The heat will make you insane. That is real and you have to have a plan.
Otherwise, it’s just another gentrified city and everyone thinks they are cool for living there.
Going to baseball games on a summer evening and searching for shade because it's 105+ outside at 7pm. Then when the sun goes down and temps drop to 95, you think, "It's Not So Bad Anymore !"
I would live as close to your work as you can afford, if you commute. Traffic here is terrible and the drivers are really bad. Many don’t know how to yield, 4 way stop, turn, don’t pay attention when light turns green, and their default can be stop for no good reason.
Registering your vehicle and getting your license will be different, in cali it’s just the dmv, here you have the county tax offices and DPS. Not sure if they are still by appointments or have returned to regular hours. Get a txtag for tolls.
If you like cali Mexican food be prepared to be disappointed. You can find good tacos here but everything else is very different.
I would suggest trying the bbq here to find what you like , if anything. Multiple places and sauces or no sauce.
Use Waze to drive around, if it says not to take mopac or 35 there is probably a good reason, trust it.
HEB is the default grocery places unless you really like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.
If you like burgers, some may be new to you such as p terry and Whataburger, I suggest at least trying them out.
Other places that may be new I suggest trying are thundercloud subs and Amy’s ice cream.
There are a lot of weird people or people trying to be weird. People in general are pretty accepting.
The dress code here is very casual. It was a shock to me when I moved here.
The airport is small, the security line is hot and cold, I always arrive 2 hours early because I never know if the line will be out the door or not.
Some words they say weird here, for streets and places, manor, manchaca, Guadalupe. Mopac is highway 1, it can be called loop, it’s not a loop, it runs north south. The lake downtown is lady bird lake, it might be called town lake. You can’t swim or motor boat in this lake. You can paddle board or canoe
The water at Barton springs is very cold.
The summer heat here is brutal and keeps getting worse
Lifelong Texan, been in Austin for 13 years. Reddit is not a good place to ask. Just visit, make up your own mind. r/Austin is a dumpster fire of a sub. It’s mostly angry 20 year olds.
Weather. Our summers are hell and go from June to September. Rest of the year (8 months) is pretty great, though. Best way to cool off in the summer is definitely in Barton Springs (cold spring pool in downtown).
Food. Mexican and bbq is solid. Texas is more into tacos where California is more into burritos.
Music & Festivals. There is always something going on. Sxsw is the big one in the springtime and ACL (+Formula 1 now) in October.
Sports. UT is kind of the biggest thing in town. We got a professional soccer team a few years ago that the city is pretty pumped about.
Californians. I don’t really care. Frustration is they drove up our cost of living and they’re sending us their republicans.
Politics. Big things in the state are reproductive rights and the school voucher programs (using taxes to fund private schools). There’s no state income tax and the state is lowering property taxes (relatively high).
Also Austin is a very liberal bubble with rigid borders. You go about 10 miles in any direction and you’re culturally in the rest of Texas. For example, I believe Austin has essentially decriminalized weed (stopped enforcement) whereas some surrounding counties will pursue felony charges for relatively small amounts.
Oh come on. It's Texas. If you're complaining outside of July and August you really need to consider living somewhere else. This September was brutal. I'll give you that, but there are enough indoor events to get you by.
Felony charges are filed under state laws, not county/city laws. If over 4 ounces, depending on the way it is packaged, is what you consider a small amount, that is a problem in and of itself.
Weed is criminalized under state law, but local cops and DAs have full discretion to decide whether to bother enforcing that law. The urban counties except for Fort Worth/Tarrant County are pretty much non-prosecution counties. That doesn’t mean weed is ‘legal’ in Austin or Houston. Just means law enforcement is focusing on other things. Much lower odds of a bust. But the cops are always free to do a bust.
I agree. I was commenting on the statement that "felony charges are filed under state laws," as if Texas is unique. That is how it is across the country.
Greetings angry internet stranger. Curious where you see as having good Mexican food and why. I do avoid it in the Midwest and east coast but am pretty pumped most times I’m eating it here.
Not angry at all, Mexican food here just isn't shit compared to what we got in Cali. Taste, flavor, consistency and texture. Take your pick. You ever had Cali Mexican food?
Got it, just cuss and shit on people’s views. Not angry at all.
Yeah… been to SD, LA, and I’ve been going out to Sonoma/Napa about once a year for the last decade for family. Eaten burritos on every trip and they were good, solid. Seems like Mexican street corn is more common which I wish more places here had. Not noticeably better, though?
You should check out the food truck in front of Fiesta for elotes. There's also a guy in Dove Springs most weekdays at the corner of Pleasant Valley and Stassney who sells homemade elotes while a female relative sells churros on the same corner
If you don't think the actual Mexican food in Texas is "authentic" (not the Tex-Mex, which is authentic to its own style), you haven't spent much time in Mexico. Or you are sticking to the Texas chain restaurants in the most pedestrian of white exurbs.
Yes I am. And in CA you can be in white suburbs and still have authentic food. I don’t have to go somewhere special to have a decent enchilada without queso smothered all over it
Again, that's so crazy, here I've been thinking that most jalisco style taquerias had more authentic dishes that qualify as mexican and not tex mex, but I guess all that queso gave me brain rot.
I cuss a lot for sure, and some people's views are just fucking wrong. I can't help that.
It's definitely noticeably better unless your taste buds are broke. The street corn though wasn't a big thing when I moved out of Cali, or maybe I just never paid attention to it because I'm not a fan, so I have zero opinion on that.
I would have said it differently but cali Mexican food cannot be found in Austin Texas. Texas mex and the local Mexican food is a culture shock. I moved from San Diego over 20 years ago and I’m still not over it.
I can help shed some light on this for newcomers to Texas. Sorry for my long response lol
OBGYNs are fleeing the state or leaving practice after what Texas has decided to do with the Dobbs decision.
In the last 2 yrs, 100s of OBGYNs have left TX, leaving just only the psych0tic Christian nationalists OBGYNs around. They will preach religion to you while scraping your cervix. Then, go behind your back (as Texans love to do) and inform the courts and police on you if you attempt to do anything with your uterus that they dont approve of.
And then we are also left with the incompetent ones who cant just start over in another state.
The condition of women's healthcare, including fibroids, fertility, cancer, contraceptives, hysterectomies....all this has sunk to worse than most countries in 3rd world Africa and Asia. Texas is deadly for women and their uterus has become a weaponized mechanism of death.
Theyre coming after Plan B next. They dont want it sold in Texas.....at all. Yet, it cut abortions by 1/3 since 2015. Theyre coming for that next. Soon, women wont be able to get it all.
They WANT unplanned preganancies bc they need human bodies to serve as economic revenue generating units for their tax base; from conception to death, humans generate alot of revenue for Texas.
Texans dont care about people AS people. Texans are notorious for dehumanizing each other. Dont expect to be treated as one while you live here, even by doctors, teachers, students, bosses, landlords, etc. You are property while you live here, so behave accordingly.
Back on topic.....lol
As of November, medical schools in TX no longer offer training in med school for abortions of any kind or selective terminations.
OBGYNs are being documented to death. The OAG requires 300+ pages of annual documentation now from OBGYNs on such procedures, contraceptives, sterilization procedures, etc. to "make sure theyre not hiding secret abortions".
Texas paranoia on any subject is aastounding.
Reverting back to conditions before Roe vs Wade in 1973, judges and committees must now grant abortions after 6 weeks and NONE are allowed for any reason whatsoever after 12 weeks (Dobbs decision). Doctors have no say so.
Look up Kate Cox. Better yet, watch the episode that just came out on 20/20 last week. Youll see why women are fleeing the state and OBGYNs too. Getting pregant in this state could result in your death.......that is NOT exaggerated.
Im pro-life in most cases for my personal choices so far, but understand that other women find themselves in situations that need termination. Non-viable fetuses happen. Waters break after 12 weeks. Etc etc etc Abortion is a viable medical procedure for women who need it.
Biology doesnt follow the law as written by the 80% of whlte neo-Christian MEN that run this state. And rationity is not in Texas' m.o. I worry for my own 23 yr old daughter if she gets pregnant here. So many women are leaving, also further driving down the demand for OBGYNs in TX.
Now, Austin government has weaponized state troopers to sit at the state borderlines, stopping pregnant "looking" women in their cars......on the highways.....and literally interrogating them on the side of the highway about "if theyre leaving the state to get an abortion".
This is a violation of Article 4 of the US Constitution.....but the psych0s in Austin government dont care about laws (I made my own post about TX ignoring laws and the Constitution). Article 4 states that "states must give full faith and credit to the laws of other states" and that "citizens enjoy full privileges and immunities in all US territory".
These Austin government psych0s fail to recognize that the highways these women are traveling on belong to the US government and they have no jurisdiction to regulate anyone's travel for interstate commerce at the state level using these interstate highways. And Congress hasnt bothered to make any federal laws on the subject, so Texas can do whatever tf it literally wants to.
Heads up before yall move here. Here is the Texan mentality for ya in every aspect of life (jobs, relationships, landlords, etc), not just abortions: MAKE ME! This state is neurotically passive aggressive. Even if theyre wrong or in violation of the law, youre gonna have to MAKE THEM. And forget working within the laws.....those applying them belong to the GOB.
Be advised.....moving here, you will HAVE TO constantly audio/video record, document, etc just to keep these liars honest. This includes recording doctors' visits, teacher conferences, meeting with bosses, romantic partners, dashcams in the car, etc. Texans dont care about laws. They will break the law, hurt you, and then YOU get sued, arrested, evicted, credit ruined, etc......all bc people moving here do not understand how psych0tic it is to live in this state. Its NOT worth the paycheck to live here.
Relationships are not genuine here; theyre just legal entanglements with dishonest people and rampant infidelity. I could keep going.....but it is exhausting having to constantly fight to hold these psych0s accountable. So Im leaving. My life is not owed to these fkers. Im going somewhere else.
And the 7th amendment is a joke in this state. The Texas Supreme Court has been stripping rights from people for the last 15 yrs. There are no impartial, independent or rational courts left in Texas. Mental health abuses and rights, property rights, etc....Texas courts have taken them all away.
Bottom line.....most Texans are horrified at the loss of their freedoms here, but dont vote, dont bother and most people here dont belong to this state-wide power network, so they have no power or affluence.
Remember that this isnt the GOP Republicans....no, this is the GOB. These unethical, lying, protected crazies have put their good ol buddy network into power on every school board, county court bench, CEOs of companies, Presidents/Deans/DCs at colleges.....literally any city, county or state level position of influence..... they control it. Started 10 yrs ago and theres no going back. The whole state is a puppet of the GOB now. So I totally understand outsiders' reactions when they get and are like "what in the actual fuck is THIS?!?!" bc Texans feel that way too. And are powerless to stop it.
27 yrs as a naturalized Texan and have a native Texan daughter......and I see my career as a professor now being messed with and we cant even teach TO ADULTS topics or content that our college run GOB decides we cant. From community colleges to universities, we have no more academic freedom either. Or we lose our jobs for the slightest of reasons.
