Hi guy's, I was just wondering in all the mess were in here in our beloved country, would you say Texas is probably one of the most stable states to live in? I'm asking because I have an opportunity to buy a home and am seriously considering San Antonio TX.

I know it isn't my home state of Illinois. 9 billion in the red corrupt government from top to bottom, highest gasoline prices, taxes 10.25%, horrible roads, high tolls and long harsh winters. I don't want to know anything about Hawaii, that's dream land.

It's a lot cheaper to live in SA than Chicago for the most part, Papi.

But....it's HOT in the summer. Last year in Austin we had what... 50 days in a row of over 100F ?! I can't even remember, you just get used to triple digits. A/C can cost you dearly.

And there's very very little in the way of public transportation anywhere. You got to have a car. Truck, of course is much better!

The apartment buildings and houses are not what you're used to either. No basements for one thing. Chicago's a town of serious brick. Lots of frame and prefab hereabouts, although there are brick and stone houses too.

Did I mention the rattlesnakes? And scorpions?? And tornadoes and hurricanes???

Fellas tell him I'm not kidding.

That said, SA's a great place to retire - lots of AF and Army vets did exactly that. One of the best and most soulful towns in TX imo!

My suggestion is come on down and check it out along in the July/August timeframe. Heck, it's only a 1300 mile drive and Tulsa is lovely as a half way point!

Best regards, Mark.

I lived in San Antonio for 2 years. Born in Austin. Lived in Dallas, Arlington, Lubbock, Abilene and Cedar Park, also.

I can give you the entire poop.

Ok Jefe, give me the skinny.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Clean water, and lots of it. Clean air, and lots of it. Not many people. Hard economy for middle class folks, but you can make it. Best neighbors I've ever had. Snows some. Prettiest place on the planet- even prettier than west Texas. close, but I'm goin' with mountains. Water is going to be extremely important, and very soon. Oil you can finesse. Water, uh, no. gotta have it, and not just for laundry. tom

I've had the privelege of travelling all over the US in my professional career. I have to say if I had to choose another place to live it would be Madisonville, Kentucky. It is a small town and it's like going back to the Andy Griffith show. The streets were clean, the people were clean (and friendly) and the town was clean. I would take an evening walk through down town (both stop lights) and there would be elderly people sitting on park benches, people sitting out on their front porches and talking to each other and people that passed by. The other reason in the pork barbecue. They had four or five little places that made it fresh every day. There is a golf course that's not croweded, and awsome bass fishing within 30 minutes. I had lunch where Hank Williams used to perform live in Beaver Damm. I loved it there.

Papi,

Some random positive thoughts about SA: great restaurants, great Mexican food everywhere, friendly and hospitable Texas folks, a better NBA team than Chicago, the River Walk really is distinctive and beautiful, good climate (given a couple of hot months in the summer), pretty countryside, two hours or so from the Gulf beaches, close enough to Austin to visit the Collings shop a couple of times a month.

Some random negative thoughts about SA: friendly and hospitable Texas folks, it is HUGE both in numbers and sprawl and still growing, and it IS hot in the summer.

Best of luck on your decision-making. BTW, Texas as a whole currently has one of the lowest foreclosure rates in the country.

B

Papi: PM


For fun:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/news...ttest-fattest-cities

Does the food train not reach the west coast?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: elambo,

I lived in San Antonio for 5 years, and have visited family there many, many times.

I lived in Houston for 2 years.

I lived in Austin for 3 years.

All nice places to visit (OK, maybe not Houston).

And, none would ever make it on my list of desirable places to live. I need real seasons, much, much lower population density, and a lot more undeveloped, open country than those places can offer.

Got to agree with Northernbreed for the most part, particularly regarding Houston.

I've lived in central Texas 40 years. When I arrived in the late 60's Austin was a different place, to say the least. I had to move 30 miles out many years ago to satisfy my need for what Northernbreed mentions - undeveloped open country.

You've got to go a LOT farther than that now... and I'm deep in exurbia.

I'm guessing Papi may be wanting somewhat of an urban setting though, and being a native Chicagoan myself I'm betting he will be in for a bit of a culture shock and then some with a move to SA.

While we're talking about things Texan, Tom's comment above on water being a rate limiting factor, moreso than oil, is 100% correct, and particularly pertinent here.

Demographers predict a doubling of the already close to 30 mil TX pop in the next 20 years or so. Yikes! Water stress is already one of The Issues.

Folks like T Boone Pickens have already lined up the water rights to vast stretches of the panhandle and elsewhere, and have plans to "mine" and sell fresh water just like they currently do oil and gas.

You don't have to believe me (although the facts are readily available). Just wait and see.

ML.

quote:

Originally posted by Papi:
I know it isn't my home state of Illinois. 9 billion in the red corrupt government from top to bottom, highest gasoline prices, taxes 10.25%, horrible roads, high tolls and long harsh winters. I don't want to know anything about Hawaii, that's dream land.

To be fair, you're describing the City of Chicago, not the State of Illinois.

Hawaii's a dreamland if you're rich. the cost of living, already astronomical, is getting ridiculous. Hint: almost all the food and other consumer goods come there from great distances, distances which must be covered by ships or airplane that burn..... fossil fuel. rumor has it expenses are up, and will only go higher. but it's a mighty fine place to be, no doubt.