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Old 07-15-2009, 09:43 AM
 
7 posts, read 36,779 times
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I'm moving to Austin in September to start a new chapter in my life. Both my kids are now over 18 and I'm eager to experience a new, slower paced, liberal, friendlier, healthier way of living.

After 20 years of working in cold/intense/expensive/conservative Washington DC in information systems, I plan on leaving it all behind and find a new job in Austin. People think I'm crazy, but I've waited all these years for the kids to be grown, to move. It just sucks that the economy crashed at the same time I had always planned to move. I'm not getting any younger (46 years old) and waiting for the economy to improve isn't going to stop my aging...so I will press on despite the jobless rate.

- What's the economy like for Information Systems in Austin right now?

- What are Austinites like (open, friendly, accepting of new comers)?

- Are winters really mild (it's hard to believe I'll be able to wear flip-flops)?

Any and all advice is welcome!
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Old 07-15-2009, 09:58 AM
 
Location: Hutto, Tx
9,249 posts, read 26,644,673 times
Reputation: 2851
I don't know the first thing about the Tech sector.

Austin and the rest of Texas is friendly. That's one stereotype that's actually true.

Yes, you can wear flip flops, but there are some really cold days thrown in as well.

Austin is not as liberal as Washington would be. It's more libertarian than far left wing liberal/socialist, say like San Fran, Seattle, Mass.
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Old 07-15-2009, 09:59 AM
 
Location: Dripping Springs , TX
786 posts, read 2,757,272 times
Reputation: 238
Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidRoss View Post
I'm moving to Austin in September to start a new chapter in my life. Both my kids are now over 18 and I'm eager to experience a new, slower paced, liberal, friendlier, healthier way of living.

After 20 years of working in cold/intense/expensive/conservative Washington DC in information systems, I plan on leaving it all behind and find a new job in Austin. People think I'm crazy, but I've waited all these years for the kids to be grown, to move. It just sucks that the economy crashed at the same time I had always planned to move. I'm not getting any younger (46 years old) and waiting for the economy to improve isn't going to stop my aging...so I will press on despite the jobless rate.

- What's the economy like for Information Systems in Austin right now?

- What are Austinites like (open, friendly, accepting of new comers)?

- Are winters really mild (it's hard to believe I'll be able to wear flip-flops)?

Any and all advice is welcome!

So far Austin has turned out to be all the things you are looking for, except maybe for the liberal bit. While it has the reputation of being the most liberal city in Texas, it is still Texas. Your definition of liberal may vary. I am Canadian and am still having a hard time trying to determine what people in the US are saying when they want a liberal area. As a conservative Canadian, I am fitting in here just fine.


What's the economy like for Information Systems in Austin right now? - Economy is getting hit like the rest of the country. Finding a job will be tough. You may have more luck finding a contract gig first. My company is hiring mainly contract workers right now. Very few permanent new hires.

What are Austinites like (open, friendly, accepting of new comers)? That has been my experience so far. Some people on the forum that came from the northern states have "complained" about people being too open and friendly.

Are winters really mild (it's hard to believe I'll be able to wear flip-flops)? Put it this way. My wife never wore socks all last winter. It was real funny when we went home to Ontario for Christmas, back into 17F weather and she had no socks!!!! There are a few people at work who insist on wearing shorts and sandles all year long. And these are not all women.

Good luck with your upcoming relocation. I would highly recommend trying to tie down a job before moving.
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Old 07-15-2009, 11:20 AM
 
97 posts, read 263,211 times
Reputation: 44
Congratulations on your new chapter in life!

Although Austin's not been hit as hard economically, it has been hit. Agree that you should find a job first. And although Austin is liberal, it is, as the other poster pointed out, in Texas. Some people call it "a little bit of California surrounded by Alabama." It's also the state capital, so there's plenty of political stuff going on. Another thing to keep in mind is that Austin has undergone tremendous growth (population, sprawl), so it isn't the little town of lore you may have heard of.