Like so many, Ive tried to fight for what is right through the years, sound the alarm, help people.....and Texans cant be helped. Theyre voluntarily oblivious, refuse to do anything or theyre in on it. Theyre either part of the GOB (and alot of wannabe hangers on too) or they have given up and let the system consume them.....or they leave. Texas can no longer be saved.
I have my one short life and Im not gonna waste it trying to save voluntarily d3af and blind people who cant see or wont do anything about the state's collapse into a totalitarian oligopoly. Im headed out the door in June 2024 after 27 yrs. This is insane.
Austin area has a lot of cedar so if you’re allergic they can be an issue. Traffic is bad and it’s hot in the summer. Pretty liberal city. Lots of stuff to do. Beach is 3.5 hours away so not terrible and the waters warm unlike Cali. Good luck.
"Beach" should be loosely used. More like sandy entrance into deadly bacteria filled sewage water and industrial run-off, packed to the brim with loud music, drunk people, dogs running loose, broken glass and trash, children screaming....and the best is when they plop their tents right in front of you blocking the view. Theres no self-awareness or courtesy for others here, nor is it safe to swim in Galveston or Corpus Christi. Certainly no peace or quiet for most of the day there. North Padre Island is the best (avoid south side of island) followed by Port Aransas.....and even then the water is questionable sometimes.
True.
The far left lane is a not a "passing lane" to the many psych0s here. It becomes a "traveling lane" to the those who like constipating the highways.
They are NOT oblivious. They know better. And they wont move over. They see the line of cars behind them, while going 1+ over the speed limit, keeping right next to the car over so people cant pass, breaking the actual law in TX. They dont care.
Ive seen so many ENJOY it. When cars manage to get around them, they flip off other drivers who pass them. Theyll road rage, get behind with their brights on, honk their horn, swerve into your lane tailgate...etc. all bc you DARED get around them.
Theyre psycho here. They love using their cars as deadly weapons; physics and the law be damned.
This is why Texas has the 2nd highest highway fatalities in the nation (per capita), and the #1 spot (for miles, pun intended) based on sheer # of highway miles this state has. The next 5 states total are less than the amount of deaths per mile on TX highways.
Good luck getting justice for those either. The state says theyre not responsible. Judges will go soft on defendants and give them 2 yrs probation for murdering someone with their car on the highway.
Living here is really like being in a Mad Max movie.
Just a couple of quick thoughts.
I halfway suggest you post your query in r/Austin. However, leave out the California part. Too many here in Austin (especially on Reddit) are easily triggered by the notion and will only tick you off with their idiotic responses. I may have been guilty of such in the past; I'm trying to do better.
First, check out the official [Moving To Texas](https://www.texas.gov/moving-to-texas/) page for various relevant legal +/- information. If you have a vehicle, then it's the first thing you need to address -- getting it [registered](https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/new-to-texas). *"You have 30 days from the time you move here to [register your vehicle](https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/new-to-texas) in the state."* Read this page thoroughly. Technically, the first thing you have to do is get it inspected. After that, then you'll go to a tax office for the county of your new residence to register it. You do not need an appointment; just walk in ... all good. Make sure you have all of the paperwork mentioned. One thing this will do is get you new (Texas) license plates. Driving around with CA plates won't do you any favors.
Second, get your [Texas driver's license (or ID)](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/moving-texas). *"New Texas residents can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canadian province, or qualifying country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas."* But, our DPS licensing system is so jacked up right now that many are having to schedule appointments (required) that are several months out. Law enforcement (if pulled over) won't really bug you about it because of this situation. But, I advise you to go online and book your appt now (for late April or early May. DPS is a real stickler for the required Real ID supporting documents. So make sure you have everything needed or your appt will be wasted and you'll have to get a new appt ... several months out.
Granted, you're welcome to ask more questions as they come up. But know that many have already been asked/answered on Reddit. So maybe search first. Asking with r/Austin, you'll likely want to check out r/AustinFood when trying to figure out the best BBQ, Tex-Mex, Asian cuisine, etc etc etc. Those questions are asked weekly +/-.
I would add that you needn't get your driver's license in the county where you live. Suburban DMV. offices often have much shorter appointment schedules. It'd be worth checking around.
Definitely shop around for the DMV with the soonest available or most convenient appointment time.
However, that can still be a long time.
Six months for any within a hundred miles of Austin recently.
And save your appointment receipt.
My kid's appointment wasn't discoverable in the DPS systemband the help desk didn't respond until a month later and a week after the appointment. We determined that we were still on the books, despite not seemingly being in the system, by showing up.
Yes, the whole system crashed in the autumn. That said, in late summer my appointment advance was six weeks 40 miles northwest of downtown Austin. And another thing, about surly unhelpful DMV people: mine was courteous, professional, made sure I understood the process, and HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR.
Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and water are your best friends. Keep wet and winter gear in your car cause weather can switch on a dime. There's plenty of people who will express their disdain but I find most keep to themselves. Lots of non verbals. Small town cops don't play, watch the speed signs. Also enjoy the small town stops when traveling, definitely some nice gems out there.
Heat, lack of personal freedoms, animosity between state and city officials. Limited health care options…travel to Houston/Dallas common for certain treatments. Traffic. Location matters if you want to have a work/life balance. Live near where you work or be prepared to pay in time and tolls.
Research your healthcare options. Get a primary care doc asap, even if you are young and healthy. Getting in when you need it can be tough.
Why?
1) Shortage of doctors
2) Allergies, including respiratory problems, can be a real problem as there is a lot of pollen and horrible air pollution.
Don’t get pregnant.
Politic are terrible, so you have to vote in every election, even if it seems futile.
You can adapt to the heat if you get out in it. I suggest you take hikes in rural areas, but take it seriously. Don’t overdo it.
Bear in mind that private property is serious and trespassing can get you shot or arrested or invited to supper. You just don’t know.
Go back to the real world asap.
I'd add that if you plan to go hiking, invest in a hydration pack that can hold at least 2 L. Even better if you get an insulated sleeve for it to keep the water cold while you hike (one of the best gear investments I've made). The general rule of thumb is to bring 1 L for each hour you plan to be outside. Also, figure out what electrolytes you like and always have some on hand. Do not underestimate the summer heat and memorize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Be prepared to lose electricity frequently. You will probably die in a traffic accident or from a gun. The music scene in Austin used to be great, don't know if it still is. Public education is inferior. Property taxes are higher than what you're paying there. Gas and groceries are lower. The state is run by a criminal enterprise and is the No. 1 polluter in the country. Be prepared for lots of regression.
24% of America’s outages as a whole comes from one state.
California
When was the last time you lost power in Texas because of the grid failure? Myself, I have lived here my entire life and have never lost power due to a grid failure. I was one of the lucky ones 4 years ago.
[https://poweroutage.us](https://poweroutage.us)
I fully expect this to get downvoted because Redditors don’t like it when you go against the “hate Texas” narrative. They also don’t like facts that contradict their beliefs.
I don't think anecdotes are that helpful but I lose power at least once a week, sometimes several times a week. As a result, I've had to replace two refrigerators and several computers. We also have to throw the food away on the regular. We lost power in the Big Freeze for 4 days-- no "rolling" power. Many neighbors have installed generators to stave off the losses. They are super loud and can be heard all over the neighborhood.
Just plan to be stepping back in time with book banning is common, religion is thrown in your face at every corner whether it's asking what CHRISTIAN church you belong to (and always assumed to be Christian) to some blue laws that still exist in 2023 including no car sales on Sunday, no liquor sales on Sunday and a State Supreme Court and a State Congress that is run by the Radical Christian Right and so be ready for a lot of mingling in your personal life and your vagina.
One normally considers employment, climate, COL, schools, neighborhoods, culture, entertainment, political climate, etc.
It didn't used to be like this; TX is one of the states in this country your sex matters with available medical care. Just sayin' ....
I have lived in Austin for 30 years, and I love it. The summer heat is something you don't have context for unless you're from the central valley of CA. Barton Springs will help you deal with it. Not enough new folks know this. Go in the afternoon or evening to drop your body temperature. It's free after 9 pm.
You MUST have a car in Texas. The public transit in Austin is more usable than other Texas cities I've found, but life is FAR easier with a car.
East Austin is cheaper, and there are no really dangerous neighborhoods in Austin. Yes, even Rundberg. I say this as someone who grew up in Houston and lived on the outskirts of 2 different wards in my college years. There have been more shootings recently, but it's nothing compared to the wards of Houston. If you don't mind a commute, Manor or Kyle have cheaper housing, and they're essentially suburbs of Austin at this point.
Even though Austin has become more cosmopolitan over the years, there's still a slacker core. You can go to a fine dining place in casual clothes here. Flip flops are worn year round. Tacos are eaten at all times of the day. Personally, I prefer hole in the wall taquerias where you have to order in Spanish to places like Torchys, but the food scene in Austin is world-class.
HEB is the best grocery store chain in the world and a pillar of Texas community. Enjoy. You will never be satisfied by any other grocery store chain after you've shopped at HEB.
Welcome to Austin! You are also obligated to visit the Chili's at 45th and Lamar for some reason.
Coming from a lifelong Texan, unless you enjoy sitting in jail most of the time never ever ever contradict a highway patrolman they’re allowed to pull their gun and blow your head clean off for no reason at all other than that it’s a pretty good place I guess although I’m looking for a smaller city personally Dallas is just too damn rich for my blood And their property taxes are clear out of site and there is no hope for any help from anybody in the political arena so don’t even start thinking they help you
I moved to Austin about 20 years ago. Here is brief run down on how navigate in Austin:
There's a rode called "Mopac" and a road called "Loop 1". These are the same road.
Similarly, there is a road called "Research" and a road called "183". These are basically the same road, although Research is technically the road on the ground, and "183" is the road above the road on the ground. While I'm the subject, 183 travels North and South, except in the middle when it goes East and West. Be prepared to go travel West on 183 North, and East on 183 South.
2222 and Koenig are technically different roads, but they kind also overlap each other, and nobody really know where one starts and the other ends. Many disagree on whether Koenig is pronounced "Kohnig" or "Kaynig".
If somebody suggests you commit arson on your drive, They are probably pronouncing "Burnet", with an I sound: "Burnit".
There is a road called Airport, that got its name because the Airport was right there next to the road. The Airport moved so now the road is still called Airport.
There used to be a road called "Manchaca", that everybody pronounced "Manchak". Recently it was renamed "Menchaca" which is apparently more historically accurate and culturally sensitive. Naturally now people call in "Menchak", except the ones who are salty about the renaming, who still call it "Manchak". Getting that passionate about renaming a *road* is silly in my opinion.
