I just got my retirement orders this week and can now start planning the rest of my life. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I am seriously looking for some impressions and guidance on life in Texas. For all sorts of reasons, Skirmisher and I have pretty much decided that we are going to relocate to Texas. We just don't know where yet.

I would really be greatful if some of you Texas types <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />could chime in and let me know the good stuff about your home.

I also realize that Texas is one of those REALLY big places, so where do you think I should be looking?


Who

Who...I can just see Mel doing her happy dance right now.

One thing is for sure...you get a lot of house for the dollar down there.

Good luck!

Are y'all city folk or country folk? What do you like to do in your spare time? Does traffic bother you? What kind of weather do you like?

We have barren plains, piney forests, dry climates, hot humid climates, the whole gamut, depending on where you live! What do you like?

I have lived in many places across Texas, West Texas, East Texas, South Texas, Dallas, Lubbock, Corpus, Longview, Houston.

For my tastes, I LOVE Houston most of all. The cost of living is low [you can get a fabulous house for under 300k], the piney woods are beautiful, the shopping is wonderful and there is a wealth of great restaurants and culture here. We are close to Galveston and have many, many attractions here.

IMO, the best places to live in Texas would be Houston [go south around Pearland or Sugarland] or AUSTIN.

Oh boy... A Texas Thread...

Who... your retiring from the military right?

p.s. I live in a newer SUBURB of Houston and am 5 minutes from 2 major highways. That makes it possible for me to buzz over to my office or to the Galleria or to the heart of downtown [to have lunch with my friend BritsBrat <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />] in 20-30 minutes.

Who,

You'll need to find a good source for Aquanet, too, if you're going to Texas... <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

They got some good fishin' in Texas, BTW...

Yep, WhoMe! I'm right there with ya, or will be soon.

What about lakes (fishing) and the weather?

edited to add!! (Mark,, you read my mind!)

Who, Mark is right, that flat headed yankeegal hair will not suffice down here! Some teasin and a can of Aquanet will fix ya right up, tho. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

fishing? Why fish when you can SHOP?? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Wow, a bunch of responses already. Yes I am retiring from the Army after 32 long years!

MEDC,

One thing is for sure...you get a lot of house for the dollar down there.

Yes, I have noticed that and given that I own (read no mortgage) my house here in the DC area, I am going to have fun house shopping.

Mel,

Well we have lived in a major metro area for most of our lives, but I am originally from a small town so we can go either way there. And I don't really care much about the traffic since DC traffic is some of the worst in the country. But then, I'm not going to be getting up and driving to work anymore and Skirmisher is self employed.

We like to hike and kayak and we also sail. I guess we should be at least somewhat close to a military post or base for hospital and other benefits, although that isn't essential.

Thanks for the info everyone.

Who

Mel,

The guys gotta have something to do while you're havin' your hair done....

Nerly, Lake Amistad! Rayburn, Toledo Bend, Lake Fork, Conroe...And then there is the in-shore stuff; redfish, specks...

Aquanet huh. I won't have to wear floweredd leggings will I?

I forgot to mention that I like hot weather. I grew up in frigid MN and got a gut full of snow and below zero temperatures!

Who

BTW WHO...32 years of service...WOW.

Thank you.

what town would be good for a country person that hates traffic. Where I live now I am just as likely to have an Amish buggy come down my street as a car.

MEDC,


Yup, I was 7 when I joined up. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Who, you might really like a nice suburb of Houston then. The weather is nice year round. It is hot and humid in the summer, which I love. You can live out here in the nice suburbs and be within 30 minutes of great restaurants, concerts, shopping, etc.

I don't see a military base close by, though: http://benefits.military.com/misc/installations/Browse_Map.jsp?state=TX There are 2 in San Antonio and I hear tell that SAT is also a very nice place to live. It is about 40 miles from Austin, which would be at the top my list.

