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Old 09-18-2010, 08:27 AM
 
2 posts, read 2,810 times
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I am an active duty member or the military who is moving to Galveston. I have never been there and wonder if I could get a little bit of help. First off I've noticed on other threads people mention living in the good areas, however, don't mention which areas those are. I am looking to rent not buy in a decent area for less than $1300 a month. I have 2 school aged children who will be there with me during the summers and the like, so an area that is kid freindly is a must. I have heard others talking about living inland of the island, and if anyone has suggestions in that regard, I may be open to that as well. However, I'm not sure i would want to be more than an hours drive from Galveston. Any advice of activities and night life would also be appreciated. As well as, if anyone has advice on where, and more importantly where NOT, to buy a car from. Thanks for the help.
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Old 09-18-2010, 12:15 PM
 
Location: A little suburb of Houston
3,702 posts, read 18,216,670 times
Reputation: 2092
Are you USCG? Most of the USCG guys I know live inland around League City area. Better neighborhoods and more family friendly than Galveston Island proper. Much better schools if it should come to that as well. It is also not too far to drive if you get reposted from Galveston station to the station on the Houston Ship Channel. Less than an hour to each one.
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Old 09-18-2010, 12:24 PM
 
Location: League City
3,842 posts, read 8,270,957 times
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Poltracker is right. If you have the choice, League City is an easy commute to Galveston.
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Old 09-18-2010, 01:11 PM
 
4,246 posts, read 12,027,479 times
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Yeah, why Galveston? Is it possible to have your wife or you fly down for a weekend to just check it out? I'm with others and say League City, Dickinson, Webster or Kemah area. These areas are within 20 mins of Galveston. I would not live in Texas City though.

As far as nightlife. THE STRAND!!!!!!!!!!!
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Old 09-18-2010, 09:32 PM
 
Location: San Antonio-Westover Hills
6,884 posts, read 20,409,476 times
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I'll have to be the voice of dissent--I love Galveston. East End Historic District or Silk Stocking District. Unfortunately, the school district's ratings have plummeted since Ike, mainly due to dropouts and incompletes (for instance, Ball High received a "Recognized" rating until the dropout rates dropped them to "Unacceptable") probably associated with the hurricane more than anything else. So I'd be all over private education there, which has always been popular with islanders anyway.

For me, I'd not want the commute from League City. That's just me.
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Old 09-19-2010, 05:47 AM
 
Location: California
10,090 posts, read 42,424,010 times
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Galveston is wonderful, but I wouldn't want to live there. I agree with the above posters: League City, Kemah, Seabrook, ClearLake...all great little communities. School systems heads above Galveston. And the commute is a short one.
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Old 09-19-2010, 03:14 PM
 
Location: La Isla Encanta, Puerto Rico
1,192 posts, read 3,483,767 times
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I don't want to pry but I'm guessing that you're implying that your have partial custody of kids that spend summers and some weekends and they won't be going to school when visiting or maybe you have them staying with the wife at your last posting where you've settled down firmer roots. . If so, why don't you live right on the island and enjoy sailing, kayaking, fishing, beach volleyball, all the great little clubs and restaurants on The Strand and Seawall, a world-class perfect-acoustics opera hall built over 100 years ago with nationally-known musical acts, etc. I agree League City and some of the other southern Houston suburbs on the mainland would probably be better if you have kids going to public schools. If the kids (and wife?) do join you full-time you could also enter them in Parochial or Montessori schools on the island.

I lived on the Island when I was single and in my 20s and loved it. Rode to work on my bicycle on the Seawall!
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Old 09-19-2010, 03:59 PM
 
23,976 posts, read 15,086,618 times
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We lived on the island and loved it. Some who work on the mainland, live on the island. The commute runs both ways. OTI, you can enjoy watching the battle for control. Fertitta or Mitchell. My money is on George. The beach is better in the winter.
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Old 09-19-2010, 09:52 PM
 
Location: San Antonio-Westover Hills
6,884 posts, read 20,409,476 times
Reputation: 5176
Quote:
Originally Posted by crone View Post
We lived on the island and loved it. Some who work on the mainland, live on the island. The commute runs both ways. OTI, you can enjoy watching the battle for control. Fertitta or Mitchell. My money is on George. The beach is better in the winter.


Ha!! Right? I dunno though...Fertitta's been waiting a long time for this.
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Old 09-20-2010, 07:13 AM
 
Location: La Isla Encanta, Puerto Rico
1,192 posts, read 3,483,767 times
Reputation: 1494
Default Return to the "Galveston Free State"??

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs View Post
Ha!! Right? I dunno though...Fertitta's been waiting a long time for this.
What will be real interesting is if Fertitta finally gets the Texas legislature to legallize gambling. All that property he owns on the seawall (restaurants and clubs only at present) will triple in value if they can add casinos and recapture all the money fleeing across the state line to the Cashata Indian Reservation and Lake Charles area in Lousiana.

There is an interesting historical angle here. Fertitta's grandfather or great grandfather (both?) was said to be the non-"family" professional manager of the Balinese Room and other smaller illegal casinos owned by the semi-benign Maceo mafia family. I say benign because over most of the first half of the 20th century there were little or no inter-family wars on the Island and the casino's and speak-easy's (during Prohibition) were openly run and protected by both the Galveston police department and city goverment - which of course were well funded by Sam Maceo in voluntary contributions outside the official tax system. The Maceo's were also very active in funding the leading local charities.

The standing joke (and some people were serious about it) in Texas was that Galveston, from before Prohibition until the Texas Rangers shut things down (the Galveston police refused to!) , was nearly an independent country with law enforcement immune to any state or federal influence known as The Galveston Free State.
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