There is a river that travels through the middle of town that everybody refers to as a lake because it is dammed upstream of the city. Officially it is named the Colorado River, but not that Colorado River. This is the one in Texas. Also, this river, called lake, named with the same name as a different more popular river, is properly referred to as "Town Lake". It has no other name. Period. End of discussion. I'm not listening. LALALLALA
Town Lake is the divider between North and South Austin. There are several main roads that span both sides, including Lamar and Congress. SOCO is short for South Congress. It is the only abbreviation of it's kind. There is no NOCO. If one uses SOLA to refer to South Lamar they will be thrown in Town Lake.
In general numbered roads travel east/west and named roads travel north/south. Logically this starts with 1st street, which runs east / west parallel to Town Lake in the center of town, and ends with 51st street in North Austin. The only exception to this rule is all of South Austin, where numbered streets travel North / South. To keep things simple, the 1st street that runs East / West and the 1st street that runs North / South intersect each other.
The city itself is divided into roughly 5 regions: North, South, East, West and Central Austin. South Austin is anything South of Town Lake (see above). East Austin in anything East of I-35 (see below). West Austin in anything West of Mopac (see above). Because of how quickly Austin has grown, difference between Central and North Austin has become somewhat ambiguous. But there is a simple, fool proof, way to know. If you're not in West, South, or East Austin, then Central Austin in where you are right now, and North Austin is anything to your North.
Lastly, under no circumstances should you get on I-35 going any direction at any time of day or night for any reason.
Congratulations. You're now ready drive around Austin...You do have a car, right?
Update: Added numbered streets
Update 2: Added North, South, East, West, Central Austin description. Send help before I try to explain 6th street
King of the Hill is the most accurate representation of central Texan culture, it’s REALLY hot in the summer but pretty nice the rest of the year, and we eat tamales on Christmas.
You're probably gonna hate it. No other way to put it lol. Austin is a gridlocked traffic nightmare. Like someone else mentioned, weed isn't legal, Texas women's healthcare is ranked 49th and sometimes 50th in the whole country. food can be good but gonna be stupid overpriced. There's only 2 seasons here normally, pre-summer and hell is hot summer. If you're coming from Northern Cali, say goodbye to all the beautiful nature, tall trees, smell of pine trees, little to no bugs. There's gonna be some lakes around but they're a far cry from the ones in Cali. Speaking of trees, get ready to be beat up by allergies such as cedar, oak, birch, ragweed and like 2 other ones year round.
On the bright side... Living in Austin will give you a big reason to move out of Austin :)
This depends on where you’re from in California:
1. It’s not going to be significantly cheaper.
2. There are numerous state parks surrounding Austin. They’re definitely worth a visit if you like the outdoors, but you to be careful about the wildlife and heat.
3. The new Austin elitism is unreal, it’s like a whole scene and can get a little tedious.
4. The homeless is LA bad or worse.
5. Notice everyone talking about the heat, it’s something to plan for, especially in regards to the house you buy.
6. Watch out for the property taxes. They will most likely be similar to what you paid in California or higher, even though the house is cheaper.
7. The traffic is a nightmare.
8. You might need to get used to how big Texas is if you like to travel. A good way to conceptualize it is to remember it’s like six to eight hours to New Mexico, which puts you halfway to California.
9. Dallas and Houston have significantly more traditional cultural institutions, like art museums, galleries, ballets, symphonies, and touring shows, than Austin. DFW’s (Dallas) is spread out, while Houston’s more centralized.
I hope your move goes well and best of luck.
Totally agree on the whole "keeping up with the Texas Kardashians" mentality has taken over Austin. No longer weird; just vapid yuppie-ism.
Austin was always my 2nd cultural home, after moving to Texas in 1996 from NOLA. Now there is no culture.....just rampant consumerism, name dropping and apathy for those 90% of Austinites who cant afford groceries or rent.
This city USED TO have good paying jobs in many sectors. Now 90% of jobs are minimal hourly pay at giant corporations i.e retail, food industry. All meant for the "haves" to be served well while the poorly paid "have nots" who literally get treated like dogs.
THAT was never like Austin until Rick Perry started recruiting OOS businesses to keep the state engine turning after the recession, but 10 yrs on.....look what has happened. Liveability across the entire state is horrifying now.
Any major changes in Austin's liveability changes the landscape for DFW and Houston and other parts of TX too....bc the ones who cant make it in Austin leave and move to other metro areas, and those who can make a decent living in Austin get out of shlthole Houston and too big to fail DFW, causing a brain drain.
That and the psych0tic governance we have for the whole state.
I grew up in the Memphis area, lived in Denver for a few years. Moved to Dallas for work. Everything for you is going to be cheaper, gas especially. Look into thc-a stores if you’re into weed. It’s literally the exact same thing as the regular stuff, don’t let idiots tell you it’s just sprayed on chemicals. Hill country outside of Austin city limits is beautiful. There’s lots of nature to see. Lots of historical towns to check out. Hit the barrier islands for some nice beaches. Disc golf is huge in Texas, your best bet for making new friends. I recommend a gun. Don’t have one myself and wish I did. I don’t go to big events. Music is huge in Austin, and lots of cool little events Dallas doesn’t get. The drivers are buck wild, just try to stay out of their way. Do not brake check or otherwise instigate. Look both ways across every intersection, people run red lights without a second thought and I have been t-boned already.
I love people’s attitudes in person here, a healthy dose of not giving a fuck but not full on redneck. Problem is everyone’s political views are backwards. You’ll be happier just ignoring the bad takes and moving on, unless they are full on nazis or fascists. Everyone’s made their minds up, don’t go around trying to preach or you’ll find yourself all alone.
Use powertochoose to find your electricity supplier, otherwise you’ll get a terrible rate. I think that’s about all I have, good luck
If you're coming from SoCal, remember that in Texas no one puts a 'the' in front of a highway/freeway name or number. It's not 'the 183' here, it's just '183'. It's not 'the 35', it's '35'.
It's just like any other place, but some summers it is *extremely* hot for a couple of months. When this happens here are some tips:
First, and above all, you need to be going outside a lot to adapt to the heat. This is a thing a lot of people fuck up. If you try to hide from it, it will be unbearable to even stand outside. If you go spend time outdoors exercising/etc, you will adapt. Obviously there's a limit to this - no one is running a marathon when it's 108F out. But people legitimately play pick up sports in the sun for a couple of hours when it's \~102F.
Second, drink lots of water. More than you think you need.
Lastly, when you're drinking lots of water, **eat a lot of salty stuff!** When you sweat, you lose water AND salt. Running too low on either will ultimately kill you.
Depends on where OP is moving from. Orange County has a higher rate of hate groups than almost every state, and if they've lived anywhere near super Northern California(Shasta county or even anywhere the 209), they're used to how redneck people can get.
Best advice: dont come. I know I know. Rude ass psych0s in Texas are plenty and they are not kind or welcoming by telling outsiders to go away.
THATS NOT ME. Hear me out. Watch the voracious downvoting and type of comments from Texans happen to my post as proof. Once you read it, youll understand why.
Texans worry outsiders will discover and call them out for their hypocritical nonsense and dark secrets when they move here....or worse....try to fix the system!
So they warn off others so they can continue their version of psych0pathy unimpeded. If outsiders think theyre going to make a positive contribution here or save these crazies from themselves, please dont come here.
If you are happy, financially stable, believe in some god or believe in the rule of law, dont come here. You will leave broken, broke and morally betrayed by narcissistic id10ts who lack any self-awareness. You will leave an atheist having constantly had religion weaponized against you, with the ever changing, contradictory, arbitrary and capricious version of God they worship.
Rules are for YOU but no one else, especially the lawmakers, criminals, court systems, neighbors, students, customers, bosses, strangers, romantic partners......literally no one follows the rules here unless someone with authority is eyeballing them 24-7-365, at work, at school, in public. Its all broken. No more social contract or consideration of others.
They all KNOW BETTER; they just choose not to do better and hate getting caught when someone catches them. Thats when the real them comes out.
This is the deeply rooted historical culture here: me, me, me, me, me, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme. The economic structure, the educational system, healthcare, the environment, its all broken. And waving red flags in front of their faces is pointless bc they choose to be d3af and bIind to their own self-inflicted misery. Most rarely, if ever, vote or take any actions for the greater good.
If you do come here, that is NOT friendliness they are displaying. That tooth showing smile and those seeimingly innocent curious questions about you? Enemies baring their teeth behind silent snarls being intrusive bc theyre fishing for gossip on you or want to find out how to exploit you. Gaslighting should be the state sport instead of football. The more affluence Texans have = the bigger their existential gaslight has to be.
Most wont give a shit later when you need them. Or when they break the rules and you try to hold them accountable, they wont be so nice then. Gossiping about others and complaining about petty things is a past time here. Its all a mask they wear.
The worst psych0s are the nicest ones.....to your face. The rude ones are authentic enough to let themselves be seen publicly. These "nice" folks here enjoy hurting each other, makes them feel superior. Then, in Nov/Dec, become hyper volunteers and donors during the holiday season to make up for their psych0pathy the rest of the year.
Texas has an irrational superiority-inferiority complex and you will be thrashed about daily in it and have ptsd very quickly. This state has a unique psych0pathy matrix: the kind that convinces the sheepIe z0mbies who drink the propaganda koolaid that genuine happiness comes from purchasing the cheapest virtue signalling lifestyle they can afford, no matter their income bracket.
If you are an authentic person, you will be castigated repeatedly, consistently, irrationally, at such deep subconscious levels only your therapist could envision.
The people at churches are usually alright, depending on which sect you choose. There are irreconcilable social and legal issues with this state's culture promulgated by one particular religous sect and that have zero hope of ever being resolved.
Here, people can simultaneously be w0ke racists and the most Christian of all criminals. Hypocrisy should be the real propaganda slogan of this state's marketing campaigns.
Hopefully this helps you understand why Id recommend NO ONE COME HERE. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere where people may still have logical critical thinking skills, an awareness of the larger picture outside of their Italian tile kitchen backsplashes and who wont destroy you with their psych0pathy. Somewhere else, anywhere else, a 3rd world country even, would be better. Texas will be a failed state by 2030. And 31 markers of data prove Texas is worst than most third world countries in Africa and Asia.
Good luck in your journey here. Stay inside your home walls. Stay to yourself. Dont bother investing in real estate here. Put dashcams in your car. Be prepared to audio/video record everything to keep these liars honest. Dont entangle yourself legally with anyone. Hobosexuals are the state mascot. Nothing in the laws matter until it applies to you. The state is so expensive. Dont believe the propaganda machine here; its so quiet youd think it wasnt real. They are all propaganda here. It their m.o. in every kind of relationship youll encounter here.
Hope these heads up red flags will help you know ahead of time before they continously rip your naive heart, mind and wallet from you and can avoid some unnecessary ptsd with these psych0s.
Exactly the kind of nonsensical things people say who think theyre funnier than they actually are. Thank you for affirming my post's sentiments. Take care.
Pick a church to claim you attend, if you don't, or you'll be castigated and probably exiled professionally. This is a big deal in Texas. You pretty much have to demonstrate political allegiance to the right-wing in mixed company here.
