Amarillo /Midland-Odessa /Abilene (West: showing, for sale, apartment)

[case44]

I've always said that every city in Texas has a different personality. Amarillo, Midland, Odessa, Abilene AND Lubbock are all fine cities and have distinctive personalities. They also have different identities. West Texas, in general, looks to be on the upswing. You have serenity, but you also get big-city amenities. The economy in those places is good. Even Abilene, despite a recent population decline, should bounce back eventually. They all may be isolated places, but that's fine. That might be an advantage to be isolated because you don't have the traffic nightmares that you often find in larger cities. Whichever one you choose, you can't go wrong at any place. I've traveled enough of Texas to see that there are good things about every city. You just have to stop and smell the roses (in a matter of speaking, of course).

[case44]

Originally Posted by holmes

Have you considered El Paso? This is the largest city in west Texas and I imagine would allow far more economic opportunity than the other west texas cities mentioned. All this while still allowing a low standard of living. It is considered the smallest of the big texas cities, although if you consider the metro population of El Paso and its sister city Juarez, checks in at about 2.5 million. Pretty big area, but still feels like a small town. The weather is great too!

Good post. People forget that West Texas reeeaaaaaaalllllllly stretches out.

[case44]

Originally Posted by Lucidus

Good post, but I think you have made a factual error here. Penwell, west of Odessa, is the candidate site for FutureGen, an almost emission free experimental coal power plant. Andrews county is the candidate site for the High Temperature Teaching and Test Reactor (HT3R, pronounced as "Heater").

FutureGen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Print View: High-Temperature Teaching & Test Reactor (HT3R) - A new state-of-the-art energy research facility to be located in Andrews County, TX - Wed 24-Jan-07 11:30 AM at Midland College

Both of these projects have the potential to bring more high paying jobs to the area.

Wow! That's very exciting news for the people out there.

[tgannaway89]

More info. HT3R - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Waste Control Specialists facility in Andrews (Western edge of the county, near Eunice) is also looking to become the premiere radioactive waste disposal site for the US. Just this past year they began receiving radioactive waste from a former uranium production plant. Just an interesting bit of trivia.

[case44]

Originally Posted by tgannaway89

More info. HT3R - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Waste Control Specialists facility in Andrews (Western edge of the county, near Eunice) is also looking to become the premiere radioactive waste disposal site for the US. Just this past year they began receiving radioactive waste from a former uranium production plant. Just an interesting bit of trivia.

Hey, they've got to put it SOMEwhere.

[Biggmaxx]

I've lived here about half my life, the other half in Austin, San Antonio & Dallas. Midland deserves unqualified praise for two things, friendly people and beautiful skies. Chances are if you move here you'll make fast friends--you'd better, for Midland without good friends would be desolate indeed. And the skies are beautiful.

I prefer a more diverse population and more middle-of-the-road politics than you will ever find here, White Republican all the way. While they the boosters talk about low crime here, what they are really talking about is murder. Rape stats are always high out of line here, there were 80 in 2005. Big-city rape statistics don't run that high. A recent DEA report said the sheer quantity of crack cocaine in Midland was affecting quality of life. That may be due to M/O being a distribution point and there being a lot of money to spend here. All I'm saying is that Midland crime rates are not as low as the boosters would have you believe. Your chances of being a crime vic here are low.

Better work on your golf game if you move here, there is nothing else to do.

[pammybear]

Especially if you have children--just this weekend alone--to give you an example, there was the Permian Basin Fair in Odessa which actually is still going on, there was a Sister City Festival at the Museum of the South West and the play group we belong to were invited to tour the private home of a couple who live somewhat out in the country and have rescued Big Cats--yes tigers, lions, panthers etc and are taking care of them on their property. It seems like each weekend there is some event going on--my neighbors went to a rock hound game a couple of weekends ago before school started and afterward the kids got in their sleeping bags and they showed the film Cars on a big screen and the kids got home after midnight and had a blast! Some big music group Los Lobos is performing here soon too--I don't know them but they seem pretty popular around here

I also heard some guys from Church talking about a big fishing trip they were taking somewhere close by..........have no idea cuz we don't fish. There are alot of die-hard golf fans too of course and they play no matter the weather that is for sure!!

New to Midland and so far so good!

Pam

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by pammybear

Especially if you have children--just this weekend alone--to give you an example, there was the Permian Basin Fair in Odessa which actually is still going on, there was a Sister City Festival at the Museum of the South West and the play group we belong to were invited to tour the private home of a couple who live somewhat out in the country and have rescued Big Cats--yes tigers, lions, panthers etc and are taking care of them on their property. It seems like each weekend there is some event going on--my neighbors went to a rock hound game a couple of weekends ago before school started and afterward the kids got in their sleeping bags and they showed the film Cars on a big screen and the kids got home after midnight and had a blast! Some big music group Los Lobos is performing here soon too--I don't know them but they seem pretty popular around here

I also heard some guys from Church talking about a big fishing trip they were taking somewhere close by..........have no idea cuz we don't fish. There are alot of die-hard golf fans too of course and they play no matter the weather that is for sure!!

New to Midland and so far so good!

Pam

Glad you are enjoying it, Pam. It's nice to hear some positives about an area that gets bashed so much, for some reason.

[southtexgirl]

We have similar questions about Midland-Odessa (seems people love it or hate it), more moderate temps? read the surrounding area is ugly, what about the cities themselves? Jobs growing? costs of living?[/quote]





how in the world do i post my own question........... im supposed to be moving over to odessa by the end of this month but i am really really really reallllllllllllyyyyy scared that i won't like it over there. compared to where im from it seems that odessa is still stuck in the past....i have a feeling that its really hard to make friends especially since i am hispanic...how can i cope?

[bellestaroftexas]

from what i have been told by friends, Midland Odessa has a fairly large hispanic population, so not sure what you are worried about...
and you mention odessa being stuck in the past...and RGV and South Texas aint?? i see Midland-Odessa much more progressive and modern...

Originally Posted by southtexgirl

We have similar questions about Midland-Odessa (seems people love it or hate it), more moderate temps? read the surrounding area is ugly, what about the cities themselves? Jobs growing? costs of living?

how in the world do i post my own question........... im supposed to be moving over to odessa by the end of this month but i am really really really reallllllllllllyyyyy scared that i won't like it over there. compared to where im from it seems that odessa is still stuck in the past....i have a feeling that its really hard to make friends especially since i am hispanic...how can i cope?[/quote]