Where to move in DFW (Houston, Dallas: house, public schools, living)

[TempNest]

Originally Posted by ReppingDFW

I'm a liberal, atheist and the people who live around me are either Republicans or apolitical. Personally, I live my life, proudly have my Obama sticker and don't give two damns what anyone thinks of it.

Awesome. I guess in this respect I want to be more like you, Repping. I did (and still do) have my Obama sticker on my car, but like I said, I was just secretly hoping there was some semi-personalized Utopia out there that I hadn't heard of!!!! Guess not. It's just hard to move... I've heard that after death of a loved one, it can be the next most difficult thing in one's life. Sounds like an intense but somewhat true description. I've moved a few times, and most of the time it was totally fine, but this time there is more at stake, so.

Thanks, everyone.

[TempNest]

Originally Posted by Warnpeace

I am a borderline hippie but never had a problem with my neighbors. I must say that it is sort of in to be friends with liberals and people want to have liberal friends to sparr with. My neighborhood is predominantly conservative but we have good number of people flaunting Obama stickers, hybrids, recycling bins, whole food bags and socialist ideology but no body cares. Today's Plano is far more diverse and open minded than Plano of 1980's. Atleast this is my impression. Immigrants really broadened our horizons.

That's good to hear. You do see a lot of those snake flags (I'm treading, treading on the name of it here) bumper stickers and anti-"socialism" stickers. I saw a yard sign that said "Fight (ahem, imaginary) Socialism" in Plano. Okay, my bad, I wasn't supposed to get too political. Muuuch more so than here in Pinellas County, FL, where it's a mixed bag politically and well, more moderate in my opinion. But sure, that's great in my opinion if it's becoming more moderate. Hope that's true. But I'm not walking in expecting others to change.

Can anyone here suggest a good meetup group based on personal experience?

[TrueDat]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

You have conflicting "wants" for the Dallas area. The newer homes in more diverse/ liberal in-town neighborhoods are going to run $550k & up. The northern burbs vote more conservatively and have the cheap land with newer homes in your price range. I haven't studied the voting records but I have a hunch that the southern burbs which are predominately black are majoritey Democrat- they do have cheaper new housing but you will probably reject that option due to lack of liberal creature comforts like Starbucks, Whole Foods, and lululemon

You're ultimately going to have to "suck it up" and give up on either the demand of a big new house or living in liberal Utopia. This should be a good test of your character and true values, huh?!

Sounds like you haven't been to Cedar Hill in a while. There are several Starbucks south of the Trinity now and, while there's no Whole Foods or Lululemon yet, there is a Sprouts.

OP, where is your place of employment located? You don't want a lengthy commute, no matter how compatible the neighborhood.

[odinboy]

You should live where you want to live-never once have I let politics dictate which neighborhood I would live in-currently I am living in an area where I am surrounded by liberals/democrats-( i'm a libertarian)-they have their stickers and signs and I have mine-many have given me their opinions -one guy actually told me I was brave to be so "out there" LOL! (quite alot about the move to TX and politics-and how awful it will be with all those conservatives! I nod politely and leave it at that) We still have block parties /halloween parties/ playdates etc-no problems-we have better things to chat about than politics-my kids play /hang out with their kids and surprisingly kids really don't give a toss what or how their parents vote-their kids!! The only problem we have ever had is when the new neighbors moved in and took it upon themselves to tell me and others how unsustainable we all are-we put out way to much trash for pick up each week/that we drive a big SUV and we have central A/C and our house is rather large- (we are a family of 6 with only one car and hubby catch train to work-they are two ladies with three cars between them-I rest my case)
I teach my kids to be accepting of all people and their opinions-they don't have to agree with them but they do have to be respectful of their choice. Maybe I'm wrong but that's the way I am. We have plenty of friends on both sides of the political spectrum and it all works fine.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by TrueDat

Sounds like you haven't been to Cedar Hill in a while. There are several Starbucks south of the Trinity now and, while there's no Whole Foods or Lululemon yet, there is a Sprouts.

OP, where is your place of employment located? You don't want a lengthy commute, no matter how compatible the neighborhood.

I was being sarcastic, people!!! I stopped at the Cedar Hill Piacugo after a work meeting not too long ago and have hit the Starbucks off 67 quite a few times on the way back into Dallas.

OP's post just rubbed me the wrong way. Liberals who want to live around "like minded" people strikes me as just as the exact opposite of what liberalism is (being pro-rights for each individual - including the freedom of speech/ religion/ press for ALL viewpoints, not just their own).

If all OP found in Plano were Bible-thumping, Bush voting "whities" (who are obviously too "WRONG" and "NARROW-MINDED" and "little-g-o-d forbid they try to indoctrinate my kiddos with those beliefs, ICK!!!!!!"....), OP didn't look hard enough or spend enough time in her community because that is hardly the cultural makeup of a suburb the size of Plano.

[Lakewooder]

Originally Posted by TempNest

Lakewooder, it looks like houses in that area are much older than what we'd prefer. I'm not sure if what I am interested in exists exactly, but I'd rather have houses built in the 1980's or later. Don't get me wrong, the houses around there are beautiful and have a lot of charm, but we'd like a newer house in an area with newer houses. I know I sound too picky...I was just wondering if there was some area I hadn't heard of or didn't know about. Thanks....

80s is old? LOL .. Yep we love our old houses and have historic and conservation districts (conservation, is that conservative?).

TC is right - we also have a lot of new homes in the area (which some hate) and those are $500K-$900K or more..

Some consider it very liberal for affluent whites to send their kids to schools with large low-income and minority populations -- I don't think most people here who do that actually see it that way... but some are 'on a mission' to do just that..

[TX75007]

Flower Mound and some parts of Arlington. Newer homes in your price range. A bit more eclectic. Look for large concentrations of programmers.

Originally Posted by Lakewooder

Some consider it very liberal for affluent whites to send their kids to schools with large low-income and minority populations -- I don't think most people here who do that actually see it that way... but some are 'on a mission' to do just that..

What is Plano ISD? Or, for that matter, most every school district outside of HP? LOL.

If you truly want to live with the largest concentration of liberals, then use google maps to find homes within 5 miles of the the largest AME churches in Dallas area. Lots of new homes in your price range. Duncanville and Desoto come to mind as well as some areas in Arlington or Irving.

[Michelle15]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

OP's post just rubbed me the wrong way. Liberals who want to live around "like minded" people strikes me as just as the exact opposite of what liberalism is (being pro-rights for each individual - including the freedom of speech/ religion/ press for ALL viewpoints, not just their own).

Agreed! And OP needed to scold another poster for stating his/her dislike of Obama after she professed her love for him!

I find this whole post bizarre. If you can't live near people with differing beliefs, the problem is you - not the people with differing beliefs. When I (a republican) lived in Maryland or went to grad school at the LSE, I accepted that most people had different political viewpoints from me and I didn't need to find a way to live with only people like me. I learned a heck of a lot from these people, learned to respect their differing viewpoints, and also learned when to keep my viewpoints to myself.

[BigDGeek]

I tend to vote for liberal candidates over conservative ones; I don't really know what the makeup of Richardson is when it comes to voting, and I don't care.

[Squirl]

I do understand the concern about plastering an Obama sticker on one's car and that perhaps the children will suffer in the neighborhood as a result. Could happen but not likely, IMHO, in any of the close in burbs and also in the city. Even if a family lived in the most "liberal" community, having any political message or banner "out there" is an invitation to response, and none of us with cars only travels within our neighborhoods.