Homesick In Houston (Portland: quality of life, living, zoning)

[bluelion_ms3]

funny you say that.......my wife doesn't like it here much either and wants to move back to austin....she says houston is "ugly" and austin is "prettier"......

[Liljo22]

We moved from Florida 5 years ago. For the first 6 or 7 months we thought we made the wrong decision. Then we started really meeting people and becoming part of the community and those feelings started to go away. Now we love it and couldn't see ourselves back in Florida.

[texas2188]

The big thing is getting to be a part of something. Back home you had a family, friends, and a community that you were a part of. It sucks to not have it. My fiancé and I had the same thing happen to us until we started meeting people and going out with them. Houston's a great place but without the right people it's not that special. Put some folks around you that have similar interests and you two will feel much better.

[MIBS98]

This may not be particularly helpful or comforting, but she may never adapt depending on what her internal make up is.

I used to work in an industry where frequent relocation was normal. Some people were adventurous, took on every new opportunity with a excitement and worked hard to embrace their new location and integrate quickly. Some people approached it with a bit more trepidation but settled fairly quickly. Some took a bit more time to settle. Some couldn't cope with the change, weren't willing to leave behind the past and embrace the future and were miserable until they left (which was usually much earlier than planned).

This is true regardless of where you are from. I had two kiwi's (New Zealanders for those who don't know the term) move to work for me in Seoul, Korea. Both brought their wives. One of the wives stayed cooped up at home, never made an effort to integrate or explore, was miserable and demanded her husband quit and return home to New Zealand. After two months, that is exactly what happened. The other spouse took it as an adventure, went out often to explore, sought to learn the language and settled quickly. She loved it.

I've seen the same thing time and time again including with my wives (I have had two). First one was a wreck on one relocation and we ended up divorcing. Second one has made 8 moves with me in 12 years and has enjoyed every single one and settled well. Only thing I can suggest is to encourage and help your wife to embrace what Houston has to offer. Whatever it is you guys like (museums, symphony, opera, sports, eating, etc.) get out and do it often on the weekends if you can. Encourage her to join local women's groups to get to know more people and be more active. However, if she is not an adventurous person then she may never settle.

[MSANGIEC]

Originally Posted by Harleyman123

Did you feel like giving up and moving back home? I guess the toughest thing is not having the family around.

Ive moved several times and honestly can say Ive never gotten homesick. Moving from St Louis to Houston in a few months and cant wait. So excited. However,hope things get better for you.

[Truth713]

Originally Posted by David Dollar

My girlfriend move here from NJ a year and a half ago. She hates it here. She says the same thing. It's too boring here, etc. From MY experience, women seem to like Houston less than men. When I moved here, I came with a different girl and she was only able to tolerate Houston for about 6 months. I think we as men are less bothered by the humidity (hair thing I hear) and don't care so much that it is so ugly and full of strip clubs and prostitutes. The city does grow on you, and some people even grow to like it here.

Really where the hell do you people stay, casue I have to go to certain parts of town to find a strip club, like 90 % of houston are homes and business.. jeez..

[Harleyman123]

I hear ya on that David. So your old girl left back to Jersey and now you have another one from NJ as well? You know females are so ruled by emotions sometimes that they let little things go overboard and they have no patience.

Originally Posted by David Dollar

My girlfriend move here from NJ a year and a half ago. She hates it here. She says the same thing. It's too boring here, etc. From MY experience, women seem to like Houston less than men. When I moved here, I came with a different girl and she was only able to tolerate Houston for about 6 months. I think we as men are less bothered by the humidity (hair thing I hear) and don't care so much that it is so ugly and full of strip clubs and prostitutes. The city does grow on you, and some people even grow to like it here.

[David Dollar]

Originally Posted by Truth713

Really where the hell do you people stay, casue I have to go to certain parts of town to find a strip club, like 90 % of houston are homes and business.. jeez..

Ride down Richomd Ave, then come up and go down 1960 and see all the "massage" parlors. This is not a negative for me, but the abundance of these establishments and even human trafficking in Houston is well known (not only Houston obviously, Portland actually leads the nation in Human trafficking oddly enough).

[Truth713]

Originally Posted by David Dollar

Ride down Richomd Ave, then come up and go down 1960 and see all the "massage" parlors. This is not a negative for me, but the abundance of these establishments and even human trafficking in Houston is well known (not only Houston obviously, Portland actually leads the nation in Human trafficking oddly enough).

trust me thats not alot that a strip, you want alot go to hong kong, or any asian nation, the bars are just fronts for hookers, are do people think 100 us for a beer is the normal currecny conversion..lol

[David Dollar]

Originally Posted by Harleyman123

I hear ya on that David. So your old girl left back to Jersey and now you have another one from NJ as well? You know females are so ruled by emotions sometimes that they let little things go overboard and they have no patience.

Actually, the one that I came with moved back to Florida. My current gf moved here from NJ, but they are both Colombian (I guess I am a very lucky guy).