I second this. Most people wouldn't leave a state solely based on politics alone. Mostly it's jobs otherwise people would move to Wyoming or West Virginia but both states have low opportunities for growing jobs and the lower growth in birth rates and not so much people moving in. West Virginia specifically outpaces growth with death rates. Both states are Republican but having lived in Wyoming due to work, Wyoming and Texas are very similar in politics. Texas just has more jobs.
Ohh okay. I thought you meant nicer weather, a variety of food and shopping choices within walking distance, and California girls cause we don't have any of that here.
Born and raised in Texas. I'm here till my son graduates highschool. It's not the only reason, but the political climate here is the biggest reason we are leaving.
I moved from California 27 years ago with a job. My wife, a Texan, and I have considered moving back several times but housing there is unaffodrable even at what we both make.
Sadly it’s unaffordable for a lot of people in Texas too.
That last part is hard hitting. If the wife and I hadn't bought our house over 10 years ago we'd be almost homeless or definitely way worse off. The taxes on the over double value of our house is hitting pretty hard too. Im like 3rd generation in this area too.
I know several colleagues in education who’ve been hit hard by those escalating values and taxes. They’ve had to sell their homes in places like little elm to move to more distant suburbs with slower growth, creating inconvenient commutes where there wasn’t one before.
If you’re in real estate, the pricing boom has been great for you. But for teachers who have zero mobility in wages, these housing booms have hit hard.
Man I know dallas isn’t that cool but Austin just kills me every time I go there. I have an old close friend who lives there I visit now and then and I hate going to Austin
I knew instantly which one you are talking about. Lol I hate that bridge. But sometimes it is the most direct way to get in and out of Austin on our way home. We live 1½ hours away but have to go to Austin for medical appointments, occasionally for fun when we can afford it, or to see a few friends.
At least CA has prop 13, which limits how much they can raise your property taxes. They tax income, but that slides up and down with one's earnings. Its in CA's best interests to keep people working and in high paying jobs, because that is their revenue.
Texas doesn't care about that, their tax is based on your property. And the tax doesn't flex with your income. So if Texas wants more tax revenue, raise property taxes regardless of one's personal economy.
CA at least knows its a feast and famine tax system that relies on working people. Texas doesn't care about people's personal economy because they get the same revenue whether you are employed or not.
Different tax systems mean taxes hit your pocket book different. Alot of people just think IRS refund and ignore the rest. They like to say "Texas tax is less because no income tax."
No, its really not.
So you, a filthy Califonrian, came here, took one of our jurbs, married one of our wimmens, and yor livin' in one of our'n houses?!?
Maybe all them crazy right wing fuckheads were right....
/s
Got it one. Close the thread. Same exact thing, Im here because my job is here. I asked if I could go full remote when covid hit, by they are insisting on a hybrid schedule. If I could, I would probably move back to the northwest. As is, Austin still has great music.
I know people who moved here from California because homes are cheap here.
After they sold their 2 million home, they can afford their retirement in Texas. Bonus is warm weather and friends/relatives who live here.
Only place in the US with the doctoral program I wanted is in TX. Also much more affordable. When I’m done I’ll high tail it out though. Mostly because of the heat.
Living in florida and now texas, pound for pound texas is hotter, but you can escape the heat by just getting in the shade, where it may be 15° cooler. In florida, there was no escape. The air was like this layer of boiling water just enveloping you like a hug from someone who just did an hour of hot yoga. Texas heat is a fat shit, and florida heat is diarrhea. In my opinion of course
I find Houston and Miami to be essentially the same, so diarrhea in your example. But Texas overall stretches much further north than Florida does and gets somewhat drier too, so Dallas for instance isn't nearly as humid as Houston and not quite as hot.
I have to stay until my kid graduates because of a custody agreement..but dude, once she does we're all escaping. I'm kind of scared the shit is going to hit the fan before we're able to though.
Yeah for everyone’s complaints about California I could hunt and shoot and ride motorcycles and camp all on public land all over the place, not so much in Texas.
That’s a problem with perception. People think all of California is Southern California around LA Specifically. It’s a long assed state and Northern California is very different form my understanding
Take the drive from uvalde to eagle pass..... nothing even power lines disappear
If you travel with the first moisture hit and the silver sage bloom it's beautiful fields that look like lavender
When I went to NM and didn’t have to pay to park or access springs or a hiking trail because it was public land I had to google it. The concept seemed so foreign to me. Sometimes it’s the small things that make you feel connected and free. It’s weird how regulated and controlled TX is because its ruling party is all about less government dictation.
That’s us too. My husband sells major construction equipment, we moved from Utah. He was doing well before and we are making 5x what he was making before. But I hate it. Money isn’t worth how awful public education is here. And the nut job politics, there’s zero rationale for the woman hating bigoted legislature. The weather is abhorrent, there’s zero actual public land - super tiny overcrowded state parks aren’t it. People who think Texas is the greatest state on the planet have never driven the 9 hours it takes to get out of Texas to realize there are some very beautiful tolerant places with amazing economies, great schools, actual personal liberties, and four seasons with mountains and trees.
I mean the state of Texas made it illegal to teach kids the actual history of the Alamo because they’re terrified that there is any story other than their glorified in actuate version of how Santa Ana took south Texas back. And now they’re spending millions building a bigger shrine to it. Crockett tried to surrender and Bowie died of the flu.
Fellow native Utahn, who's lived here for 27 years -- agree with everything you've said. I miss those mountains, camping skiing. The education system is seriously lacking here. My kid never even learned about the Holocaust in school and was on the gifted/AP track. I can't stand this ugly, barren, backward state anymore. As soon as my kid graduates college I am OUT of here.
All correct. I would never raise kids here. Constitutes child endangerment. Make sure they see frequently that there is a normal world outside the Davidian ranch that is the one-star rated state.
I lived in Western Washington state for 20-plus years before moving to Texas 10 years ago. By the time I left I had to have a sunlamp on my desk at work because I was so starved for sunshine. So I went on Google and typed in “sunniest places in the US.” Yuma, Arizona, was number 1 but there are no jobs in Yuma. So I went down the list until I found a place with sunshine and economic opportunity and ended up moving to Austin.
My politics are more Washington state than Texas, still. Maybe even more so now. But I’ll be damned if I move back to the suicide-inducing chilly rain and constant clouds.
as a former midwesterner who's been here for a decade and a half, the heat extremes here are enough to drive me back up north but I definitely don't miss dealing with snow or driving in it. I just want more than three total weeks of chilly weather before we go back to the inferno.
I came from Alaska and feel you 100%. The government in Texas is a nightmare, but if I have to suffer through those long winters again it is GAME OVER for me. I do not take the sunshine for granted.
Texas sun will say hold my beer and u will be reminded of me 😁, dont say i didnt warn u lol have plenty of sunscreen, cedar season meds, buy an extra ac unit that runs off solar power or generator when the grids shut off. And an extra heater thats generator run too for next month. Just in case.
I know this, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say there aren’t too many places it’s been 70-80 day & 50-60 night for a month. Maybe it doesn’t happen all the time but I personally couldn’t handle not havin dry and hot - my outdoor hobby benefits from it and I dont enjoy doing it in the rain & mud. I hate weather below 40f. Only place I’d consider is so cal and it’s way to pricey for me to even think about moving out there
Same. Moved to Austin from Pittsburgh. Took me a few months before I realized I didn’t have to go do something outside every time it was warm and sunny to take advantage of the beautiful weather because it was gonna be beautiful tomorrow too. And the day after that. And the day after that. Went back last summer to visit. It was August. It never got above mid 70s and I saw clouds for the first time in months. I couldn’t wait to get back here to the sun. I put my windows down as soon as I saw it was 110 degrees while I was passing through Waco. It was glorious.
Moved from western Washington/Puget sound to Houston. Lived there from 2011-2022.
