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

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by mm57553

I haven't read the previous posts, but if I had to pick only one thing it would be the Austintude. Here is Urban Dictionary's definition, which I think pretty much sums it up. Despite being very tongue-in-cheek, it is disturbingly accurate:

Austintude

The display of an attitude by Austinites (residents of Austin, TX) that their city is nearly perfect and without problems. Unlike Dallitude (which is associated with the display of wealth), Austintude (or Austitude) is associated with the belief the city of Austin and people in it are unique, smarter, and more advanced than the rest of Texas and southern USA. This flawed kind of thinking is usually associated with down-talking other cities and ignoring the fact that other cities may excel in areas Austin does not.

Unfortunately, the media plays a part in this by perpetuating certain myths and stereotypes (positive ones for Austin, and negative ones for other Texas cities.)

Example quotes from an Austinite showing Austintude / Austitude:

No, we have no traffic, no problems, absolutely no crime anywhere, and no air pollution from the cars that just sit in traffic. This is the Oasis of the Western Hemisphere. The other Texas cities have terrible summer heat, sprawl and strip malls, but somehow we just do not because we are magically exempt!

You're moving away from Austin? To where? Ewww!

You moved here from where? Ewww! Don't you feel like you should get down and kiss the ground that is Austin, you will be so enlightened now!

That is very odd, it must have something to do with where you hang out, or who you hang out with. I've lived in Austin for 37 years and never encountered anyone who displays the attitudes or says the things you described.

[raristo]

The worst things about living in Austin are (1) lack of real zoo [not animal rescue] (2) lack of world class museums [we are members @ Blanton but that is not enough] (3) inconvenience air travel [always have to stop by Houston or Dallas for connecting flight]

[TexasHorseLady]

On the other hand you can drive to museums in Dallas/Fort Worth/San Antonio/Houston in just a few hours - we make day trips like that often - meaning you have access to the museums of four cities readily to hand.

[colorado_dreaming]

The heat/humidity... hands down.

[CarnivalGal]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

That is very odd, it must have something to do with where you hang out, or who you hang out with. I've lived in Austin for 37 years and never encountered anyone who displays the attitudes or says the things you described.

I don't think you need to go much further than this board to encounter Austintude.

[Idlewile]

I do see some Austintude on here from time to time. I think those who show it/have it aren't aware and just feel they are passionate about Austin.

[MallieF]

Originally Posted by centralaustinite

We were like this for many years! For me the cure was learning MORE about Texas -- read Texas Monthly, the Texas Observer, learn about the struggles of progressives in Texas during the 1950s and 1960s. You will learn that Texas has always had reactionaries, and segregationists, and crazy conservatives BUT it has also always had people with a bigger, better notion of this state and they pushed back hard and still do. I guess what I am saying is that I studied history and found Texans I could be proud of and it made it a lot easier to live here and raise children as "native Texans."

I completely agree! I never thought I would want to live in Texas. Then, I began doing some research. Now, I am SO EXCITED to move there! From everything I have learned, I know it is going to so great for us!!! I am moving there, precisely, to not be where I am, or anywhere else I have lived. As far as the comment from a different user regarding a 35 minute commute to go 10 miles, that sounds BEAUTIFUL to me! It takes me 45-1hr to get 8 miles in Portland, OR. It had taken me 2 hours to get 25 miles, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it took me 1.25 hours to get me 15 miles in San Diego, on a good day, during rush hour. I'll be the one in a good mood in Austin traffic. hahaha

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by MallieF

I completely agree! I never thought I would want to live in Texas. Then, I began doing some research. Now, I am SO EXCITED to move there! From everything I have learned, I know it is going to so great for us!!! I am moving there, precisely, to not be where I am, or anywhere else I have lived. As far as the comment from a different user regarding a 35 minute commute to go 10 miles, that sounds BEAUTIFUL to me! It takes me 45-1hr to get 8 miles in Portland, OR. It had taken me 2 hours to get 25 miles, in the San Francisco Bay Area, and it took me 1.25 hours to get me 15 miles in San Diego, on a good day, during rush hour. I'll be the one in a good mood in Austin traffic. hahaha

I commute about 5 miles and it takes about 12 minutes.

You can probably afford to live close to your work here and get a 15 minute commute.

[austin-steve]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

That is very odd, it must have something to do with where you hang out, or who you hang out with. I've lived in Austin for 37 years and never encountered anyone who displays the attitudes or says the things you described.

Same here. 28 years in Austin and I know way more people than the average person, from all economic strata and geographic areas of Austin. I have yet to find anyone who fits this dumb description of "Austintude".

It's just some made up word that seems to have legs as it pops up every now and then in the forums (multiple times in this thread) as a lazy cut-and-paste post by those unable/unwilling to produce their own thoughts or think for themselves. i.e. "I haven't read the other post, but ....".

No city is perfect. And not every person/lifestyle is a good fit for Austin. Some love it, some tolerate it until they can get out. To each his own. Ask me why I have no plans to ever leave Austin, I can tell you my personal thoughts and reasons. I talk to people almost every day who are leaving Austin, for various reasons, usually work or family related. Most seem sad to go. Few seem relieved or happy, as if they are "escaping" a dreaded life.

Steve

[capcat]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Same here. 28 years in Austin and I know way more people than the average person, from all economic strata and geographic areas of Austin. I have yet to find anyone who fits this dumb description of "Austintude".

It's just some made up word that seems to have legs as it pops up every now and then in the forums (multiple times in this thread) as a lazy cut-and-paste post by those unable/unwilling to produce their own thoughts or think for themselves. i.e. "I haven't read the other post, but ....".

No city is perfect. And not every person/lifestyle is a good fit for Austin. Some love it, some tolerate it until they can get out. To each his own. Ask me why I have no plans to ever leave Austin, I can tell you my personal thoughts and reasons. I talk to people almost every day who are leaving Austin, for various reasons, usually work or family related. Most seem sad to go. Few seem relieved or happy, as if they are "escaping" a dreaded life.

Steve

I agree, and I'm going on 45 years in Austin. The only thing I've ever heard that comes close to Austintude is from a young crowd who grew up here, moved away and want to come back, who have never lived here but have spent time in Austin visiting friends or relatives, or those who have never spent time here but think it's where they'd like to be. I don't hear it from those who live and work here. Not that I hear bad things about Austin from them, but topics that would lead to the term coined recently as Austintude just don't come up.