To West Coasters: Texas is VERY different than your world! (Houston: rental car, rental)

[WantAnAdventure]

While reading through many of these posts, I see that a lot of people are comparing Texas to California. (Usually Austin..but a few other areas too..like Corpus).

Folks...I'm from Texas and have spent a lot of years on the west coast as well. I'm about to move back after living in Cal and Portland for 10 years.

The two states are TOTALLY different. Yes..Austin is liberal and has that west coast attitude in SOME ways..but it is nothing like any place in Cal or the west coast.

Texas is nothing like the west coast and never will be. I'm not dissing the west coast at all..but it is apples and oranges. The climate alone is totally different...and then the list goes on!

If you are moving to Texas just because the housing prices are lower and you really don't like it otherwise, reconsider transplanting your life. Texas has a very different vibe and way of viewing the world. So...be prepared!! But no worries..because you will be very welcomed!!

Just had to comment as I'm seeing so many comparisons and I find it very interesting. After living in both places, I'm constantly amazed to see west coast people flocking to Texas. I'm doing it because I know the place and my family is there, but otherwise it would not be the first place I would choose if leaving the west coast (as much as I do love Texas). But lets be honest.....what a culture shock!!

Anyway..thanks for reading!

[graffixjones]

Actually, that's refreshing news.
If it were anything like California (people's attitudes, smog, congestion) I'd tend to look elsewhere. The climate, though... that's gonna take some getting used to, but there's more to life than mild weather.

I grew up here in Northern California, and remember when the pacific flyway was in full swing... all you could see were flocks of ducks and geese from horizon to horizon, and it almost seemed like they never ended. Now we're lucky to see maybe three or four small flocks in a season.

I also remember that we used to have some nice thunderstorms and lighting displays in late spring/early summer, and now those are gone too. It's rare that we get anything but a run-of-the-mill rainstorm anymore.

I correlate both to the loss of wetlands as more and more development drained the California valleys.

That's one thing that appeals to me about Texas... the wide-open spaces and the chance to experience some 'extreme' weather once again (I know... be careful what you wish for).

[KerrTown]

Welcome to the East coast. Hurricanes? DEAL WITH IT!

[Jim Finn]

I lived in Northern Calif. for 22 years and now live in Lubbock Texas. The weather here is similar to the central valley of calif. The taxes are lower the cost of living is lower, unemployment is lower (3%) and the people here are nicer.

[Guingirl]

It is very different. Former Sacramentan here now in Fort Worth and it is a transition. But for the very differences that other posters have mentioned is one of the reasons we chose Texas!

I love the Texas spirit! Really that you if you want to do something, go and do it! If it is out of your reach, quit talking about it already and do it!

[USA_Mom]

I dunno, I don't find it that different than when I lived in Orange County as far as the people at all. But O.C. when I lived there was a pretty conservative place comparatively speaking and I've only lived in Collin and Denton counties in Texas. Now I have also lived outside of Baton Rouge, in New Orleans and now in Columbus, Georgia--and I have to say the place that I found EXTREME CULTURE SHOCK was Columbus. So much so that we are taking a pretty substantial financial loss to get the kids and ourselves out of here as soon as possible.

[Magnum Mike]

LOL... I'm an Arizonan, and I'd visit California, but I would never want to live there, especially in the more liberal Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, no matter how much you paid me.

You can pretty much get an idea of what many Californians are like just by driving through the big cities, for one thing, drivers are NOT very courteous, and the last time I was in the LA area, I was driving a rental car about 75-80 MPH, in the slow lane and other drivers were zipping past me, and often not keeping a safe distance. In many instances, drivers would keep only about 5 feet between them and the vehicles ahead, in fact my girlfriend and I witnessed an accident on the 405 north of LA, when one of those motorists in an SUV ended up slamming into the rear-end of a small car because traffic came to a stop, and he didn't. All we saw was tail-light plastic flying all over the place!

[NOTAM]

interested to hear your experiences in Columbus GA. i moved back to Texas after three years in southeast coastal Georgia and hated every minute of it (except for anytime i was on post at Ft Stewart, but if i ventured off post, forget it-i hated it).
sometimes a pretty substantial financial loss is worth it, happiness is more important...thats why i cant wait to leave South Texas and move north of San Antonio!

Originally Posted by USA_Mom

I dunno, I don't find it that different than when I lived in Orange County as far as the people at all. But O.C. when I lived there was a pretty conservative place comparatively speaking and I've only lived in Collin and Denton counties in Texas. Now I have also lived outside of Baton Rouge, in New Orleans and now in Columbus, Georgia--and I have to say the place that I found EXTREME CULTURE SHOCK was Columbus. So much so that we are taking a pretty substantial financial loss to get the kids and ourselves out of here as soon as possible.

[USA_Mom]

Originally Posted by bellestaroftexas

interested to hear your experiences in Columbus GA. i moved back to Texas after three years in southeast coastal Georgia and hated every minute of it (except for anytime i was on post at Ft Stewart, but if i ventured off post, forget it-i hated it).
sometimes a pretty substantial financial loss is worth it, happiness is more important...thats why i cant wait to leave South Texas and move north of San Antonio!

It's weird, I have met a few people from Texas (Houston, Austin, and one guy actually from McKinney/DFW) here...usually after they finish (this company is now trying to get people to sign 2 year contracts or they pay back relocation fees) they are outta here. The advise one couple told us is "they start to accept you after 10 years we've noticed." I don't want to live ANYWHERE 10 years with the reception we've gotten here, heck 10 months is about 9 months 29 days too long

I also was disheartened because there is an assumption once they see Texas plates (I don't have an accent as I wasn't born and raised in Texas) and it's usually negative. Then I open my mouth and my California accent comes out and it goes from bad to worse LOL. It's fortunate that DH is from Louisiana otherwise who knows?

[lilypad]

Yes, I agree you really do have to try to "play the part" of being Texan. I have lived all over the US so have no Texas accent. However, I can fall back into it, by just remembering my growing up days in San Angelo. Also if female, helps to have highlighted hair, some lipstick and nice nails--not kidding! Then with that Texas drawl, you are in! Helps to drop the name of a Texas town where you have lived as well. Doesn't hurt either to mention what project you are working on at your church. Just the way it is folks....