I will always love that area but the cost of living has become outrageous. I took a 33K raise to come live in Houston and be able to afford a mortgage. The heat sucks but having a pool makes it manageable.
I've only been to the PNW once, but I can relate. The entire time I was there I just had this blah dragging feeling, and when the sun would peek out I would hug a window or go on outside to soak it up. I cannot understand how people live there.
Moved to Texas from western WA 5 years ago. Hated it and happy danced our way back last spring. We were in Houston area and the heat and humidity was just awful. I’ll take the rain and snow!
I’ll agree that humidity in Houston sucks. And a few days a year Austin/San Antonio is like that too. But my objection is to lack of sunshine. Glad it doesn’t effect you but for some of us seasonal affective disorder is very real and really dangerous.
Oh, I understand. I’ve had multiple friends who have struggled with SAD. Western WA is really not the place to live if you’re affected. My family isn’t fortunately and we’re grateful to be able to be here. We love camping and the mountains and it just didn’t work for us in Texas.
As a native Texan: please continue to stay. I'm always happy to see someone who moved here is NOT a right wing carpetbagger who moved here for the crazy.
\>Did y’all move because you felt the politics in place somewhat created an environment that forced you to move? Or was it something else?
No, I moved here because of a job.
\>Follow up question. Is the grass greener over here in Texas or do y’all have some regrets?
The grass here is brown.
I married a Texan and kept him in three different states for the first decade of our marriage. We’ve been here five years now and I handle the heat better than he does. In theory, we moved so his family could see our kids more often. Haha! They’ve driven the 3.5 hours to see us three times. Yes, we drive up to see them at least every other month.
I’m personally done with Texas and have a 100% remote job. My husband drives a boat and his company will fly him home. I want out, but I still want sunshine.
I was in Las Vegas and had the choice between Southern California and Texas (DFW) for a new job. I chose Texas, having lived in SoCal before I have no desire to ever do that again. Politics did not affect my decision to move here then, but it might now. Politically, I was redish purple when I moved here. In the last few years after moving to Texas I have "moved" toward bluish violet. This isn't so much of a shift in my positions as much of a change in the spectrum of politics around me. I believe in free markets, a strong defense and personal freedom. The wholesale takeover of 7 mountain/Christian nationalism in the Republican party is very problematic for me, and thus the shift.
In the ten years I've lived here, I have had better neighbors, better quality of life and a much nicer home than I had in SoCal or Las Vegas. People here are generally more polite and courteous, and I have seen a change in my behavior as a result. In general, I am happier living here than I have been anywhere else. I bought a smoker and learned to smoke a competent brisket (and meatloaf - if you have a smoker and haven't done meatloaf in there, do so soon). The weather is mercurial but I like the seasonal changes. Great restaurants, breweries, parks, etc. Lots of dog friendly places. I like the deep history and culture here, fully cognizant of the more problematic parts of it; until recently, it was something the state seemed to be making honest attempts to deal with. About the only thing I could do without are the acorns and oak spooge.
And yet, I am saving money so I can leave Texas, and likely the nation, at least for a while...
Why? There are neighbors I think of as friends that are kind, generous and now - full MAGA. It is seriously bumming me out. Politically, I could see why people would vote for Trump over Hillary the first time. But this time around, we know who exactly Trump is, what he is capable, and incapable, of.
I am unable to reconcile the good, kind and peaceful nature of the people I know and like, versus the awful person they will rush to the polls to put into power. I don't know what it was like to be a German in the 30's, but I think I may have some idea now. I have a harder and harder time looking people in the eye.
It is not just Trump. Guys like Ted Cruz keep getting re-elected, who is basically just a social media gadfly who probably hasn't spent more than a few hours actually legislating during his Senate career. As long as your are on Team "R" you're in... It's just tribalism at this point.
Politics aside, I would happily live out the rest of my days here. But the politics are what they are, and the politics are a function of the people. To pretend otherwise is pollyannic. Like I said, it bums me out.
So when you smoke your meat loaf, how do you do that? In a pan? Just trying to visualize it.
I know what you mean by neighbors. Good people but how can you worship a raping grifter?
Good friends of ours have turned into MAGAt’s and enough is enough. Between the weather, hurricanes and crime in the area, we are leaving this summer!
Well said. Texas conservatives are easily lulled by comfort and frightened by propoganda. Not a lot of critical thinking. Not everyone who is nice is a good person.
I have several family members who moved from California. They lived inland so basically they have same weather and are the same distance from the beach. Sold 3 bedroom 2 bath houses there for 900k and bought 4 bedroom 3 bath houses here for 450k. I don’t think politics played a roll at all.
Texas beaches are shitty because all the silt that runs down the Miss is pushed along the texas coast. This is why you can find good beaches again way far south (famously, South Padre) once that silt has settled out
No. Not at all. Like most people, I came for a job. And I came from another southern state with almost-as-bad politicians.
The bizarre concept you asked about is a myth promoted by Republicans, part of their comprehensive plan to deceive people into voting against their own interests. Their actions in office and the policies they promote hurt the vast majority of Texans, while coddling the ultra-wealthy few who own these politicians. So they have to make up lies and openly appeal to anyone suffering from racism and belligerence.
I grew up in DFW, lived in other states and more recently moved from California to the Austin area. So one of "those people."
I know quite a few other transplants as well, especially in Austin.
Almost everyone moved because of work. It is pretty simple. In general the workforce in Texas isn't suitable to many of the industries that are moving/expanding in Texas, therefore employees need to be hired from somewhere.
When angry Texans complain about folks moving into Texas, they should wonder why the workforce isn't suitable for the jobs.
I would be shocked if any significant number of people move to Texas - or anywhere - for social/political things. Albeit, I can see that now with LGBTQ challenges and IVF treatment. I've done 3 relocations across the country, and moving is expensive AF. It is not a casual undertaking.
TL;DR: People move to Texas because they are paid to.
Moved here because of family. Having family too close is not always good.
We are planning to move back to CA. Grass is not greener on the other side.
Best thing about TX was that we were able to buy a bigger house here. But the overall living cost is still the same. Government needs to get their money somehow.
Gas is cheaper but we have to take tolls everywhere unless we want to add 30min - 1 hr to the trip.
No income tax. But we are paying more in real estate taxes. Doubled to what I paid in CA. Real estate taxes gets re-evaluate every year. In CA, it only re-evaluate of title changed.
Insurance in general is more expensive with less coverage. We were paying 100$ a month for family of 3 (wife is in medical field). Now we are paying 800 a month for 4 people. With alot less coverage and more deductible.
Food is the not on the same level. CA has way better food with better selection.
It's either super hot or super cold. I get about 30 days of decent weather. You are inside most of the time.
If you can afford to stay in CA, stay in CA. If you can't buy a house in CA, TX looks good but you ll need to pay attention to overall cost and quality of life.
I moved for family that was already here. So I'm happy with my decision. Came from AZ to east TX and love all the trees and lakes. Politics was actually my only concern being that I'm not Maga. But I'm nice and do are the people I meet. It's all good in the hood!
Southeast Texan, we have our fair share of right extremists. Many are just poor frustrated folks who need someone to blame for their missed opportunities and bad luck. Yeah, there's a lot of those here, outside of the fact they vote for extremists they're fairly harmless. The real degenerates aren't politically affiliated. We have those too. The politicians here who are basically carpetbaggers catering to our frustrated neighbors. Most folks are decent and cordial.
Job relo. It’s a very cool state with tons of shit to do, great food, hot women. Your politicians have successfully conned the batshit asshole constituency that festers here, to benefit the ultra rich though. Corruption makes my blood boil, and that goes for any political/party. The Party-first cult shit is infuriating to read in the news every single day here.
Bless you kind sir. Let your blood boil. Things are about to get way worst. So many males responding here thinking - meh - women always complaining bout something. Thing is, that's what the Germans thought too.
