What's it like to live in San Antonio? (Austin, Corpus Christi: transplants, insurance)

[lolamom]

As a family of four, what would our lives be like if we lived in San Antonio?What is there to do for fun? What are you weekends like?

Where do people go to the beach? What are the nearby weekend destinations that families can go to? Are the people nice? If I took my family there for two years, what would tempt me to make it a permanent home?

If you grew up in San Antonio, what did you enjoy about growing up there? What did you do for fun? What was your school experience like?

Where do you shop? Play? Exercise? Where do your kids to go school?

I really want to just try and feel the intangible of what it would feel like if we moved there? We are considering moving there or moving to NJ...we have lived in Atlanta and in Seattle.

Thanks in advance,
Lola

[firstclassflyer]

SA and NJ are like oil and water. TOTALLY different. I haven't heard of many people wanting to move "TO" NJ...it's usually the other way around. Brave souls indeed.

[lolamom]

Well thanks for the commentary on NJ and then not answering my question. I did not ask for your opinion of NJ but rather for some insight. There are parts of NJ that are lovely...... The public education is incredible, it's a very wealthy area with amazing services and proximity to one of the most impressive and amazing North American cities--New York. What does San Antonio bring to the table...Can you actually answering my question or is your only intent here to mock my situation?

[firstclassflyer]

My comments were based on over 30+ years of actually LIVING in NJ. I think I know what I'm talking about.
That being said, I stand by my comments of "oil and water". It seems that you don't have any idea of what you want. These are polar opposite areas.

San Antonio- much more laid back than NJ, family oriented, looong HOT summer. Cheaper cost of living but salaries are generally lower (my office is in Manhattan, don't have this problem.) No tolls. Tax rates are high, but values are lower, making taxes less than NJ. No state income tax. Small, but efficient airport. You will take connections more often than you would by flying out of Newark.

NJ- Amongst the highest property taxes in the nation, always in the top 3 for highest auto insurance. Tolls everywhere. Much faster paced...most folks always in a hurry. Weather sux. Traffic sux. Pay to enter (and pay another fee to park at) most beaches...except for the very Southern beaches. A lot of the state is just ugly. True, there are some nice parts. Fees for everything...NJ nickel and dimes you. Yes, state income tax. Beach only good for about 10 weeks per year and the water is cold. Newark is the worst airport in the nation for flight delays. I have been # 40 in line for take off before. I travel extensively.

My advice, RUN..don't walk away from NJ.

[lolamom]

Originally Posted by firstclassflyer

My comments were based on over 30+ years of actually LIVING in NJ. Something obviously you haven't done. I think I know what I'm talking about.
That being said, I stand by my comments of "oil and water". It seems that you don't have any idea of what you want. These are polar opposite areas.

San Antonio- much more laid back than NJ, family oriented, looong HOT summer. Cheaper cost of living but salaries are generally lower (my office is in Manhattan, don't have this problem.) No tolls. Tax rates are high, but values are lower, making taxes less than NJ. No state income tax.

NJ- Amongst the highest property taxes in the nation, always in the top 3 for highest auto insurance. Tolls everywhere. Much faster paced...most folks always in a hurry. Weather sux. Traffic sux. Pay to enter (and pay another fee to park at) most beaches...except for the very Southern beaches. A lot of the state is just ugly. True, there are some nice parts. Fees for everything...NJ nickel and dimes you. Yes, state income tax. Beach only good for about 10 weeks per year and the water is cold.


My advice, RUN..don't walk away from NJ.

Again with the assumptions.....

1. I grew up in NJ.
2. If it were a matter of "what I want" I'd be living in Nevis under a palm tree. Instead, this has to do with a career choice my husband needs to make.
3. I have family in NJ.
4. We pay close to 30K/annum now for property taxes. NJ's tax rate doesn't scare me.
5. Do agree with the rest you wrote about the weather etc.

Moderator cut: personal

[majormadmax]

If you want to find out what it is like living in San Antonio, just peruse this forum for a while. A lot of the information you are looking for is already here, and with a little research you will get a great idea of what life is like in this wonderful city...

Cheers! M2

[traveler guy]

Well the best place to raise a kid is the northside with it's outstanding schools and safe neighborhoods. the most popular beach getaway for San Antonians is Corpus Christi or Port Aransas. For camping try Gardner state park or for fishing try canyon/Medina lake.
then there is always Fiesta Texas ans Sea World.

[sapphire]

I work with a New Jersey (Jersey City) transplant. He loves the weather here--says it rains 70% of the time in Jersey. Whenever we step outside at lunchtime and it's a beautiful sunny day he says "This.....This is why I'm here."

You absolutely must have a vehicle here. That was my co-worker's first purchase upon moving here. If you're used to public transportation and like it, you will not enjoy San Antonio. We have a bus system that I would be more than willing to use provided it didn't take 2 bus changes and an hour and a half to get to work. I can drive there in about 20 minutes.

We have nothing that compares to the nightlife/arts/coolness of NYC. NYC is NYC. Sure, we have bars, dancing, theater, etc. But we're no NYC.

There are tons of weekend getaways. The Hill Country is beautiful, the coast is about 2 hours south, Austin is an hour or so north. There are lots of things to do in San Antonio also, so you may find yourself wanting to stay in town for the weekend.

Property taxes are high here, but we don't have a state income tax. Cost of living is significantly lower here, according to my co-worker.

Read the forum here and you'll probably find an opinion on just about everything. Good luck!

[millie61]

Originally Posted by lolamom

Again with the assumptions.....

1. I grew up in NJ.
2. If it were a matter of "what I want" I'd be living in Nevis under a palm tree. Instead, this has to do with a career choice my husband needs to make.
3. I have family in NJ.
4. We pay close to 30K/annum now for property taxes. NJ's tax rate doesn't scare me.
5. Do agree with the rest you wrote about the weather etc.

Moderator cut: personal

Where do you live to pay 30 K ????

[lolamom]

Thanks guys for the info!! It sounds wonderful! We live in Atlanta now--within city boundaries--thus the incredibly crazy high property taxes!! We won't mind leaving that behind.....

We have small children so we would be looking for safe neighborhoods, nice outings, great schools etc. I understand San Antonio has a very solid public school system.... That is one of the things that attract us to NJ because in Atlanta we have our children in private schools--on top of the property taxes. YIKES.

I think I need to visit the area....the other thing NJ offers us is proximity to my parents so I am struggling with that. But I don't mind admitting that I long for a less complex area than the east coast--NJ and Atlanta are both higher pressure places in which to raise children. On the other hand, wonderful city amenities that we will miss.

Are there a lot of stay at home moms in SA? Where do all the corporate transplants with small kids live? In Seattle, we lived in a great suburban neighborhood with lots of transplants and we made great friends. In Atlanta, we moved into an area more akin to Alamo Heights and making friends took longer....

THANK YOU in advance and I apologize for my cranky replies about NJ. I really get sick of people putting down Jersey..... :-)

Lola