If you're planning to move to Austin (especially from a bigger city)... (Houston: home, theatre)

[miche111e]

This is why people from Texas dislike non-Texans moving to our state, jacking up home prices, and then complaining about it.
We like our state. If you don't like it, you can move back to NY or LA. I've lived in CA. I'll take TX and you can have CA back, ok? But don't try to turn Texas into CA or NY.

[miche111e]

Oh, and by the way, can you elaborate on how Texas schools suck? I worked in schools in California. The high school kids could barely read. (I can't speak to the schools in NY, as I have never lived there).

[mlassoff]

I think overall the quality of education in Texas doesn't come near what was found in the northeast. Maybe a little less football and a little more academics? The highest paid person in the school system should not be the football coach.

I have to agree with the OP on many issues, especially food and things to do. I do find the food and selections down here to be of lower quality than in New York. Granted, its a smaller city and one might not expect a great food scene. There are way too many chains, and not enough mom and pops. However, for me, there is some upside to this. I know, for example, McCormick and Schmick won't be great, but I know what I am getting and what to expect, so I am rarely disappointed. Of course you could walk in to the average Chinese restaurant here vs. the average Chinese restaurant in NY, and you would think that the food in Austin is a joke. This goes for Italian, and other ethnic restaurants too in my opinion.

We talked about this a couple weeks ago re: things to do. There simply isn't as much to do down here as in the north east. Yes, you may enjoy the things there are down here very much, however there simply isn't the diversity of options you find in NY.

I think what bothers many of us from NY is the attitude that Austin is simply #1 in all areas and that no argument can be made that favors another city. Austin has a lot going for it for a city of this size, but there is much more out there-- especially when you leave Texas.

[shaxs]

Originally Posted by TXTwizter

You can always leave!

I second that. I moved from Cali 6 months ago and people like OP were why I left.

[shaxs]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

The highest paid person in the school system should not be the football coach.

They are not. By law they have to make at least $1 less than the principle

[twange]

Up front: I'm not a native Texan. I'm from the Great Lakes and have spent much time in the NE cities as well as San Francisco..

I simply don't understand this conversation. Why would ANYONE with an IQ above 60, try to compare the nightlife, food scene, art galleries/museums, diversity, etc...of Austin with much older, much larger(like 10 X) cities like NYC, L.A, Boston, Chicago etc...This is totally flawed logic. Please, someone tell me why you are doing this, other than to frustrate yourself and others? If you weren't able to figure this out before you came here, well that's on you.

I'm not saying that you need to like Austin but grade it according to fair criterion. Try comparing Austin with cities like Columbus, Portland, Charlotte, Louisville, Jacksonville, Nashville, Memphis, Albuquerque, Indianapolis etc... It will rate much better that way, I think.

And spare all of us this repetitive argument.

[mlassoff]

Originally Posted by twange

\I simply don't understand this conversation. Why would ANYONE with an IQ above 60, try to compare the nightlife, food scene, art galleries/museums, diversity, etc...of Austin with much older, much larger(like 10 X) cities like NYC, L.A, Boston, Chicago etc...This is totally flawed logic. Please, someone tell me why you are doing this, other than to frustrate yourself and others? If you weren't able to figure this out before you came here, well that's on you.

Fair point, however...

I think people on this board would tend to rate based on their own personal experience regardless of city size. These are personal accounts, not attempts at statistical geographic and demographic comparison.

[shaxs]

Oh boy. I wasn't going to respond, but I decided to because people like you frustrate me. You give people like me, who moved from California to enjoy Texas for WHAT IT IS, a bad name.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

1) The food sucks. Cheeseburgers here are no better than cheeseburgers anywhere. It's a CHEESEBURGER. If you're lucky enough to find some good Cajun food, the place will probably be closed by 10pm anyway. There is little diversity. There are a few gems here or there, but it's nothing close to what you can get in LA, Chicago, NY, Philly, or DC. My best experience with food here was a French restaurant that's $100 per person... and it wasn't as good as a tiny French restaurant in LA.

Of course it doesn't! LA is HUGE. New York is HUGE. Austin is no where near their sizes. I moved from San Diego which according to Wikipedia is about twice as large as Austin. I feel, for a city Austin's size it has a good choice of food. It is going to have slightly different types of food due to it's region. For a middle class family, I am happy with the selection of food in Austin.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

Often times you will find yourself having to do a lot of research to find a good place to eat... and given the state of the economy I'm guessing you can't spend a ***** ton of money on food. This is not like New York or Los Angeles where you can pick a popular street and find some ecsquisite restaurants. In Pasadena my restaraunt life was constrained to a single zip code... and I didn't even visit half of the places I wanted to.

Again, it doesn't compare since you are talking about a huge metropolitan area.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

90% of the stuff you'll find here is restaurant chains: Mexican, Steakhouse, Italian... that's about it. There are some nice places around downtown but nothing special.