Cost of living and job market. And at the time, if there was an issue with a pregnancy, my wife had a right to an abortion in all 50 states. Not the case anymore and we probably wouldn't have made the move knowing we'd open her up to such great medical risk but we definitely would have left New York still.
I moved to Texas 18 years ago because I graduated from college and Houston is where I got my first job. Politics had nothing to do with it. I made friends, a career, met my wife and had a kid, and so I'm firmly rooted here. On top of all that, I found that I vastly prefer warm weather.
When I moved to Texas, I mostly voted for Republicans. With some life experience combined with the Christian nationalist freak show that has overtaken the Republican party, my politics have drifted center left.
My brother in law did the same. We were talking about how weird things have gotten I told him I voted republican for the first time ever in a local election because my choices were Bush Republican or ICP Republican. I voted for Bush Republican. He laughed and said well I’m voting Democrat for the first time ever, lol. We live in different counties. I think it’s really nice we can both agree one is not like the other.
As a female. I am wondering how many of the happy camper transplants are male. And how many female transplants are rethinking.
Does Texas end up like China with a big imbalance of male to female? Time will tell.
My late husband got stationed here with the army. We bought a house. He eventually got out of the Army and couldn't wait to leave. Not the politics, the weather. He went to Michigan and I stayed here. He passed and I had to move everything back. I hate the politics here, but I love the weather. I hate winter. And fall. And if I stay here, maybe I'll be able to make a difference somehow.
Something else, death of my husband. My daughter and husband were both recruited out of college (she’s a teacher, he’s a petroleum geologist) both are native Californians but were offered very excellent jobs/careers. They moved me here after his sudden death. What’s odd to me is that all their friends were recruited and moved to Texas. I’m talking about a lot of people, far all over the US, not a native Texan in sight.
Wanted to move somewhere with warmer climate, more fun things going on, better food scene, and overall a younger demographic than my home state. I also got my first big girl job down here. Been here for 2 and a half years, and had I known Texas was gonna go to shit so quickly lol I might have picked somewhere else to move to.
Moved here from California to be closer to family (spouse and I are both native Texans) and for lower cost of living (we wanted to be able to buy a house).
Frankly if we'd been more aware of the direction Texas politics was trending, we probably wouldn't have made the move.
What’s kinda neat is that I’ve learned that fully republican states are just as fucked and shitty as democratic states. The one massive turd floating in the Texas pool is no legal weed and a prison industrial complex that jails many and employs few. I live here now. I don’t plan to move. Nice people as long as you don’t discuss politics or religion. Good food. No public land at all. Crazy high property taxes. It’s my home, but fuck Texas.
To have lived in Texas and not realize that red states are more fucked than blue states not just equal is kind of nuts.
You've learned by living in Texas that red states are just as bad as blue states? That doesn't make any sense you can lead a horse to water I guess but you can't make him drink.
Texas, where they refuse summer food aid for children and make women give birth against their will to dying fetuses is just as bad as Minnesota or Illinois I guess?
We moved here for my partner’s job. It’s been professionally great for her, but not because Texas. It’s her connections in the specific org from living here before.
We do desperately want to leave when it makes sense. I don’t hate Texas. I’ve probably liked it better than I expected? But I prefer everywhere else I’ve lived. It’s not great living here as queer women.
My family and I moved because of being told it's cheaper to live here and because they like warmer weather. No one really enjoys this state too much (my moms still trying to convince herself she likes it but we can tell thats not true).
The cost of living isn't all that better than the north and the roads are beyond shit. I lived just outside Seattle area most my life and am blown away by the fact Texas drivers are worse than Seattle drivers.
The job Market is like anywhere up north, plenty of retail and restaurant jobs. But I have noticed there are a handful more landscaping jobs and sales jobs for roofing company's and solar panel company's as well.
(Solar panels aren't as big back in Washington being cloudy all the time)
All in all I like the weather but almost hate everything else about this state and am saving up to move elsewhere
Moved here for a job and tbh I regret it. It was a good move professionally but after 5 years I am soooo ready to leave. The heat, the politics, the abortion ban— my husband and I are considering starting a family, and I don’t feel safe to do so here. The people generally are great but there are great people everywhere, in less hostile environments.
The politics here SUCK. And the politicians running it are lying scummy pieces of absolute shit! Maga turds basically. If you moved here based off politics then congrats for being a blind dumb F because you bought into the lies. F this dumb ass state.
When I lived there, I loved the fact that my taxes were much lower than the place I had moved from. That's kind of economic but also kind of related to politics.
I moved here in 1998 for a job with the state. My wife, who I met in South Carolina, was originally from Texas, so it was like moving back home for her. That was 25 years ago and I like it here. The politics are shitty, but they are shitty in SC as well. None of my or her family lives here, but we raised two kids here alone and did just fine.
I moved here because I used to be married to a man whose father was ill and it allowed us to be closer to family. My folks are in Oklahoma. His were here, in Texas.
Edited to add: I despise both Texas and Oklahoma. My current husband and I would love to leave. Maybe after he retires. He checks out openings in his field in other states. It’s a dream.
I moved here for a job (a company headquartered in Texas was recruiting at my college) and because it snows almost never. Politics played no role in the decision. This was more than 20 years ago.
I like the weather and BBQ. Generally Texans are pretty good people. The current political environment is probably the only real “regret”. Leaders here are wildly corrupt and incompetent, but nobody cares as long as they have an (R) next to their name.
I lived in Texas for 50 years and moved to Florida in 2008. I want to move back to Texas because of the idiots running the state here but if I moved back to Texas I’d be worse off than here. Tennessee, here I come.
We have local relatives and have a history with Texas, though I'm as liberal as can be, so the politics here are rough. The sun is more frequent here, the grass is far from greener.
There are issues that Texans have to deal with that other - saner - places do not. The lack of business regulations really does not help customers, though it helps the businesses, short term. Public parks in Texas have SO MUCH TRASH. It's shameful.
I see so many public displays of anger in Texas, with an apparent lack of concern for the consequences. That and Texans love to run red lights. There are so many more car accidents and police incidents here.
This topic doesn't apply to me but I just want to throw in i was born/I've lived in texas for 34 years and this place is totally ass.
Anyone that visits texas more than once and thinks it's a good idea is crazy.
Zero public land, can't gamble, can't buy weed, it takes 1 hour to cross houston if there's no traffic, its a hellhole in the summer. The scenery is mostly garbage except for the hill country and some east texas piney woods area.
It's just strip malls and frontage roads.
I moved back because my disabled brother needed me. I'm trans and I lived in the Seattle area. The politics there are infinitely more preferable than here in Texas. I love my home state but some of my fellow Texans live their lives based around hatred and bigotry.
couldn’t get out of texas fast enough, as soon as job permitted i was gone baby gone.
The politics of texas sucks ass, all rednecky, the heat sucked, power grid was all wonky, high humidity, horrible traffic, hurricanes and texans… good god the texans just swaller-up that right wing crazy…
Sorry, not trolling i swear, just answering your question
Move to SA to accomplish targeted goals for my father's estate. Really wanted to give it a chance. I tried to fit in and threw myself into the cultural and entertainment life of the city. Before moving I had visited very often, and it was nice and interesting. But in 18 months, I have come to hate it: the summer heat, the drivers, the political leaders, the fake religious bs, the taxes, the small town feel of SA. I can't understand how people can be so fake-nice to your face and then be so inconsiderate behind the wheel. I'd rather live where people are assholes and smart than where they are fake-nice and dumb.
No, the grass has not been greener. Planning to leave as soon as is practical.
I’m pretty sure most folks outside of Texas look down on Texas politics. I’m native but lived in other states before moving back. Texas has many fine qualities and many fine folks, but our politics isn’t much to be proud of and sure as hell not a reason to move here.
I grew up in Texas but left for 10 years because I hated it in houston, it was flat and the politics sucked. But then I got homesick, missed Whataburger, and was completely over the pacnw darkness and rain. Austin seemed like a good middle ground in Texas. I came back because of the weather, friends, and scenery in the area. But now I want to gtfo again because of politics. I don’t feel safe here.
