Might move to Austin Texas but big jump! your thoughts? (Howe: rental, day care)

[stevic.swfl1111]

Hi I'm married with 2 kids my husband is 30 and I'm 24. We live in Fort Myers Florida and hate it! I grew up here and my husband is from Chicago. Fort Myers has no job offers housing sucks it cost so much just to rent but the jobs pay crap and day care is way to expensive!! Its so bad my husband lost his job, I was a house wife because we couldn't afford daycare so were both jobless and we live with my parents who are business owners and there losing there house. Well my husband is in a band and there doing really well here but the music is pretty ****ty and Miami area is mainly hip hop and dub step. Well his lead Singer is moving to Austin Texas and has asked us to come with to proceed with the band. I've read amazing things but it's still nerve racking. We have the money to make the move. But I'm curious about the jobs down there, living cost seems low. Music seen is suppose to be huge! But we have no family or friends. It'll but my lil family and my husband's bandages which one of them is also married with kids. Just my question is, is Austin really as awesome and feasible as it sounds and looks like? Like all the reviews I keep reading just keep pointing to yes. Is this a town where if even if my husband's band doesn't go anywhere we will still be OK because Florida has become not a place to raise a family. 42 unsolved murders in the past 2 years so many rapes break ins I look at my close friends and ones in prison the other is a recovering addict and the more people I meet the more ****ed up they are and the school system sucks!!!... it's so ghetto I just want to move some where down to earth, music, art, and safe for my kids.

[AguaDulce]

Originally Posted by stevic.swfl1111

Hi I'm married with 2 kids my husband is 30 and I'm 24. We live in Fort Myers Florida and hate it! I grew up here and my husband is from Chicago. Fort Myers has no job offers housing sucks it cost so much just to rent but the jobs pay crap and day care is way to expensive!! Its so bad my husband lost his job, I was a house wife because we couldn't afford daycare so were both jobless and we live with my parents who are business owners and there losing there house. Well my husband is in a band and there doing really well here but the music is pretty ****ty and Miami area is mainly hip hop and dub step. Well his lead Singer is moving to Austin Texas and has asked us to come with to proceed with the band. I've read amazing things but it's still nerve racking. We have the money to make the move. But I'm curious about the jobs down there, living cost seems low. Music seen is suppose to be huge! But we have no family or friends. It'll but my lil family and my husband's bandages which one of them is also married with kids. Just my question is, is Austin really as awesome and feasible as it sounds and looks like? Like all the reviews I keep reading just keep pointing to yes. Is this a town where if even if my husband's band doesn't go anywhere we will still be OK because Florida has become not a place to raise a family. 42 unsolved murders in the past 2 years so many rapes break ins I look at my close friends and ones in prison the other is a recovering addict and the more people I meet the more ****ed up they are and the school system sucks!!!... it's so ghetto I just want to move some where down to earth, music, art, and safe for my kids.

Why did your husband lose his job?
What is his line of work?
The cost of living is very high here.
As far as trying to support a family of four playing music--bands don't make much money here unless they draw a crowd.

I'm not surprised to hear that the school system sucks in your town. What's up with your husband's bandages? Was he injured, like in a fire or something?

[HappyTexan]

Austin is the most expensive city in Texas right now.
It has a high COL that just keeps rising.

Try looking at other cities in Texas especially if you have no jobs lined up.

[usernamenottaken]

I know what you mean about FL and can understand why you want out, but not sure Austin is the solution to your problem. Why not try Tampa or Orlando? Much less of a move and I bet the job market is probably the same as here and cost of living less. There are nicer areas there. Raleigh and Charlotte NC are affordable and the job market is good, schools are good too. I don't know anything about making a living playing music, but maybe the bigger life decision now should be finding a career that would support a family. How about learning a trade? Does this lead singer moving to Austin have a family or is he coming here with a plan to crash on whatever couch he finds between gigs? With your financial situation and job prospects, hate to say, you'd probably only be able to afford the "ghetto" here too. Good luck finding a rental here in your situation. If you two were single, then why not take the risk and make it an adventure, but with two kids, IMO maybe some more long term strategic thinking is in order.

[BriansZ]

First, it sounds like you make poor choices in friends. Moving to a different city won't change that, there are addicts and criminals all over. I also see that hubby is in a band and the lead singer is moving to Austin. The music scene in Austin is pretty good, a guy I work with is in a band and plays quite a bit. But, he has a real job during the day and his music is his hobby. Both him and his wife are working professionals and they have children to support. It is expensive here and the job market is competitive. I'm assuming you don't have a college degree based on your post, the company you keep, age, etc. I'm not trying to be rude, but am I right? Does your husband have a degree? Austin is becoming a high tech city. There is money and opportunity here, but you need to be on top of your game if you want in on it.

This is a great city, and I'm glad I chose to live here. However, I think you're looking at the wrong aspects and you'd be taking a huge risk if you came here. However, if you've already made up your mind at least have a job lined up before coming here so you can support your kids.

Consider worst case, you move to Austin and can't find work. Hubby plays in a band regularly but that won't put food on the table. You take kids and move back with parents, hubby stays because of band and winds up homeless. There are a lot of homeless here, and I'm sure some have a story similar to yours. I wish you luck in your choices but be careful.

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by stevic.swfl1111

Hi I'm married with 2 kids my husband is 30 and I'm 24. We live in Fort Myers Florida and hate it! I grew up here and my husband is from Chicago. Fort Myers has no job offers housing sucks it cost so much just to rent but the jobs pay crap and day care is way to expensive!! Its so bad my husband lost his job, I was a house wife because we couldn't afford daycare so were both jobless and we live with my parents who are business owners and there losing there house. Well my husband is in a band and there doing really well here but the music is pretty ****ty and Miami area is mainly hip hop and dub step. Well his lead Singer is moving to Austin Texas and has asked us to come with to proceed with the band. I've read amazing things but it's still nerve racking. We have the money to make the move. But I'm curious about the jobs down there, living cost seems low. Music seen is suppose to be huge! But we have no family or friends. It'll but my lil family and my husband's bandages which one of them is also married with kids. Just my question is, is Austin really as awesome and feasible as it sounds and looks like? Like all the reviews I keep reading just keep pointing to yes. Is this a town where if even if my husband's band doesn't go anywhere we will still be OK because Florida has become not a place to raise a family. 42 unsolved murders in the past 2 years so many rapes break ins I look at my close friends and ones in prison the other is a recovering addict and the more people I meet the more ****ed up they are and the school system sucks!!!... it's so ghetto I just want to move some where down to earth, music, art, and safe for my kids.

Cost of living is low if you live in Del Valle or Buda or very far from the city. The cost of living in Austin proper is very expensive! I wish the national articles would reflect this!

[scm53]

Family of four, with no employable skills besides one playing in a band. Right?

I'm not even going to get into how someone finds themselves in this predicament. The bottom line is that NOTHING in their lives will improve by moving here. The job prospects for either adult are dismal, and unless one is in a national touring band, you can't make it here just on music. I know a band member in one such band. His wife has an employable skill. They have a nice middle class life. It is an OCEAN between them and the OP.

[AguaDulce]

I remember back when I thought that moving somewhere else would solve all my problems.

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by AguaDulce

I remember back when I thought that moving somewhere else would solve all my problems.

Totally! I moved a lot in my 20s!

[usernamenottaken]

Originally Posted by llkltk

Totally! I moved a lot in my 20s!

Yea, but her husband is 30. Time to get serious and support a family.