Which Texas area? (Abilene, Tyler, Longview: real estate, low crime, chapel)

[prowler]

I've lived most of my life in wooded green hills of southern Indiana. As a "geezer" now my thoughts are directed more toward extending my yearly outdoor time and shortening my annual indoor time. Being retired and being active I do not like being holed up inside my home for 6 months of the year due to inclement colder weather.

I've ridden my bike through most parts of Texas over the years, but never stuck around in one spot long enough to appreciate the personality or the overall atmosphere of any single location there. Last spring, I rode to visit ex-Indiana friends who now live in Longview and loved their home and loved the warmer temps. My friends, however, let me know that there is a trade-off in that more humidity and more summer heat and more bugs may not be for everybody. That said, they would never consider moving back to Indiana.

Question: Does the western portion of your fine state provide some relief from the humidity blowing up from the gulf? Any comments would be welcome.

Thanks

[Cathy4017]

Question: Does the western portion of your fine state provide some relief from the humidity blowing up from the gulf? Any comments would be welcome.

Yes. West Texas is relatively dry from west of Abilene on, and also the Panhandle.

But you won't find lush, wooded green. It's nothing like East Texas.

While WT does not have the stifling humidity of ET/Central Texas, WT still gets hot as blazes!

It IS much, much drier than ET, but it's still hot as h*** from about May to the end of September.

Having said that, I'd never live in IN. I've never been that cold in my life!

[ShaneSA]

I'll take the heat anyday. it is much easier to get releif from the heat than to try and get warm. Everything has AC. it makes the heat livable and enjoyable in the long winter months when the rest of the country is freezing. It's cool to cold in South Texas. We even had a freeze this past winter. it makes the hot summers more enjoyable. My opinion.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by ShaneSA

I'll take the heat anyday. it is much easier to get releif from the heat than to try and get warm. Everything has AC. it makes the heat livable and enjoyable in the long winter months when the rest of the country is freezing. It's cool to cold in South Texas. We even had a freeze this past winter. it makes the hot summers more enjoyable. My opinion.

I'm the exact opposite. The older I get, the more the heat bothers me. You can only take off so many clothes--and AC is an absolute essential, period--refrigerated only!

You can easily add layers to get/stay warm. This winter has been one of the best I've seen in years for both Texas and New Mexico. Having had a REAL winter for a change, the summer won't be so unbearable, hopefully.

Of course, it was a hard winter in many places, and I can see why the East Coasters/Midwesterners got sick of it.

[TT Dave]

Like it was stated above, just about anywhere west of Abilene is going to be less humid than the rest of the state. If you enjoy the outdoors I guess it would just depend on what outdoor activities you enjoy the most as far as us recommending some good places for you.

[prowler]

Your replies are appreciated. Thanks for your input, everybody. I suppose my idea of a happy Texas homestead would involve some quiet, some greenery, some critters, and reasonable access to shopping & medical. Throw in some low crime and friendly neighbors - and there's not much more to ask.

[Metro Matt]

I would focus on East Texas if I were you. Its very laid back here, plenty of access to medical, is as green as the dickens with some hilly terrain thrown in, & most people are very friendly in a Southern kinda way (think Alabama or Mississippi). The humidity isn't as bad near Tyler as it is in the Deep Piney Woods of East Texas near Lufkin, Nacogdoches, & points further on south.

Crime in Tyler has gotten worse over the years, but just look into the many up & coming suburbs (Bullard, Jacksonville, New Chapel Hill, Whitehouse, Lindale) or even the rural areas if you feel uncomfortable living inside the city limits.

[ladarron]

North Texas

[prowler]

Browsing around for real estate comparisons I noticed some homes within a 25 mile radius of Carthage which seemed interesting. No real reason for zeroing in on Carthage, other than it appears to be near the Sabine Nat'L Forest.

[Metro Matt]

Originally Posted by ladarron

North Texas

You can forget the trees then.