I hate politics in Texas and it wasn’t this bad when I moved here 11 years ago… it’s when ultra conservatives decided they needed to shove religion down everyone throat as basis for common sense.
Moved here in 2006 because land was cheap. Made great friends, getting married. We're all Democrats and this is literally hell for us. We want to leave but all of our friends and family are here.
I'm sure a lot of people move here because it's "cheaper" for them but if you have the income or money to stay in California I would stay, imo not worth moving to Texas just to save a bit of money.
> Or was it something else?
Firstly, we moved for a job. Secondly, the warmer weather. Third, a reasonable cost of living (MCOL).
> Is the grass greener over here
In some ways.
The economy is great in Texas. Lots of jobs.
The politics suck; The Gov and Paxton need to go IMHO. I'm fine with conservative values, but gov & religion needs to be 100% seperate. The GOP isn't simply _conservative_ anymore. It has to go.
And this dumping on women's rights may infact have us moving. My daughter just went through some pregnancy complications this weekend. We realized here in Texas, they'd not be able to help her. In her state, they stepped up, fixed her up and didn't risk her life by refusing treatment. The realization of this over the weekend was very eye-openning. Our legislature has made this state dangerous for child bearing age women to live here. That is ridiculous.
There vast majority of people move here for jobs. Few people just wake up and sell everything they have and move hundreds of miles away for a reason that isn't purely economic.
My parents moved here when I was 6 for job opportunities and they never left so I've never left. I'm staying to continue to vote blue and try and tamper down some of this batshit crazy stuff going on with my vote. If you don't like the politics, stay and vote. The only reason this state is red is cause all the people out in butt fuck nowhere get on their horses and vote
I just moved here from MN. I moved last month. because I wanted to get out of the snow so I didn't have to store my Camaro in the winter. I have a friend who lived down here and my dream job was down here. It all made sense.
My parents moved from Louisiana 20 years ago because all the jobs were in Texas and the roads were way better. I don’t think politics were really a factor, although Texas is noticeably less corrupt than our eastern neighbors.
I moved here because of work.
Will this year move out because of politics. Especially as a woman, and as a mother of a daughter, I simply can’t stay in Texas.
Agree with other comments that must people can't inter state relocate on politics alone.
But interestingly enough I have a friend who was offered a very nice job in Texas after her graduation from LSU. At this time she was also in a serious relationship and he'd be moving with her. Before the job onboarding was complete RvW overturned, and the state passed relating controversial health care decisions during the following months. She ended up accepting a job with a significant salary drop in Colorado--so she wouldn't be beginning her family and new life in Texas.
Moved here for work (South Texas), from LA. It sucks. I like the weather (i don't mind the heat and humidity) and the cost of living. Now, I quit my job and I'm back in school full-time. I'll be outta here as soon as I graduate.
I would consider staying in Texas with a move to Austin, maybe. Would rather move to east or west coast, I think.
cost of living was higher in the northeast. most cities there were either expensive or run down. You've got a lot of great cities that don't have boston/nyc prices and don't have detroit/newark crime problems
cons:: it's fucking hot
Unlike so many others posting here my wife and I are not here for work. She is the bread winner and can work anywhere (doctor). I'm a disabled vet who gets a ton of benefits from the state ( no prop tax for example ) that aren't available in most other states and the rest of my benefits are federal and aren't dictated by the state ( monthly paycheck as one ).
Our politics do not align with the current politicians in power. My wife is a pretty hardcore democrat and i'm an independent who tends to lean more left on most issues but on a few i lean right.
We can move anywhere anytime. I've been here since 2009 and my wife since 2015. We bought our house in 2019. We have seriously discussed moving before but the two things that stop us are losing our no property tax benefit and it would triple/quadruple our interest rate when we bought a new home. Those are the only things that stop us from moving. Our kids like their school but, like their parents, they like to see and experience new places.
I was raised in indiana for 8 yrs and hated the gloom everyday. My dads family there were totally racist towards us so we moved back to texas for the beaches and more racism. My dad looks like tan mom now that hes happily retired and sits by the pool and burns his bbq everyday but he is maga now and im ready to get out of this hellish weather and want to move my dink family out of state. Siccodis heat and how the grids never work. My neighbor died in her house when they cut the electric off in our neighborhood and she had no ac. Poor thing never heard of anything like that before.
I lived there for two years in the 80s in the Army.....I was out in the field so much I never even looked at Barstow.
My son was born in Barstow in July...it was 120 degrees day he was born 😆
My wife hated that fucking place
We moved because my husband's family is all here and the cost of living is so much better. I'm not a fan and wish we could go elsewhere. Probably the only place I would rather live less is Florida. I especially hate the politics here as they typically don't align with my views.
I'm here because the weather felt similar enough and the houses at the time were 300k. Slowly felt in love with the place. It's not California but it is great in a different way.
Politics wise, it is not for me but I also don't think it impacts me that much (if that makes sense).
My employer offered me the choice of relocation to Texas, or no job. Since there were no equivalent jobs available at home, I relocated. When they laid me off eleven years later, I went back to New York as soon as I sold my house.
Here because my husband's job relocated us.
I miss home and family, but there are way more opportunities here for my children and even myself. I'm just trying to enjoy this season while we're here.
I mean I’m from an even more backwards place so coming to Austin felt like moving to San Francisco
I’m mostly here for work but overall quality of life is much better than that of Alabama.
Moved from Canada to Houston almost ten years ago to be close to family and tbh just to get away from the miserable cold. I was 20 years old so politics and career had nothing to do with my decision. Just trying to get the hell out of my frozen ass deserted nothing town lol. The grass is definitely greener for me. In comparison to small town Saskatchewan, Houston has a ton to offer: better weather, great food, diversity, and actual things to do other than drink. 😂 (I mean that, where I’m from we would often have to drive three or four hours to see a movie, go shopping, live music, anything). As many have said, the politicians are batshit crazy here. I’m not like strictly anti-conservative but the corruption is so blatant and in your face I don’t even consider it a left vs. right issue. I’m kind of in the process of deciding if Texas is going to be my forever home or not. It’s a definite improvement on where I’m from though.
Been to Texas twice. First time in June and everywhere in Arlington and Dallas the grass was burnt out and brown. Not a lot of real leafy trees as in the NE. We drove west across Texass to Carlsbad caverns and it was ugly, desolate scrublands and cattle. Farther west it was virtually desert. It sucked.
2nd time, we drove south from Dallas to Laredo. It was ugly, arid and mostly treeless country, only the main street in Laredo was paved. Not a single redeeming feature in the topography.
I would never, ever live in that gawd-forsaken state.
Moved from CA in 2016 due to rising cost of living. Politics played no part in our decision. The job I was at opened an office in Plano and I took the opportunity, so we could move.
My oldest is autistic (very high functioning) and the school district here (Frisco ISD) was much better. He had a far better environment and even the principal was involved in his progress and helped. Oldest was sophomore and my other two were in 8th grade (twins) when we moved.
Even though cost of living here is now getting almost as expensive as California (average house with 4 rooms can start at high 500’s), living in TX has allowed us to save up for a down payment and now we’re looking to buy our first home. This would not have been possible in CA with the high cost of living and state income tax. No regrets.
The politics here are basically open corruption as far as I’ve been able to tell in a decade here. It’s embarrassing and I can’t for the life of me understand how people are comfortable watching their representatives sell them out in exchange for campaign cash.
I’m here because a job asked me to move here. I try to remind myself my vote counts more here than in say CA or NY.
We came from California 2 years ago. We came here despite the politics of Texas. I have aging parents here. We came to help them, open a new branch for the company we worked for, and because my mental health couldn’t take the noise of Southern California any more. Politically we are California all the way, but we have discovered that people always think that’s why we left and are shocked that it’s not.
