texas or bust
 

I know of 3 families in the process of moving to TX. and have heard there is somewhat of a trend concerning this. What draws people to TX?

jobs

Afforable housing, friendly people...

not jobs. they are retired couples. must be more to this.

Warm weather. My son in Texas was in shorts this weekend; I was shoveling snow.

Been mostly retired for over 5 years (summer jobs 3 years) living in Oregon. Tired of driving in snow and with paying state income tax on my pension. We are thinking of moving to the Lake Corpus Christi area for at least 7 months per year.
Certain nice areas of Texas have some real estate bargains.
Watch out for the border areas which might have undocumented immigrants sneaking through your back yard every night.
The northern panhandle is going to get a snowstorm this week.

It's just the best state. :)

Well, my answer is, beats me, but then I lived in West Central TX for a couple of years. Felt like longer.

"Texas is as large as all of New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and North Carolina combined."

http://www.texasalmanac.com/environment/

Living there is pretty much like living in several different states as well. The "Hill Country" is downright pleasant.
Moving to Amarillo vs El Paso vs Midland vs Laredo vs Houston vs Nacogdoches vs Texarkana vs Dallas vs Austin would be similar to comparing Pittsburg vs Philly vs Burlington vs Freeport vs Hartford vs Providence vs Columbus vs Raleigh vs Asheville.

Texas is larger than a lot of countries. West Texas is completely different than East Texas.
Most move for jobs. Some move because it's warmer (than home). Some move because the cost of living is cheaper (than home). Some move because taxes are lower (than home). Some move because they want to walk around wearing cowboy boots and 10 gallon hats*. Maybe you should ask your retired friends who are moving their what appeals to them.

I've traveled to many corners of Texas and lived there for a while. There's nothing there that would draw me from my home.

Where are these new Texans moving from?


*jk. I hope.

...who are moving there...

Warm weather, jobs, nice affordable housing, friendly people, no state income tax, and in the bigger cities great restaurants, museums, theater, professional sports , etc. Also access to the beautiful Hill Country and the Gulf Coast. Plus it's 70 degrees right now!

It was 70 something yesterday, 83 the day before, but we have a possibility of snow Thursday night/Friday. :)

We've lived here twice, both times transferred by my husband's company...first time Dallas, now San Antonio. First transfer we were moving from Boston (and I was born and raised in MA) but coming from Boston felt as if we'd died and gone to heaven!!! Cost of living was SO much lower, housing so inexpensive, great schools for our then young children and extremely friendly people. It was the perfect place to raise our kids. I loved getting away from all the cloudy rainy days in New England, to the sunshine, although now living here, it can actually be exciting to get a cloudy or rainy day.

Now, San Antonio is not the city Dallas is by any means, but we love the Hill Country. Housing prices are still wonderful. There is no state income tax, a draw for seniors, and weather is pretty decent most of the year. We were transferred here from Tampa though, and I miss the water terribly. But having lived all over, coming back to Texas, I'm always struck by the friendliness of the people.

I suspect a number of people get here and decide for one reason or another, it's just not for them, same as in FL where it's known as the "J Curve". People move down, decide it's too hot, worry about hurricanes, whatever, and move a bit further north to the Carolinas. There is a terribly stereotyped picture of what Texas is, promoted, I'm fairly certain, by people who have <i>never</i> set foot in the state.

I'm in central Texas. The low tonight is supposed to be 8 degrees. There is ice outside now and my mailbox was frozen shut this morning. It can get quite cold in Texas!

But it's true that many people move here for the reasons volcanogirl and OO mentioned.

Yeah, these are not close friends. I did ask one and he said it is because they visited their daughter there, loved it, east of Austin, and decided to retire there. Another guy loves the cowboy thing and music. But when the third group decided to leave, I was just curious.

I have no idea why anyone would want to move here. It's hot, people are rude, and you have to worry about drunk donkey-riding cowboys in Austin. Stay away.

<i>"But when the third group decided to leave, I was just curious."</i>

Well then, maribethp, I suggest you come visit your friends once they move here.

fyb :-d

Keep Austin weird, fyb!

I hate HEB, but this commercial/music video was filmed at Gruene Hall and shows some of the appeal:

http://www.heb.com/page/about-us/exc...owl-commercial

Hit the 'arrows pointing out" button to maximize the video.

Confused me for a minute. I lived in HEB, but another HEB ;)

LOVE the Gruene Dance Hall. We went as often as we could, 'cause we hated the flatness of Dallas and headed to hill country!

oops, didn't realize there was another HEB!

yes, Gruene Hall is the best. lots of good memories

fyb - What do you hate about HEB? It remains my favorite grocer out of all the places I have lived - or at least the way it was when I lived in Texas is my favorite, anyway. It's been 4-5 years since my last visit to an HEB, though, so don't know how much it has changed.

To answer the OP's question: As it has always been, freedom.

HEB = Hurst Euless Bedford, an area between Dallas and Ft. Worth

HEB = a grocery store chain. The Central Market chain is owned by HEB. Our last stop before leaving Dallas is always at Central Market--it's one of a kind, better than Whole Foods, in my opinion.

Cranachin, almost every time we go, we are charged for something we did not receive. We bought a store brand of cheese and the next day it was riddled with mold, took 30 minutes to return it and clerks at service desk are the rudest ever.

They put all of your fruits and vegetables in one bag, no matter how much you've bought (bananas on the bottom). I do think "our" store (closest) is poorly run and I'm sure not all stores are that bad, but they do have an attitude that the customer is an annoyance.

used to spend over $1000 a month there but now we buy all we can at Costco and Target.

No, all HEB's are not that bad; in fact, the one I shop at is great. You need to go online and tell Customer Service your concerns about your HEB.

follow_your_bliss-

I agree with AustinTraveler. The ones I regularly shopped at in north Austin were fantastic - like I said, probably the best over-all grocery stores I have encountered of all the places I have lived. In fact, I know other people who moved to Texas and became big HEB fans as well. (There's a reason to add to your list, maribethp - shopping at HEB!)

I never had the kinds of problems you report. You definitely should let corporate know.

I'll take HEB over Kroger's or Randall's. Their fresh french bread is the best around. But I like Fiesta for interesting fruits, veggies, and fresh tortillas.

I'm with FYB on HEB. <i>Hate</i> it!! And we go to the same HEB. It's terrible. Product selection is terrible...HEB brand of most veggies or nothing. HEB brand of many canned goods or nothing. I know, I know, sometimes they are from the "other" manufacturer, and rebranded under the store brand, but I don't think so here.

Part of the problem is this store I think, and it's so bad I have complained to management, but to no avail. Laundry detergent brand might only come in a small size, which would have me always running to the store for it...even for a family of 2. When we first moved here after living in hotels for 13 years, I thought the product Bon Ami must have been discontinued as it wasn't available. No...it's only not available in this store. And on and on...I've actually sent 3 complaint emails and I am <u>not</u> one to complain ever. You just get so frustrated with them you throw up you hands and send off a zinger. :) And feel better for it. :)

Unfortunately fyb and I aren't close to any other HEBs, and they have a monopoly in San Antonio. I too now do more shopping at Costco than there.

And yes, the Austin stores are different. My mom lived in Austin for years and never had a problem there.

I've been in Austin for 27 years. Traveled a bit around the state, and I can't imagine living anywhere in Texas but Austin.

And there are a few HEB's in Austin I avoid. The ones I frequent (Bee Cave, Escarpment, William Cannon) are great.