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Just curious to get your thoughts on these two cities.
First off, my situation: Without going into too much detail, I am a 40 something who is in a position to start anew. For 15 years, I worked as a teacher in a wonderful high school in a very large northeastern US city (purposefully ambiguous, sorry). I had built something of a wonderful career there. I love teaching!
I also love my mom dearly. For many years, she battled depression so I made it a priority to spend every break, every summer, with her for the 15 years. She lived about 1500 miles away, but it didn't matter; she was my mom, my best friend. Long story short, her health was not the best, so I resigned from my school up North to be within driving distance. I took a teaching job in NOLA (again, a wonderful school), about 2 hours away. Her health worsened, so I resigned from that job to be by her side. After three months, she passed away. That was March of this year. After taking care of her affairs here and taking her home for burial and after gathering my Self, I am ready to live again.
I am torn between these two cities:
NOLA, I know and have friends there. Currently, I do not have a job lined up there. The charter system there is hit and miss, with most missing. Broadly, part of me just wants to leave Louisiana.
Austin, I know very little of. I did visit for a weekend a couple of months ago but saw very little as I was busy finalizing teaching credentials. I am set to sub there as I look for something more permanent. The public school system is far superior in Austin. Yet, I know not a soul. I am drawn, however, to the fresh start. Yet, I am horrified.
Very sorry for your loss. And wow you've gone through a lot of change in a short amount of time. I like the stability of having friends around but I get wanting a fresh start. Ultimately I'd probably pick the place where I get the best opportunity.
Strictly answering your final question, I think both are very nice cities. They are both exciting and offer a lot of amenities. NOLA is a bit more unique to me and has a special quality that makes me want to live there some day. Ironically, Austin is probably the more livable of the two but I have less of an attraction to it. I visited Austin last month and while I'd be happy to return I am in no rush. I last visited NOLA in March and I can't wait to go back.
NOLA is very unique, moreso than Austin, and is a great place to visit. However, I think Austin offers a better quality of life by being more educated, providing more job availability with better wages, is newer/ cleaner/ much less gritty, much lower crime, and by its central location to three other large metropolitan areas. Plus, as a bonus, you are not prone to hurricanes.
Either way, both are great cities. Austin is a easy place to meet great people. But it is always more comfortable being close to those you know. There is no wrong choice here.
I'm really sorry for your loss. I truly respect you for taking time out for her like that. You will be able to carry those memories with you forever.
I don't use bars, restaurants, and "music scene" to be a determining factor of where to live for myself. It's nice, but most (not all) metros with a million+ residents will have enough quality and quantity of music and eats to keep me satisfied. So I'm not coming from that angle.
I love New Orleans' architecture and history. Other than that, I don't like NO at all. Crime, dirty/grimy, decades of government corruption. Extremely hurricane and flood prone.
Austin is the most overrated city I've ever been to. No unique recreational assets (assets that many or most other 1 million+ metros don't have). Its COL is on the verge of getting out of hand. Good educational system and economy. Outside of that, it could be any other random metro. Nothing here would draw me to want to live here or visit.
Between the two, I'd pick Austin. Just has a better quality of life overall.
I know this won't be a popular opinion with many. It's just from my experience and not gospel truth. I hope you find whatever is the right place for you.
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