Overwhelmed! Should I just do Texas, or other states, too?

[CandyApple]

I've been stuck for sooo long trying to figure out what to do, and I can't seem to get any closer to the answer. And I'm going to be moving in July! Help!

I've picked 16/17 cities plus their surrounding areas to visit in Texas, but honestly, I don't know anything about them. I have to visit an area to know what it's like, and researching online doesn't seem to help much in narrowing things down. I mean, it took me this long to figure out that I don't need to bother with a big chunk of the state.

It would take less time to visit these places than it is to look them up, I swear! And I'd know more about whether I like the place by being in the city for just a day than I do now. But I can't just "visit everywhere", because that would be half the country.

Now that I've unloaded...

For Texas I'm thinking, Austin, the Gulf Coast, and the Piney Woods, over 10,000 people. In the Piney Woods (PW) that would be Conroe, Huntsville, Longview, Lufkin, Marshall, Nacadoches, Tyler, The Woodlands. For the Gulf Coast (GC) Kingsville, Corpus Christi, Victoria + Port Lavaca (I see them as a pair :) ), Brazosport area, Houston + Bay Area Houston + surroundings.

I'll skip Texarkana, in PW, just because, and anything south of Kingsville in GC.

Basically, if I move near the beach, I want to be within a few miles at the most. None of this, "It's only a half hour away," but I never go nonsense. I know me, I'm lazy. It would drive me crazy. I need to be able to bike there, at least. Or be 100 miles or more away where I won't be kicking myself for not going.

Those areas seem like a good list, but I'm wondering if it's too many, too few, not varied enough, or what? My biggest fear is that I'll go down there and not be able to stand 100+ heat. If it weren't for that I'd think I had a pretty good selection and I should stick with it. I'm wondering, should I add states to the list besides Texas? If so, which ones?

My criteria are: will I go outside, will I enjoy it, can I get the basics (which is why 10,000 people is my minimum) plus some other stuff, and is it affordable? Affordable means cheaper than Anchorage, but way cheaper is better. :)

We're gonna put our stuff in storage w/a movers, go down, visit places, and decide where to live. If you were going to pick a spot once you got there, what would you do?

Another question- is this post comprehensible, or is it rambling + confusing?

[MyAzi]

tons of decisions to make... I will tell you for the first couple of years you will have issues with the too hot temps. When I left for 6 years then went back to the desert, that is about what it took for the hot not to bother me. So if you can get through that you should be fine.

[Jenbar]

I used to live at the beach. Not in Texas, but Virginia Beach. None of the locals ever went because of the tourists. Too crazy. Too busy. The Texas coast seems like that to me. More of a vacation spot, rather than a place to live. I am also not sure about the quality of life.

I live in Austin. I think it's great.

[RodFarlee]

Just a very minor comment: Kingsville, Victoria and Brazoria (I assume Brazoria/Freeport is what you meant by Brazosport) are each 30-45 minutes to Gulf coast beaches. But that sounds like that is too far to qualify for you? The bays generally don't have beaches - not of recreational quality, if at all.

[Panterro]

Victoria is a place I have driven though a while back, it also a place I was researching to move too. I think you would like it alot.

Corpus is a great city, it has some major hurdles to jump but its on track to become a major gulf city someday. I goto Corpus every year to camp on the beach. The one feeling Corpus always gave me and the wife was.. Anything is possible here. I dont know if BRAC closed the Navy base down there or not, I have heard rumors they saved it some how, or that it was just restuctured from its current misson. Corpus seemed more layed back and relaxed, no the hussle and bussle of other cities I have been in. If I had the chance though, I would live in Rock Port, and work in Corpus or the surrounding area.

[jabm67]

Depending on what time of year you go to a Texas beach, you might want to take your army boots.

I got that rather bizarre piece of advice when I lived in Austin ... it seems that at certain seasons the jellyfish (Portuguese man o'war, which are rather venomous) wash up on the beach. At such times the only you can do there is put on some serious foot armor and go stomp cnidarians.

[CandyApple]

tons of decisions to make... I will tell you for the first couple of years you will have issues with the too hot temps.

I guess a way to phrase it is, will it be so hot that I won't want to play outside? "Feeling hot" isn't so much the problem, as not being able to cope with it/feeling strong urges to go inside. When I lived in Virginia, I'd feel hot, but it didn't make me want to go in. I could stay out for hours. How would I be able to know if *I* can cope with Texas weather? What about my daughter? She doesn't seem as heat tolerant as me- is that an age thing (she's two), or a her thing?