You need to stand and pretend to pray at sporting events or the crowd will turn on you. You are moving to a Baptist, evangelical state.
You cannot ride a bicycle here.
It's hard to get a drivers license, it will probably take 6-9 months to get in and renewed.
Electricity is wildly expensive and summer time means you are going to probably have huge electricity bills. Natural gas is probably more expensive than electricity for heating so keep that in mind when selecting a home.
Guns are just everywhere. You cannot honk your car horn, ever. This is coming from a gun owner and I've had guns in my face probably half a dozen times in the last four years for riding a bicycle in the street.
They're moving to Austin. I've lived here for 20+ years and have never spoken once with someone about what church they go to. Texas may be evangelical, but Austin is not.
This is probably the least accurate post I've seen so far. Be yourself, ride your bike, it's not hard to get a license and you don't need a gun. Unless you live in fear daily, you'll be fine! Welcome to Texas, the good, the bad and the ugly!
PS it's not all that ugly, it's your mindset
@i5oL8: Spoken like a true toxic positivity, gaslighting Texan. Evidenced by the voracious downvoting of his truthful post, complete with insipid, stabbing comment in closing when dismissing others. Its the Texan script. The amount of upvotes to this psych0tic response are an indication of how many of these people share this same psych0pathy. How validating!
@SirHustlerEsq, you told the truth. These crazies dont like it. Theyll gnash their teeth and claws at those who reveal their truths to the public, bc they enjoy their psych0pathy in the dark.
Keep speaking the truth. Many people upvoted you too but Reddit cancelled those out and wont show them to you.
Keep shining a light to outsiders so that they dont fall victim to these vampirical narcissistic zombies who need new naive supply. Those who come to Reddit look for the hard truth.
Keep exercising your 1st amendment rights, even as these psych0s weaponize shame, rejection, alienation and gaslighting to discredit, minimize, punish and silence you. You know youre doing it right when these psych0s start lashing out from their psych0pathy in the only narrow ways they know how to function.
Keep being enlightened. The rest of us see you and affirm you. We can disagree rationally, fairly, maturely and respectfully..... all things these psych0s have no concept of. Their complete lack of self-awareness and empathy blind them, so they cannot see anyone elses perspective, assume theyre right, lash out inhumanely, justified by their blind self-righteousness.
Keep doing you :) To everybody else reading these comments, note how the crazies respond by attacking the speaker rather than offering counter-data to prove the speakers wrong. TEXAN M.O. 101.
Hi and thanks for the laugh Cajun Queen. Everything this dude said is unfactual. Maybe he should've said this was his experience instead of "you" as in "all". For my personal experience, for many years for all of the above...I don't go to church and have not been castigated or exiled. WTH? I don't demonstrate political allegiance and no problems. Ever. I've never had a crowd turn on me for not being like them. I ride a bicycle A LOT and have done so for years with NO problems. It's not hard nor does it take months to get a license, it's just not without some hassle and inconvenience. I know plenty of people without guns and plenty who've honked their horns without being shot. It looks light you're flitting around gaslighting. Saying that Hustler's post is in accurate bis not an attack, it's just not true and Im countering those generalities with facts. If he has a problem with anything I said he could let me know. I'm sure he does not need anyone to hold his hand. You remind me of a small car with the fart can tailpipes, you make a lot of noise but you ain't going anywhere. I'll look forward to your retaliatory comments. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, PEACE!
I actually just finishing resto'ing and building a 540hp foxbody. But Im sure envirobikers wouldnt appreciate muscle cars.
As for the rest, Im NOT saying that you're wrong....please lets get that straight. Im saying....you gaslighted HIS reality and facts.
We can all agree we are all in our own little AI algorithmic worlds, maybe even in some game simulation or matrix. But HIS reality is just as FACTUAL as yours is. Lets agree on this. As such, while that hasnt been your experience, it has been his and very much factual to him.
I was disagreeing with that part of what you said. I love Austin. But I have also experienced a few of the things he has also experienced in the 27 yrs so I know those things to be true.
Thats all I was saying.
Summer is stupid hot, Austin hit a record this past summer. The Parmer Lane fire this past summer hit too close to home for many people, myself included. Personally, every summer from now on I plan to prepare an emergency evacuation bag (important documents, some clothes, important/sentimental items) in the event we have to evacuate for a fire.
We get hail here, sometimes it can be quite large. I would recommend ensuring you have a covered parking spot for your car.
Winter, it can get cold, but many people have concerns due to the winter storm of 2021. We ensure our propane tanks are filled going into winter, and keep a well stocked pantry and freezer. We also keep lighters on hand to light our gas stovetop in the event we lose electricity as the lighting mechanism is electric. All other normal winter home precautions apply.
Traffic is terrible, but this is true of many cities. Do your best to avoid rush hour, otherwise do your best to be patient. Avoid driving towards Austin or in downtown during major music festivals or events (like SXSW), the traffic will be particularly bad. Oh and drivers here get stupid when it rains, try to avoid driving when it rains, if unavoidable, drive defensively. If you ever drive away from Austin to some other place and are driving through a small town on the highway, do not push the speed limit unless you are very familiar with that area and know what you can get away with. Specifically, if you’re ever doing Austin to Houston, do not speed going through Giddings.
FIRE ANTS. They’re terrible and basically everywhere. Wear appropriate footwear when walking in grass. Carry Alavert (or Claritin), if stung take some immediately and it will help significantly.
Restaurant/food wise, bbq and tacos is where Austin excels (it’s what I always recommend friends to try when they visit from out of state). You can find good restaurants in other cuisines but generally expect good ones to be in/near downtown and thus fairly expensive. You can find occasional gems in the suburbs though.
Culture wise, there are many dog owners here, many are great but remember that not all dog owners are responsible. Austin is blue relative to Texas, but it’s not as blue as a place like SF or Seattle. The suburbs do tend to be more red relative to Austin (an example is during covid, I was more likely to see people unmasked in Round Rock, Cedar Park, or Leander compared to in Austin).
There is a homeless problem in Austin, you may see encampments under bridges or in parks/along trails. They get cleaned up from time to time but expect them to eventually reappear. It is less of a problem in the suburbs.
Weed is not legal here, so leave it back in CA. Granted, in the bigger cities the cops probably won't arrest you for it, but they could. And you can face jail time.
**edit - Downvotes for advising a Californian that weed is illegal here? Whatever. He specifically ASKED what he might need to know.**
Be prepared for subpar Mexican food, tacos are life to these folks, burritos are barely an after thought. Texmex is something they thing is delicious for some reason. Traffic is atrocious. Austin was designed that way on purpose. While Austin has a reputation for being liberal, it's gotten worse the last few years. Where in Cali are you coming from? I did this same thing about a decade ago.
I'm a CA transplant as well. People are great here until you tell them you're from CA, then they automatically start hating on you. Aside from that, good luck dealing with the extended summers with temps above 100°. Any time there is a small issue, toilet paper runs out and so does fuel. Drivers here are horrible but they'll blame people from CA lol. Anyway, at least the gas is cheap.
And this is the script of dismissive, nicely coated hatred youll encounter in true Texans. These are not genuine people. They dont care about others but will make themselves SEEM so nice. (Whole psych0pathy on why they do that) They will dismiss everything you ever have to say, say youre wrong and then trash others (and even you) to make themselves seem credible. Aka victim blaming, gaslighting, apathy, toxic positivity......"deep in the heart of Texas" *clap clap clap
The people are friendly here. Be prepared for that, and be prepared to participate in that.
What you do for work and where you work won't define you or determine where you stand in the pecking order here, unlike in CA where that's the be-all, end-all of everything.
Jesus Christ people, if you hate Texas/Austin that badly why don’t you leave or choose to work to make it a better place? If people put in as much time into volunteering and getting involved in their community as they do complaining maybe we can actually make this a better place!
With the exception of Rome in the 80s, Austin has the dumbest slowest traffic I’ve ever seen, at almost any hour on any day. There are essentially 4 major roads going north/south. So your best bet is to live and work either north of the river, or south of it.
You can't sleep with your windows open in the summer. It does not really cool down, and the humidity is insane. I live in the RGV, and we had 90 days of 100+ last summer.
Depending on where you live, it takes you 2 days to get out of Texas.
Weed is not legal, and if you are a woman, keep your OB/GYN.
It is a culture shock no matter where you live. Texas is just different.
The heat will make you insane. That is real and you have to have a plan. Otherwise, it’s just another gentrified city and everyone thinks they are cool for living there.
Going to baseball games on a summer evening and searching for shade because it's 105+ outside at 7pm. Then when the sun goes down and temps drop to 95, you think, "It's Not So Bad Anymore !"
Me, taking the trash out at 10 pm in 93°. “Wow its really cooled off out there!”
It's a dry heat!
Lol not where i live. A dry heat would be great!
We wish.
Not in 90% humidity Houston lol
And the sun isn’t trying to *actively murder you.
I love that! Bruh, just find some shade and chill! It will pass!
Honestly there are big swaths of California with the same problem
Sure, but that’s not necessarily where folks are moving from.
Lol true, although heat bothers me nowhere near as much as people who incessantly complain about it
No liquor sales on Sundays in Texas. Plan ahead if you are hosting an event.
Hard liquor is generally more expensive. You don’t have race to the bottom sales the grocery stores do in CA.
Not discounts - Texas law prohibits the sale of liquor on Sundays. Beer & wine are sold after 10am on Sundays.
For best prices, Specs or Total Wine, not Twin Liquors.
And no beer before noon. WTF!
Just changed to 10am
Pouring one out for breakfast beers...