There are some nice places all over. Are there chains? Sure. I have found quite a few restaurants in the North Austin area that I love.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

2) Texans think that Texas is a country. Have you ever seen someone with the shape of the state they live in tattooed on their body? Have you ever seen someone from LA with a tattoo of the state of California on their body? Me neither, until I moved to Austin. And frankly I can't figure out why.

Well, as others pointed out it WAS a country and even had the ability to become it's own independent country not to long ago. What you are also failing to say is how much Texas loves it's country. I love the national pride here. You won't find that in Southern California.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

LA has hollywood, celebs and beautiful sunsets
NY has statue of liberty, the italian mob, the yankees and true diversity
TX has... cowboys, mexicans and...?

Wow, this statement just shows how shallow you are.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

3) Drivers in Ausin, Texas are worse than drivers in LA
If you currently live in LA, you will understand how horrible this is I'm not even going to elaborate here because I'd end up writing a whole essay about this.

Okay, I might give you this one. However, the traffic is not NEARLY as bad. I'll take Austin Drivers in Austin Traffic any day over LA.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

4) When they say Austin is liberal, they mean it has a bunch of college kids. In other words, most adults over the age of 35 that you see will not be liberal. There are a few social groups here like any city (goth.. really nice ppl btw, musicians, etc) but when you roll it up as a whole... it's Texas. It's the southern region. This is not a golden city in the middle of a swamp if you know what i mean.

I find the political climate here nice. So it as not as flaming left wing liberal as San Fran or SoCal. It has a good mix and you can always find people/groups who you are comfortable with. Austin does, as mentioned before, have a great live and let live philosophy.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

Since I'm on the topic if people, I've seen a great deal of uptight people that act like that have a stick up their ass. In fact just last week I was lounging on the outside of a cafe I really enjoy in North Austin and some... person... came up to me, interrupted my conversation and reminded me that I shouldn't smoke with 50ft of the entrance. This cafe literally has 3 tables and people regularly go there to smoke, drink and have interesting conversation. I wish that sob was worth flattening but of course he wasn't. People like only cause you grief no matter how many times you punch them in the face.

HAHAH. Wow, that one made me laugh so much. Austin has tons of stick in the @*$ people? Oh man, this just shows me how cynical you are and how much you WANT to hate this place. This place should be friggen nirvana compared to the up tight/fake people you find in LA and a lot in San Diego for that matter.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

I've had atleast 10 instances like the above in the past 8 months. Oh and I still haven't gotten used to everyone saying hi to me.

Yes people not be aholes or completely self involved sucks doesn't it? Yeah I miss that too /sarcasm off

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

5) There is nothing else to do besides eating, shooting guns at the range and watching movies. We've exhausted every possible option of doing something interesting. We've headed North/South/East and found nooooooooooooooothing. West is the only option where you will find Fredericksburg. You can only really go there for the food because the quaint little town has been so commercialized that it's nothing but gift shops and restaurants. The food is WORTH IT though!!!

True that LA has more to do. But then again you cant afford to due it because your mortgage payment on your 50 year old crap home in an "up and coming area" is taking most of your money. Here in Texas, I have found, that you make much more deep and meaningful relationships with people and you hang out together. That is where a lot of the fun comes from for me and my wife in Texas. Enjoying the people and not so much the things in life.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

6) There are people here that were born in Texas, lived in Texas their whole lives and will probably die in Texas. They have never been out of the state. Just keep that in mind.

So? If you had a place you loved and it was a great place to raise a family, why leave? My parents wished they never left. I came back as soon as I graduated college. I'd like to stay here for quite awhile.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

7) It's expensive city. If you're looking to move to *any* non-city environment, you should atleast consider a few others first. This city is damn expensive in comparison to other small cities.

Uh, I don't get you there buddy. Coming from New York and Cali. Sure, Austin is a little more expensive than the other cities in Texas, but still much more affordable than Cali. You can get a nice 4 bedroom home on a cu-de-sac for $199,900 or something. That will buy you a crap condo in a not so good area in San Diego or LA. Gas is cheaper. Some survey said that Austin has one of the cheapest per ticket on restaurant bills out of the major big cities in the US. So, not sure what you mean here.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

8) ALLERGIES. Many people that move here suffer from Cedar Fever in their first year. It really depends on how well your body handles allergens. Once you get it... you'll know it... and you'll hate it. Google for "Austin allergies" or "Cedar fever" and enjoy the read. Also this page covers it simply:
AroundAustin.Com: Achoo! Austin Allergies (http://www.aroundaustin.com/2004/01/achoo_austin_al.html - broken link)

Yes, they could be bad, but no one hides that fact. They haven't really bothered me.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

9) Public Schools Sucks. Basically my theory is that republicans run this state which is why they it's not bankrupt right now. They're good with business but they suck with social programs. The result is one of the largest high school dropout rates in the country, terrible conditions of the public schools, teachers that abuse their students, etc. If you have a kid between the ages of 8 and 16 and you're planning to move here... start looking for a private school or some sort of way to home school your child.

