How is San Antonio for single 30yr old? (Austin, Howe: neighborhood, quality of life)

[lilfootie]

I'm considering moving to San Antonio in August from Chicago, and I was wondering if it is an easy place to move to for a single 30 yr old? I'm a friendly person who has lived in both big and small cities; however, I'm nervous because I don't know what life is like for the average 20-30 something. Are there lots of single people there? Opportunities for art, yoga, horseback riding classes, etc? Is it a sleepy town? I'm not much of a partier though I like a social lifestyle. Also I'm a speech pathologist with some leads for jobs, so my quality of life financially should be sound. Any input would be great - thanks!

[DrEarth]

I am also considering moving to San Antonio from Chicago, and would be interested to see the responses.

[ranchodrive]

I would suggest that the two of you get together.
Discover & enjoy the many wonderful things that San Antonio
has to offer.
what a difference it makes when you have a friend to share things
with.

[Chaka]

It's what you make of it.
I moved here as a single 30 something and had a blast, made friends over time and enjoyed life. Some things that helped were joining groups to play sports and participate in events I liked. And while I did a fair amount in the brief time I lived in the burbs, I had even more fun when I moved downtown, and that was long before it became the happening place it is now.

I'm now married with kids so don't get to make the most out of all my neighborhood had to offer, but we still do a ton. There is a thriving arts community here, plenty of yoga and a small but vibrant music scene.

People will tell you to move to Austin but if you live in San Antonio's inner core I think San Antonio idea more that's readily accessible.

In the end tho, it's what you choose to make of it. Plenty say there is nothing to do here, meanwhile we bemoan having too much to do and not enough free time to enjoy all the options.

[L210]

We have a lot of single people under 30 with children. We aren't the most educated big city either if that's important to you. However, just because we have so many people, you should have a fairly easy time finding what you want if you're white or Hispanic.

[bspray]

Originally Posted by L210

We have a lot of single people under 30 with children. We aren't the most educated big city either if that's important to you. However, just because we have so many people, you should have a fairly easy time finding what you want if you're white or Hispanic.

I would say that San Antonio has a lot of people under 20 with children. When I was a single 30 something, that was the biggest hurdle I faced, finding people to date that didn't already have multiple children.

Another hurdle was fitness. Let's just say fitness isn't a priority with a large contingent of the population.

With that said, I think Chaka gives some good advice when she mentions intramural sports. San Antonio does have a lot of that going on both with Parks & Rec as well as the privately run San Antonio Sports and Social Club. You can also meet a lot of cool, single people at the different running events in town. SA Roadrunners is a good group for keeping up with the local running events.

[EntropyGuardian]

There's plenty to do and plenty to get involved with. Lots of bars and events. A good amount of social activity as well. I am putting in another vote for most 20 year olds having kids already, though. That was my experience dating in my late 20s in San Antonio.

[Azure110]

Two of my friends moved to Chicago and never looked back. They prefer to live there than here in San Antonio.

San Antonio downtown is not going to be anything like Logan Square or Wicker Park.

Between the two cities....Chicago is much nicer. I wouldn't want to move.

[Chaka]

Originally Posted by EntropyGuardian

I am putting in another vote for most 20 year olds having kids already, though. That was my experience dating in my late 20s in San Antonio.

While SA does have the highest rate of teen pregnancy in the country (ridiculously high), I had no problem finding 30-somethings to date (and just friends) who didn't have kids. Most were also highly educated (graduate degrees) and very fit.

That isn't saying the above comments aren't accurate, but like I said, it's all what you make of it. By joining athletic groups, by participating in arts events, by becoming active in community events, you meet people with similar interests. That said, I met my highly educated, well travelled, very fit and childless spouse in a bar, watching a Spurs game.

[rynetwo]

Originally Posted by lilfootie

I'm considering moving to San Antonio in August from Chicago, and I was wondering if it is an easy place to move to for a single 30 yr old? I'm a friendly person who has lived in both big and small cities; however, I'm nervous because I don't know what life is like for the average 20-30 something. Are there lots of single people there? Opportunities for art, yoga, horseback riding classes, etc? Is it a sleepy town? I'm not much of a partier though I like a social lifestyle. Also I'm a speech pathologist with some leads for jobs, so my quality of life financially should be sound. Any input would be great - thanks!

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Keep in mind San Antonio is a metro of 2.4 million people so you can find pretty much any kind of person you want to date. San Antonio has a lot to do for anyone of any age. The one thing to keep in mind is that while San Antonio is a large metro it's a fourth of the size of Chicago, but we are growing twice as fast by raw numbers.