My take on Austin (Allen, Spring: 2015, apartment complex, homes)

[HappyTexan]

Change is inevitable. And complaining won't do a damn thing to change it.

Adjust and adapt or move.

I moved to just outside Pflugerville in 1996. Pop. was about 7000 then, give or take.
The PO had 4 parking spots
The library was in a single family home off 1825.

685 had no lights and your "traffic nightmare" was getting stuck behind a tractor.
It was literally a 4 light town with all 4 lights on 1825.

It grew and changed to just another cookie cutter suburb of a bigger city.
Rather than stay, complain and be miserable I went looking for another place to live.

I still come back to Austin for an annual get together with some friends (June timeframe).
When you are gone for a year and then return the enormity of change really hits you (as well as the increased traffic).

But I'm glad for the time I had in the Austin area. I got to live there before it became too expensive and have my memories of the quirkiness.

[MattV]

I don't have time to read through all the posts. I read the opening post and a few others. I'm a transplant as of 5 years ago. In five years I've seen this city change dramatically. If you have been here only two years...... how do I explain this.......... you don't know your ass from your elbow and you sure as hell don't know the history of the city.

I can't beleive I just wrote that......

Look...... do some stinking research on the history of the Chronical, or Emo's or go to an off the beaten path for a breakfast at a hole in the wall Mexican joint that has character in the likes that Yelp can't explain. A place that every person in there is a character. You know what....... you haven't been to a place like that. Those aren't the places that are left. I just got a taste of that kind of place for a couple of years, they aren't around in the circle much any more...... enjoy giving your yelp review of the service and how you've had better tacos elsewhere.....

I'm glad you like your Starbucks Austin. It can be a good city....... but my guess is that all you know is Starbucks...... and not the kind of place that might give you a nip of whisky in your coffee because the Janis Joplin cd is next on the jukebox.......

I'm a transplant, I wish I got to live in Austin years ago............. because you can't find what I am told and what I beleive to be the old Austin feel any more........... example #1 mr or ms dipstick who posted this post.

Feel free to like the city now........... but you have no idea what is was like and obviously haven't made and attempt to................. buzz off...........

signed...... some dude from the East Coast.

[Eastcoasting]

Originally Posted by MattV

I don't have time to read through all the posts. I read the opening post and a few others. I'm a transplant as of 5 years ago. In five years I've seen this city change dramatically. If you have been here only two years...... how do I explain this.......... you don't know your ass from your elbow and you sure as hell don't know the history of the city.

I can't beleive I just wrote that......

Look...... do some stinking research on the history of the Chronical, or Emo's or go to an off the beaten path for a breakfast at a hole in the wall Mexican joint that has character in the likes that Yelp can't explain. A place that every person in there is a character. You know what....... you haven't been to a place like that. Those aren't the places that are left. I just got a taste of that kind of place for a couple of years, they aren't around in the circle much any more...... enjoy giving your yelp review of the service and how you've had better tacos elsewhere.....

I'm glad you like your Starbucks Austin. It can be a good city....... but my guess is that all you know is Starbucks...... and not the kind of place that might give you a nip of whisky in your coffee because the Janis Joplin cd is next on the jukebox.......

I'm a transplant, I wish I got to live in Austin years ago............. because you can't find what I am told and what I beleive to be the old Austin feel any more........... example #1 mr or ms dipstick who posted this post.

Feel free to like the city now........... but you have no idea what is was like and obviously haven't made and attempt to................. buzz off...........

signed...... some dude from the East Coast.

Oh man, I can't wait until somebody that has been here for 5.5 years busts in here and gives it to you straight.

[ATX Wahine]

I wish dinosaurs had opposable thumbs so they could get in here and chew ass on us all for not respecting the Austin *they* remember.

[Aquitaine]

Originally Posted by Eastcoasting

Oh man, I can't wait until somebody that has been here for 5.5 years busts in here and gives it to you straight.

I LOL'd at that one!

I've been here in between 2 and 5 years, so I guess I can sometimes locate certain orifices...?

[Paulmmm]

Originally Posted by Nor Cal Wahine

I wish dinosaurs had opposable thumbs so they could get in here and chew ass on us all for not respecting the Austin *they* remember.

It's always seemed to me that 2 or 3 dinosaurs do post here. But unlike the ones that post here, most dinosaurs actually evolved as times changed.

[Eastcoasting]

Originally Posted by Nor Cal Wahine

I wish dinosaurs had opposable thumbs so they could get in here and chew ass on us all for not respecting the Austin *they* remember.

If I had the gumption I'd be combing thru T.Rex lyrics right about now.

[hound 109]

Originally Posted by Eastcoasting

If I had the gumption I'd be combing thru T.Rex lyrics right about now.

You mean "Bang a Gong....Get it On"?? That's so 1970s. So actually I suppose it's appropriate.

(Great song btw.....and Marc Bolan is on record as being pro highway and anti rail, and prefers minimal sauce on his BBQ).

[passionatearts]

My biggest problem with all of the recent growth in Downtown Austin is that in spite of the increase in population and money in this part of town, Downtown still lacks cultural, demographic, and economic diversity.

[Raskolnikov]

I'm curious:

- everyone agrees that Austin has not handled it's growth well in terms of roads and traffic. Where do they place the blame? (On big business or on big government? Neither? Both?)
- Everyone agrees that Austin has somewhat done well at encouraging density downtown, and Downtown is more liveable than it was in the 1990's. Right?
- But why is it that no minorities, middle class, or poor people can actually live anywhere other than the suburbs?

And the rhetorical question:
- Why is it that Austin's ultra-wealthy despise those that live in the far-flung burbs as creating problems with the environment, when I'm sure they would love to live very close in but simply can't?

You go to other cities around the world and you find a nice mix of communities with every different size house, income, and race.. But in Austin, we have a paradise for white rich liberal 20-30somethings who do not associate with anyone other than other white liberal rich people.

How is Austin progressive again?