Does Houston and Texas really suck that bad?

[BobbyTheDon]

Originally posted by Sister Havana
I've been to Houston once. I liked it a lot...more than I thought I would.

Translation.

I thought I would hate Houston. Instead, I just dislike it

[Kevlar281]

I was born here and I'll die here.

[lyrica9]

Originally posted by TristanDSP
Forget Houston and all those Cali-hating Texans. I remember asking this lady when I was in Austin about why there's stickers that say "Keep Austin Wierd." She said all the Californians were messing it up.

keep austin weird is a campaign to promote local businesses rather than corporations. and most people think cali and austin are very similar.. so that's kinda weird.

[lifesaver]

Houston isnt my favorite city in Texas. My family lives there; Sugar Land actually.

A critical view tho of Texas.

The infrastructure sucks here. Because of our low national profile (were not on either one of the coasts and havent been a historical population center or site of strategic importance to the US Gov - the funding source). Also, our taxes are rediculiously low, so we cant really afford to find things the way they should; higher ed, freeways, etc.) But thats how most texans like it. There is actually a ban on state income taxes in our state consitiution.

It gets hot as hell here in the summer. Conversely, it is reallyt mild here in the winter. Yeah, it was cold last weekend, but the highs were in the 40's while he was here. Did he run a column on the three feet of snow NYC got two weeks ago? Callign texas cold is just foolish. THis winter has been really mild as well. Christmas day it was 75 and we spent the afternoon out by the pool. We have onyl hit freezing here twice this winter. I guarantee we'll hit 90 in the next two weeks. We almost hit it here a few weeks ago. I am fine with the heat. As I have said a million times before, no one ever dropped dead of a heart attack shoveling the heat outta the driveway. Plus, texas isnt like up north. Everyone here has AC. Pretty much all buildings, so unless you are a day laborer or lawn care guy, you are only in it walking to and from your car.

Most cities in Texas suffer from sprawl. This is because texans dont like governemnt involvment in their lives and most cities have lax zoning ordinances. Here of late, they have strengthened them but its kinda the genie in the bottle thing. Too little too late. So with that comes the attendant problems of traffic and congestion. It dosent help that we are the second or third fastest growing state in the US. Everyone is moving here becuase the job market is pretty good and we have the lowest hosuing costs in the nation here. There is no 'bubble' in texas. You can get a brand new 3,000 sq ft house in a brand new subdivision (yeah its a mcmansion but still) with mid level finishes for about $140K. Of course if you work downtown, your commute is gonna be a half hour...

Each city in texas is different. Houston is new money, and an immigrant center. (Its a port city). Lots of business there. But there is lots of refinerys and manufacturing. It dosent seem to have much of a personality to me. I didnt grow up there and my family has only lived there for 9 years. Yes, in independence day there was a small part of me that cheered when the millitary nuked houston, lol.

Dallas is money. Its the LA of texas. Its the only place where you have to dress up to mow the yard. (OK, dress up to watch your yard guy mow the yard). It is pretty fast paced and has lots going on there. Again, sprawl is there too. I have a sister that lives there and its cool, but it snows up in that part of the state and thats a deal breaker for me. Plus they have tornados up there and I dont go for that,

San Antonio is a cool place. 1.5 million people and still has a small town feel. This is the perfect place to raise kids because its a relatively safe place and the schools are great. Its also a big hit with the millitary retirees because there are lots of services here with 4 bases. It does suck being young here because there isnt a huge nightlife scene (like austin has). If you want fun, you have to suck it up and go do the tourist thing on the riverwalk. The city is in the midsts of an economic rebirth tho. In the last year new companies to the area have brought 25K+ new jobs and Toyota just added its first manufacturing plant in Texas here last year.

Austin is pretty cool and one of my favorite places in texas. Just has a cool vibe to it, and pretty urban. Its a pretty cultured place too, with the academia and the university there.

Lots of the big cities look just like any of the other big cities anywhere in the south or west. Big box stores and mc mansions for miles. Where my family lives, there is nothing around that has been there more than 5 years. I kinda miss character of older areas. My neighborhood is about 40 years old and I like it that way.

I dont know if you can qualify why some of us are so passionate about texas. Its about being tied to the land and your people being from here. Its a nod to the history and what made this land ours. Would I ever leave texas, sure, if it was for a job or something, but I'd always want to and plan to return. It is just a part of who I am. This place is in my blood. Is it perfect here, hell no. Do I have a list of things I'd liek to fix? Yes.

I also dont think someone could live here for a year or two and 'get it'. You have to have spent a long time here to get it or in some cases, like it. I think thats true for a lot of places tho. A year or so isnt long enough to fall in love with a place and consider it your home. But thats just my opinion.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by BobbyTheDon
Dude. we have the freakin Terminator. How awesome is that. Texas has George W. Bush. I'd rather have Arnold

Thats the worst comparison ever. We HAD George W. (he's not the governor anymore, btw). And he was actually a great governor. I cant stand him now but loved him as a governor. He had HUGE approval ratings while in office. Plus, Bush isnt 'from' Texas. As Jon Stewart said, "He was born in that quaint small texas town called CONNECTICUT.

