Perhaps Texas would be a good spot for me, if so then where? (Austin: to live in, restaurants)

[biscuitmom]

Originally Posted by Westerntraveler

t if you go to Austin I would say the North Austin Suburbs like Round Rock.

Yes - or Cedar Park or Georgetown. Like RR, they're in Williamson County, a Republican stronghold.

[Westerntraveler]

Originally Posted by biscuitmom

Yes - or Cedar Park or Georgetown. Like RR, they're in Williamson County, a Republican stronghold.

True

[losttechnician]

Originally Posted by JeffSanDimas

I just want to feel comfy

I think this probably sums up what most everyone wants when they move to a new place. Just my experiences from a lifetime in Texas, but the folks that fit in the best are the ones who come in non-judgmental and are willing to fit in. The folks that try to change the situation instead of changing themselves, often find they just don't ever fit in.

In my experience, most Texans are welcoming to most everyone that WANTS to be here, and wants to be a valuable part of the community they move to. If you come in excited to be here, and hold off for a little while with judging your new environment, you won't have a bit of trouble finding a place to be comfy.

Finally, I think the larger metro areas would offer you the most opportunity to find a job that fits you, while providing nearby outdoorsy stuff. DFW has some real nice trees a short drive east, but there is a possibility of some ice events each winter. Winters however are fairly mild. Houston, Austin, and San Antonio can easily jump into the hill country, and really don't have as much chance to ice up, but they make up for that with the heat and humidity during summers.

I love the Panhandle area most of all, after all I live here, however it likely will provide the least opportunity for you to enjoy the outdoors and trees, while providing the least opportunity for you to put your degree to use. However I do encourage you to come and visit Palo Duro Canyon if you can before you make your final decision. I just have to put that plug in for my home area.

[metroxian]

Originally Posted by RMFW

East Texas (Nacadoches, Tyler or really anywhere north of Houston till you his dallas) or Central Texas north or east of Austin (i.e. Waco, College Station, Corsicana, etc. until you reach dallas or Houston). Either of this regions seem to fit the bill based on your description.

Originally Posted by JeffSanDimas

Would you mind sharing your feelings as to why?


I've heard of Tyler, Waco and I'm familiar with College Station because of the University. I haven't heard of the others.


Do you think that any of the bigger, more notable metropolitan areas such as the Metroplex, Hoston, Austin, San Antonio would work for me?

Your preferences and attitudes will suit yourself well to Texas. Sounds just like the kind of guys we're looking for.

The RMFW post is about what I was thinking while reading your post. On a map find the three interstates 35, 45, 10 and connect them to form a triangle. Think of that as Texas' central business district. You'll find construction ops most anywhere along those interstates and fifty to a hundred miles out. You can easily get the city sub's with rural escape.

Consider especially the northwest of Houston - out I-10 and up I-45... and just keep going. Or north Dallas or north San Antonio. But I would think the Houston area is going to offer more of what you tend to want.

Then also more country is east of I-45 for beautiful woodsy sometimes forest and lakes. Like Tyler and Nacogdoches.

Good luck, travel safe

[Mark Senior]

If Christianity is of a higher, lol, priority then Tyler would really do well for you. All faiths, but more Baptist's maybe near half, but only 20-25% attend church, the SBC I attend has many singles, young people, large 5,000-6,000 attend, two services at the same time, younger 40 and under, more traditional not, really at all, huge choice orchestra, all types of worship music. 4 services.

Tyler has the four seasons, but it does get hot pretty fast, we have had significant sleet/snow 5 out of the last 6 winters.

Tyler 1 1/2 drive to DFW. Medical center of East Texas, Only Level One Trauma Center. Two Specialty Hospitals. East Texas Symphony, lived in Houston, not Houston Symphony, compares well. UT Tyler Cowen Performing Arts Center, get may acts, concerts, plays, that perform in Houston, Dallas.

It's Texas beautiful in the spring and fall, especially spring, dogwoods, tulips, the Azalea Trails now, for the next couple of weeks. Huge rose garden, largest municipal owned in the country, key word, municipal, not privately owned. Lush landscaping.

Nacogdoches is beautiful, just little job opportunities. Hill country great, few jobs, except the commute into Austin, big city, most liberal in Texas, party hardy, lol.

Got to go.

The first part is main reason for my response, now.

Email me directly, if you like. Tyler information is my hobby

Good luck !!

[JeffSanDimas]

Originally Posted by Mark Senior

If Christianity is of a higher, lol, priority then Tyler would really do well for you. All faiths, but more Baptist's maybe near half, but only 20-25% attend church, the SBC I attend has many singles, young people, large 5,000-6,000 attend, two services at the same time, younger 40 and under, more traditional not, really at all, huge choice orchestra, all types of worship music. 4 services.

Tyler has the four seasons, but it does get hot pretty fast, we have had significant sleet/snow 5 out of the last 6 winters.

Tyler 1 1/2 drive to DFW. Medical center of East Texas, Only Level One Trauma Center. Two Specialty Hospitals. East Texas Symphony, lived in Houston, not Houston Symphony, compares well. UT Tyler Cowen Performing Arts Center, get may acts, concerts, plays, that perform in Houston, Dallas.