This made me laugh too California can't even afford their schools and are shutting them down. They rank constantly at the bottom of lists in tests. I saw one raking that put Texas in the middle at 24 and California at 46. So, while I agree that the North East has better schools, Texas far outweighs California.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

WHAT DOESN'T SUCK

2) If you're a people person and enjoy the energy of others around you I promise that you will find the people here socially retarted and they will bother the hell out of you. Most people that I've come across don't understand basic etiquette. Sorry

Talk about someone having a stick up their butt. Generalizing Austin as 'socially retarded' is ignorant and plain offensive. I realize you are not used to normal interactions with people so this is all foreign to you, but grow up.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

HOWEVER (the reason its in the positive section), this also means that you can easily detatch yourself from the general population and enjoy things that you wouldn't normally do on a regular basis, such as do some photography (there's plenty of nature/sites to go around here), have a picnic, read a book, focus on your personal work and ambition for a while, mellow out and don't do much of anything, go horseback riding, go shoot a gun at the range (tons of fun), etc.

Which again, depending on your priorities in life make Austin a great place to live and raise a family. Instead of trying to keep up with the Jones, you get to enjoy the simple things in life. I know, foreign concept.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

4) If you're a single guy, you will find alooooooooooot of available tang here... but only if you're looking to get married. There are boatloads of single women here. I see them everyday... no rock on their finger... and they're all pretty trendy.

Again, shows what kind of person you are and where your values lay. You are married and talking about women as 'tang' is also offensive. I didn't realize getting married and having a family was a bad thing either. Weird how things like that are important in Texas.....

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

The market for good men in this town is horrible for them. I've been told this on more than one occasion and it doesn't surprise me in the least. Sof if you know what it's like to be a traditionally self respectful man, have a fair amount of money in your pocket and know how to treat a woman -- you could easily find "the one" here. If you just want to get laid, you won't have trouble with that either

Again, shows what kind of mindset you have. Shallow and immature.

Originally Posted by SpreadingTruth

6) Austin will make you appreciate the places you lived before.

Or make you appreciate leaving them. Do I miss San Diego? Sure. Would I move back? Nope, Im staying here. My Southern California born and raised wife feels the same.

I really hope you move back. It sounds like you moved out her for financial reasons hoping that Austin would be a little Los Angeles and when you found out it wasn't you became super upset. Do yourself a favor, do us a favor and move back.

To all other Californians thinking of moving here. CALIFORNIA IS NOT TEXAS. TEXAS IS NOT CALIFORNIA. AUSTIN IS NOT A SMALL LOS ANGELES. Texas is a wonderful DIFFERENT place that can be a great place to live depending on your values and priorities in life. Also, I was being very generalized about California and the people there. You can always find good and bad things anywhere, so please do not take offense to my rant back at this guy's rant.

To all Texans. Please, Please, Please take all us Californian transplants as individuals and do not lump us all together as people like the original poster. I promise we are not all like this.

[miche111e]

Originally Posted by shaxs

To all Texans. Please, Please, Please take all us Californian transplants as individuals and do not lump us all together as people like the original poster. I promise we are not all like this.

I should be clear that it's only the complainers that bother me. I have friends who've moved from CA and elsewhere who love it in Texas, and I am obviously very happy to have them here!!

I complain about the cold and snow in Colorado all the time, and I am sure I drive my friends nuts. But the difference is, I am MOVING in a week. LOL
My DH is from Vermont and loves Texas.

And, I should state, that leaving TX to live in other states has definitely made me appreciate TX more. To each his or her own.

[twange]

Originally Posted by mlassoff

Fair point, however...

I think people on this board would tend to rate based on their own personal experience regardless of city size. These are personal accounts, not attempts at statistical geographic and demographic comparison.

For sure, I get that. All of us make comparisons based on expectations and experience. But is it too much to ask that we reasonably compare apples to apples? Especially in regards to city size. I mean, even the most casual demographic observer knows that NYC is GIANT compared to Austin.

There are some things that I find frustrating and lacking here to be sure. But they are usually things that are common problems and issues to most American cities large and small(traffic, public transit, walk-ability, taxes), not particularly to Austin. But it stands to reason that a smaller, state government town only recently(and quickly) morphed into a mid-sized American city, will not be able compare in terms of the girth and variety of food, diversity and culture that NYC, LA or SF have. How on earth could it?

I haven't been here long enough but it seems obvious that in food choices particularly, Austin is much more diverse than what it was 10 (or even 5 years ago). Hell, there are more choices in the 1.5 years since I moved here.