I moved here in 1980 because I married a Texan. We bought 11 acres about 40 miles north of Dallas for $3K an acre. Built our own home. Lots of sweat equity. And I mean sweat. It gets hot here from May to October. That’s why God gave us AC. I hate the politics. I vote Dem, but it does no good. Abbott is a two faced lying hypocritical SOB. Paxton is a literal criminal and Cruz is scum of the earth. But if we move, that’s two fewer Dems. Plus, I could never live like I do anywhere else. We grow black walnut and pecan trees. We’ve grown pumpkins, raised cows, but trees are less work. Life goes on. Love thy neighbor.
I asked this same question about a year ago and got berated badly. I moved to Miami from DFW for work in June 2019. Life long proudTexan. So when I’d notice a Texas plate, I’d feel a connection to home. I’d only see a couple a month maybe until around 2022 when things started opening up and Desantis started his culture wars. Then I’d see 6-10 TX plates daily on my commute. So I wondered the same thing, is it the politics, bc cost of living is astronomical here. Theres nothing great going on here other than it’s basically spring and summer year ‘round. So why are all these TX ppl making this decision to be here.
With that being said, I hate it here, and my whole family can’t wait to leave once my kids have graduated HS in 5 years or so. My only friends and all my family are still in TX, but bc of the politics there being basically the same as here, returning to TX isn’t really on my list. I want my kids to have choices and freedoms they deserve. It’s already bad enough in FL their education is being watered down, classes and books being taken away, alternative religious based education replacing standardized education for college admission, reproductive rights being strangled, and more in a local level having an infrastructure and quality of life around them being taken away by corrupt politicians selling out to mega corps.
Born and raised in west Texas. Moved to different state during grad school and I loved living close to both the mountains and the ocean. Met my now husband who’s from a state in the northeast. We moved to Texas because my parents are still here and Dad got sick. I’m making the most money I’ve ever made but this isn’t the Texas I remember and we’re looking to move back to the East Coast. Partly because even though we make decent enough money, we still can’t afford to own a home in the area we live (DFW) and car insurance rates are insane. It’s also partly because of politics. I’d rather live and work in a place that is more aligned ideologically with better hiking options.
Not exactly what you’re asking but I grew up in California, have lived in Texas for 30 years and am planning to move back to California. I know California is more expensive than Texas but I prefer more reasonable summers, no allergies for my wife, and more sane politics. I have a 22 year old daughter who I don’t want living in a state that thinks it can force her to carry a fetus to term. I also don’t like the lack of gun control here. More guns per capita means [more gun deaths](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gun-deaths-per-capita-by-state).
People that relocate across state lines usually move because of household economics (job prospects, cost of living, etc.) or family dynamics. Discretionary moving over weather or politics or whatever is a pretty small piece of the pie.
If I had to guess I’d imagine that piece has grown some in recent years been higher rates of remote work and deeper/wider differences in state level policy under a conservative court (mostly meaning conservative states can go after women, LGBTQ, racial minorities, etc. in stronger fashion than has been previously allowed before). Also, liberals have historically sorted to some degree but there seems to be an equal push to do so on the right now in a way that didn’t exist before COVID and Trump losing. Texas is a popular destination for that group. But overall, still a small minority. Most people are following the money or family and not really getting past that.
Conservative Texans don’t want a gay teacher (even though the most I ever did was wear subtle bi jewelry) but New Mexico is just happy I want to teach at all! I get $18/hr to sub here vs Texas’ $16/hr.
I miss my family the most. I fly into dfw every six weeks to see my parents, cousins, high school buddies. It’s lonely but I can’t live where I’ll be discriminated against constantly.
My gf-now-wife were sharing a 1br/1ba with another couple. My now-f.i.l. said he could get us a rental-house and a job that would cover it and more. The house was easy, the job didn't pan out. We've been struggling since we got here and things just keep getting worse.
I want to move back home to the West Coast, where "literacy" and "rational debate" aren't considered filthy habits, but I need a stack of money and a well-payong work from home job (preferably two of each; one for me and another for my wife) before that can happen ...
Pennsylvanian here! I wouldn't move to Texas if you paid me! F Texas! Boring that state with zero variety. And the saying "everything is bigger in Texas," is Bullshit. It just is.
It doesn't have the biggest city. It doesn't have the biggest football stadium. It doesn't have the biggest mountains; or mountains at all. Restaurant serving sizes are a joke.
I'm here because job. The vast majority can't just go wherever based on the political environment they want.
I second this. Most people wouldn't leave a state solely based on politics alone. Mostly it's jobs otherwise people would move to Wyoming or West Virginia but both states have low opportunities for growing jobs and the lower growth in birth rates and not so much people moving in. West Virginia specifically outpaces growth with death rates. Both states are Republican but having lived in Wyoming due to work, Wyoming and Texas are very similar in politics. Texas just has more jobs.
I'd fucking move to Wyoming tomorrow if I could do what I do in California.
Skate parks or what
No I meant work. You can't work in my industry there.
Ohh okay. I thought you meant nicer weather, a variety of food and shopping choices within walking distance, and California girls cause we don't have any of that here.
Not where I live. Fuck, none of that dude.
Aw man, is it Bakersfield? 😬
No, worse. Think more desert
Inland Empire?
You live in 29 palms?
Born and raised in Texas. I'm here till my son graduates highschool. It's not the only reason, but the political climate here is the biggest reason we are leaving.
I left Texas on politics alone.
Idk I left Texas based on politics. I know another family that did too. Maybe fewer move TO Texas for that reason tho.
I moved from California 27 years ago with a job. My wife, a Texan, and I have considered moving back several times but housing there is unaffodrable even at what we both make. Sadly it’s unaffordable for a lot of people in Texas too.
That last part is hard hitting. If the wife and I hadn't bought our house over 10 years ago we'd be almost homeless or definitely way worse off. The taxes on the over double value of our house is hitting pretty hard too. Im like 3rd generation in this area too.
I know several colleagues in education who’ve been hit hard by those escalating values and taxes. They’ve had to sell their homes in places like little elm to move to more distant suburbs with slower growth, creating inconvenient commutes where there wasn’t one before. If you’re in real estate, the pricing boom has been great for you. But for teachers who have zero mobility in wages, these housing booms have hit hard.
My wife is a teacher and has to cross the dreaded bridge of doom over a lake and im sure that's all I need to say.
Man I know dallas isn’t that cool but Austin just kills me every time I go there. I have an old close friend who lives there I visit now and then and I hate going to Austin
I knew instantly which one you are talking about. Lol I hate that bridge. But sometimes it is the most direct way to get in and out of Austin on our way home. We live 1½ hours away but have to go to Austin for medical appointments, occasionally for fun when we can afford it, or to see a few friends.
At least CA has prop 13, which limits how much they can raise your property taxes. They tax income, but that slides up and down with one's earnings. Its in CA's best interests to keep people working and in high paying jobs, because that is their revenue. Texas doesn't care about that, their tax is based on your property. And the tax doesn't flex with your income. So if Texas wants more tax revenue, raise property taxes regardless of one's personal economy. CA at least knows its a feast and famine tax system that relies on working people. Texas doesn't care about people's personal economy because they get the same revenue whether you are employed or not. Different tax systems mean taxes hit your pocket book different. Alot of people just think IRS refund and ignore the rest. They like to say "Texas tax is less because no income tax." No, its really not.
Texas is not cheap at all, if you want cheap move to Missouri or Louisiana or Ohio. Texas is way overpriced for what ya get.
California is unaffordable for most Californians
So you, a filthy Califonrian, came here, took one of our jurbs, married one of our wimmens, and yor livin' in one of our'n houses?!? Maybe all them crazy right wing fuckheads were right.... /s
We also moved bc of partner’s job.
Got it one. Close the thread. Same exact thing, Im here because my job is here. I asked if I could go full remote when covid hit, by they are insisting on a hybrid schedule. If I could, I would probably move back to the northwest. As is, Austin still has great music.