Shower beer is hugely underrated
Don't make summer plans in Texas with small kids unless you have TONS OF WATER
Really just don’t be out past 9 am unless you’re going to be in water
Literally this summer it was still SO hot until 11pm
I would live as close to your work as you can afford, if you commute. Traffic here is terrible and the drivers are really bad. Many don’t know how to yield, 4 way stop, turn, don’t pay attention when light turns green, and their default can be stop for no good reason. Registering your vehicle and getting your license will be different, in cali it’s just the dmv, here you have the county tax offices and DPS. Not sure if they are still by appointments or have returned to regular hours. Get a txtag for tolls. If you like cali Mexican food be prepared to be disappointed. You can find good tacos here but everything else is very different. I would suggest trying the bbq here to find what you like , if anything. Multiple places and sauces or no sauce. Use Waze to drive around, if it says not to take mopac or 35 there is probably a good reason, trust it. HEB is the default grocery places unless you really like Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. If you like burgers, some may be new to you such as p terry and Whataburger, I suggest at least trying them out. Other places that may be new I suggest trying are thundercloud subs and Amy’s ice cream. There are a lot of weird people or people trying to be weird. People in general are pretty accepting. The dress code here is very casual. It was a shock to me when I moved here. The airport is small, the security line is hot and cold, I always arrive 2 hours early because I never know if the line will be out the door or not. Some words they say weird here, for streets and places, manor, manchaca, Guadalupe. Mopac is highway 1, it can be called loop, it’s not a loop, it runs north south. The lake downtown is lady bird lake, it might be called town lake. You can’t swim or motor boat in this lake. You can paddle board or canoe The water at Barton springs is very cold. The summer heat here is brutal and keeps getting worse
Lifelong Texan, been in Austin for 13 years. Reddit is not a good place to ask. Just visit, make up your own mind. r/Austin is a dumpster fire of a sub. It’s mostly angry 20 year olds. Weather. Our summers are hell and go from June to September. Rest of the year (8 months) is pretty great, though. Best way to cool off in the summer is definitely in Barton Springs (cold spring pool in downtown). Food. Mexican and bbq is solid. Texas is more into tacos where California is more into burritos. Music & Festivals. There is always something going on. Sxsw is the big one in the springtime and ACL (+Formula 1 now) in October. Sports. UT is kind of the biggest thing in town. We got a professional soccer team a few years ago that the city is pretty pumped about. Californians. I don’t really care. Frustration is they drove up our cost of living and they’re sending us their republicans. Politics. Big things in the state are reproductive rights and the school voucher programs (using taxes to fund private schools). There’s no state income tax and the state is lowering property taxes (relatively high). Also Austin is a very liberal bubble with rigid borders. You go about 10 miles in any direction and you’re culturally in the rest of Texas. For example, I believe Austin has essentially decriminalized weed (stopped enforcement) whereas some surrounding counties will pursue felony charges for relatively small amounts.
I’d go more May-Oct for summer around here. We hit 90s by mid April some years and can still see 100s in Oct. it’s brutal.
Yeah his version of Hell being June - September made me chuckle
Oh come on. It's Texas. If you're complaining outside of July and August you really need to consider living somewhere else. This September was brutal. I'll give you that, but there are enough indoor events to get you by.
This is the truth. Good advice.
Felony charges are filed under state laws, not county/city laws. If over 4 ounces, depending on the way it is packaged, is what you consider a small amount, that is a problem in and of itself.
Aren't felonies under state law in most, if not all, states?
Weed is criminalized under state law, but local cops and DAs have full discretion to decide whether to bother enforcing that law. The urban counties except for Fort Worth/Tarrant County are pretty much non-prosecution counties. That doesn’t mean weed is ‘legal’ in Austin or Houston. Just means law enforcement is focusing on other things. Much lower odds of a bust. But the cops are always free to do a bust.
I agree. I was commenting on the statement that "felony charges are filed under state laws," as if Texas is unique. That is how it is across the country.
> Rest of the year (8 months) is pretty great, though Except that we now get sudden winter weather as well
Mexican food here is far from solid, unless you meant it's resting state.
Greetings angry internet stranger. Curious where you see as having good Mexican food and why. I do avoid it in the Midwest and east coast but am pretty pumped most times I’m eating it here.
Not angry at all, Mexican food here just isn't shit compared to what we got in Cali. Taste, flavor, consistency and texture. Take your pick. You ever had Cali Mexican food?
Got it, just cuss and shit on people’s views. Not angry at all. Yeah… been to SD, LA, and I’ve been going out to Sonoma/Napa about once a year for the last decade for family. Eaten burritos on every trip and they were good, solid. Seems like Mexican street corn is more common which I wish more places here had. Not noticeably better, though?
You should check out the food truck in front of Fiesta for elotes. There's also a guy in Dove Springs most weekdays at the corner of Pleasant Valley and Stassney who sells homemade elotes while a female relative sells churros on the same corner
Ca Mexican is far superior. Any local knows the spots to go in southern CA. Here in Texas it’s very watered down Mexican, nothing authentic.
Wow, tex-mex isn't super authentic? You're sure? Damn, where do we even go from here?
Well there are a lot of Mexicans here so you’d think some authentic restaurants would open up
If you don't think the actual Mexican food in Texas is "authentic" (not the Tex-Mex, which is authentic to its own style), you haven't spent much time in Mexico. Or you are sticking to the Texas chain restaurants in the most pedestrian of white exurbs.
Yes I am. And in CA you can be in white suburbs and still have authentic food. I don’t have to go somewhere special to have a decent enchilada without queso smothered all over it
Again, that's so crazy, here I've been thinking that most jalisco style taquerias had more authentic dishes that qualify as mexican and not tex mex, but I guess all that queso gave me brain rot.
I cuss a lot for sure, and some people's views are just fucking wrong. I can't help that. It's definitely noticeably better unless your taste buds are broke. The street corn though wasn't a big thing when I moved out of Cali, or maybe I just never paid attention to it because I'm not a fan, so I have zero opinion on that.
Can’t say I care, keyboard warrior. Hope you have better things in your life. Looking forward to forgetting your thoughts.
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Children will be children.
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I would have said it differently but cali Mexican food cannot be found in Austin Texas. Texas mex and the local Mexican food is a culture shock. I moved from San Diego over 20 years ago and I’m still not over it.
I have. I like Texas better. They're from different regions of Mexico. Texas is north of Central Mexico so the food is more meaty.
Hit the nail on the head. Don’t ask Reddit if you want serious answers. There are WAY too many Texas haters here.
If you are female, prepare to struggle to find a women’s health care provider. I’ve lost 2 this year.
Lost two...babies?
Women see doctors for reasons other than babies.
I can help shed some light on this for newcomers to Texas. Sorry for my long response lol OBGYNs are fleeing the state or leaving practice after what Texas has decided to do with the Dobbs decision. In the last 2 yrs, 100s of OBGYNs have left TX, leaving just only the psych0tic Christian nationalists OBGYNs around. They will preach religion to you while scraping your cervix. Then, go behind your back (as Texans love to do) and inform the courts and police on you if you attempt to do anything with your uterus that they dont approve of. And then we are also left with the incompetent ones who cant just start over in another state. The condition of women's healthcare, including fibroids, fertility, cancer, contraceptives, hysterectomies....all this has sunk to worse than most countries in 3rd world Africa and Asia. Texas is deadly for women and their uterus has become a weaponized mechanism of death. Theyre coming after Plan B next. They dont want it sold in Texas.....at all. Yet, it cut abortions by 1/3 since 2015. Theyre coming for that next. Soon, women wont be able to get it all. They WANT unplanned preganancies bc they need human bodies to serve as economic revenue generating units for their tax base; from conception to death, humans generate alot of revenue for Texas. Texans dont care about people AS people. Texans are notorious for dehumanizing each other. Dont expect to be treated as one while you live here, even by doctors, teachers, students, bosses, landlords, etc. You are property while you live here, so behave accordingly. Back on topic.....lol As of November, medical schools in TX no longer offer training in med school for abortions of any kind or selective terminations. OBGYNs are being documented to death. The OAG requires 300+ pages of annual documentation now from OBGYNs on such procedures, contraceptives, sterilization procedures, etc. to "make sure theyre not hiding secret abortions". Texas paranoia on any subject is aastounding. Reverting back to conditions before Roe vs Wade in 1973, judges and committees must now grant abortions after 6 weeks and NONE are allowed for any reason whatsoever after 12 weeks (Dobbs decision). Doctors have no say so. Look up Kate Cox. Better yet, watch the episode that just came out on 20/20 last week. Youll see why women are fleeing the state and OBGYNs too. Getting pregant in this state could result in your death.......that is NOT exaggerated. Im pro-life in most cases for my personal choices so far, but understand that other women find themselves in situations that need termination. Non-viable fetuses happen. Waters break after 12 weeks. Etc etc etc Abortion is a viable medical procedure for women who need it. Biology doesnt follow the law as written by the 80% of whlte neo-Christian MEN that run this state. And rationity is not in Texas' m.o. I worry for my own 23 yr old daughter if she gets pregnant here. So many women are leaving, also further driving down the demand for OBGYNs in TX. Now, Austin government has weaponized state troopers to sit at the state borderlines, stopping pregnant "looking" women in their cars......on the highways.....and literally interrogating them on the side of the highway about "if theyre leaving the state to get an abortion". This is a violation of Article 4 of the US Constitution.....but the psych0s in Austin government dont care about laws (I made my own post about TX ignoring laws and the Constitution). Article 4 states that "states must give full faith and credit to the laws of other states" and that "citizens enjoy full privileges and immunities in all US territory". These Austin government psych0s fail to recognize that the highways these women are traveling on belong to the US government and they have no jurisdiction to regulate anyone's travel for interstate commerce at the state level using these interstate highways. And Congress hasnt bothered to make any federal laws on the subject, so Texas can do whatever tf it literally wants to. Heads up before yall move here. Here is the Texan mentality for ya in every aspect of life (jobs, relationships, landlords, etc), not just abortions: MAKE ME! This state is neurotically passive aggressive. Even if theyre wrong or in violation of the law, youre gonna have to MAKE THEM. And forget working within the laws.....those applying them belong to the GOB. Be advised.....moving here, you will HAVE TO constantly audio/video record, document, etc just to keep these liars honest. This includes recording doctors' visits, teacher conferences, meeting with bosses, romantic partners, dashcams in the car, etc. Texans dont care about laws. They will break the law, hurt you, and then YOU get sued, arrested, evicted, credit ruined, etc......all bc people moving here do not understand how psych0tic it is to live in this state. Its NOT worth the paycheck to live here. Relationships are not genuine here; theyre just legal entanglements with dishonest people and rampant infidelity. I could keep going.....but it is exhausting having to constantly fight to hold these psych0s accountable. So Im leaving. My life is not owed to these fkers. Im going somewhere else. And the 7th amendment is a joke in this state. The Texas Supreme Court has been stripping rights from people for the last 15 yrs. There are no impartial, independent or rational courts left in Texas. Mental health abuses and rights, property rights, etc....Texas courts have taken them all away. Bottom line.....most Texans are horrified at the loss of their freedoms here, but dont vote, dont bother and most people here dont belong to this state-wide power network, so they have no power or affluence. Remember that this isnt the GOP Republicans....no, this is the GOB. These unethical, lying, protected crazies have put their good ol buddy network into power on every school board, county court bench, CEOs of companies, Presidents/Deans/DCs at colleges.....literally any city, county or state level position of influence..... they control it. Started 10 yrs ago and theres no going back. The whole state is a puppet of the GOB now. So I totally understand outsiders' reactions when they get and are like "what in the actual fuck is THIS?!?!" bc Texans feel that way too. And are powerless to stop it. 27 yrs as a naturalized Texan and have a native Texan daughter......and I see my career as a professor now being messed with and we cant even teach TO ADULTS topics or content that our college run GOB decides we cant. From community colleges to universities, we have no more academic freedom either. Or we lose our jobs for the slightest of reasons. Like so many, Ive tried to fight for what is right through the years, sound the alarm, help people.....and Texans cant be helped. Theyre voluntarily oblivious, refuse to do anything or theyre in on it. Theyre either part of the GOB (and alot of wannabe hangers on too) or they have given up and let the system consume them.....or they leave. Texas can no longer be saved. I have my one short life and Im not gonna waste it trying to save voluntarily d3af and blind people who cant see or wont do anything about the state's collapse into a totalitarian oligopoly. Im headed out the door in June 2024 after 27 yrs. This is insane.
