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I posted this in the Houston forum but bringing it over here as well to see what y'all think.
I am making a move away from Phoenix, AZ next month into temporary housing in Trinity, TX but then will need to make a permanent relocation SOMEWHERE. I am up in the air on staying in Texas, however.
I'm from West Texas with my family stretching from East Texas into Louisiana. I've spent a lot of my childhood in the various Texas cities and have always been very drawn to Houston. In my early 20's I spent a lot of time in Atlanta, GA (which I loved) and when my time there ended and I found myself back in Phoenix, I knew I wanted to make my permanent move back to the South.
I've been looking into going to either Nashville, TN (with the con being that it seems to be too expensive to rent right now), Huntsville, AL (close to big cities but cheaper housing, though it is more remote and lack of a major airport), and Houston, TX (which seemed to be the best mix I've found of all of that other than Atlanta, which I wouldn't move back to for personal reasons). My family is all in Dallas now so I'd prefer not to stretch into the Carolinas, I know I left out Charlotte.
In sharing with friends and family my location ideas, I've had it beat into me that Texas is NOT the South and I feel like my whole identity has come into question haha. The time I've spent in Houston is somewhat significant but a lot of that was when I was a child and when I've gone as an adult it felt Southern but I don't know what living there would be like.
I know Texas is Texas and I'm very proud to be a Texan, regardless of wherever else I've lived. But can I get some thoughts on what I should do?
Do you need to find employment in either of the cities or are you working remotely?
If employment is not an issue, and not knowing really what your hobbies or things you enjoy doing are, I would personally pick Nashville out of the 3, for you.
Why? Because you've spent a ton of time in Houston before, so get a new experience in a booming city with tons of entertainment with Nashville.
Huntsville, Alabama is a decent city that is growing, but it feels small, and is pretty small, compared to these 2.
If aiming for that part of the country near Huntsville, I'd go with Chattanooga. It is so much better than Huntsville in my opinion, and has a lot to do both indoors and out.
Do you need to find employment in either of the cities or are you working remotely?
No issue with employment at this point, I work remotely!
As for hobbies, I like there being a good mix of outdoor activities and city life. I'm not an avid hiker or anything so just somewhere I can go hang out in the lake and fish but can also be near shopping/cute restaurants and such.
I posted this in the Houston forum but bringing it over here as well to see what y'all think.
I am making a move away from Phoenix, AZ next month into temporary housing in Trinity, TX but then will need to make a permanent relocation SOMEWHERE. I am up in the air on staying in Texas, however.
I'm from West Texas with my family stretching from East Texas into Louisiana. I've spent a lot of my childhood in the various Texas cities and have always been very drawn to Houston. In my early 20's I spent a lot of time in Atlanta, GA (which I loved) and when my time there ended and I found myself back in Phoenix, I knew I wanted to make my permanent move back to the South.
I've been looking into going to either Nashville, TN (with the con being that it seems to be too expensive to rent right now), Huntsville, AL (close to big cities but cheaper housing, though it is more remote and lack of a major airport), and Houston, TX (which seemed to be the best mix I've found of all of that other than Atlanta, which I wouldn't move back to for personal reasons). My family is all in Dallas now so I'd prefer not to stretch into the Carolinas, I know I left out Charlotte.
In sharing with friends and family my location ideas, I've had it beat into me that Texas is NOT the South and I feel like my whole identity has come into question haha. The time I've spent in Houston is somewhat significant but a lot of that was when I was a child and when I've gone as an adult it felt Southern but I don't know what living there would be like.
I know Texas is Texas and I'm very proud to be a Texan, regardless of wherever else I've lived. But can I get some thoughts on what I should do?
Just out of curiosity OP, if your family is all in Dallas now, is there any reason why you're not considering moving there?
Just out of curiosity OP, if your family is all in Dallas now, is there any reason why you're not considering moving there?
I've thought about it but I really loved the deep south culture and taller, denser trees in Atlanta when I lived there and I don't necessarily get that vibe from Dallas. Though, I'm willing to have just not been to the right places.
Houston has seemed most comparable to Atlanta in those ways, with Nashville seeming to be more of an "upper south" feel but maintaining more of that greenery I loved in Atlanta.
Not opposed to it, though! Open to convincing haha.
From what you described, I'd go with Houston. To me, being near family is very important. Great mix of what you're looking for overall (closet to family, affordable, lots to do). If my family lived in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, I'd actually move there. I love all of those areas, but seems like Houston would meet your needs and desires better. Good luck!
I would choose Huntsville. Pretty great city, very safe (safer than the other two cities). Growing pretty rapidly, doesn't have the traffic problems of the other cities. Not to far away from the nightlife of Birmingham or Nashville (not to mention it has its own quality nightlife). Houston, to me, just seems overrated, just the next Los Angeles.
I would choose Huntsville too. Huntsville growing fast, lower crime, more affordable housing, lower cost of living, and great value. The city has nice hiking and greenways, decent shopping, and food options. I know the city well and it is attracting a lot of professional young people. Larger airport and better infrastructure than Chattanooga.
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