We have great hiking possibilities at GALLERIA MALL in Houston! I hike there often! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Who,

Just remember that you can be in two places in Texas and it feels like two different planets. It's about as far from Houston to El Paso as it is from DC to Jacksonville Florida or Philadelphia to Chicago. LA is closer to El Paso than Houston is and Atlanta is closer to Houston than El Paso is.

ooooooh, we have lots and lots of little Texas towns. They all drive white trucks and have shotguns in the back winder. You will have to lose that yankee accent, MEDC! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

You trying to intimidate me Mark? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

I lived in the DFW area for 11 years... (DFW = Dallas Fort Worth for all you Yankees LOL) If you're retiring from the Military, the San Antonio area has a ton of Air Force recourses... Hospital... commissary... exchange... etc... If you were within an hour or two that would be good. DFW has a Naval Air Station but it doesn’t have a Hospital.

Housing is cheap... and there is no state income tax... The majority of state tax comes from your property tax... So expect higher property tax. In 2001, if I would have stayed in the DFW area I was looking to buy another house. I was looking at a house that was 3400 SF 5 bedrooms 2 ½ bathrooms and a 2 car garage…. New to be built…. $170,000.

The one thing I noticed about the DFW area is that it is always booming regardless of what the economy in the rest of the country is doing.

Obviously I liked Texas…

I have family in the DFW area. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> My niece lives there, in fact 2 of her DD's are little Cowboys cheerleaders or something like that.

I also have a brother just across the OK boarder. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The one nice thing is that I will have a big chunk of change to spend since real estate here is so grossly overpriced.

I'd tell you what my place here is worth, but id make ya sick. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Who

I was in El Paso a little over a year ago... At Ft Bliss. I was there for about 12 weeks... From what I saw I liked the El Paso area too.

Houston... I havn't really been there but I've thought about living there after I retire... going to work for the RR...Housing is cheap there too. I was in New Orleans for 3 years... The climate is simular and you have to worry about hurricanes...

I'm in Philly area now... my BAH is 2000 a month... plus I get COLA.... it's expensive... I paid 237,000 for my house 2 1/2 years ago...

AUSTIN!!!!! The most awesome city in Texas! Everyone who comes here loves it. It's very diverse, very outdoorsy, lakes, a river running through it, hike and bike trails galore.

It is on the edge of the hill country, lots of live music, numerous festivals and we are smack dab between San Antonio and Dallas.

I could go on and on...

I myself live in the Panhandle of west Texas. Cant beat the people and the cost of living and climate, other than wind in the spring. But it is probably a place you would have to be from to really enjoy. My parents love to go and stay in Fredricksburg or Wimberley part of the Texas hill country (close to Austin). But be aware of the extreme heat and humidity. But has to be some of the most beautiful country in Texas and close to the big city of Austin.
Merlin2

Who,

I have a son that lives in Dallas and he loves it, but I don't! We won't go into the traffic because traffic is bad everywhere in Texas. But Dallas is the worst. I really think Dallas is more for young singels and couples than older people. The night life is unbelievable.

I have a BIL that lives in Houston. Again, traffic is bad but not quite as bad as Dallas. One thing you'll have to be able to live with is the humidity. It's really, really bad. They do have some nice lakes and some very nice suburbs.

I lived in Austin for three years. I always tell everyone that if you have to live in Texas then Austin is the place to be (sorry Mel). We lived minutes away from Lake Travis and it is FANTASTIC! We always made sure to take visitors there and it was always the highlight of their trip.
Austin is much more laid back than Dallas or Houston. There is plenty of things to do, including hiking, sailing, fishing and hunting and if you are into music at all you will be in seventh heaven. Cycling is also very big in Austin. Usually when people talk about nightlife downtown they talk 6th Street. It's great for the younger crowd, it's were the college kids hang out, but there are areas downtown that are more geared toward us older people. Lots of clubs and resturants and theaters.
The other good thing about Austin is that your centrally located. Three hours from Dallas or Houston and less than two to Waco, San Antonio or College Station.