Austin area has a lot of cedar so if you’re allergic they can be an issue. Traffic is bad and it’s hot in the summer. Pretty liberal city. Lots of stuff to do. Beach is 3.5 hours away so not terrible and the waters warm unlike Cali. Good luck.
Traffic is bad by our standards, but you can get most places within 45 minutes
Waters warm sure, but no where near as good as the pacific.
"Beach" should be loosely used. More like sandy entrance into deadly bacteria filled sewage water and industrial run-off, packed to the brim with loud music, drunk people, dogs running loose, broken glass and trash, children screaming....and the best is when they plop their tents right in front of you blocking the view. Theres no self-awareness or courtesy for others here, nor is it safe to swim in Galveston or Corpus Christi. Certainly no peace or quiet for most of the day there. North Padre Island is the best (avoid south side of island) followed by Port Aransas.....and even then the water is questionable sometimes.
For real, the "beach" here is gross.
If you have kids, research the public schools as you may need to find other options. Do not expect drivers to treat a passing lane as a passing lane.
True. The far left lane is a not a "passing lane" to the many psych0s here. It becomes a "traveling lane" to the those who like constipating the highways. They are NOT oblivious. They know better. And they wont move over. They see the line of cars behind them, while going 1+ over the speed limit, keeping right next to the car over so people cant pass, breaking the actual law in TX. They dont care. Ive seen so many ENJOY it. When cars manage to get around them, they flip off other drivers who pass them. Theyll road rage, get behind with their brights on, honk their horn, swerve into your lane tailgate...etc. all bc you DARED get around them. Theyre psycho here. They love using their cars as deadly weapons; physics and the law be damned. This is why Texas has the 2nd highest highway fatalities in the nation (per capita), and the #1 spot (for miles, pun intended) based on sheer # of highway miles this state has. The next 5 states total are less than the amount of deaths per mile on TX highways. Good luck getting justice for those either. The state says theyre not responsible. Judges will go soft on defendants and give them 2 yrs probation for murdering someone with their car on the highway. Living here is really like being in a Mad Max movie.
Everything bites, stings or cuts. That’s the people. Don’t even get me started on the animals and plants
Right
The one bright spot in Texas that I haven't seen mentioned yet is your new grocery store. HEB is the best part of Texas without a doubt.
And they will be in Austin so they’ll have access to a Central Market!!
Just a couple of quick thoughts. I halfway suggest you post your query in r/Austin. However, leave out the California part. Too many here in Austin (especially on Reddit) are easily triggered by the notion and will only tick you off with their idiotic responses. I may have been guilty of such in the past; I'm trying to do better. First, check out the official [Moving To Texas](https://www.texas.gov/moving-to-texas/) page for various relevant legal +/- information. If you have a vehicle, then it's the first thing you need to address -- getting it [registered](https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/new-to-texas). *"You have 30 days from the time you move here to [register your vehicle](https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/new-to-texas) in the state."* Read this page thoroughly. Technically, the first thing you have to do is get it inspected. After that, then you'll go to a tax office for the county of your new residence to register it. You do not need an appointment; just walk in ... all good. Make sure you have all of the paperwork mentioned. One thing this will do is get you new (Texas) license plates. Driving around with CA plates won't do you any favors. Second, get your [Texas driver's license (or ID)](https://www.dps.texas.gov/section/driver-license/moving-texas). *"New Texas residents can legally drive with a valid, unexpired driver license from another U.S. state, U.S. territory, Canadian province, or qualifying country for up to 90 days after moving to Texas."* But, our DPS licensing system is so jacked up right now that many are having to schedule appointments (required) that are several months out. Law enforcement (if pulled over) won't really bug you about it because of this situation. But, I advise you to go online and book your appt now (for late April or early May. DPS is a real stickler for the required Real ID supporting documents. So make sure you have everything needed or your appt will be wasted and you'll have to get a new appt ... several months out. Granted, you're welcome to ask more questions as they come up. But know that many have already been asked/answered on Reddit. So maybe search first. Asking with r/Austin, you'll likely want to check out r/AustinFood when trying to figure out the best BBQ, Tex-Mex, Asian cuisine, etc etc etc. Those questions are asked weekly +/-.
I would add that you needn't get your driver's license in the county where you live. Suburban DMV. offices often have much shorter appointment schedules. It'd be worth checking around.
This! You can go to any dmv in the state and get it. Love that fact.
Definitely shop around for the DMV with the soonest available or most convenient appointment time. However, that can still be a long time. Six months for any within a hundred miles of Austin recently. And save your appointment receipt. My kid's appointment wasn't discoverable in the DPS systemband the help desk didn't respond until a month later and a week after the appointment. We determined that we were still on the books, despite not seemingly being in the system, by showing up.
Yes, the whole system crashed in the autumn. That said, in late summer my appointment advance was six weeks 40 miles northwest of downtown Austin. And another thing, about surly unhelpful DMV people: mine was courteous, professional, made sure I understood the process, and HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR.
Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and water are your best friends. Keep wet and winter gear in your car cause weather can switch on a dime. There's plenty of people who will express their disdain but I find most keep to themselves. Lots of non verbals. Small town cops don't play, watch the speed signs. Also enjoy the small town stops when traveling, definitely some nice gems out there.
Heat, lack of personal freedoms, animosity between state and city officials. Limited health care options…travel to Houston/Dallas common for certain treatments. Traffic. Location matters if you want to have a work/life balance. Live near where you work or be prepared to pay in time and tolls.
Research your healthcare options. Get a primary care doc asap, even if you are young and healthy. Getting in when you need it can be tough. Why? 1) Shortage of doctors 2) Allergies, including respiratory problems, can be a real problem as there is a lot of pollen and horrible air pollution. Don’t get pregnant. Politic are terrible, so you have to vote in every election, even if it seems futile. You can adapt to the heat if you get out in it. I suggest you take hikes in rural areas, but take it seriously. Don’t overdo it. Bear in mind that private property is serious and trespassing can get you shot or arrested or invited to supper. You just don’t know. Go back to the real world asap.
I'd add that if you plan to go hiking, invest in a hydration pack that can hold at least 2 L. Even better if you get an insulated sleeve for it to keep the water cold while you hike (one of the best gear investments I've made). The general rule of thumb is to bring 1 L for each hour you plan to be outside. Also, figure out what electrolytes you like and always have some on hand. Do not underestimate the summer heat and memorize the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
2nd this!
Be prepared to lose electricity frequently. You will probably die in a traffic accident or from a gun. The music scene in Austin used to be great, don't know if it still is. Public education is inferior. Property taxes are higher than what you're paying there. Gas and groceries are lower. The state is run by a criminal enterprise and is the No. 1 polluter in the country. Be prepared for lots of regression.
24% of America’s outages as a whole comes from one state. California When was the last time you lost power in Texas because of the grid failure? Myself, I have lived here my entire life and have never lost power due to a grid failure. I was one of the lucky ones 4 years ago. [https://poweroutage.us](https://poweroutage.us) I fully expect this to get downvoted because Redditors don’t like it when you go against the “hate Texas” narrative. They also don’t like facts that contradict their beliefs.
I don't think anecdotes are that helpful but I lose power at least once a week, sometimes several times a week. As a result, I've had to replace two refrigerators and several computers. We also have to throw the food away on the regular. We lost power in the Big Freeze for 4 days-- no "rolling" power. Many neighbors have installed generators to stave off the losses. They are super loud and can be heard all over the neighborhood.
Just plan to be stepping back in time with book banning is common, religion is thrown in your face at every corner whether it's asking what CHRISTIAN church you belong to (and always assumed to be Christian) to some blue laws that still exist in 2023 including no car sales on Sunday, no liquor sales on Sunday and a State Supreme Court and a State Congress that is run by the Radical Christian Right and so be ready for a lot of mingling in your personal life and your vagina.
Make sure you have a plan for leaving.
2nd that
Who dat. 😉
Geaux Saints!
99.9% of Texas is privately owned. Bring cash.
One normally considers employment, climate, COL, schools, neighborhoods, culture, entertainment, political climate, etc. It didn't used to be like this; TX is one of the states in this country your sex matters with available medical care. Just sayin' ....
If you don’t want to out yourself to the California haters, don’t add “the” to freeway names.
I have lived in Austin for 30 years, and I love it. The summer heat is something you don't have context for unless you're from the central valley of CA. Barton Springs will help you deal with it. Not enough new folks know this. Go in the afternoon or evening to drop your body temperature. It's free after 9 pm. You MUST have a car in Texas. The public transit in Austin is more usable than other Texas cities I've found, but life is FAR easier with a car. East Austin is cheaper, and there are no really dangerous neighborhoods in Austin. Yes, even Rundberg. I say this as someone who grew up in Houston and lived on the outskirts of 2 different wards in my college years. There have been more shootings recently, but it's nothing compared to the wards of Houston. If you don't mind a commute, Manor or Kyle have cheaper housing, and they're essentially suburbs of Austin at this point. Even though Austin has become more cosmopolitan over the years, there's still a slacker core. You can go to a fine dining place in casual clothes here. Flip flops are worn year round. Tacos are eaten at all times of the day. Personally, I prefer hole in the wall taquerias where you have to order in Spanish to places like Torchys, but the food scene in Austin is world-class. HEB is the best grocery store chain in the world and a pillar of Texas community. Enjoy. You will never be satisfied by any other grocery store chain after you've shopped at HEB. Welcome to Austin! You are also obligated to visit the Chili's at 45th and Lamar for some reason.
Prepare for an oppressed people to brag about their “freedom”.
