maybe moseying to Texas.

[concretejungle]

I have been offered a pretty good job opportunity in Texas. I would be a sales rep, territory would be all of texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

Just got back from spending a week in Texas. THe folks are really friendly from what i noticed. It was hot! Also, you folks are very proud of your state; Texas star everywhere on everything, also all the folks said "Texas is THE ONLY place to live!!" Did i mention seems like there are a ton of hot, dark hair, brown eyed women?!!

I will probably start off living just south of Dallas/FW, near Joe Pool lake. Right behind the house i looked at is a state park, so that's a plus. This is a good central location to cover the territory, but in the future if i decide to move i could. I'm already liking Austin. From the house i was 20-30 minutes from Texas Ranger's Stadium, the new Cowboys Stadium, Six Flags, tons of outlet malls. Texas Motor Speedway was not too far away. Austin was just about 2 hours away. Seemed like a lot to do.

I didn't have a chance to see all of texas, but it was fairly nice. Drove around from Dallas down to San Antonio. San Marcos was cool, Austin was cool, but the further south i went i wasn't overly impressed.

I heard that east Texas is beautiful, but didn't have a chance to visit it.

I'm having a hard time deciding on the move. I will be leaving all my family behind, maybe that's not soooo bad. I can just hop a plane and be back for Christmas.

I guess i'm kind of rambling here, but i am kicking the idea around seriously. Any input you guys could offer or some photos would help in my decision.

Thanks.

 

[davegonz]

Congrats on the new job and welcome to Texas. Let us know when you'll be in the Austin area and we can meet up for lunch or something.

 

[concretejungle]

Dave, I haven't taken the job yet. I'm still trying to decide on the move.

 

[davegonz]

I see. Just keep in mind that the heat hasn't really started yet. Consecutive 100+ degree days takes it's toll on you if you're not used to it.

 

[G-Cat]

So, is the house in Grand Parairie? Joe Pool lake is cool, if you like to go out on the water. I've seen a lot of your posts but have no idea f your age or if you have kiddos. If so, you wouldn't be looking at the best schools where you're looking. Mansfield has some of the better schools in the south of the metroplex.

If you move, come to an LSLC meeting. Good luck!

 

[concretejungle]

No kids and no wife. I'm 30, will be 31 in August.

Right now schools are not an issue. When they do become one, i'll relocate.

I did notice the heat when i was there. Two or three days when we were south it was 90+!

Those of you who have moved there do you regret it? How far away is good wheelin' from Dallas?

Garth, it's right outside of Cedar Hill, just off hwy 1382.

I'm also used to seeing stuff like this:

 

[sraller]

hey man i moved from central california 4 years ago away from all of my family and it was the best move i have made ...there is wheeling all around and if you hang with lslc then you can easily find the good spots to go . it just may be slightly different wheeling as it was for me comming from ca. but still a blast anywhere from light wheeling to hard core buggy.... i also was not impressed with south texas around corpus christi . austin rocks with good night life and clubs downtown...hope to see you at one of the meetings some time

 

[nspctr1]

Texas offers a variety of environments so it really depends on what your wanting. Yeah , the heat is pretty much state wide but for a variety of seasons the DFW area or West Texas has the best to offer. The further South you go the calmer the climate gets such as no snow or really even cold weather to speak of. East Texas will offer you the piney woods, West Texas will give you the wind storms and tumbleweeds so anywhere near the I 35 corridor will give you a good variety but the tornadoes are state wide so no escaping them. There are plenty of places to ride trails but for the party life there are a few spots. DFW is one, the west end near down town, Austin is a great place as well as San Antonio, imho.

GL on your decision

 

[crotalusatrox]

hey jungle,,, if i was in your shoes, i would defntly move to Austin,,,, the greatest city i texas, a lil traffic, but well worth it.... just my .2 cents

 

[concretejungle]

cool, thanks.

 

[Bomar]

Great state and no state income tax!

 

[concretejungle]

Great state and no state income tax!

I did see that. THey have to make it up somehow. Maybe higher property taxes??

 

[sraller]

yeah .. and school taxes

 

[mmw68]

Iam bias, but Austin is the place to be if your single! Iam not, now I got the family and kids, but overall it just a young town, with great outdoors and the hill country, and the lakes. If your into biking, or hiking - Austin has both.

And when you do meet that special someone...austin is a great place to raise a family.

I grew up in Houston, and I've also loved in Dallas for a few years. Great folks in all three cities.

 

[Exiled]

I'm a transplanted Texas resident, and this is a kickass state. It's like offroad hell (90% of the state is privately owned, there aren't even dirt roads near Austin), but it's a cool place, great place to raise a family, friendly, open, welcoming people, great attitude towards guns & hunting, awesome barbecue, great live music, decent real estate prices compared to the rest of the country, etc...

Ditto on the Austin visit, drop me a PM when you're in, we'll go grab lunch or a beer and shoot the Cruiser sh*t!

 

[concretejungle]

Still trying to figure this whole move thing out..

Seems like a few of the "package" details have changed. Now suddenly the base salary is lower... but the commission is higher.....not liking that. And, they may send someone to take half my territory. So those two things are giving me negative feelings now. I thought before this was almost signed, sealed and delivered.