Just a very minor comment: Kingsville, Victoria and Brazoria (I assume Brazoria/Freeport is what you meant by Brazosport) are each 30-45 minutes to Gulf coast beaches. But that sounds like that is too far to qualify for you? The bays generally don't have beaches - not of recreational quality, if at all.

Well, I wouldn't live in Victoria, but if I live in Port Lavaca I might visit it occasionally for whatever it has that Port Lavaca doesn't, so I'd still want to check out the town. So I consider Port Lavaca/Victoria to be a pair.

I thought Kingsville was only a few miles from the water- that's what it looks like on my map.

According to the tour guide, the Brazosport Area includes Freeport, Jones Creek, Lake Jackson, Oyster Creek, Quintana Beach, Richwood, Surfside Beach, and West Columbia. So, whichever ones are closest to the water are the ones I'm interested in. I'd have to look at the map again to see which ones. :) The book said their were nine cities in the area, but only listed eight. I guess Brazoria is the ninth?

When you say "not recreational quality", do you mean it's not safe to go swimming, or it's ugly, or is it just not sandy, or what?

it seems that at certain seasons the jellyfish (Portuguese man o'war, which are rather venomous) wash up on the beach. At such times the only you can do there is put on some serious foot armor and go stomp cnidarians.

Is it safe to swim/play during the summer? I've heard that there's jellyfish, but I don't know how likely it is to encounter one. Tell me more about this jellyfish problem. I want to play when I'm at the beach, not cower in fear. :(

[Panterro]

Originally Posted by jabm67

Depending on what time of year you go to a Texas beach, you might want to take your army boots.

I got that rather bizarre piece of advice when I lived in Austin ... it seems that at certain seasons the jellyfish (Portuguese man o'war, which are rather venomous) wash up on the beach. At such times the only you can do there is put on some serious foot armor and go stomp cnidarians.

This is very true.. Also watch out for Sting rays, and the occasional shark. On the beach watch out for Rattlers, and the occasional gator. =)

[kimbercuddles]

CandyApple...I'm not sure if I'll be much help, but I've been to a few of the places you're researching. I have definite opinions of them, but it really depends on you and what's most important to you.

I lived in San Antonio for over ten years and to this day it's still my second favorite place in the U.S. It did get hot, but it didn't bother me because although I was a little sweaty at times, by no means was it unbearable to me.
I've visited Galveston a few times and really loved the laid-back beach attitude...similar to Corpus Christi, but a little bigger. I was more impressed with the ocean and beaches in general by Galveston, but it may have been the time of year that I was there.

You mention Tyler, Marshall and Longview...if you are not wanting an extremely HOT and HUMID place, I wouldn't even consider those places, unless constant perspiring until your clothes are drenched is okay with you from about May until October. As stated in other threads, the closer you get to Louisiana, the more uncomfortable it is. On the other hand, if you are close to the coast, the gulf breeze will provide a much more bearable atmosphere, in my opinion.

I never really cared for Conroe or Houston, for that matter, but possibly because it was such a huge city with a very busy pace. San Antonio is very large, but it does have a very homey feel to it.

I've never lived in Austin, but have been there many times and have always been impressed with all of the different things there are to do there. You would be within minutes of nice lakes and the Guadalupe River, which is so much fun to tube on. Canyon Lake is a short drive away, also.

We live in Navarre, FL and really LOVE it here. I'm an ocean-lover and after seeing the beaches in Texas (besides South Padre) there is no comparison to the beaches here. Navarre Beach has never been extremely busy, since we've visited and moved here. Panama City Beach, FL, also is supposed to be the area in which to buy within the next year or so. There will be a new airport in Panama City and many new developments at the multi-million dollar Pier Park. The real estate in the Navarre area is not bad. The going rate for a 1300 to 1500 square foot home is around $150,000, whereas in Panama City Beach it is closer to $190,000. Word is that real estate bought in the near future will appreciate to around 70%. That's one heck of a return!

Anyway, if I can help with any more info, please let me know.

[Jenbar]

When I lived in Virginia, I'd feel hot, but it didn't make me want to go in. I could stay out for hours. How would I be able to know if *I* can cope with Texas weather? What about my daughter? She doesn't seem as heat tolerant as me- is that an age thing (she's two), or a her thing?

I've lived in VA, and now I am in Texas.

