things for a transplant to know (room, service, people)

[texasborn]

Originally Posted by noplacelikeWA

Your welcome, I think?? Although I do not mean to influence you or anyone elses decision about relocating to SA. Having just moved to SA I thought any potential transplants might be interested in some of the observations we have made since moving here. Unfortunately much of what you read on these forums turns out to be natives defending their city and transplants complaining. We are not expecting any "solutions" to our observations they are just things we didn't anticipate and never really thought about until we experienced it first hand. Natives can be blinded and biased some times and transplant can be too cranky and unwilling to adjust as well, I take everything I read (even the statistics) with a grain of salt and I suggest you do the same.

When I mentioned "solutions" it was in response to some of the experiences people found frustrating, namely, conditions of roads. "Solutions" could translate into becoming active in community planning. People gripe, but never offer any "solutions". Maybe I should not have used the word solution, with its implication. It provoked a great deal of angry responses. I've got my salt handy. I think I'll need it. Thanks for the "suggestion"!

[Aquajox]

I lived in the Seattle area my entire life until moving here. It is beautiful up there for 3 months a year, and ugly and gloomy for the other 9 months. So I have to disagree with NPLW. I find beauty in the Hill Country, the trees, the expansive Texas sky's, and we get to see them all year long.

[noplacelikeWA]

Originally Posted by AnthonySA

I have been many places --- even out of this hemisphere... just not the Pacific NW. You just gotta learn to adjust and appreciate the differences everywhere. Yeah -- SA doesnt have mountains (with the exception of Mt St Helotes of course hehe), but it has a unique atmosphere that I think makes it very special. Compared to most cities ive been too -- I think SA is overall kept up (then again I hardly ever venture out of the northside).

I understand that SA isnt for everyone, I don't expect it to be. However, SA/Hill Country is definitely for me

Mt St Helotes....LWOL!!!! I came here for the sunshine not so much for the scenery and I also plan to spend my summers in the NW out of the SA heat and back in the majesty of the NW. I do appreciate the differences and hardly think my opinion about the UGLY scenery of SA is worth debate, I also don't like beans and cheese anybody have a bone to pick about that?

[wCat]

Isn't it really ok if we disagree on many things. Opinions are great....and even some criticisms are fine, so it just might be in the way things are worded and maybe translate a bit more harshly when typed out. We can't hear the "tone" of the writer's thoughts so we have to rely on these little letters to understand a LOT.

Can I throw a tad of salt in this pot? It might be helpful to couch our personal compliments/opinions/criticisms/insults by owning them......not speaking for everyone that lives "here" or representing "transplants" from everywhere BUT "here". It's that "generalizing" that gets touchy.....you know...referring to "others" that think the same. Who are these anonymous people and where are they and why are they not here telling us themselves?? Right? I'm just sayin'.......

BTW - Is there anyone else here that finds the word "transplant" awkward?
Gosh.....anyone moving in is a new neighbor no matter where they come from. Transplant sounds like a lab experiment and very unwelcoming to me.

[Hawaii_Corri]

Its totally ok to disagree, but how about a little bit of respect and less of that ugly hater attitude. Differences don't have to be negative. To me its very obvious, no need to sugar coat or be around the bush. Racism is alive and well. If someone has so many complaints about where they live, get the heck out! Not sophisticated enough for you, get out! Too many Mexicans for you? GET OUT!!

[missmypfc]

"Transplant" offended me from the get-go... service to our country brought us here. We've lived from coast-to-coast for the past 22 yrs... it's just really one big piece of real estate.

[JRTexas55]

Originally Posted by n0vemberHAWK

DALLAS
Median household income: $37,628 (year 2000)
Median house value: $89,800 (year 2000)
http://www.city-data.com/city/Dallas-Texas.html

houston
Median household income: $36,616 (year 2000)
Median house value: $79,300 (year 2000)
http://www.city-data.com/city/Houston-Texas.html

AUSTIN
Median household income: $42,689 (year 2000)
Median house value: $124,700 (year 2000)
http://www.city-data.com/city/Austin-Texas.html

san antonio
Median household income: $36,214 (year 2000)
Median house value: $68,800 (year 2000)
http://www.city-data.com/city/San-Antonio-Texas.html

The boom in Texas began in 2003-2004, mostly in SA.
God Bless.
JR

[JRTexas55]

Originally Posted by noplacelikeWA

Please feel free to give your point a view, I for one do not believe my perspective is the end all be all about SA. For a transplant it's really all about expectation and trying not to compare "apples to oranges" on everything. SA is a great city and really I have NO complaints or grievences with anything I have posted.... save one that I have not mentioned because it is not an observation as much as it is an opinion.