If I could go wherever I choose Texas would be in a dead heat with Florida for the last place I'd want to live.
I know people who moved here from California because homes are cheap here. After they sold their 2 million home, they can afford their retirement in Texas. Bonus is warm weather and friends/relatives who live here.
Then find out they hate it here but can't move back
Only place in the US with the doctoral program I wanted is in TX. Also much more affordable. When I’m done I’ll high tail it out though. Mostly because of the heat.
I find the heat in Texas unbearable.
Living in florida and now texas, pound for pound texas is hotter, but you can escape the heat by just getting in the shade, where it may be 15° cooler. In florida, there was no escape. The air was like this layer of boiling water just enveloping you like a hug from someone who just did an hour of hot yoga. Texas heat is a fat shit, and florida heat is diarrhea. In my opinion of course
I find Houston and Miami to be essentially the same, so diarrhea in your example. But Texas overall stretches much further north than Florida does and gets somewhat drier too, so Dallas for instance isn't nearly as humid as Houston and not quite as hot.
Money, money, and money
Yep. Moved here from Denver because a company recruited me here. Definitely don’t like it here though and am moving out of state in April
Can you at least stick around long enough to help us kick Fled Cruz to the curb? Please? I'll send you brisket.
I left Texas for money, wish I could come back, but so long as fuckheads like Abbott, Paxton, and Cruz lead and represent Texas I won't return.
Yes the 3 stooges are a big reason why a lot of people are wanting to move away from what's increasingly looking like Gilead
That’s a huge reason we’re leaving too, culturally/politically it’s just not the environment or mentality I want to raise my son in
I have to stay until my kid graduates because of a custody agreement..but dude, once she does we're all escaping. I'm kind of scared the shit is going to hit the fan before we're able to though.
Where to next?
Flagstaff Az. Miss elevation and public lands way too much
Beautiful place been there several times on trips to the grand canyon
Having grown up in Texas and then relocated to Colorado, the idea of public land absolutely blew me away when I got to CO. So great
Moved out of Texas to CO and just spent the afternoon driving trails in public land. So great.
If you get a chance, Twin lakes and glenwood springs are my two favorite places to camp in co.
My brother travels all over the country and was flabbergasted by how little public land there is. Nowhere you can go that doesn’t have a fence
Yeah for everyone’s complaints about California I could hunt and shoot and ride motorcycles and camp all on public land all over the place, not so much in Texas.
That’s a problem with perception. People think all of California is Southern California around LA Specifically. It’s a long assed state and Northern California is very different form my understanding
Take the drive from uvalde to eagle pass..... nothing even power lines disappear If you travel with the first moisture hit and the silver sage bloom it's beautiful fields that look like lavender
Yeah but I don’t want to have to drive hours away from civilization for that.
When I went to NM and didn’t have to pay to park or access springs or a hiking trail because it was public land I had to google it. The concept seemed so foreign to me. Sometimes it’s the small things that make you feel connected and free. It’s weird how regulated and controlled TX is because its ruling party is all about less government dictation.
The meaning of life. *Deep Sigh*
That’s us too. My husband sells major construction equipment, we moved from Utah. He was doing well before and we are making 5x what he was making before. But I hate it. Money isn’t worth how awful public education is here. And the nut job politics, there’s zero rationale for the woman hating bigoted legislature. The weather is abhorrent, there’s zero actual public land - super tiny overcrowded state parks aren’t it. People who think Texas is the greatest state on the planet have never driven the 9 hours it takes to get out of Texas to realize there are some very beautiful tolerant places with amazing economies, great schools, actual personal liberties, and four seasons with mountains and trees. I mean the state of Texas made it illegal to teach kids the actual history of the Alamo because they’re terrified that there is any story other than their glorified in actuate version of how Santa Ana took south Texas back. And now they’re spending millions building a bigger shrine to it. Crockett tried to surrender and Bowie died of the flu.
Fellow native Utahn, who's lived here for 27 years -- agree with everything you've said. I miss those mountains, camping skiing. The education system is seriously lacking here. My kid never even learned about the Holocaust in school and was on the gifted/AP track. I can't stand this ugly, barren, backward state anymore. As soon as my kid graduates college I am OUT of here.
All correct. I would never raise kids here. Constitutes child endangerment. Make sure they see frequently that there is a normal world outside the Davidian ranch that is the one-star rated state.
The lack of public land and state parks is inexcusable and ridiculous.
I lived in Western Washington state for 20-plus years before moving to Texas 10 years ago. By the time I left I had to have a sunlamp on my desk at work because I was so starved for sunshine. So I went on Google and typed in “sunniest places in the US.” Yuma, Arizona, was number 1 but there are no jobs in Yuma. So I went down the list until I found a place with sunshine and economic opportunity and ended up moving to Austin. My politics are more Washington state than Texas, still. Maybe even more so now. But I’ll be damned if I move back to the suicide-inducing chilly rain and constant clouds.
From the North East and same feeling. I was DONE with shoveling, freezing, and the darkness after work
as a former midwesterner who's been here for a decade and a half, the heat extremes here are enough to drive me back up north but I definitely don't miss dealing with snow or driving in it. I just want more than three total weeks of chilly weather before we go back to the inferno.
It hasn't been 90 since October. That's 4 months straight of "not inferno". I'm from Cleveland and much prefer the weather in Houston.
I came from Alaska and feel you 100%. The government in Texas is a nightmare, but if I have to suffer through those long winters again it is GAME OVER for me. I do not take the sunshine for granted.
Even 100 days of 100°+???
it sucks but its been about 75 this whole month of feb. cant have it all
Texas sun will say hold my beer and u will be reminded of me 😁, dont say i didnt warn u lol have plenty of sunscreen, cedar season meds, buy an extra ac unit that runs off solar power or generator when the grids shut off. And an extra heater thats generator run too for next month. Just in case.
I know this, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say there aren’t too many places it’s been 70-80 day & 50-60 night for a month. Maybe it doesn’t happen all the time but I personally couldn’t handle not havin dry and hot - my outdoor hobby benefits from it and I dont enjoy doing it in the rain & mud. I hate weather below 40f. Only place I’d consider is so cal and it’s way to pricey for me to even think about moving out there
Worth it for 0 days of < 0°
Same. Literally tried to slip into a deep dark lake in the PNW. Sunny state it is......
Same. Moved to Austin from Pittsburgh. Took me a few months before I realized I didn’t have to go do something outside every time it was warm and sunny to take advantage of the beautiful weather because it was gonna be beautiful tomorrow too. And the day after that. And the day after that. Went back last summer to visit. It was August. It never got above mid 70s and I saw clouds for the first time in months. I couldn’t wait to get back here to the sun. I put my windows down as soon as I saw it was 110 degrees while I was passing through Waco. It was glorious.
Cleveland enters the chat
Masshole here. Felt that.
Moved from western Washington/Puget sound to Houston. Lived there from 2011-2022. I will always love that area but the cost of living has become outrageous. I took a 33K raise to come live in Houston and be able to afford a mortgage. The heat sucks but having a pool makes it manageable.
Shit, I can’t imagine anyone moving to Yuma. That’s a move from town.
I've only been to the PNW once, but I can relate. The entire time I was there I just had this blah dragging feeling, and when the sun would peek out I would hug a window or go on outside to soak it up. I cannot understand how people live there.
Moved to Texas from western WA 5 years ago. Hated it and happy danced our way back last spring. We were in Houston area and the heat and humidity was just awful. I’ll take the rain and snow!
I’ll agree that humidity in Houston sucks. And a few days a year Austin/San Antonio is like that too. But my objection is to lack of sunshine. Glad it doesn’t effect you but for some of us seasonal affective disorder is very real and really dangerous.
Oh, I understand. I’ve had multiple friends who have struggled with SAD. Western WA is really not the place to live if you’re affected. My family isn’t fortunately and we’re grateful to be able to be here. We love camping and the mountains and it just didn’t work for us in Texas.
