Go East Young Lady (Dallas, San Antonio: fit in, real estate, rent)

[CA2TX]

Hi y'all, I used to live in El Paso about 20 years ago (will not go back there), been in CA ever since (LA and SFO). I'm 50, divorced, heinz57 breed, petite (meaning I'm a scaredy cat of scary people and places), off to find the last place I'll live. To make my money last as long as possible, I need to move to the middle of the country. East Texas has been looking pretty good. Though I can do all kinds of data and photo research online, as we all know, unless you hear from folks who live there, you still don't really know what's real.
I've narrowed my focus to parts East of Dallas, edging closer to upper West Louisiana than not. I want a small town, not a suburb of Dallas. I do not want to work in Dallas, at all. I just want some place safe, friendly, where I can work a low-key job and spend the rest of my time writing. So, there has to be cable internet.
Any personal stories of what life is like for you in that vicinity would be so very helpful. I'd make an excellent neighbor. I pay rent on time, even early sometimes, and I'm real quiet. I want to feel welcomed and looked out for, know what I mean? As in a neighborly fashion, friendly, kind... over fresh cake from sparkingly clean kitchens, to share on a Sunday evening over wickedly witty clean jokes.

[lifertexan]

Try Sulphur Springs and Mt. Pleasant.I have heard good things about them.Stay away from the north of D/FW.Although maps don't really show it,it is almost halfway to Oklahoma now and still growing to the north.Even Denton is really a suburb of Dallas now.

If the natural beauty is what is driving you to east Texas,you might also look at the area in a triangle from Austin to Fredericksburg to San Antonio.Beautiful country with 2 cities to visit close by.

[BobTex]

Jefferson comes to mind.....has to be the B&B capital of Texas......only about 10 miles from Caddo Lake. If Caddo can't set the atmosphere to write I don't know what can! Also Center comes to mind.......very quiet area on the upper end of Toledo Bend Lake with reasonable real estate prices and about an hour south southwest of Shreveport. Center has several little hamlets around it.......like Timpson, Tenneha, Bobo, and Blair.....heh heh (that's an old, old,country song). I'm in East Texas but the area you are interested in is 1.5-2 hours north of me. Good luck and enjoy East Texas!

Bob

[stargazer]

Athens is interesting, so is Alto on way to Tyler, Rusk, Longview and burbs of Tyler. What I would be concerned with though is living somewhere that is economical but easy to get to a larger town for essentials and shopping. My family is from east Texas. I have great memories and not so good ones as well but the good overshadow the bad compared to other areas of Texas I have lived. The trees and rolling terrian in many areas can be breath taking.

[CA2TX]

Originally Posted by stargazer

Athens is interesting, so is Alto on way to Tyler, Rusk, Longview and burbs of Tyler. What I would be concerned with though is living somewhere that is economical but easy to get to a larger town for essentials and shopping. My family is from east Texas. I have great memories and not so good ones as well but the good overshadow the bad compared to other areas of Texas I have lived. The trees and rolling terrian in many areas can be breath taking.

Hi Stargazer - Thanks for your info. If you can mention a specific great or not so great memory, I'd appreciate it. I'm hoping to get some details that'll clue me in to what to avoid, mostly. I guess what I'm hoping someone will help me with, is what's the spirit of the place. I'm trying really hard to not get stuck in a bad part of a town. I'm not a poor or wealthy person, just an average middle class Jane. Not ready for a retirement village (not even), I don't do clubs or such. I like military folk, but I'm not needing to live near a base. Don't want to move into a small town with a sheriff who wears mirror aviator sunglasses, to borrow a movie stereo-type (I'm kidding, I'm kidding, I'm a movie fan, just couldn't help flashing on Rod Steiger). No offense to any really, really nice sheriffs who just happen to wear such eye gear.
But I'm hoping someone who lives up in those parts will post a note. For me, just a nice neighborhood where folks respect themselves and it shows... know what I mean?
Thanks again Stargazer, best of days to you.

[BobTex]

Your sherriff comment made me laugh......especially thinking of out present county sherriff...........ex--NFL linebacker for the Chicago Bears ..... he's 6'5" and weighs at least 450 pounds and won't/can't fit in the squad cars. He drives a Ford Pickup. Really nice guy though!

[CA2TX]

LOL!
Um, Sheriff Bear sounds perfect for conducting a frennly' talkin' to with rowdy neighbor boy... but maybe not so well-suited for a chase over a cyclone fence of same subject.
Well, hopefully there's a deputy who is a little more... lithe.
You hear about some small towns putting out a handbook for city refugees to prep 'em for village-life? It's been a while since I've lived in a small town but I'm hoping it'll be like riding a bicycle... um... but perhaps I better pick up that "Lawnmowers and Burglar Bars for Dummies" anyway.

[BobTex]

........Lawnmowers and Rototillers for Dummies. There are places in Texas you might want burglar bars ......but out in the country in East Texas ain't gonna be one of 'em. Heck, you never know when you might get chased thru the house by a blue racer or coachwhip and need to jump thru a window (that would be my wife not me......I'd let the poor thing out a door....heh heh). BTW that would be a long slender snake that can crawl faster than a lot of folks can run . They are harmless and use their speed to catch pesky rodents!

I lock my doors but really don't know why. I do have a handy collection of things that go BANG and believe the right to protect oneself / family is the most fundemental of all rights. Have a good one and welcome back to Texas!

Bob

[stargazer]

Hi there , I private messaged you. I felt it best to do so.

[CA2TX]

Thanks Stargazer, I replied -- thank you muchly.