It's Texas beautiful in the spring and fall, especially spring, dogwoods, tulips, the Azalea Trails now, for the next couple of weeks. Huge rose garden, largest municipal owned in the country, key word, municipal, not privately owned. Lush landscaping.

Nacogdoches is beautiful, just little job opportunities. Hill country great, few jobs, except the commute into Austin, big city, most liberal in Texas, party hardy, lol.

Got to go.

The first part is main reason for my response, now.

Email me directly, if you like. Tyler information is my hobby

Good luck !!

That sounds great! The more I hear about Tyler the more it appeals to me! Before looking it up I didn't realize how large of a city it was, and from looking at craigslist it seems very reasonably priced.

The fact that there are lots of large churches with young people in attendance is something that really makes me very happy. Here in the Los Angeles area, there are a lot of Spanish Language Catholic Churches, and a few liberal mainline Protestant churches but when it comes to Baptist/Evangelical Protestant Churches, we are sorely lacking and the few in LA county have a demographic that skews elderly or Korean.

I actually drive like 2 hours into Southern Orange County to go to Church because I like "megachurch" environment with lots of people my age, nothing worse than being the only person that hasn't gone grey.


It seems like I've crossed off DFW, I've done extensive "Street Viewing" in the northern suburbs like Collin County and also places like Grapevine, and it just seems very concrete and overbuilt, like the San Fernando Valley. Houston is a consideration just because of how much "The Woodlands" appeals to me. San Antonio...I don't know if I would want to deal with the culture/language barrier that I think I would have there, since that's one of the many reasons why I'm thinking of leaving California.


Looks the Metro Austin, or Tyler are the two choices for me. I'm going to have to come visit.

However

[Mark Senior]

Wish you could come now, flowers are about to "burst" in full bloom, trees are "going" green, yes pollen, everywhere, cars are yellow or brown if they are left out, rain coming soon to wash that all away.

Late May early June for rose garden, or fall, Oct. Now, most people in town don't have the roses in their yards anymore, some do.

Yep, The Woodlands protect the trees, cleaner than Tyler, yet it is a real boom town, not an incorporated city, but sorta close to Houston, the commute would be a nightmare, lived in Houston for 20-25 years, which I really enjoyed for a mega city, I just put up with the traffic, Houston has gone "greener" inside/around Loop 610 in the North and West sides.

Austin, Houston much better job choices, of course you just need one good job, lol. Austin very congested now, but I like it for the "looks" but not into what else you get there, anymore.

Houston has Second Baptist as one of the mega churches, real mega, many singles, unless things have changed. Other non-denominational mega churches, would have to google for names.

[TXsurburbanmom]

There is no language barrier in San Antonio. There is a Spanish flair but I've lived here 20+ years without speaking Spanish. I even worked welfare on the west side and only needed an interpreter maybe once a month or so. It's also home to some amazing mega- churches. Community Bible Church, non-denominational but Robert Emmet grew up in Castle Hills Baptist, and Oak Hills, was Chruch of Christ but when it moved it changed a bit. Max Lucado was the Sr. Pastor for years and is co-pastor now that his writing keeps him so busy. John Hagee's Cornerstone is also just up the road from me on the far northside. SA trends democrat but the north central is still conservative and despite the city leaders desire to be truly progressive I suspect the Catholic democrats will temper it.

Not saying Tyler isn't better for you. We'd move out a bit ourselves to get away from city politics if our kids didn't love their schools so much. I just wanted to correct the idea I hear constantly that everyone in SA is Hispanic and you have to speak Spanish. I see that so often on C-D.

[ImOnFiya]

Being young and from California, Austin would be the only choice. I'd suggest living in the following areas:

Central Austin (btw Research Blvd. (183) and downtown),
East Austin (btw Airport Blvd. and downtown), or
South Austin (btw downtown and Ben White Blvd.)

Also, feel free to post on the Austin sub-forum for more information. We are a very friendly, helpful bunch!
Good luck!

[JeffSanDimas]

Originally Posted by ImOnFiya

Being young and from California, Austin would be the only choice. I'd suggest living in the following areas:

Central Austin (btw Research Blvd. (183) and downtown),
East Austin (btw Airport Blvd. and downtown), or
South Austin (btw downtown and Ben White Blvd.)

Also, feel free to post on the Austin sub-forum for more information. We are a very friendly, helpful bunch!
Good luck!

Besides the young and from California part, why Austin? I'm not your average California - being conservative, Christian, gun loving and suburbia inclined.

Not that I've dismissed Austin or at least the Metro Austin area, but I've heard that it skews very liberal, very hipster etc. I know that those are stereotypes but I don't want to put myself in a predicament where I am now where being of more conservative opinion and of a more religious Christian background, I have to watch what I say.



Here's a Litmus Test about Austin, I'm not saying this is something I would do but I'm trying to get an idea of the prevailing "ethos" there.

Let's say I put a stereotypically conservative bumper sticker on my car, like "Ted Cruz for President" or "NRA Member" or the Jesus Fish..what would be prevailing reaction. Or a conservative candidates' campaign sign on my lawn. In lots of areas of SoCal, my car would get keyed or egged if I left it in a parking lot, or the sign would get knocked over and my neighbors probably wouldn't speak to me. I don't use bumper stickers, nor will I have a lawn to put signs on, at least to start..but I'm curious as to your answer?