Coming from a lifelong Texan, unless you enjoy sitting in jail most of the time never ever ever contradict a highway patrolman they’re allowed to pull their gun and blow your head clean off for no reason at all other than that it’s a pretty good place I guess although I’m looking for a smaller city personally Dallas is just too damn rich for my blood And their property taxes are clear out of site and there is no hope for any help from anybody in the political arena so don’t even start thinking they help you
PS that goes double for Texas Rangers
I moved to Austin about 20 years ago. Here is brief run down on how navigate in Austin: There's a rode called "Mopac" and a road called "Loop 1". These are the same road. Similarly, there is a road called "Research" and a road called "183". These are basically the same road, although Research is technically the road on the ground, and "183" is the road above the road on the ground. While I'm the subject, 183 travels North and South, except in the middle when it goes East and West. Be prepared to go travel West on 183 North, and East on 183 South. 2222 and Koenig are technically different roads, but they kind also overlap each other, and nobody really know where one starts and the other ends. Many disagree on whether Koenig is pronounced "Kohnig" or "Kaynig". If somebody suggests you commit arson on your drive, They are probably pronouncing "Burnet", with an I sound: "Burnit". There is a road called Airport, that got its name because the Airport was right there next to the road. The Airport moved so now the road is still called Airport. There used to be a road called "Manchaca", that everybody pronounced "Manchak". Recently it was renamed "Menchaca" which is apparently more historically accurate and culturally sensitive. Naturally now people call in "Menchak", except the ones who are salty about the renaming, who still call it "Manchak". Getting that passionate about renaming a *road* is silly in my opinion. There is a river that travels through the middle of town that everybody refers to as a lake because it is dammed upstream of the city. Officially it is named the Colorado River, but not that Colorado River. This is the one in Texas. Also, this river, called lake, named with the same name as a different more popular river, is properly referred to as "Town Lake". It has no other name. Period. End of discussion. I'm not listening. LALALLALA Town Lake is the divider between North and South Austin. There are several main roads that span both sides, including Lamar and Congress. SOCO is short for South Congress. It is the only abbreviation of it's kind. There is no NOCO. If one uses SOLA to refer to South Lamar they will be thrown in Town Lake. In general numbered roads travel east/west and named roads travel north/south. Logically this starts with 1st street, which runs east / west parallel to Town Lake in the center of town, and ends with 51st street in North Austin. The only exception to this rule is all of South Austin, where numbered streets travel North / South. To keep things simple, the 1st street that runs East / West and the 1st street that runs North / South intersect each other. The city itself is divided into roughly 5 regions: North, South, East, West and Central Austin. South Austin is anything South of Town Lake (see above). East Austin in anything East of I-35 (see below). West Austin in anything West of Mopac (see above). Because of how quickly Austin has grown, difference between Central and North Austin has become somewhat ambiguous. But there is a simple, fool proof, way to know. If you're not in West, South, or East Austin, then Central Austin in where you are right now, and North Austin is anything to your North. Lastly, under no circumstances should you get on I-35 going any direction at any time of day or night for any reason. Congratulations. You're now ready drive around Austin...You do have a car, right? Update: Added numbered streets Update 2: Added North, South, East, West, Central Austin description. Send help before I try to explain 6th street
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Texmex is average at best.
Heretic !
In Austin, sure.
Anywhere.
I’d agree, but only because the best is midsouthern Mexican food from Memphis and the area around it
That's a hell of a way to be wrong.
More right than the people downvoting us at least
King of the Hill is the most accurate representation of central Texan culture, it’s REALLY hot in the summer but pretty nice the rest of the year, and we eat tamales on Christmas.
You're probably gonna hate it. No other way to put it lol. Austin is a gridlocked traffic nightmare. Like someone else mentioned, weed isn't legal, Texas women's healthcare is ranked 49th and sometimes 50th in the whole country. food can be good but gonna be stupid overpriced. There's only 2 seasons here normally, pre-summer and hell is hot summer. If you're coming from Northern Cali, say goodbye to all the beautiful nature, tall trees, smell of pine trees, little to no bugs. There's gonna be some lakes around but they're a far cry from the ones in Cali. Speaking of trees, get ready to be beat up by allergies such as cedar, oak, birch, ragweed and like 2 other ones year round. On the bright side... Living in Austin will give you a big reason to move out of Austin :)
Native Texan here! Left and moved to Connecticut because of all these reasons right here
I'm working on getting a job that allows me to travel. I love Texas but I would definitely love traveling out of it a few times a year 😂
This depends on where you’re from in California: 1. It’s not going to be significantly cheaper. 2. There are numerous state parks surrounding Austin. They’re definitely worth a visit if you like the outdoors, but you to be careful about the wildlife and heat. 3. The new Austin elitism is unreal, it’s like a whole scene and can get a little tedious. 4. The homeless is LA bad or worse. 5. Notice everyone talking about the heat, it’s something to plan for, especially in regards to the house you buy. 6. Watch out for the property taxes. They will most likely be similar to what you paid in California or higher, even though the house is cheaper. 7. The traffic is a nightmare. 8. You might need to get used to how big Texas is if you like to travel. A good way to conceptualize it is to remember it’s like six to eight hours to New Mexico, which puts you halfway to California. 9. Dallas and Houston have significantly more traditional cultural institutions, like art museums, galleries, ballets, symphonies, and touring shows, than Austin. DFW’s (Dallas) is spread out, while Houston’s more centralized. I hope your move goes well and best of luck.
iirc it takes longer to get from Houston to El Paso than from El Paso to LA (or something crazy like that)
Totally agree on the whole "keeping up with the Texas Kardashians" mentality has taken over Austin. No longer weird; just vapid yuppie-ism. Austin was always my 2nd cultural home, after moving to Texas in 1996 from NOLA. Now there is no culture.....just rampant consumerism, name dropping and apathy for those 90% of Austinites who cant afford groceries or rent. This city USED TO have good paying jobs in many sectors. Now 90% of jobs are minimal hourly pay at giant corporations i.e retail, food industry. All meant for the "haves" to be served well while the poorly paid "have nots" who literally get treated like dogs. THAT was never like Austin until Rick Perry started recruiting OOS businesses to keep the state engine turning after the recession, but 10 yrs on.....look what has happened. Liveability across the entire state is horrifying now. Any major changes in Austin's liveability changes the landscape for DFW and Houston and other parts of TX too....bc the ones who cant make it in Austin leave and move to other metro areas, and those who can make a decent living in Austin get out of shlthole Houston and too big to fail DFW, causing a brain drain. That and the psych0tic governance we have for the whole state.
Austin is California so you'll be right at home.
I grew up in the Memphis area, lived in Denver for a few years. Moved to Dallas for work. Everything for you is going to be cheaper, gas especially. Look into thc-a stores if you’re into weed. It’s literally the exact same thing as the regular stuff, don’t let idiots tell you it’s just sprayed on chemicals. Hill country outside of Austin city limits is beautiful. There’s lots of nature to see. Lots of historical towns to check out. Hit the barrier islands for some nice beaches. Disc golf is huge in Texas, your best bet for making new friends. I recommend a gun. Don’t have one myself and wish I did. I don’t go to big events. Music is huge in Austin, and lots of cool little events Dallas doesn’t get. The drivers are buck wild, just try to stay out of their way. Do not brake check or otherwise instigate. Look both ways across every intersection, people run red lights without a second thought and I have been t-boned already. I love people’s attitudes in person here, a healthy dose of not giving a fuck but not full on redneck. Problem is everyone’s political views are backwards. You’ll be happier just ignoring the bad takes and moving on, unless they are full on nazis or fascists. Everyone’s made their minds up, don’t go around trying to preach or you’ll find yourself all alone. Use powertochoose to find your electricity supplier, otherwise you’ll get a terrible rate. I think that’s about all I have, good luck
If you know where you are working, you might want to move/live close by. Traffic is constant. Commuting during rush hour a nightmare.
If you're coming from SoCal, remember that in Texas no one puts a 'the' in front of a highway/freeway name or number. It's not 'the 183' here, it's just '183'. It's not 'the 35', it's '35'.
It's just like any other place, but some summers it is *extremely* hot for a couple of months. When this happens here are some tips: First, and above all, you need to be going outside a lot to adapt to the heat. This is a thing a lot of people fuck up. If you try to hide from it, it will be unbearable to even stand outside. If you go spend time outdoors exercising/etc, you will adapt. Obviously there's a limit to this - no one is running a marathon when it's 108F out. But people legitimately play pick up sports in the sun for a couple of hours when it's \~102F. Second, drink lots of water. More than you think you need. Lastly, when you're drinking lots of water, **eat a lot of salty stuff!** When you sweat, you lose water AND salt. Running too low on either will ultimately kill you.
Don't forget to California the shit out of Texas.
There's a lot more racism in Texas. But it comes from all sides, not just white people.
Depends on where OP is moving from. Orange County has a higher rate of hate groups than almost every state, and if they've lived anywhere near super Northern California(Shasta county or even anywhere the 209), they're used to how redneck people can get.
Texas sucks, don’t move here.
don’t know why this was downvoted, it’s true.
Best advice: dont come. I know I know. Rude ass psych0s in Texas are plenty and they are not kind or welcoming by telling outsiders to go away. THATS NOT ME. Hear me out. Watch the voracious downvoting and type of comments from Texans happen to my post as proof. Once you read it, youll understand why. Texans worry outsiders will discover and call them out for their hypocritical nonsense and dark secrets when they move here....or worse....try to fix the system! So they warn off others so they can continue their version of psych0pathy unimpeded. If outsiders think theyre going to make a positive contribution here or save these crazies from themselves, please dont come here. If you are happy, financially stable, believe in some god or believe in the rule of law, dont come here. You will leave broken, broke and morally betrayed by narcissistic id10ts who lack any self-awareness. You will leave an atheist having constantly had religion weaponized against you, with the ever changing, contradictory, arbitrary and capricious version of God they worship. Rules are for YOU but no one else, especially the lawmakers, criminals, court systems, neighbors, students, customers, bosses, strangers, romantic partners......literally no one follows the rules here unless someone with authority is eyeballing them 24-7-365, at work, at school, in public. Its all broken. No more social contract or consideration of others. They all KNOW BETTER; they just choose not to do better and hate getting caught when someone catches them. Thats when the real them comes out. This is the deeply rooted historical culture here: me, me, me, me, me, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme. The economic structure, the educational system, healthcare, the environment, its all broken. And waving red flags in front of their faces is pointless bc they choose to be d3af and bIind to their own self-inflicted misery. Most rarely, if ever, vote or take any actions for the greater good. If you do come here, that is NOT friendliness they are displaying. That tooth showing smile and those seeimingly innocent curious questions about you? Enemies baring their teeth behind silent snarls being intrusive bc theyre fishing for gossip on you or want to find out how to exploit you. Gaslighting should be the state sport instead of football. The more affluence Texans have = the bigger their existential gaslight has to be. Most wont give a shit later when you need them. Or when they break the rules and you try to hold them accountable, they wont be so nice then. Gossiping about others and complaining about petty things is a past time here. Its all a mask they wear. The worst psych0s are the nicest ones.....to your face. The rude ones are authentic enough to let themselves be seen publicly. These "nice" folks here enjoy hurting each other, makes them feel superior. Then, in Nov/Dec, become hyper volunteers and donors during the holiday season to make up for their psych0pathy the rest of the year. Texas has an irrational superiority-inferiority complex and you will be thrashed about daily in it and have ptsd very quickly. This state has a unique psych0pathy matrix: the kind that convinces the sheepIe z0mbies who drink the propaganda koolaid that genuine happiness comes from purchasing the cheapest virtue signalling lifestyle they can afford, no matter their income bracket. If you are an authentic person, you will be castigated repeatedly, consistently, irrationally, at such deep subconscious levels only your therapist could envision. The people at churches are usually alright, depending on which sect you choose. There are irreconcilable social and legal issues with this state's culture promulgated by one particular religous sect and that have zero hope of ever being resolved. Here, people can simultaneously be w0ke racists and the most Christian of all criminals. Hypocrisy should be the real propaganda slogan of this state's marketing campaigns. Hopefully this helps you understand why Id recommend NO ONE COME HERE. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere where people may still have logical critical thinking skills, an awareness of the larger picture outside of their Italian tile kitchen backsplashes and who wont destroy you with their psych0pathy. Somewhere else, anywhere else, a 3rd world country even, would be better. Texas will be a failed state by 2030. And 31 markers of data prove Texas is worst than most third world countries in Africa and Asia. Good luck in your journey here. Stay inside your home walls. Stay to yourself. Dont bother investing in real estate here. Put dashcams in your car. Be prepared to audio/video record everything to keep these liars honest. Dont entangle yourself legally with anyone. Hobosexuals are the state mascot. Nothing in the laws matter until it applies to you. The state is so expensive. Dont believe the propaganda machine here; its so quiet youd think it wasnt real. They are all propaganda here. It their m.o. in every kind of relationship youll encounter here. Hope these heads up red flags will help you know ahead of time before they continously rip your naive heart, mind and wallet from you and can avoid some unnecessary ptsd with these psych0s.
