Tell me what's good and what's bad about TEXAS! (Houston: fit in, school district)

[NWPAguy]

My wife and I are in our 20s, native to the Northeast and finally tired of the weather and the economic/political climate. We know next to nothing about Texas, have been doing extensive research, and want to hear from Texans about the ups/downs of their state and their area.

We don't like frigid winters, snow, and humidity. Where we are now, near Lake Erie, it's normal to get 8 feet of snow by Christmas (always with high winds) and it's so humid in the summer mornings that the dew doesn't evaporate off of the grass until almost noon (which kills the idea of mowing the lawn while it's still cool in the morning). We've been liking what we see as far as climate data on West Texas, but nothing compares to living there.

Economically, I am an all-around professional musician (I teach private lessons, perform live as a keyboardist and singer, create custom compositions and arrangements of music, tune pianos, and do DJ and karaoke services), and my wife is a certified elementary teacher. I've had a very hard time building my business where I live now, despite extensive marketing efforts. It seems the area just won't support it. We live in an area where there are more teachers than jobs, and my wife (as a recent college graduate) hasn't gotten a good job yet (despite her stellar college GPA and recommendations). Needless to say, we want to live somewhere where the economy can support my business and she can easily land a well-paying school district teaching job. One more kicker is that I have extensive experience in all aspects of being a church music director... and lately I've been feeling like I'd love to do that again. On the whole, our area seems to be dying and we want to go somewhere vibrant and growing... though still small-town-ish enough to be pleasant and friendly. I've lived in an area of New Jersey where everyone was trying to one-up each other, and I don't like that.

Politically, we are very conservative... for example, we support Mike Huckabee for President even though it seems he's facing insurmountable odds. We're undoubtedly proud conservatives... and we want to live somewhere "red".

Naturally, we don't want to be trading one set of problems for another. I've heard that Texas can get tornadoes and the occasional dust storm (and hurricanes on the Gulf Coast), and also that there are nasty insects and snakes in Texas. We don't like any of that stuff. So, before we dive headfirst into checking things out, can y'all tell me what you love and don't love about your area? I'm interested in hearing about all areas. Thanks!

[^funny girl^]

You musician
ohhhh wonderful
'll Tell you about Houston
It is a beautiful city and a moderate climate

I will come back
BRB

[Canine*Castle]

NWPAguy

You will love the winters here except maybe in the Panhandle but even there, it won't compare to PA.

What you describe as humidity and not being able to mow the lawn until at least noon you will find in most parts of Texas as well. That really bugs me. In the summer, sometimes it's way too hot to mow at noon after the grass becomes drier, so one has to wait until dusk. It's hot then too though.

West Texas has lower humidity and the rule of thumb can be said that the lower the humidity, the lower the tornado risk due to the fact when the cold dry air collides with the hot/warm moist air from the Gulf and brings thunderstorms which potentially can form a tornado.

Yes, Texas has snakes and many, many insects which doesn't seem to bother me. I've seen a few rattlesnakes and although I freak at the time, I get over it. Insects are pretty bad in the warm part of the year from about March or April until October at least. The mosquitoes will eat you alive, but they might not be as bad in West Texas as in Central. I don't know.

No place is perfect and as much as I absolutely detest the heat and humidity here along with the potential of tornadoes, I THINK I'd rather have that than long and cold winters with eight feet of snow. It sure is pretty to look at though.

Actually though, I prefer the snakes and bugs to heat, humidity, and tornadoes.

About Houston, you will absolutely hate the humidity there and there is too much of a chance of hurricanes that near the gulf.
Along with hurricanes, tornadoes are usually formed as well.

Houston is one of Texas' most uncomfortable cities for humidity; I believe Corpus Christi rates as the very worst in being uncomfortable and humid.

[NWPAguy]

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, I must ask... are the Texas rattlesnakes you mention the dangerous and venomous kind? (Up here, we don't have poisonous snakes. I know next to nothing about them, and I automatically equate "rattlesnake" with "can kill you".)