Can't beat San Antone for friendly people, low cost of living and a mixture of small town atmosphere with big city conveniences. The city is the 8th largest in the nation (larger than Dallas), but 15 miles out of the metropolitan area, you’d never know there was a population center anywhere nearby. (One of the most critical problems a couple years ago was what to do with herds of deer wandering around in little wilderness areas inside the city limits.) Traffic flows smoothly (and quickly) around the city. Even our “going to work/home” traffic jams are quickly resolved.

There are half a dozen Air Force and Army installations in the metropolitan area, with all the Exchange facilities you could ever desire and a brand new (huge) commissary on Randolph AFB. There’s a major military hospital on Lackland AFB and the region’s doctors are familiar with Tricare and willingly cooperate.

The deer hunting capitol of Texas (Llano) is a couple of hours away and two of the biggest lakes in the state are even closer, along with tons of small rivers and streams for fishing. People buy inner tubes around here and float down the Guadalupe River for miles and miles of fun and sightseeing. If camping and hiking are your thing, there are dozens of state campgrounds and hundreds of miles of hiking trails within driving distance and the wilderness areas inside the city offer short excursions into peace and quiet. Retired Army officers might even be able to afford a small “ranch” in one of the estate communities up in the hill country within driving distance of the city’s business center. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

San Antone has a world champion basketball team and NFL teams chased out of their own cities come here to play professional football. We’ll be hosting college basketball’s “sweet sixteen” tournament again this year, and a couple of college football bowl games are played in the Alamo Dome. Oh, did I mention the Alamo and the other historical places of interest (the oldest Spanish mission in Texas, for instance) we have have here? The River Walk, along the San Antonio River, is a major tourist attraction--and a fun place to spend Saturday night.

We have horse racing at Retama Park, if you indulge yourself with an occasional trip to the track; a minor-league baseball team; and even a professional hockey team in town. The Dallas Cowboys, of course, hold their summer training camp here.

You know what? I can’t think of any reason why a military retiree, or anyone else, would NOT live here. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

LH

Thanks everyone for all the great information. Looks like Skirmisher and I are going to have to look around a bit in Texas once I go on terminal retirement leave in August.

Hey Longhorn,

I have spent time in San Antonio, did a couple of ceremonies at a place downtown call La Valita or something like that. Also was there in 2004 when my DD graduated from basic at Lackland. I did like the area.

Who

Austin, hands-down.

Military hospital 45 minutes away in San Antonio, and you get there by freeway only when you want to.

Shopping out the wazooo.

A chain of lakes going up into the beautiful Hill Country of Texas. You can fish, sail, kayak, or ski.

Weather that is unbeatable.

Live music capital of the world.

Two major universities - one in town, one south about 20 minutes.

Housing prices in the suburbs are fine.

You can live country or city, or 'burbs.

You just have to decide you can live with the Texans.


I've lived in Lubbock, and now live in a very rural area sorta-kinda near Austin.

Austin way betta!


(They say the wind doesn't blow in Lubbock. It only sucks.)

SB

SB,

My brother used to live in Lubbock. He was the GM of a radio station there.

FWIW, he married a Texan and all is well, plus I like her fine.

I have, a long time ago even dated one. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Didn't work out, but I think that had more to do with the fact that he thought going out to eat was a waste of money. NOW THAT WAS A RED FLAG! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Who

Another vote for Austin. I've worked there a lot and have some good friends there.

Its very fine, even finer if you're very wealthy. I have friends who live on the lake which is as lovely a place to live as I can imagine.

WhoMe, if you come to Houston, we must have lunch! BritsBrat and Charlotte live here too.

I agree that Austin or San Antone would be perfect for you. They are great places to live and are close to the bases in SA.

Mel,

Cool, we're on. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Bob,

Well, I'm not wealthy, just financially secure. My intent is too not get another job but just be retired. Most would say that I am not old enough to do that, but having recovered from an affair gives me a different perspective on everything. I want to enjoy life, NOW.

Who