Having said that, you WILL find Austin to be "new, slower paced, liberal, friendlier" and a "healthier way of living." The thing about Austin is that you can be a cowboy, a hippie, a geek, a politico, a surburbanite, a hipster, a working man, etc. and find a place here. Be a hard-charging corporate guy or a total slacker. That's the Austin tradition, anyway--not everyone follows it, of course. But it is the best thing about Austin. You'll find a lot of friendly people here (and your share of jerks, too, of course).

There are some cold days--what people don't expect is the temperature swings. We can, and often do, go from 35 to 75 (degrees F) and back again in 24 hours (winter months). So you'll see people wearing coats next to people wearing shorts!

There's enough of a latitude change that you will get more daylight, too! "Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes...." 46 is still young. Good for you and good luck!

Last edited by HappyinAustin; 07-15-2009 at 11:22 AM.. Reason: typo
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Old 07-15-2009, 08:09 PM
 
648 posts, read 1,961,292 times
Reputation: 184
I've lived in DC and Austin. DC is EXPONENTIALLY more liberal than Austin. Even Northern, Virginia is more liberal. Austin is libertarian with a bunch of tattooed folks.

The IT industry in Austin is licking it's wounds. I've heard that DC (due to big federal government) is actually the place to be for jobs.

Why exactly are you moving to Austin?
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Old 07-15-2009, 08:12 PM
 
Location: 78731
629 posts, read 1,649,577 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidRoss View Post
- What are Austinites like (open, friendly, accepting of new comers)?
We are odd creatures, that's for sure.
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Old 07-15-2009, 08:42 PM
 
Location: New London County, CT
8,949 posts, read 12,108,670 times
Reputation: 5145
Quote:
Originally Posted by Exiled Texan View Post
I've lived in DC and Austin. DC is EXPONENTIALLY more liberal than Austin. Even Northern, Virginia is more liberal. Austin is libertarian with a bunch of tattooed folks.

The IT industry in Austin is licking it's wounds. I've heard that DC (due to big federal government) is actually the place to be for jobs.
I am a corporate trainer in software and web development. I am teaching Java in Washington DC this very week. And I can't agree strongly enough with what is being said above. Washington DC is much more liberal in Austin. Exponentially is not an exaggeration.

The IT industry is much stronger in DC as well. Plenty of development work at the consulting firms, fed, and fed contractors. What segment of IT are you in?
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Old 07-15-2009, 10:25 PM
 
25,157 posts, read 53,875,707 times
Reputation: 7058
Actually I think it is more socialist/collectivist than libertarian the way I saw it. Although you do see some people that are somewhat "individualized" that will fit into a libertarian liberalism mold EG: The transgendered dude.

Quote:
Originally Posted by love roses View Post
I don't know the first thing about the Tech sector.

Austin and the rest of Texas is friendly. That's one stereotype that's actually true.

Yes, you can wear flip flops, but there are some really cold days thrown in as well.

Austin is not as liberal as Washington would be. It's more libertarian than far left wing liberal/socialist, say like San Fran, Seattle, Mass.
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Old 07-15-2009, 10:26 PM
 
25,157 posts, read 53,875,707 times
Reputation: 7058
Why do you say that?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Exiled Texan View Post
I've lived in DC and Austin. DC is EXPONENTIALLY more liberal than Austin. Even Northern, Virginia is more liberal. Austin is libertarian with a bunch of tattooed folks.

The IT industry in Austin is licking it's wounds. I've heard that DC (due to big federal government) is actually the place to be for jobs.

Why exactly are you moving to Austin?
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Old 07-15-2009, 11:14 PM
 
Location: Austin
1,774 posts, read 3,786,265 times
Reputation: 800
Re: What are Austinites like (open, friendly, accepting of new comers)?

I'm not sure you can characterize Austinites as a whole. People come from so many different places. You'll find friendly people, very friendly people, and even a few not so friendly people...the usual mix in life. Good luck, and welcome to Austin.
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