Also, about those mosquitoes... they usually breed in standing water... so does that mean that the drier parts of Texas are likely to have less mosquitoes? (I hate mosquitoes...!!)

[atxcio]

They are venemous, but deaths are very rare.

And you are correct, drier parts of Texas have fewer (or no) mosquitos. They range from fairly common in SE Texas, to less common in DFW, SA, and Austin, to non existent in West Texas.

Tornadoes are nothing to worry about; they make big news, but in terms of injury and death they are far below hurricanes, lightning and flash flooding. Not that those happen that often, either, I'm just saying it's incredibly rare.

[NWPAguy]

atxcio, I really like the sound of that!

It almost seems as though the West Texas area is the perfect climate for my wife and I, at least in terms of the weather. My research has yielded that the temperature differential between the high and the low every day is usually on the order of 25-30 degrees, and there's always a bit of wind. That seems really nice, given that January averages high 50s to low 60s (in the Odessa area) and although July averages in the 90s for its daily high, the lows average in the upper 60s. (I get this from The Weather Channel website... which is awesome, in my opinion!)

It seems as though the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington/Mesquite area is flush with opportunity... given that it's the biggest metro area in the state. We're not "city people"... but we do like to be near a decent amount of "action", at least in terms of economic action. It seems that there isn't as much action in the western part of the state. What's the economic climate of west Texas these days? I heard that there's a lot going on with oil, but Americans are so mad about high oil prices these days that sooner or later that oil boom is going to bust to an extent. (Also, what if the oil runs out? I live about 40 miles from the location of a Pennsylvania town called Pithole which was third only to Philly and Pittsburgh in terms of economic activity back around 1860 or so when oil was discovered there... then the oil ran out, and the town vanished. Today it's marked by a museum, but nothing else.)

Thanks for keeping the information coming... I think I'm going to plan a road trip and a "tour" of sorts, to check everything out!

[nunusguy]

What's one of the good things about TX ? Easy. No IncomeTax !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CurrentlyinSanAntonio]

Originally Posted by NWPAguy

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, I must ask... are the Texas rattlesnakes you mention the dangerous and venomous kind? (Up here, we don't have poisonous snakes. I know next to nothing about them, and I automatically equate "rattlesnake" with "can kill you".)

Also, about those mosquitoes... they usually breed in standing water... so does that mean that the drier parts of Texas are likely to have less mosquitoes? (I hate mosquitoes...!!)

Yes there are rattle snakes here, as well as a couple of other kinds of venomous snakes(copper heads come to mind). Depending on where you live you may not have to ever worry about it though. Not a lot of deaths by these snakes as long as you get treatment quickly, but they are very venomous and dangerous.

Not to scare you, but we do have a couple of venomous spiders as well, the brown recluse and black widow.

And yes, there are less mosquitoes in the dryer parts of the state.

[TexasReb]

Hidy NWPAgy!

If I were to have to summarize my native state of Texas to a northeastener and/or give advise to one relocating, I would say the following:

1. Texas is a conservative, Bible Belt, essentially Southern state. And I mean that in the best of ways. I am proud of all that.

2. Cost of living is relatively cheap, and taxes are relatively low.

3. The MAIN thing to keep in mind is that we don't care how it was done up North or on the west coast. To make that comparrison while living amongst us is to invite a cold smile at best...

4. It is VERY important to get to know your neighbors. Share a dish with them. Have over the fence conversations. Texans love to visit and spend easy going time talking about everything and nothing.

5. DONT get offended if you are referred to as a "damn yankee." It is just part of our vocabulary and history...and is not necessarily intended to be a personal insult. So DONT take it that way. The very fact one is not a Southerner, makes one a "yankee"...just as someone with red hair makes them "red". Or as the case may be "blondie",,etc. If a northerner makes an honest attempt to try and fit in, then they will find no friendlier spot in the world than Texas. In fact, when your neighbors get so familiar with you that they say something like, "ahh, ya damn yankee...that is bull****" then you know you have arrived!

[bostoner]

Good: the food, the people
Bad: the heat, the people