Conservative, homeschooling family of 6 move from Austin to SA? Good idea or not? (San Antonio: homeschool, closing)

[TexasRedneck]

I travel to Austin frequently on business, and were I given a choice of the two, it WOULD be SA every time. Fortunately, I had a 3rd option, so went to New Braunfels. SA has a LOT to offer, especially for families - but if it were just the two options, I'd be in SA so fast it'd make your head swim.

[TexasRedneck]

As to specifics, I find the folks in SA to be more friendly. Not that Austin folks aren't friendly, I just find SA folks to be friendlier.

From a regulatory standpoint, SA is more "user-friendly", with fewer restrictions, although they seem to be trying hard to catch up with Austin.

I can move about on surface streets pretty efficiently in SA - Austion, not so much. And when there's a wreck on 35, it affects you a lot more. SA has better alternative routes to move about the city.

IMO, I see fewer racial issues in SA. Perhaps it has to do with the higher number of military folks here, but I personally think it's simply a friendlier group of citizenry.

[Danimarie]

About SA being more rundown looking than Austin, is it bad? Are there decent side walks and stuff? Are the neighborhoods ugly or are there suburbs with some trees and decent parks like Austin? I only know the touristy areas for the most part. Does SA have a lot of flooding when there are hurricanes on the coast like I've read? Is it bad or is it just a few lower lying areas?

Thanks TXredneck, for your opinion. I would like a smaller outlying city, but the whole job issue comes up. Biggest place I lived before Austin was around 100,000 people and grew up with around 15,000 people around - lived in the country. The city I went to school in had less than 400 people, LOL. So, big city living is still new to me.

[TXsurburbanmom]

I must be missing the post about SA being more run down than Austin. I've lived in both and don't think SA is more run down. It'sbigger so the poor sides of town are larger but SA also annexes a lot so areas like Cedar Park are within the city limits. Parts of SA are prone to flooding but the far northside where I live is similar to the rolling hills of Austin so we don't worry about it much up here. We have lovely sidewalks as well and my house is less than 20 years old with 4 sides non-crumbling brick, oak trees and 2 HOAs to upkeep common areas. Of course not every neighborhood is beautiful but the same can be said of Austin.

San Antonio is definitely more of a family town. Plenty of museums, history, and fun things for kids to do. I've also heard the homeschool community here is better than most places.

[Danimarie]

Thanks Bobcat4. I just read that it was more run down while searching through old threads. What you said makes sense.

[TexasRedneck]

Those claiming "run down" either don't get out much to see other communities, or have their own agenda. Yes - there are "poor" sections of SA, just like any other city. But IMO, that's anywhere you go. Depending on where you'll be working, a small town further out may not be that far away. My Dad commuted to SA from Bandera for over 20 years.

[bluebiker78]

Originally Posted by TexasRedneck

As to specifics, I find the folks in SA to be more friendly. Not that Austin folks aren't friendly, I just find SA folks to be friendlier.

From a regulatory standpoint, SA is more "user-friendly", with fewer restrictions, although they seem to be trying hard to catch up with Austin.

I can move about on surface streets pretty efficiently in SA - Austion, not so much. And when there's a wreck on 35, it affects you a lot more. SA has better alternative routes to move about the city.

IMO, I see fewer racial issues in SA. Perhaps it has to do with the higher number of military folks here, but I personally think it's simply a friendlier group of citizenry.

I agree with your entire post.

Danimarie, you will be fine in SA. We will be moving to SA at the end of next year and I cannot wait!

[Danimarie]

Hearing that SA is the 3rd friendliest city in the US was interesting. I come from the unfriendly north and my husband comes from Romania - a super friendly and hospitable people compared to anywhere I've seen in the states. I was born out of place because I'm naturally friendly, so I fit in better with southerners and my husband's people. Austin is quite a bit more friendly than where we lived before though.

Bluebiker, congrats on your coming move. Are you coming from Austin or elsewhere?

[bluebiker78]

Originally Posted by Danimarie

Hearing that SA is the 3rd friendliest city in the US was interesting. I come from the unfriendly north and my husband comes from Romania - a super friendly and hospitable people compared to anywhere I've seen in the states. I was born out of place because I'm naturally friendly, so I fit in better with southerners and my husband's people. Austin is quite a bit more friendly than where we lived before though.

Bluebiker, congrats on your coming move. Are you coming from Austin or elsewhere?

Thanks so much and congrats on your upcoming move as well!! We are a military family stationed in Fayetteville, NC, and will be retiring there next year. We were originally thinking about Dallas, but decided SA is just perfect for what we need without the crazy hustle and bustle of Dallas.

I'm excited for your potential upcoming move and good luck!

[fritos56]

Bluebiker78, lots of people retire here. My dad was at KellyAFB at Security Service in the 1950s and 60s. To him and my mother the area was home.When he left NSA and Fort Meade in 1971 he wanted to come back here and daddy retired from Randolph AFB in 1975 after 33 years of service in the US Airforce. Glad you and your family want to come here.
Danimarie,hope you too like SA. People are friendly at least the natives are. By the way, see your husband is Romanian.
Don't know if there are many here. I'm german on my father's side and hungarian on my mother's. The germans around here have several groups and I think there is a polish club in San Antonio. The towns of Panna Maria,St.Hedwig,,and Czestachowa were founded by Poles. At one time there was both a polish and a hungarian restaurant in San Antonio but no more.
There might be a hungarian society your husband could join. There is a lot to do here and if you both enjoy sports we have,,,,,,,,,soccer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,basketball,,, , etc.etc.