just curious.......been doing some thinking.

just curious.......been doing some thinking.

What part? It's a big state. My wife lived in south Texas, near Baytown as a kid.

It is a really BIG state so you might want to focus some thoughts?

Nope.
You'd liked it.
You can buy land/house and do with it what you like, regardless of what the neighbors think. Houston has virtually no zoning laws - it was the fastest growing city in the U.S. a couple of years ago.

never lived there but went there a couple of times for business.

I thought Houston was a pit, but at least you can get to the ocean.

I thought Dallas was nice though. Thought it was very clean, you also have the Rangers for Baseball and the Cowboys (ughh) for football.

I've Heard Corpus Christie is Beautiful and the fishing is supposed to be awesome

***Written On Bathroom Stall Wall***

Here I sit, Cheeks a flexin'...giving birth to another texan :hee:

I've spent time for business in San Antonio and Houston. I hated Houston. Also visited Austin for a while and loved it.

looking at dallas ft worth area for starters

No, no please don't go!

From what I hear from Texans, Austin is like Brookline, South. Very liberal.

I saw go for it. Get yourself a nice little spread.
Get a F-250 with gun rack.
Spend your weekends clearing brush.
Commiserate with people of like mind - just get those Mass plates off your cars ASAP.

It wouldn't be for me unless I lived on the Gulf Coast. I used to fly into Dallas and Houston but just stuck around the airport. I did fly into Amarillo a bunch of times and drive from there through the OK pan handle into Southwest KS and that city was pretty depressing. I'm not sure what to say but go with your heart. I know personally leaving New England would be tough. I could see myself living in the Pacific Northwest or the Carolinas though. Good luck with your decision. Oh and one last thing, when I was in TX driving they don't take to kindly to our accent and pace of how we conduct business. Gotta slow down in those parts.

I live there from 1990 -1995. It was great. Plenty of hunting and fishing. Zero red tape. Housing was about 60% less than MA. Food was 30% gas was 30% less. My car insurance went from 1600 ' year living in Southie to $450.00. Same pay scale as up here. NO STATE INCOME TAX. NO EXCISE TAX. No goverment hand in your pocket all the time. Schools are very good. The people are honest and friendly. I lived in a small town Northwest of Dallas. It as heaven. Got transfered back here. If I could do it over I would have stayed.

If you want more info Pm and I will give you my phone number. I still have family down there. Lots of jobs. They added 450,000 new jobs this year alone.

I live there from 1990 -1995. It was great. Plenty of hunting and fishing. Zero red tape. Housing was about 60% less than MA. Food was 30% gas was 30% less. My car insurance went from 1600 ' year living in Southie to $450.00. Same pay scale as up here. NO STATE INCOME TAX. NO EXCISE TAX. No goverment hand in your pocket all the time. Schools are very good. The people are honest and friendly. I lived in a small town Northwest of Dallas. It as heaven. Got transfered back here. If I could do it over I would have stayed.

If you want more info Pm and I will give you my phone number. I still have family down there. Lots of jobs. They added 450,000 new jobs this year alone.

good info, thanks - thats the area we are looking at. The area is growing. I cant take the commuting options I have right now for very long. I spend 3 hours (on a good day) getting to and from work. I want to have more time with my kids each day. Commutes down there are 15-20 mins and as you said, same pay. I would miss the ocean tremendously but could have fun chasing largemouths for awhile and I guess we could get a pool. My wife is really into it. this may move fast, we'll see.

John - Austin is a great city, I loved it there. Im more comfortable with libs when it comes to food and music. San Francisco is still my favorite city.

I've lived on the West Coast (Bay Area), the South (Charleston) and the Midwest (Illinois)....I still like New England the Best.....just the fact that there was no New England Autuumn would bum me out.

I've been running around the idea to my wife about us maybe moving up to Maine....she's not warming up to it though

I'll second that about San Fran.....I did love it out there. Lived in Vallejo, summers were awesome...always 80 degrees and it never rained.....Winters sucked though...all it did was rain.

I lived there for 6 years,, Just south of Ft Worth.

I would not be so sure on the 20-25 min commutes. Definitely have to sit on those specific highways at the times your commute would take place to honestly know. The explosive growth in the suburbs surrounding Dallas and Ft Worth have jammed up the highways,. They don't hesitate to build roads either...

Electric bills can be CRAZY during the summer and Property taxes are not all that cheap in all areas.

Although won't argue the price of homes is less.

Also depending on where you buy make sure you get something with mineral rights..... That whole area sits on The Barnett Shale Natural gas deposit. could be a bonus for you....

I am sure there are more perks. Definitely a nice place to live if your don't mind being 5 hours from the ocean too,,

just curious.......been doing some thinking.

Pro: Easy access to ZZ Top.
Con: Super devil

Family Guy - SuperDevil - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29khjYTOLC8)

Id take the Maine move in a minute <><><>

Pro: Easy access to ZZ Top.
Con: Super devil



you forgot: fantastic bbq

If you were to move, would you stay at your place in RI for a couple weeks during the summer? At least you could get some saltwater fishing in.

A friend of ours lived outside Dallas, her husband worked for Raytheon. She said there was a lot more moneyed people around. Even the middle class people would be far better dressed and the women all had their nails and hair done all the time and there were far less overweight people. But that was in a fairly well-to-do suburb. I don't know, around here, people seem to all look and dress like sh_t, and every other person is overweight. I think it's the long winters. Face it, New England is a depressing place.

I would look into their views on cupcakes at school before you get ahead of yourself.

