Is Austin the "Seattle of Texas"? (rental, vacation home)

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Je ne sais quoi

what is je ne sais qoui??? French???

[PollyGlott]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

what is je ne sais qoui??? French???

Yes. It literally means "I know not what".
And it's spelled "quoi"

[mrman78]

Originally Posted by fnh

I moved from Austin (8 years) to Seattle (10 years) to Houston (9 years) and we have homes in both Houston and Seattle.

Honestly, Houston is the hip new place to be in TX (note I am decidedly not hip, ha ha) and strikes me as being much more Seattle-like than Austin. I used to be a Houston-basher like other Austinites but Houston is more, well, everything than Austin now. Except hilly. I admit I am one who also thinks Austin is more like Portland, as the previous poster mentions. There are differences to be sure, but they feel similar in size and vibe to me.

OMG, no! Houston is like the anti-Seattle. They are so different in so many, many ways it's not even funny. I just moved from Houston to Seattle last April (after 12 years in that hell hole) and hope I never have to go back to Texas ever. I feel Austin is the only city in Texas that could be somewhat compared to Seattle, but it's still no where near the same. I agree with the Austin-Portland comparison more.

[fnh]

Ha ha, if you get past the uber-obvious fact that no city in TX is really going to be like Seattle, I stand by my assertion that Houston compares better than Austin. Of course it depends on the points of comparison. I compare Houston and Seattle as both high energy, Tier 1, international cities while Austin is most definitely a sleepier Tier 2. And having lived in all three cities for lengthy periods, I can say that Austin's reputation as a liberal city is somewhat artificial and forced. I consider myself liberal and worried about moving to Houston, but Houston is just so much more diverse that no one gives a fig. That is true liberalism, IMO.

I loved my time in Austin but having lived in Seattle afterward I think I would feel trapped there now. Easier to go in the other direction. It would be helpful if the OP were more specific in their wants for a new city, and I don't recall where they are moving from. Maybe Austin would be a big new city for them and just the right place.

[StartMeOver]

Originally Posted by mrman78

OMG, no! Houston is like the anti-Seattle. They are so different in so many, many ways it's not even funny. I just moved from Houston to Seattle last April (after 12 years in that hell hole) and hope I never have to go back to Texas ever. I feel Austin is the only city in Texas that could be somewhat compared to Seattle, but it's still no where near the same. I agree with the Austin-Portland comparison more.

Good job finally getting out of houston. I read the post and the post below from the poster comparing houston to Seattle. Um, no. They could not be more opposite cities. The poster is saying Houston is international because of its residents coming from all over the world. That much is true, but they are all backwards and totally behind the times, even if you are just comparing corporate environments in houston versus other major U.S. cities. houston is pretty ugly too. No skyline, dirty, no charm, no character. It's just like a huge, souless suburb full of hucksters who are out for themselves and have no concept that you can actually get ahead by not screwing people over, thinking of others, and having a personality. houston is where all the nasty, unscrupulous people live.

I don't have a problem with people not liking Seattle, or whatever, but houston is hands down the worst city I have ever been in.

There are some things I really don't like about Seattle, but it is still miles above houston.

[fnh]

Originally Posted by StartMeOver

Good job finally getting out of houston. I read the post and the post below from the poster comparing houston to Seattle. Um, no. They could not be more opposite cities. The poster is saying Houston is international because of its residents coming from all over the world. That much is true, but they are all backwards and totally behind the times, even if you are just comparing corporate environments in houston versus other major U.S. cities. houston is pretty ugly too. No skyline, dirty, no charm, no character. It's just like a huge, souless suburb full of hucksters who are out for themselves and have no concept that you can actually get ahead by not screwing people over, thinking of others, and having a personality. houston is where all the nasty, unscrupulous people live.

I don't have a problem with people not liking Seattle, or whatever, but houston is hands down the worst city I have ever been in.

There are some things I really don't like about Seattle, but it is still miles above houston.

Huh? Sounds a lot like sour grapes and, um, no skyline? Have you ever even been there?

The OP asked whether Austin is like Seattle and I would say NO, that in my actual experience having lived in each of these places for around a decade, Houston is the city most like Seattle in TX. I think it goes without saying that you are not going to find a Seattle clone anywhere in TX.

I used to be a Houston-basher too but I've lived here now for 9 years and I admit to being very pleasantly surprised. DH lived his entire previous life in the PNW and he is possibly happier in Houston than I am. It is far more progressive and liberal than people assume, it is second only to New York in theater and the arts, there are funky old neighborhoods, incredible food from so many different cultures. Houston is really happening now, it's a good time to be here. Of course in some ways it is completely opposite than Seattle, weather and landscape for example, but we find they are complementary - great weather in summer (Seattle) vs. winter (Houston). Seattle too has some real detractions but we still love it there as well. It's all in the attitude.

Apologies to the OP for going off topic.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by PollyGlott

Yes. It literally means "I know not what".
And it's spelled "quoi"

Exactly and the je ne is usually ran together when French people speak so it sounds like "Zhenn" usually not "Zhu nuh" like it's spelled and never "Jenna". The French J is pronounced like the S in treasure.

[cocaseco]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

Je ne sais quoi

Who cares, clearly I was able to communicate my message.

[PollyGlott]

Originally Posted by cocaseco

Who cares, clearly I was able to communicate my message.

Yes, you did communicate it clearly.
But I don't get why you would react defensively when someone corrected your misspelling - especially when it was done with a smiley face!

[cocaseco]

Originally Posted by PollyGlott

Yes, you did communicate it clearly.
But I don't get why you would react defensively when someone corrected your misspelling - especially when it was done with a smiley face!

Oh a smiley face? Well that changes everything. I must have missed it.