Texas just how conservative is it? (Austin, Bishop: for sale, homes, neighborhood)

[ATXIronHorse]

Originally Posted by Humanoid

I don't mind fiscal conservatives and in fact that is part of the reason we are looking at Texas (Lower personal and business taxes), its social conservativism that bothers us a bit.

You're probably best off just staying in California. Texas has some pockets of liberalism in neighborhoods of Austin, Dallas, Houston, SAT, etc, but drive 5 minutes in any direction and its Texas again. Texas is very, very socially conservative.

Cost of living is lower here but if you're looking for just a cheaper California you'll be sorrily disappointed and will probably just end up leaving again.

[Humanoid]

Originally Posted by ATXIronHorse

Cost of living is lower here but if you're looking for just a cheaper California you'll be sorrily disappointed and will probably just end up leaving again.

We're not looking for a "cheaper California", we are thinking about leaving for more reasons than just personal costs. We have a business and Texas is attractive from that point of view. Also, we find some other aspects of California unattractive. Not sure a place like Austin would be an improvement in these areas or not, I've only been to the more rural parts of Texas during road trips.

The people seemed similar to the people here, just with boots, cowboy hats and accents. I found them much nicer than the people in neighboring states.

Anyhow whether people outside of the city are socially conservative or not doesn't bother me. I'm more so concerned about the people I will interact with on a daily basis. I lived in Pittsburgh and once you get outside of the city its little different than the south, but I rarely left the city so it didn't matter.

And thanks to everyone who has responded so far.

[joebaldknobber]

There's Baptists in Texas.

[austin-steve]

Anyhow whether people outside of the city are socially conservative or not doesn't bother me. I'm more so concerned about the people I will interact with on a daily basis.

Hmmm, I honestly have never understood why this is important to people. I don't think you have to let it affect your social interaction whatsoever. Three of my five very best friends are complete and total polar opposites of me politically, and there is nothing we wouldn't do for each other or each other's families - and we argue about politics when we feel like it, but we don't judge each other or try to change who we are. My wife and I have been cancelling each others votes every year for 17 years of marraige, it doesn't affect our relationship one bit.

My youngest daughter attends a private school teaming with bleeding left liberals and my older daughter attends Westlake High where most parents are conservative. I haven't noticed that big of a difference between the people themselves, just the bumper stickers on the cars. And they all drive equally like idiots in the parking lots at pickup time, which bothers me more than how they might vote or whether they are "convervative" or "liberal".

As I said in my initial response in this thread, you seem to be looking for people that you think will accept you (or leave you alone). That's the wrong approach. Decide how openminded and friendly you want to be and it won't matter who you interact with on a daily basis, you'll have a great set of diverse and different people to hang out and have fun with.

Steve

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by austin-steve

Hmmm, I honestly have never understood why this is important to people. I don't think you have to let it affect your social interaction whatsoever. Three of my five very best friends are complete and totol polar opposites of me politically, and there is nothing we wouldn't do for each other or each other's families - and we argue about politics when we feel like it, but we don't judge each other or try to change who we are. My wife and I have been cancelling each others votes every year for 17 years of marraige, it doesn't affect our relationship one bit.

My youngest daughter attends a private school teaming with bleeding left liberals and my older daughter attends Westlake High where most parents are conservative. I haven't noticed that big of a difference between the people themselves, just the bumper stickers on the cars. And they all drive equally like idiots in the parking lots at pickup time, which bothers me more than how they might vote or whether they are "convervative" or "liberal".

As I said in my initial response in this thread, you seem to be looking for people that you think will accept you (or leave you alone). That's the wrong approach. Decide how openminded and friendly you want to be and it won't matter who you interact with on a daily basis, you'll have a great set of diverse and different people to hang out and have fun with.

Steve

Steve, I quoted this in my reply just because it really needs to be said again. (And points for you for saying it so well.)

The question is, how tolerant are you of those who are not exactly like you? If you're not very tolerant of those who aren't like you, to the point that you don't want to live around people who don't think just like you, frankly, Texas probably isn't the place for you.

[tstone]

Originally Posted by jread

and we have the only nude beach in the state of Texas (Hippie Hollow). One of the local favorites is a guy who wears a g-string around downtown.

Here are your nude spots.

How to Find a Nude Beach in Texas | eHow.com

Plenty of people here know about the one between Galveston and Port Arthur. Those, + a dude wearing a G-string anywhere aren't necessarily positive qualities.

And a post in here said Austin has a San Francisco -like terrain. No way. Though Austin has hills, the areas don't resemble each other whatsoever. There is a small resemblance to select parts of So Cal though.

[austinmark79]

Originally Posted by Austin97

That doesnt seem like very liberal behavior..

I am a "conservative" and yet I seek out all types of diverse people to associate with. Many of my friends are liberal and many are conservative.

That was probably a little more forceful than I intended to sound. I'm not a very social person to begin with - the people from the temple in Houston I belong to, my partner, and his family are the only people I associate with to any degree of closeness or regularity. I would just not feel comfortable allowing a conservative Christian who opposes gay rights, for instance, to get too close to me. I'm not a confrontational person and can get along with almost anyone, but that doesn't translate to being best buds.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by joebaldknobber

There's Baptists in Texas.

Not many Baptist in West or South Texas where its predominately Hispanic.

[austinmark79]

Originally Posted by Metro Matt

Not many Baptist in West or South Texas where its predominately Hispanic.

Honestly, where I grew up in Louisiana, you couldn't spit without hitting a Baptist church - I haven't seen anything like that in Austin. As far as religion goes, there's a lot of diversity here. I remember when I was growing up in Bossier City, LA there was a group of Hindus who wanted to build a temple there - you should've seen the uproar from the Baptists - "we're not having any of that devil-worship stuff here!" - I think everyone who says that Austin is conservative or full of Baptists or right-wing Christians should take a little trip to my hometown for some perspective.

[jread]

Originally Posted by tstone

Plenty of people here know about the one between Galveston and Port Arthur.

Yes, but I don't remember if that one is state-designated or not. I was born in Port Arthur and grew up in Orange, but I never did make it out to that beach.