Amarillo /Midland-Odessa /Abilene (Dallas, San Antonio, Austin: travel, jobs, home)

[vantexan]

In fairness to Abilene, Cities-Ranked-and-Rated listed it the 32nd best metro area in their first edition, 55th in the new 2nd edition. That's better by far than any other West Texas metro area. But you've got to remember that West Texas cities are kind of isolated. So if you're in the position to pick and choose then listing what a city has or doesn't have is important. Otherwise it's a very long drive for some things. If access to certain goods or services isn't important, then listing other quality of life attributes might be to someone. Parks, lakes, minor league baseball, a certain type of restaurant, etc are all factors that might sway someone to move somewhere. I'd like a good airport which usually means a city has to be big enough to support one. Someone else might prefer Abilene for the reason that it isn't that big. And I for one left my hometown in Florida because I couldn't stand it 25 years ago. It's now one of the top retirement areas in the U.S.. Many cities are evolving into very comfortable places to live. Sounds like Abilene is such a place. I personally prefer San Angelo for the water but Abilene sounds very nice.

[teatime]

True, Van. In June, Business Week ranked Abilene as one of the 25 "Best Suburbs in the South." LOL, we just couldn't figure out of which city we were supposedly a suburb! Oh, well -- it's nice to be recognized, anyway!

Here's the link to the story: Abilene's latest designation: A suburb without a city : Local News : Abilene Reporter-News

[Lucidus]

Originally Posted by teatime

True, Van. In June, Business Week ranked Abilene as one of the 25 "Best Suburbs in the South." LOL, we just couldn't figure out of which city we were supposedly a suburb! Oh, well -- it's nice to be recognized, anyway!

Here's the link to the story: Abilene's latest designation: A suburb without a city : Local News : Abilene Reporter-News

Thats hilarious, but spot on. When I was in college in San Angelo we used to joke that West Texas was the land of suburbs without cities.

[Diamond Dee]

Ive visited all 4 places and Abilene has a nice zoo.Midland a good mall and Odessa also had a good mall and Bryans barn great cheese and Rolls.and Amarillo has some good motels.I like to live in all 4 places myself and have a house in each of those cities!!! can I have my cake and eat it too!!

[lejules]

Hi,
I am in the health profession (dental) and would like to know if there is opportunity for me in Odesso or Midland? Are there a lot of dentists in these cities? How soon does it take for you to get an appoinment with your dentists? In general, what types of insurance do the workers in MO have for dental coverages? such as PPO or HMO insurance? I would really appreciate any input you can give me.
Thank you!

[jellybelly66]

Originally Posted by lejules

Hi,
I am in the health profession (dental) and would like to know if there is opportunity for me in Odesso or Midland? Are there a lot of dentists in these cities? How soon does it take for you to get an appoinment with your dentists? In general, what types of insurance do the workers in MO have for dental coverages? such as PPO or HMO insurance? I would really appreciate any input you can give me.
Thank you!

.................................................. .................................................. ............................................Amaril lo is the place for dental.We have 3 dentists in there 80s about to retire.We have to travel to Lubbock,to have our kid put to sleep,for dental work,because there is a 3 YEAR waiting list in Amarillo.Our kids are on Medicaid.

[DOUBLE H]

I have been through,and stayed at all the West Texas cities on this thread. They are all nice towns. I would probably go Amarillo because of the medical facilities there. The baseball size hail is a concern, as is the March blizzards.I noticed that area is really growing in the NW area west of the mall.

[teatime]

Amarillo has blizzards???!!! Whodathunkit! And I thought I'd seen everything when we were in Lubbock and a "wall of dirt" cut off a highway!

[Jamaica Jack]

After living in this crappy town for a year and a half, I have finally had it and I am moving away. This is the worst place I have ever lived. It's flat, dry and ugly as can be. The people are generally rude and redneckish. Lots of stupid pickups and beer-swilling, cowboy wannabe idiots. There's nothing to do except go to restaurants or Wal-Mart. There's absolutely no nature. Trees are about as sparse as the culture. The tap water tastes like garbage and the air smells like human vomit at times. Why in the world 200,000 people live here is beyond me. Do yourself a favor and stay away.

[NOTAM]

dadgummit! just when i accepted an offer in the Hill Country and cancelled my interviews in Amarillo, and my trip to Amarillo, here comes your thread that makes me think i am making a mistake-it sounds like just the kind of folks i would want to live around! (except for the rude part, which i highly doubt-my girlfriend lives there and says they are the friendliest folks in Texas)
but from what i experienced in Hill Country, Gatesville to be specific, folks were very very friendly and it seems redneck country working class to me! i hope i made the right choice

Originally Posted by Jamaica Jack

After living in this crappy town for a year and a half, I have finally had it and I am moving away. This is the worst place I have ever lived. It's flat, dry and ugly as can be. The people are generally rude and redneckish. Lots of stupid pickups and beer-swilling, cowboy wannabe idiots. There's nothing to do except go to restaurants or Wal-Mart. There's absolutely no nature. Trees are about as sparse as the culture. The tap water tastes like garbage and the air smells like human vomit at times. Why in the world 200,000 people live here is beyond me. Do yourself a favor and stay away.