Don't dismiss Houston. While Houston itself is a pit teh surrounding area isn't bad. Kemah is beautiful, for example, and on the water. If you think you are hooked on stripers wait till you catch your first speckled trout. I travel to Galveston several times a year to fish and have a blast with friends who live there. Dallas does nothing for me...Fort Worth has the Stockyards but that's about it. Austin is great but no ocean...Same for San Antonio (although you can drive to Matagrodas if needed from there and New Braunfels has some awesome german cuisine!).

Just keep in mind the old saying, "The grass is always greener..."

just curious.......been doing some thinking.

never myself, have a good friend who is a native texan, lives here now, had a brother who lived there, for a very short time.. aquire the accent and never tell a soul where you came from, would be his advise..they hate us, well, anybody not from texas, that is. Heard today there are 7 billion people in this world now, but the newscaster said that all 7 billion could fit in texas, that should give you an idea of how big a state it is. So, I would imagine the different areas would all have to be explored. Worked with a guy for 8 years that tried Galveston for a while, and then Houston, absolutely hated both. your quote says you have been doing some thinking..from what my co-worker told me, if you were in texas, thinking wouldnt be required :hihi:

Big retirement state....cheap to live....brotha's wife's dad lives there...lots of land...brush....parked his trailer in the middle of his land an shoots at hogs an tractor trailer trucks when they go by.

Lived in San Antonio for four years.Nuthin special there.Austin is a blast...Sixth st. is all I can say.Corpus,Port Aransas, South Padre is the tops.

austin has a great music scene.

my brother moved to houston 2 years ago. His wife (top surgeon in her class) got a position at the major hospital. its supposed to be one of the best in the country. Goes without saying its hot as balls most months out of the year. but there's suprisingly a ton of outdoor activities to do and trails and outdoor stuff right outside the city. they love it.

O and since moving he' purchased 2 pistols and an m14, lol. going to the range is his new favorite thing, and everyone goes shooting. The wifes boss is buying my bro a new scope in exchange for a new red dot for his H&K :rotf2: redic

Geesh all you have to do is watch episodes of Texas Women and you will want to move there


CMT : Full Episodes : Texas Women : Rhinestone Cowgirls (http://www.cmt.com/videos/texas-women-101/1667281/full-episode.jhtml)

Geesh all you have to do is watch episodes of Texas Women and you will want to move there


CMT : Full Episodes : Texas Women : Rhinestone Cowgirls (http://www.cmt.com/videos/texas-women-101/1667281/full-episode.jhtml)

THANKS!!! Woke up at 3:30am to hit the canal and started to watch your link and couldn't peal myself away!!!!


Hope the wife likes the show as much as I do!!!

I would look into their views on cupcakes at school before you get ahead of yourself.

We're talking about Texas, I wouldnt have to worry about that.
I can get a house next to Glen Beck.

good info, thanks - thats the area we are looking at. The area is growing. I cant take the commuting options I have right now for very long. I spend 3 hours (on a good day) getting to and from work. I want to have more time with my kids each day. Commutes down there are 15-20 mins and as you said, same pay. I would miss the ocean tremendously but could have fun chasing largemouths for awhile and I guess we could get a pool. My wife is really into it. this may move fast, we'll see.

John - Austin is a great city, I loved it there. Im more comfortable with libs when it comes to food and music. San Francisco is still my favorite city.

If you're considering the Houston area, and think that you're only going to have a 15-20 minute commute, think again. Houston has bad roads, bad drivers and terrible traffic.

In-laws lived near (I think) Austin for 4-5 years, about 20 years ago.

My Pops-in-law said he caught a number of stocked stripers from some of their big lakes... says their shape looks like a 20lb LMB.

I've been to Houston a number of times for work... such a dump.

Im mostly concerned about culture. I cant live in a world of strip malls.
The circumstances are that where I would work is in suburb with great housing, great neighborhoods very close. So I am confident on the 15-20 min commute. We know a number of people who are currently doing it.
Its attractive financially and quality of life-wise, but I'm not sure its for me. I think we'll make a trip down and check it out.

I'll second the "Grass is Always Greener" comment made earlier.

Everyplace has its flaws.......If you like autumn, which is my favorite season, it won't be the same down there.

hmmmm.....

Texas Striper Fishing - Stripers247.com - Texas Striped Bass Fishing (http://www.stripers247.com/Texas-Striper-Fishing.php)

hmmmm.....

Texas Striper Fishing - Stripers247.com - Texas Striped Bass Fishing (http://www.stripers247.com/Texas-Striper-Fishing.php)

Now you can get skunked in freshwater too.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Now you can get skunked in freshwater too.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

ahh, that was great. I would miss watching you sit besides the canal and watch me fish.

ahh, that was great. I would miss watching you sit besides the canal and watch me not catch any fish.

You could still come back to visit and I could watch you cast after I got too tired from reeling in one schoolie. Just remember to bring bug spray so I don't have to listen to you complain.

austin has a great music scene.

Austin City Limits :kewl:

For Christ sakes go!. New England is full of those folks that got off the boat and said I am just going to stay here. They were given out 40 acres and a mule for free. Naw Ill just stay here. No risk No reward.

It seems your commute is one of the main reasons you are considering it. Have you considered moving closer to your job here?

Are you a New Englander at Heart? If so, you belong here and won't really be happy somewhere else.

all good feedback and questions.
I lived in California on and off over the last 20yrs. I was single and no kids. Kids have changed everything. I have to factor whats best for them. While NE is a factor, I am very much an ocean person, not just fishing. I love being by the water. Do I sacrafice that for a potential better life for my family?
While in Ca, I did miss the seasons but also didnt get the winter blues, I was active year round.
My wife is sold, she will move tomorrow. its really up to me. We have great friends here, nice house, etc. The commute is a major driver of my discontent but so is the winter, economic outlook, job security, etc. NE is not growing. Keep the comments coming, it helps me think this through. Wife is going down in December to visit the area.