What's the worst thing about living in Austin? (Houston, Dallas: landlord, gated)

[nickthap]

People drive like **** here.

[bridgebats]

Originally Posted by malarkey

...ok, I haven't read ALL 33+ pages of this thread, but I'll dare to put my opine out there (while donning my flame retardant suit). The worst thing about Austin: is it's obsession with youth.

I think this has a lot to do with the presence of UT and this dominates the culture/atmosphere. The internet startups play a large role as well. I do also think that as Austin grows, this influence on the culture will subside. It will continue to be a large part of Austin, but it will be just that: a PART of Austin, not the dominating factor.

Of course, you know, I wouldn't say this if I were young, because, well, I wouldn't NOTICE it if I were young.

But I came here as an older adult and am finishing out my corporate career here. So I notice it, especially in the professional arena.

The other bad thing? Those large cockroaches. Damn them all to hell.

I've noticed this too.

[HFamily]

I'm glad I decided to look at this post! I was afraid it would be too negative, but what I saw wasn't bad. I didn't read every page, but saw some very good discussions! We've been thinking of moving to Austin for jobs and education opportunities, but also feel drawn there because of the culture and family-friendly lifestyle, with far fewer judgemental attitudes than the Dallas area. Yeah, I know, we'd be the ***** some people have posted as their complaints.... sorry, but we're not big complainers, I promise! I come from a family of bonafide hippies, so I think Austin will be a great fit.

Where I live, I deal with heat and I35 traffic, too, those seem to be the biggest complaints about Austin that I see here. I can live with that.

[8080a]

1. Heat and humidity. Yeah, the humidity isn't as bad as Houston and that area, but it's enough to make it feel pretty nasty.

2. Traffic congestion. Not just the rush hour, but the random 2 o'clock on a Saturday parking lot on I-35 thing.

3. Depending on what city you're comparing it to, we're behind on the concept of public transportation.

4. The urban core is becoming alarmingly expensive to live in for regular families, which I fear will continue to drive urban sprawl and vechicle pollution.

The good outweighs that bad though. Except the heat and humidity. That may become a deal killer one of these days.

[scm53]

Originally Posted by 8080a

1. Heat and humidity. Yeah, the humidity isn't as bad as Houston and that area, but it's enough to make it feel pretty nasty.

Compared to what? Sure, Austin is hot, but so is most of the South. But that knife cuts both ways -- hot in the summer when other places are temperate, but temperate when other places are bitterly cold in the winter.

The humidity thing is pretty much average. Our annual average humidity is 83% day, 59% night. Detroit is 81/60. Phoenix is 50/23. Orlando 90/55. DC is 83/55. Minneapolis is 79/62.

Good data sources here:

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

Not trying to be contentious, just wondering what you find ideal?

[tomchard]

Agree ... The "influx" and "homogenization" of Central Texas is mainly due to all these great employers coming to the State, bringing some of their people with them, and attracting people from elsewhere ... It's something like a "double-edged sword." It cuts both ways.
If there were enough local, educated or technically-certificated, people already in the area, there might not be so many people coming from other regions of the Country.
On the opposite side of that is that the leaders of Austin, its surrounding towns, and Travis County and its surrounding counties, want their location(s) to grow, and in their brand of "Economics," prosper.
With growth and prosperity comes the "homogenizing" influence of culture(s) from all of those other places ... Wouldn't you agree?

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by scm53

Not trying to be contentious, just wondering what you find ideal?

I'd say April and May were pretty close!

Can we bottle a few days of that to open during July and August?

[cwl1994]

Allergies! no doubt for me

[Shredding_Gnar78]

Austin is perfect and has no flaws. Just ask FORBES
No. 1: Austin, Texas

No. 1: Austin, Texas - Joel Kotkin - Forbes

[ravenshroud]

There are still Republicans here.

If you are 70, in Austin you are only 40. If you are 40, in Dallas you are 70.