I am not sure what the weather is like in South Texas - I assume it's more hot? Here in Central Texas there are SEVERAL 100+ degree days through out the summer. Weeks of them, I think. I hear August is the worst. I have visited in July - and it's not HORRIBLE - but I don't think you would want to play outside mid-day. Mornings and evenings would be ok... I think. It is humid here, from time to time - but not humid all the time, like I remember VA being. Usually, the air here is very dry... outside of rainy days.

The fact that you may spend most of August inside, is more than made up for the fact that every other month is has several nice days. Oct - Dec, you still get days that can be in the 70's-80's. January was chilly - but it's been pretty nice now, since mid-Feb.

I hear it starts to get like summer weather in May.

[jabm67]

Originally Posted by CandyApple

Is it safe to swim/play during the summer? I've heard that there's jellyfish, but I don't know how likely it is to encounter one. Tell me more about this jellyfish problem. I want to play when I'm at the beach, not cower in fear. :(

My impression is that it's a seasonal thing. I never went to the beach while I was there; that was in my poor grad school days, so all this is third hand.

During jellyfish season, you stay away from the water. I never heard about stingrays or sharks while I was there. The only other hazard that I remember being warned about was oil; if one of the drill rigs out in the Gulf has had a catastrophic failure, then the beaches will be full of tarballs.

(The Ixtoc 1 blowout happened while I lived down there ... it was funny to see Texas Gov. Bill Clements -- who founded and owned Sedco, the outfit drilling the well -- try to minimize statements about the damage it did and try to protect his company more than the state beaches and associated industries.)

[RodFarlee]

prediction: August '08: after 2 months of unremitting temp 100 humidity 100:
CandyApple: recalling sunsets over the Alaska Range across Cook Inlet, fresh crab and salmon, the smell of spruce in the air so clean she could easily see a hundred miles, the soft swish of mukluks in powder, "hmm, maybe Anchorage wasn't such a bad place, after all..."

[MyAzi]

Originally Posted by RodFarlee

prediction: August '08: after 2 months of unremitting temp 100 humidity 100:
CandyApple: recalling sunsets over the Alaska Range across Cook Inlet, fresh crab and salmon, the smell of spruce in the air so clean she could easily see a hundred miles, the soft swish of mukluks in powder, "hmm, maybe Anchorage wasn't such a bad place, after all..."

Rod I was thinking the same thing!!! I mean most of Texas just isn't pretty...okay let me rephrase that... the desert has it's own beauty.. I will admit that. But if you are used to Alaska and that terrain... it can't compare. In MY opinion...

[jabm67]

Actually, the Davis Mountains way out in West Texas remind me strongly of the arid regions of eastern WA, between Ellensburg and the Tri-Cities. A little warmer, make no mistake, but I was struck by the similarities.

[CandyApple]

I guess some questions about these areas are:

Do they all have trees? And wooded areas you can walk around in? Or is it just palm trees? I figure the Piney Woods area is fine, but what about the coast? Any tree-scanty cities there? Or are all of the ones on my list pretty good?

How pretty are these areas? Is it easy to get around by foot/bike? Are there lots of little parks and things to hang out in? Is it fun to play outside there?

Is there anything about these areas that screams "avoid it" (ugly, etc.) or "this place is great"? Are there any areas that just aren't worth looking at? Any places I should schedule extra time for?

BTW, house appreciation is a negative factor for me. I'd rather prices stayed the same or go down so that when I'm ready to buy I can afford it. :)

This is very true.. Also watch out for Sting rays, and the occasional shark. On the beach watch out for Rattlers, and the occasional gator. =)

My big fear with snakes is that I'll accidentally step on one and it'll bite me. Especially since snakes like to hide. Plus the fact that I'm not the most observant person around.

Are gators easy to outrun? Do they ever swim in the ocean? Will I stumble into one and get eaten? Will my daughter escape from my arms and run into the jaws of a croc? What's the difference between a croc and an alligator? How easy is it to poke one in the eye (I hear that's their one vulnerability) or fight one off? I'm not really that coordinated. Can't catch, can't throw, can't grab the flag off of someone when playing flag football.

Are sharks/stingrays out at the same time as jellyfish? Do they come to the beach at specific times? Does the coast guard or whoever issue warnings when they're present? If I happen to swim in the water the same time as a shark or stingray, what will happen? Are they easy to notice? Will I be able to see them in the water, or is the water green and hard to see through like on the east coast?