe SA neighborhoods), the illiteracy situation (although I am inclined to wonder if perhaps immigration skews SA a bit on that end), the teen pregnancy rate. As said, there are bad things about most places. I see threads like this often over on the Raleigh Forum where someone starts off negative and locals defend the place so it's not unique to SA. I have plenty of things I DON'T like about the Raleigh area but I'm not going to bring them up to people who live here. I just tell them why I want to move home and leave it at that. But why on earth would you stay 12 years in a place where you are unhappy?

[apal]

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

Sorry pal, but it's not even close to being akin to what this poster stated.
All of those things that you listed are correctable within that household, making it much more personal. The problems that the OP mentioned regarding SA are not corrected by any of you,at least not anytime soon.
Big difference!

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it

[Merovee]

Originally Posted by apal

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it

The same could be said about the way you think about his opinion.

[firstclassflyer]

Originally Posted by apal

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it

Not to worry, I did!

[sakssa]

I was in Austin yesterday and the traffic is worse and it's not just downtown. I got back into San Antonio at 5:30 took 1604 west to 281 north and there were no problems. I was stuck in traffic at 3:30 in Austin. Move there if it's so bad here!

[scuba steve]

Remember kids, only you can prevent forum fires!
http://www.treehugger.com/smokey-says-only-you-can-prevent-forest-fires.jpg (broken link)




(BTW traffic at rush hour in Austin or SA SUCKS! But it was bad in other places I've lived or traveled frequently too).

[pburghfan]

OK, no one likes to sit in traffic but the traffic here is one of the last things I would complain about. Try living near DC, now that is awful

[Quattro72]

Originally Posted by Ophelia77

Love how you point out that "Homers" will blame me for not liking the city. It's so true. People in SA need to learn to be alittle bit more humble. Most "homers" haven't even been outside of TX. Alot of people I know just trust that SA is the best place ever and don't even attempt to see life outside of SA. If you like it here, then that's great but you have to understand that not everyone has the same taste as you.

I agree with you. Most locals will go the distance to defend the city and are not open to observations because they can’t or don’t want to see beyond.

[RGJ]

FYI, these City of San Antonio departments are filled with Directors that are "non-homers": City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Capital Improvements, Center City Development, City Clerk, Environmental Policy, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Planning and Community Development, Public Works.

Makes one wonder