Which Has Best Quality of Life? (Houston, El Paso: live, move to, to eat)

[southeasttexas]

Originally Posted by Cowboybootnut

My vote would be for any of the cities you listed, except Del Rio, Victoria, Beaumont and Texarkana.

Beaumont - Too close to a lot of refineries and the coast.

I see it different; the refineries and access to the beach are assets for Beaumont. Economic engines and beach fun are usually positives, IMHO.

Beaumont is at the bottom for urban crime, deplorable schools, entitlement attitudes by the welfare crowd, and corrupt politics. (Lifelong area resident speaking here...just an opinion.)

[Cowboybootnut]

Originally Posted by southeasttexas

I see it different; the refineries and access to the beach are assets for Beaumont. Economic engines and beach fun are usually positives, IMHO.

Didn't mean to slam Beaumont, I just don't care for the air quality around refineries. I've been to Beaumont, Baytown, Big Spring, etc. I just don't care for the air pollution and the smell. Plus when I was in Beaumont, I had a generator stolen off a flat bed trailer, it was bolted and chained down. That never happened in any other city in Texas, except Dallas (suprise).

Beaches - I can't swim! Plus I sunburn easily, plus I am scared of hurricanes. Okay, I am a wimp!

[JamesAbilene]

One more pitch for Abilene--

I have lived and worked all over the US during the years I worked for a chemical company in the 1970's. Abilene is the easiest place that I have ever lived. Just big enough to have virtually everything I need. (My wife sometimes has to go to the metroplex to shop, so it doesn't meet all of her needs.) Plenty of restaurants, shopping, etc. Traffic on the freeways is light except for a few minutes each day, and traffic jams rarely happen. Cost of living is inexpensive. Good people. Good schools. Convenient to DFW, Austin. Mild weather--except for hot summers--but humidity is lower than many cities on your list. Just south and west of the major tornado belts. When we moved here, I was looking at many of the cities in your list, and Abilene really came to the top when I compared. Now, what Abilene doesn't have is an exciting night life for young single folks. It is more of a family community. If that is what you want, this is your place.

[Cowboybootnut]

JamesAbilene,

I second you on that. I have enjoyed all of my time in Abilene, whether it is for work or just visiting friends. Sometimes I go there just to visit friends and lower my blood pressure.

[destin04]

I vote for Tyler, Nacogdoches, Longview and Sherman. I like Temple too....but I like the Piney Woods.

[vantexan]

I really appreciate the good input! There's one place that I left out, Kerrville. Because of it's costs and the competition to get into it I've ruled it out. Reading threads on this site has led me to lean towards Tyler. I've spent the last 5 years in the desert and Panhandle. Really miss trees, grass, and lakes. I've been living in a RV for years now and need a good RV park near work, which Tyler has. Abilene, San Angelo, College Station, and Del Rio are good for that too. The clincher for me is Tyler has a Barnes and Noble. So does College Station, which with the other amenities will probably be my second choice. Looking at pictures of the Piney Woods makes the towns there very desirable to me. But with gas so high I'm sticking to towns that have most everything you need. My brother lives in Jackson, TN so the closer the better too. I've always liked San Angelo, but our employees struggle to get 40 hrs a week there. And what I'm reading about Abilene will keep it on the back burner if Tyler doesn't work out. Thanks again!

[Cowboybootnut]

Originally Posted by vantexan

The clincher for me is Tyler has a Barnes and Noble.

But Abilene has my favorite Hastings! Books, music, DVDs, magazines.

[southeasttexas]

Originally Posted by Cowboybootnut

Didn't mean to slam Beaumont, I just don't care for the air quality around refineries.

Oh it's OK, I didn't take it as a slam at all. Even if you did, thats no problem with me (I don't actually live in Bmt.) Just a note, though. Air quality is good. The refineries are EXCEEDINGLY clean, people just don't (or won't) believe it.

[teatime]

Originally Posted by Cowboybootnut

But Abilene has my favorite Hastings! Books, music, DVDs, magazines.

YES!!!! I had never heard of Hastings until I moved to West Texas but I LOVE IT! You can get really good used books there and sell yours, too! LOL, Abilene MUST be a good reading community because I find good, clean used copies of books by my favorite (rather cryptic) authors regularly!

And their video rental prices are sooooo good. You can keep the new releases for a week but if you return the videos early, they give you credit on your account. Plus, if you forget to return a movie (I did recently -- thought I returned two new releases but I had put them in a drawer of my entertainment center when I was cleaning, sigh), their late charges are really small plus they send you a coupon for 50 percent off the late fees plus a complimentary free rental!

Anyhoo, I moved to Abilene 18 months ago and love it here. There's plenty to do -- GREAT theater, concerts, and activities -- but it's easy-living here. No traffic jams or stress and folks are incredibly kind and friendly! Have to add this story -- when I went to the post office shortly after I moved in to get the keys for my mailbox, the clerk was so helpful and when I was about to leave he sang out, "A big welcome to Abilene! Our city is a better place now because you're here!" Oh, my! That made me feel so good and welcome! That's Abilene.

[vantexan]

Originally Posted by Cowboybootnut

But Abilene has my favorite Hastings! Books, music, DVDs, magazines.

I've been a fan of Hastings for many years. Go to their website and see the many towns they serve in the western U.S.. Many small towns are better for having a Hastings. Tyler has one too. I belIeve Longview, Texarkana, and I'm not sure but I think Abilene also has a Books-a-Million, which is pretty big in the southeast U.S.. When it comes to books, there's B&N, Borders, and everyone else. Luckily we have Amazon.com today too. I can live about anywhere with the Internet and satellite tv!