Also, cali had both Reagan AND Nixon. As governerors and presidents. SO you all had good and bad. All of us do. But Kinky Freeman is the shit. He could win the governorship in Nov. I think hes cooler than Arnold. Def. funnier.

[DeltAlum]

Houston is like any other big city. It's good, it's bad, overall it's OK.

I love living in Denver, but that doesn't make it perfect. Noplace is.

[Lindz928]

I'm a born and bred Texan. I love this state with all my heart.....

That said- HOUSTON SUCKS!!!! There is only one reason that I look forward to going there these days, and he will hopefully be back in the ATX in a few years.

As for governors- true we don't have W anymore.... And I would take the Governator any day over the jack-ass we DO have right now.

And eh, I don't think it's too hot here. Yeah it gets pretty steamy in the summer time, but I would rather have that than blizzards. And I enjoyed being able to wear shorts on Christmas Day.

[AznSAE]

Originally posted by Lindz928

As for governors- true we don't have W anymore.... And I would take the Governator any day over the jack-ass we DO have right now.

isnt he a fellow aggie of yours?

[Lindz928]

Originally posted by AznSAE
isnt he a fellow aggie of yours?

Yes he is, but I don't claim him.

Though, I will claim Will Wynn, the mayor of Austin. He is an Aggie. I have even seen him at some of our Aggie happy hours- hanging out at the dive bar drinking a beer with everyone. I think that's pretty cool.

[Phasad1913]

I live in Houston now and I like it.

[aggieAXO]

Lindz,

Were you at the last aggie happy hour at Don's depot? I was there, hadn't been in years but hopefully will start going more often from now on.

I have been to Houston about 4 times and I find it to be a very disgusting city, IMO, the cesspool of Texas.

I grew up in San Antonio and could not wait to leave. You could not go to a park without worrying about being kidnapped or shot. I know things have changed some but watching the evening news there reminds me why I left-too much crime. Austin is much safer and much prettier .

[georgewallace3]

Originally posted by lyrica9
keep austin weird is a campaign to promote local businesses rather than corporations. and most people think cali and austin are very similar.. so that's kinda weird.

Sweet Jesus are you serious. I am from Austin, Home is stll Austin. Austin is nothing like California. I think that comment made me throw up in my mouth a little.

And to whomever said Kinky FRIEDMAN, foe Gov........hell yes. "My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy."

[AKA_Monet]

I lived in Dallas for a year... I got very sick and my boss relocated and I had to leave...

I knew that once I moved outta of SoCal it would be a oneway ticket. I'd never be able to afford to come back and live. A portapotty is a million dollars in SoCal--Tijuana, B.C. to be exact...

And the other thing is it was getting crazy in SoCal--like "Didn't even havta use my A.K.--gotta say it was good day..."

But Dallas made me gain too much weight!!! And everybody is married there. The heat and humidity didn't shock me because I was use to the good ole southern mason dixon line heat--too many family members in from actually Houston to Montgomery to Tallahasee to ATL to Daytona Beach...

I did like Houston... I did go to the summer Concert in the Park to raise money for young people... It was like a Kareoke [sp?]--dude got up and was singing, "turn out the lights" and forgot the rest of the song and kept shouting "turn em off!" And my husband and I just busted up laughing...

But I'm sorry, Texas has waaay too many mega churches for me... That is a strange concept to me. But hey, whatever floats one's boat... I find them too cultish if you ask me. But I do like Joel Osteem--he's pretty good. And I attended Friendship West Baptist in Dallas when I lived there...

The Pac Northwest ain't got nowhere near the kinna church that you get in Texas...

But I would be a nasty Californian and Kalifornicate half of Texas with land grabbing. Only thing though is folks carry and shoot concealed weapons and hit their targets in Texas. The Californians wave guns, shoot them in the air, spray bullets all over the place and maybe get bystanders. But I would never wanna be killed in SoCal. You'd find my toes on the roof somewhere if that happened... You'd never find my head. Folks are crazy out there. But it will always be home and I will love it!

[epchick]

I love Texas...although I haven't been to a lot of different parts. I went to Dallas once, and HATED the weather, but i never really did get to travel the city.

I HATED midland and odessa (although i do have good friends in both cities..lol).

I LOVE San Antonio.

And i've NEVER been to Austin or Houston.

Although sometimes I hate El Paso, its just an all around good place. Boring? yeah probably, especially if you are use to having shit to do....but itsa pretty good city. 2nd or 3rd safest city in the US. Friendly people, and just laid back. PLUS we don't have the humidity that East Texas has.

[ilovemyglo]

So I just happened to pop on here today and low and behold all this info- and I have to fly to Houston tomorrow to drive to Beaumont for the night, spend four hours in Beaumont Wednesday, drive back to Houston and fly home.

Can I tell you how excited I am after this?

And btw this is my first time to any part of Texas- but for some reason I have always wanted to go to San Antonio- probably because back in the day I met five guys from there and they were all smoking hot!