I guess time will tell.

 

[nspctr1]

I'm not sure how large of an area you are used to covering but Texas is a huge state. If you include Louisiana in that you will be on the road for ever. It may be a blessing to lose half of the state, just make sure you know what half your getting. if it's split north and south you will probably want north and if it's east west it'd be a toss up. imho. gl either way..

 

[Drunk Monkey]

Austin Traffic sucks, stay towards Dallas and visit Austin.... closer to Clayton and Arkansas wheeling. Plus it is a little like 1 degree cooler and have a greater chance for snow. There is a lot to do in Austin, but being in Austin is like being in California, almost all transplants or hippies.... Ft Worth has more Texas culture or San Antonio. Austin has some good looking young babes though.... and weird crap. Disclaimer.........No offense to the California transplants or Venezuelan transplants that are my friends or cruiser lovers. Round Rock on the other hand Offers Texas culture with an Texas attitude. The famous Williamson co., guilty until proven innocent attitude. Give you an Idea, I had stuff stolen out of my garage in Austin or Travis co. worth about 500 bucks
There response was sorry we can do a over the phone report, Had my kids bike taken out of my garage in Round Rock, Williamson Co, I told them it was not really a big deal but just wanted to report it stolen and make the kid feel better.... Williamson county sheriff show up not 5 mins later. had me print up what ind of bike it was and color and the pic, tried to take finger prints on stuff around where the bike was. Entered it in the computer and asked if they catch the kids or person that did it if I wanted to press charges or just get the bike back. And talked to my kid like it was his property stolen and not directly to me...... Learning experience for the kid and very personal.


I figured it was gone and insisted he not worry about it but he said it was normal to get all info they could. If they found it they would call us or bring it by..........


Neither were found but wilco was much more responsive and better about the situation.

Austin I had about 6 things stolen out of my garage at different times but Round Rock, only once and have left cars unlocked and garage open by accident many times...

I really enjoy Austin and the Austin area, just pic your county carefully, Travis is very liberal and Williamson is down right Texan.

 

[davegonz]

So that's why your shop is way out in BFE.

 

[Exiled]

Austin Traffic sucks, stay towards Dallas and visit Austin.... closer to Clayton and Arkansas wheeling. Plus it is a little like 1 degree cooler and have a greater chance for snow. There is a lot to do in Austin, but being in Austin is like being in California, almost all transplants or hippies.... Ft Worth has more Texas culture or San Antonio. Austin has some good looking young babes though.... and weird crap. Disclaimer.........No offense to the California transplants or Venezuelan transplants that are my friends or cruiser lovers. Round Rock on the other hand Offers Texas culture with an Texas attitude. The famous Williamson co., guilty until proven innocent attitude. Give you an Idea, I had stuff stolen out of my garage in Austin or Travis co. worth about 500 bucks
There response was sorry we can do a over the phone report, Had my kids bike taken out of my garage in Round Rock, Williamson Co, I told them it was not really a big deal but just wanted to report it stolen and make the kid feel better.... Williamson county sheriff show up not 5 mins later. had me print up what ind of bike it was and color and the pic, tried to take finger prints on stuff around where the bike was. Entered it in the computer and asked if they catch the kids or person that did it if I wanted to press charges or just get the bike back. And talked to my kid like it was his property stolen and not directly to me...... Learning experience for the kid and very personal.


I figured it was gone and insisted he not worry about it but he said it was normal to get all info they could. If they found it they would call us or bring it by..........


Neither were found but wilco was much more responsive and better about the situation.

Austin I had about 6 things stolen out of my garage at different times but Round Rock, only once and have left cars unlocked and garage open by accident many times...

I really enjoy Austin and the Austin area, just pic your county carefully, Travis is very liberal and Williamson is down right Texan.

I'll second the Travis Co. vs. Williamson Co. opinion. Wilco is more conservative, fiscally responsible, and much better aligned with my own values, but the general area is pretty cool.

I moved here from Northern VA but lived in four other states, the only one that (IMHO) was decidedly better than TX was AZ and that's because it was wheeling paradise. Texas -pretty much the entire state- is privately owned so there's no BLM land or even dirt roads within a decent driving distance of north or central TX. Also, as some have pointed out, the distances in the state are intimidating.

Yeah, it's hot, but in Central TX the humidity is still bearable, I think 105 in Austin beats 90 in Baltimore/Washington DC or Florida any day of the week.

Also, outsiders make fun of the "Texas is better" mindset but it grows on you, over the last seven years I've come to love and appreciate my adopted state and feel very strongly about it...there is definitely *something* about Texas that makes it a special place.

Property taxes are relatively high but real estate is still fairly affordable in most places in Texas, money goes a long way here compared to the East Coast or California. One thing I *GREATLY* appreciate, especially over the last year, is that the state mandates a balanced budget, we're not going to get into the fiscal insanity of some of the other large states. Strong population growth, strong -and diverse- state economy and a generally positive attitude have minimized the impact of the economic crisis, at least when compared to other states. And yes, there are a lot of hotties out here, I love going to Dallas on business!