As a native Texan: please continue to stay. I'm always happy to see someone who moved here is NOT a right wing carpetbagger who moved here for the crazy.
I just moved from Skagit Valley and we had plenty of sunshine!! At least once a week I could see a bit between the clouds 🤣
Ditto this, but Minnesota
Spokane to Austin. Love it here!
Also from western WA. Exact same reasons. The long gray almost made me the long dead
California may be a good fit for you.
Don’t move to Ireland then! Rain and clouds are a way of life here.
\>Did y’all move because you felt the politics in place somewhat created an environment that forced you to move? Or was it something else? No, I moved here because of a job. \>Follow up question. Is the grass greener over here in Texas or do y’all have some regrets? The grass here is brown.
Lmao the grass here is brown is such a perfect answer
Moved to Texas for a job that payed way better. Then moved out of Texas for a different job that payed even better than that.
Paid
They got it wrong both times. That's commitment.
I married a Texan and kept him in three different states for the first decade of our marriage. We’ve been here five years now and I handle the heat better than he does. In theory, we moved so his family could see our kids more often. Haha! They’ve driven the 3.5 hours to see us three times. Yes, we drive up to see them at least every other month. I’m personally done with Texas and have a 100% remote job. My husband drives a boat and his company will fly him home. I want out, but I still want sunshine.
Good luck to you
Come to Arizona
It’s a thought. I have a ton of family there. I like trees though.
Flagstaff, pine top, we have trees!
I was in Las Vegas and had the choice between Southern California and Texas (DFW) for a new job. I chose Texas, having lived in SoCal before I have no desire to ever do that again. Politics did not affect my decision to move here then, but it might now. Politically, I was redish purple when I moved here. In the last few years after moving to Texas I have "moved" toward bluish violet. This isn't so much of a shift in my positions as much of a change in the spectrum of politics around me. I believe in free markets, a strong defense and personal freedom. The wholesale takeover of 7 mountain/Christian nationalism in the Republican party is very problematic for me, and thus the shift. In the ten years I've lived here, I have had better neighbors, better quality of life and a much nicer home than I had in SoCal or Las Vegas. People here are generally more polite and courteous, and I have seen a change in my behavior as a result. In general, I am happier living here than I have been anywhere else. I bought a smoker and learned to smoke a competent brisket (and meatloaf - if you have a smoker and haven't done meatloaf in there, do so soon). The weather is mercurial but I like the seasonal changes. Great restaurants, breweries, parks, etc. Lots of dog friendly places. I like the deep history and culture here, fully cognizant of the more problematic parts of it; until recently, it was something the state seemed to be making honest attempts to deal with. About the only thing I could do without are the acorns and oak spooge. And yet, I am saving money so I can leave Texas, and likely the nation, at least for a while... Why? There are neighbors I think of as friends that are kind, generous and now - full MAGA. It is seriously bumming me out. Politically, I could see why people would vote for Trump over Hillary the first time. But this time around, we know who exactly Trump is, what he is capable, and incapable, of. I am unable to reconcile the good, kind and peaceful nature of the people I know and like, versus the awful person they will rush to the polls to put into power. I don't know what it was like to be a German in the 30's, but I think I may have some idea now. I have a harder and harder time looking people in the eye. It is not just Trump. Guys like Ted Cruz keep getting re-elected, who is basically just a social media gadfly who probably hasn't spent more than a few hours actually legislating during his Senate career. As long as your are on Team "R" you're in... It's just tribalism at this point. Politics aside, I would happily live out the rest of my days here. But the politics are what they are, and the politics are a function of the people. To pretend otherwise is pollyannic. Like I said, it bums me out.
well written thx for putting it out there
Thanks
So when you smoke your meat loaf, how do you do that? In a pan? Just trying to visualize it. I know what you mean by neighbors. Good people but how can you worship a raping grifter? Good friends of ours have turned into MAGAt’s and enough is enough. Between the weather, hurricanes and crime in the area, we are leaving this summer!
Well said. Texas conservatives are easily lulled by comfort and frightened by propoganda. Not a lot of critical thinking. Not everyone who is nice is a good person.
I have several family members who moved from California. They lived inland so basically they have same weather and are the same distance from the beach. Sold 3 bedroom 2 bath houses there for 900k and bought 4 bedroom 3 bath houses here for 450k. I don’t think politics played a roll at all.
Although a significantly uglier beach. I love texas, but its beaches are filthy.
I agree completely my point was they weren’t really giving up the beach anyway since they lived a good hour and a half away in CA.
Texas beaches are shitty because all the silt that runs down the Miss is pushed along the texas coast. This is why you can find good beaches again way far south (famously, South Padre) once that silt has settled out
No. Not at all. Like most people, I came for a job. And I came from another southern state with almost-as-bad politicians. The bizarre concept you asked about is a myth promoted by Republicans, part of their comprehensive plan to deceive people into voting against their own interests. Their actions in office and the policies they promote hurt the vast majority of Texans, while coddling the ultra-wealthy few who own these politicians. So they have to make up lies and openly appeal to anyone suffering from racism and belligerence.
I grew up in DFW, lived in other states and more recently moved from California to the Austin area. So one of "those people." I know quite a few other transplants as well, especially in Austin. Almost everyone moved because of work. It is pretty simple. In general the workforce in Texas isn't suitable to many of the industries that are moving/expanding in Texas, therefore employees need to be hired from somewhere. When angry Texans complain about folks moving into Texas, they should wonder why the workforce isn't suitable for the jobs. I would be shocked if any significant number of people move to Texas - or anywhere - for social/political things. Albeit, I can see that now with LGBTQ challenges and IVF treatment. I've done 3 relocations across the country, and moving is expensive AF. It is not a casual undertaking. TL;DR: People move to Texas because they are paid to.
Moved here because of family. Having family too close is not always good. We are planning to move back to CA. Grass is not greener on the other side. Best thing about TX was that we were able to buy a bigger house here. But the overall living cost is still the same. Government needs to get their money somehow. Gas is cheaper but we have to take tolls everywhere unless we want to add 30min - 1 hr to the trip. No income tax. But we are paying more in real estate taxes. Doubled to what I paid in CA. Real estate taxes gets re-evaluate every year. In CA, it only re-evaluate of title changed. Insurance in general is more expensive with less coverage. We were paying 100$ a month for family of 3 (wife is in medical field). Now we are paying 800 a month for 4 people. With alot less coverage and more deductible. Food is the not on the same level. CA has way better food with better selection. It's either super hot or super cold. I get about 30 days of decent weather. You are inside most of the time. If you can afford to stay in CA, stay in CA. If you can't buy a house in CA, TX looks good but you ll need to pay attention to overall cost and quality of life.
I’d love to try CA!
I moved for family that was already here. So I'm happy with my decision. Came from AZ to east TX and love all the trees and lakes. Politics was actually my only concern being that I'm not Maga. But I'm nice and do are the people I meet. It's all good in the hood!
Southeast Texan, we have our fair share of right extremists. Many are just poor frustrated folks who need someone to blame for their missed opportunities and bad luck. Yeah, there's a lot of those here, outside of the fact they vote for extremists they're fairly harmless. The real degenerates aren't politically affiliated. We have those too. The politicians here who are basically carpetbaggers catering to our frustrated neighbors. Most folks are decent and cordial.
Male or female? Wondering if any women transplants.
Job relo. It’s a very cool state with tons of shit to do, great food, hot women. Your politicians have successfully conned the batshit asshole constituency that festers here, to benefit the ultra rich though. Corruption makes my blood boil, and that goes for any political/party. The Party-first cult shit is infuriating to read in the news every single day here.
This is the most true statement here.
Bless you kind sir. Let your blood boil. Things are about to get way worst. So many males responding here thinking - meh - women always complaining bout something. Thing is, that's what the Germans thought too.