SA is not the prettiest city and certainly compared to the NW in my opinion it is down right UGLY!

Aside from the lack of beauty and scenery SA has become our home and we LOVE the weather which is the number one reason that we moved here, SA has delivered quite well on that expectation.

Hmmmm.....Maybe I need to start a thread on what a transplant loves about SA, would that cool everyone off?

Yea! great suggestion; Can't beat them join them. I'm for that.

[texasborn]

Originally Posted by wCat

Isn't it really ok if we disagree on many things. Opinions are great....and even some criticisms are fine, so it just might be in the way things are worded and maybe translate a bit more harshly when typed out. We can't hear the "tone" of the writer's thoughts so we have to rely on these little letters to understand a LOT.

Can I throw a tad of salt in this pot? It might be helpful to couch our personal compliments/opinions/criticisms/insults by owning them......not speaking for everyone that lives "here" or representing "transplants" from everywhere BUT "here". It's that "generalizing" that gets touchy.....you know...referring to "others" that think the same. Who are these anonymous people and where are they and why are they not here telling us themselves?? Right? I'm just sayin'.......

BTW - Is there anyone else here that finds the word "transplant" awkward?
Gosh.....anyone moving in is a new neighbor no matter where they come from. Transplant sounds like a lab experiment and very unwelcoming to me.

wCAT, well said! You are quite the diplomate and I for one have heard what you say. I have on many posts identified myself (not anonymous) as being born and raised there, moved away, lived alot of different places (but, more than half my life in Texas), and am thinking about coming home (?). (See numerous other posts.)

I hope (I think) I were "there" telling you this myself. But, unfortunately, I am HERE, El Paso (spouse's job transfer). I want to re-familiarize myself with an area I called home and I discovered this forum. I thought it was the next best thing to being "there". But... if this forum is for only those who are "there", then I will exclude myself from posting any further. Not all of us "anonymous" people have the luxury of being "there". By the way, would I be considered a TRANSPLANT? So much for the friendly Texas welome. Did someone revoke my Texas citizenship? hee hee (: (When I left Texas for Virginia in the late 80's, a friend of my sent me a TEXAS PASSPORT, because people in Virginia kept trying to tell me WHO I WAS. ) BTW, Is this too much information? Trying to not be so anonymous.

[wCat]

Originally Posted by texasborn

wCAT, well said! You are quite the diplomate and I for one have heard what you say. I have on many posts identified myself (not anonymous) as being born and raised there, moved away, lived alot of different places (but, more than half my life in Texas), and am thinking about coming home (?). (See numerous other posts.)

I hope (I think) I were "there" telling you this myself. But, unfortunately, I am HERE, El Paso (spouse's job transfer). I want to re-familiarize myself with an area I called home and I discovered this forum. I thought it was the next best thing to being "there". But... if this forum is for only those who are "there", then I will exclude myself from posting any further. Not all of us "anonymous" people have the luxury of being "there". By the way, would I be considered a TRANSPLANT? So much for the friendly Texas welome. Did someone revoke my Texas citizenship? hee hee (: (When I left Texas for Virginia in the late 80's, a friend of my sent me a TEXAS PASSPORT, because people in Virginia kept trying to tell me WHO I WAS. ) BTW, Is this too much information? Trying to not be so anonymous.

Texasborn....hmmm....no you're not a transplant.....maybe a 're-plant"?

Moving is hard on everyone. I understand a lot of the frustration with newcomers to the area....trying to adapt to a new and different lifestyle. But I also feel frustrated being a "re-plant" and read comments about newcomers being unhappy here. Moving is a very emotional thing. (I think I've moved 27 times in my life! ) Regarding the "anonymous" people comment...it was not directed at you...or anyone really. I was really meaning the commments that say..... I do or don't like "whatever" and a LOT of people agree with me. It's that group of "unnamed" people that we all have a tendency to hide behind when we speak out with strong opinions. That's really what I meant by saying it might be more helpful when we just speak for ourselves instead of trying to gather an army of supporters behind us. When I read a statement like that it give the impression that there are little secret meetings (which of course there aren't) It's no biggie....I've done it many times and always end up being misunderstood. I'm working on it!