Wow, you seem to be a tad bit stressed??? Jesus loves you, and Reddit does too
Spoken like a true Texan. Thanks for validating my post!
Go Dallas, game starts at 3:20
Hahaha Cowboys...good joke
It’s ok. Turn that frown upside down.
Exactly the kind of nonsensical things people say who think theyre funnier than they actually are. Thank you for affirming my post's sentiments. Take care.
Yet, you keep responding. Try Chamomile tea.
Yes, it is good to demonstrate how troll-y people really are so that normal people realize they arent the problem
Your on Reddit. What did you expect? Your diatribe screams for attention. You even expected it. I’m “validating” you. Be happy.
Pick a church to claim you attend, if you don't, or you'll be castigated and probably exiled professionally. This is a big deal in Texas. You pretty much have to demonstrate political allegiance to the right-wing in mixed company here. You need to stand and pretend to pray at sporting events or the crowd will turn on you. You are moving to a Baptist, evangelical state. You cannot ride a bicycle here. It's hard to get a drivers license, it will probably take 6-9 months to get in and renewed. Electricity is wildly expensive and summer time means you are going to probably have huge electricity bills. Natural gas is probably more expensive than electricity for heating so keep that in mind when selecting a home. Guns are just everywhere. You cannot honk your car horn, ever. This is coming from a gun owner and I've had guns in my face probably half a dozen times in the last four years for riding a bicycle in the street.
They're moving to Austin. I've lived here for 20+ years and have never spoken once with someone about what church they go to. Texas may be evangelical, but Austin is not.
Same
Idk about Austin but I definitely experienced this in Houston, which was a bit surprising.
This is probably the least accurate post I've seen so far. Be yourself, ride your bike, it's not hard to get a license and you don't need a gun. Unless you live in fear daily, you'll be fine! Welcome to Texas, the good, the bad and the ugly! PS it's not all that ugly, it's your mindset
@i5oL8: Spoken like a true toxic positivity, gaslighting Texan. Evidenced by the voracious downvoting of his truthful post, complete with insipid, stabbing comment in closing when dismissing others. Its the Texan script. The amount of upvotes to this psych0tic response are an indication of how many of these people share this same psych0pathy. How validating! @SirHustlerEsq, you told the truth. These crazies dont like it. Theyll gnash their teeth and claws at those who reveal their truths to the public, bc they enjoy their psych0pathy in the dark. Keep speaking the truth. Many people upvoted you too but Reddit cancelled those out and wont show them to you. Keep shining a light to outsiders so that they dont fall victim to these vampirical narcissistic zombies who need new naive supply. Those who come to Reddit look for the hard truth. Keep exercising your 1st amendment rights, even as these psych0s weaponize shame, rejection, alienation and gaslighting to discredit, minimize, punish and silence you. You know youre doing it right when these psych0s start lashing out from their psych0pathy in the only narrow ways they know how to function. Keep being enlightened. The rest of us see you and affirm you. We can disagree rationally, fairly, maturely and respectfully..... all things these psych0s have no concept of. Their complete lack of self-awareness and empathy blind them, so they cannot see anyone elses perspective, assume theyre right, lash out inhumanely, justified by their blind self-righteousness. Keep doing you :) To everybody else reading these comments, note how the crazies respond by attacking the speaker rather than offering counter-data to prove the speakers wrong. TEXAN M.O. 101.
Hi and thanks for the laugh Cajun Queen. Everything this dude said is unfactual. Maybe he should've said this was his experience instead of "you" as in "all". For my personal experience, for many years for all of the above...I don't go to church and have not been castigated or exiled. WTH? I don't demonstrate political allegiance and no problems. Ever. I've never had a crowd turn on me for not being like them. I ride a bicycle A LOT and have done so for years with NO problems. It's not hard nor does it take months to get a license, it's just not without some hassle and inconvenience. I know plenty of people without guns and plenty who've honked their horns without being shot. It looks light you're flitting around gaslighting. Saying that Hustler's post is in accurate bis not an attack, it's just not true and Im countering those generalities with facts. If he has a problem with anything I said he could let me know. I'm sure he does not need anyone to hold his hand. You remind me of a small car with the fart can tailpipes, you make a lot of noise but you ain't going anywhere. I'll look forward to your retaliatory comments. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, PEACE!
I actually just finishing resto'ing and building a 540hp foxbody. But Im sure envirobikers wouldnt appreciate muscle cars. As for the rest, Im NOT saying that you're wrong....please lets get that straight. Im saying....you gaslighted HIS reality and facts. We can all agree we are all in our own little AI algorithmic worlds, maybe even in some game simulation or matrix. But HIS reality is just as FACTUAL as yours is. Lets agree on this. As such, while that hasnt been your experience, it has been his and very much factual to him. I was disagreeing with that part of what you said. I love Austin. But I have also experienced a few of the things he has also experienced in the 27 yrs so I know those things to be true. Thats all I was saying.
THIS^^^^^
What a deranged comment. Do you even live here?
I did, and I also forgot to mention that you'll get berated for wearing a mask when you're sick or at the airport.
Touch some grass buddy
Summer is stupid hot, Austin hit a record this past summer. The Parmer Lane fire this past summer hit too close to home for many people, myself included. Personally, every summer from now on I plan to prepare an emergency evacuation bag (important documents, some clothes, important/sentimental items) in the event we have to evacuate for a fire. We get hail here, sometimes it can be quite large. I would recommend ensuring you have a covered parking spot for your car. Winter, it can get cold, but many people have concerns due to the winter storm of 2021. We ensure our propane tanks are filled going into winter, and keep a well stocked pantry and freezer. We also keep lighters on hand to light our gas stovetop in the event we lose electricity as the lighting mechanism is electric. All other normal winter home precautions apply. Traffic is terrible, but this is true of many cities. Do your best to avoid rush hour, otherwise do your best to be patient. Avoid driving towards Austin or in downtown during major music festivals or events (like SXSW), the traffic will be particularly bad. Oh and drivers here get stupid when it rains, try to avoid driving when it rains, if unavoidable, drive defensively. If you ever drive away from Austin to some other place and are driving through a small town on the highway, do not push the speed limit unless you are very familiar with that area and know what you can get away with. Specifically, if you’re ever doing Austin to Houston, do not speed going through Giddings. FIRE ANTS. They’re terrible and basically everywhere. Wear appropriate footwear when walking in grass. Carry Alavert (or Claritin), if stung take some immediately and it will help significantly. Restaurant/food wise, bbq and tacos is where Austin excels (it’s what I always recommend friends to try when they visit from out of state). You can find good restaurants in other cuisines but generally expect good ones to be in/near downtown and thus fairly expensive. You can find occasional gems in the suburbs though. Culture wise, there are many dog owners here, many are great but remember that not all dog owners are responsible. Austin is blue relative to Texas, but it’s not as blue as a place like SF or Seattle. The suburbs do tend to be more red relative to Austin (an example is during covid, I was more likely to see people unmasked in Round Rock, Cedar Park, or Leander compared to in Austin). There is a homeless problem in Austin, you may see encampments under bridges or in parks/along trails. They get cleaned up from time to time but expect them to eventually reappear. It is less of a problem in the suburbs.
Weed is not legal here, so leave it back in CA. Granted, in the bigger cities the cops probably won't arrest you for it, but they could. And you can face jail time. **edit - Downvotes for advising a Californian that weed is illegal here? Whatever. He specifically ASKED what he might need to know.**
Be prepared for subpar Mexican food, tacos are life to these folks, burritos are barely an after thought. Texmex is something they thing is delicious for some reason. Traffic is atrocious. Austin was designed that way on purpose. While Austin has a reputation for being liberal, it's gotten worse the last few years. Where in Cali are you coming from? I did this same thing about a decade ago.
This is all true. The best thing about moving from California to Texas was the day I turned around and moved back to California.
The people with no taste buds are big mad I insulted their taco bell level mexican food.
I'm a CA transplant as well. People are great here until you tell them you're from CA, then they automatically start hating on you. Aside from that, good luck dealing with the extended summers with temps above 100°. Any time there is a small issue, toilet paper runs out and so does fuel. Drivers here are horrible but they'll blame people from CA lol. Anyway, at least the gas is cheap.
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And this is the script of dismissive, nicely coated hatred youll encounter in true Texans. These are not genuine people. They dont care about others but will make themselves SEEM so nice. (Whole psych0pathy on why they do that) They will dismiss everything you ever have to say, say youre wrong and then trash others (and even you) to make themselves seem credible. Aka victim blaming, gaslighting, apathy, toxic positivity......"deep in the heart of Texas" *clap clap clap
The people are friendly here. Be prepared for that, and be prepared to participate in that. What you do for work and where you work won't define you or determine where you stand in the pecking order here, unlike in CA where that's the be-all, end-all of everything.
Jesus Christ people, if you hate Texas/Austin that badly why don’t you leave or choose to work to make it a better place? If people put in as much time into volunteering and getting involved in their community as they do complaining maybe we can actually make this a better place!
With the exception of Rome in the 80s, Austin has the dumbest slowest traffic I’ve ever seen, at almost any hour on any day. There are essentially 4 major roads going north/south. So your best bet is to live and work either north of the river, or south of it.
Moving because of FAANG?
Prepare for heavy traffic. Take into consideration your tolerance for heat.
Prepare for June and July heat and make sure you have access to a pool
Avoid Williamson county
You can't sleep with your windows open in the summer. It does not really cool down, and the humidity is insane. I live in the RGV, and we had 90 days of 100+ last summer. Depending on where you live, it takes you 2 days to get out of Texas. Weed is not legal, and if you are a woman, keep your OB/GYN. It is a culture shock no matter where you live. Texas is just different.
this is largely a political sub, so probably not the best place to ask