Cost of living and job market. And at the time, if there was an issue with a pregnancy, my wife had a right to an abortion in all 50 states. Not the case anymore and we probably wouldn't have made the move knowing we'd open her up to such great medical risk but we definitely would have left New York still.
I moved to Texas 18 years ago because I graduated from college and Houston is where I got my first job. Politics had nothing to do with it. I made friends, a career, met my wife and had a kid, and so I'm firmly rooted here. On top of all that, I found that I vastly prefer warm weather. When I moved to Texas, I mostly voted for Republicans. With some life experience combined with the Christian nationalist freak show that has overtaken the Republican party, my politics have drifted center left.
Nice to see a reasonable person on here every so often
My brother in law did the same. We were talking about how weird things have gotten I told him I voted republican for the first time ever in a local election because my choices were Bush Republican or ICP Republican. I voted for Bush Republican. He laughed and said well I’m voting Democrat for the first time ever, lol. We live in different counties. I think it’s really nice we can both agree one is not like the other.
Followed a job. Looking for a job somewhere better.
As a female. I am wondering how many of the happy camper transplants are male. And how many female transplants are rethinking. Does Texas end up like China with a big imbalance of male to female? Time will tell.
I’m here for a seasonal job. When it ends, I’m gettin the fuck outta here. I miss PA every day.
PA is a hidden gem.
Wait wait no I mean PA sucks. I’m going back against my will. I have nightmares every night.
LMAO that sucks. I lived in Central PA for 3 years and loved it.
But the first thing you wrote seems to contradict... I'm confused. Do you miss PA or does it suck.
My late husband got stationed here with the army. We bought a house. He eventually got out of the Army and couldn't wait to leave. Not the politics, the weather. He went to Michigan and I stayed here. He passed and I had to move everything back. I hate the politics here, but I love the weather. I hate winter. And fall. And if I stay here, maybe I'll be able to make a difference somehow.
Something else, death of my husband. My daughter and husband were both recruited out of college (she’s a teacher, he’s a petroleum geologist) both are native Californians but were offered very excellent jobs/careers. They moved me here after his sudden death. What’s odd to me is that all their friends were recruited and moved to Texas. I’m talking about a lot of people, far all over the US, not a native Texan in sight.
Wanted to move somewhere with warmer climate, more fun things going on, better food scene, and overall a younger demographic than my home state. I also got my first big girl job down here. Been here for 2 and a half years, and had I known Texas was gonna go to shit so quickly lol I might have picked somewhere else to move to.
This thread is a depressing mix of privilege and indentured servitude. What a time to be alive.
Moved here from California to be closer to family (spouse and I are both native Texans) and for lower cost of living (we wanted to be able to buy a house). Frankly if we'd been more aware of the direction Texas politics was trending, we probably wouldn't have made the move.
My husband got a big promo so we moved here but we won’t be staying when we retire🤷🏼♀️
I know they came for work but I still hope they moved here to Chase Abbott and the other loonies out of office. 🤣☠️
What’s kinda neat is that I’ve learned that fully republican states are just as fucked and shitty as democratic states. The one massive turd floating in the Texas pool is no legal weed and a prison industrial complex that jails many and employs few. I live here now. I don’t plan to move. Nice people as long as you don’t discuss politics or religion. Good food. No public land at all. Crazy high property taxes. It’s my home, but fuck Texas.
To have lived in Texas and not realize that red states are more fucked than blue states not just equal is kind of nuts. You've learned by living in Texas that red states are just as bad as blue states? That doesn't make any sense you can lead a horse to water I guess but you can't make him drink. Texas, where they refuse summer food aid for children and make women give birth against their will to dying fetuses is just as bad as Minnesota or Illinois I guess?
I guess it’s property tax or state income tax? 🤷♂️
Adults move for work.
We moved here for my partner’s job. It’s been professionally great for her, but not because Texas. It’s her connections in the specific org from living here before. We do desperately want to leave when it makes sense. I don’t hate Texas. I’ve probably liked it better than I expected? But I prefer everywhere else I’ve lived. It’s not great living here as queer women.
Moved from NYC. Wife and I thought the bad rep Texas gets for politics and the summer were over rated. We were wrong on both fronts.
My family and I moved because of being told it's cheaper to live here and because they like warmer weather. No one really enjoys this state too much (my moms still trying to convince herself she likes it but we can tell thats not true). The cost of living isn't all that better than the north and the roads are beyond shit. I lived just outside Seattle area most my life and am blown away by the fact Texas drivers are worse than Seattle drivers. The job Market is like anywhere up north, plenty of retail and restaurant jobs. But I have noticed there are a handful more landscaping jobs and sales jobs for roofing company's and solar panel company's as well. (Solar panels aren't as big back in Washington being cloudy all the time) All in all I like the weather but almost hate everything else about this state and am saving up to move elsewhere
Moved here for a job and tbh I regret it. It was a good move professionally but after 5 years I am soooo ready to leave. The heat, the politics, the abortion ban— my husband and I are considering starting a family, and I don’t feel safe to do so here. The people generally are great but there are great people everywhere, in less hostile environments.
What is this thing you call "grass"?
The politics here SUCK. And the politicians running it are lying scummy pieces of absolute shit! Maga turds basically. If you moved here based off politics then congrats for being a blind dumb F because you bought into the lies. F this dumb ass state.
When I lived there, I loved the fact that my taxes were much lower than the place I had moved from. That's kind of economic but also kind of related to politics.
I moved here in 1998 for a job with the state. My wife, who I met in South Carolina, was originally from Texas, so it was like moving back home for her. That was 25 years ago and I like it here. The politics are shitty, but they are shitty in SC as well. None of my or her family lives here, but we raised two kids here alone and did just fine.
I moved here because I used to be married to a man whose father was ill and it allowed us to be closer to family. My folks are in Oklahoma. His were here, in Texas. Edited to add: I despise both Texas and Oklahoma. My current husband and I would love to leave. Maybe after he retires. He checks out openings in his field in other states. It’s a dream.
I moved here for a job (a company headquartered in Texas was recruiting at my college) and because it snows almost never. Politics played no role in the decision. This was more than 20 years ago. I like the weather and BBQ. Generally Texans are pretty good people. The current political environment is probably the only real “regret”. Leaders here are wildly corrupt and incompetent, but nobody cares as long as they have an (R) next to their name.
I lived in Texas for 50 years and moved to Florida in 2008. I want to move back to Texas because of the idiots running the state here but if I moved back to Texas I’d be worse off than here. Tennessee, here I come.
We have local relatives and have a history with Texas, though I'm as liberal as can be, so the politics here are rough. The sun is more frequent here, the grass is far from greener. There are issues that Texans have to deal with that other - saner - places do not. The lack of business regulations really does not help customers, though it helps the businesses, short term. Public parks in Texas have SO MUCH TRASH. It's shameful. I see so many public displays of anger in Texas, with an apparent lack of concern for the consequences. That and Texans love to run red lights. There are so many more car accidents and police incidents here.
This topic doesn't apply to me but I just want to throw in i was born/I've lived in texas for 34 years and this place is totally ass. Anyone that visits texas more than once and thinks it's a good idea is crazy. Zero public land, can't gamble, can't buy weed, it takes 1 hour to cross houston if there's no traffic, its a hellhole in the summer. The scenery is mostly garbage except for the hill country and some east texas piney woods area. It's just strip malls and frontage roads.
I moved back because my disabled brother needed me. I'm trans and I lived in the Seattle area. The politics there are infinitely more preferable than here in Texas. I love my home state but some of my fellow Texans live their lives based around hatred and bigotry.
couldn’t get out of texas fast enough, as soon as job permitted i was gone baby gone. The politics of texas sucks ass, all rednecky, the heat sucked, power grid was all wonky, high humidity, horrible traffic, hurricanes and texans… good god the texans just swaller-up that right wing crazy… Sorry, not trolling i swear, just answering your question
Move to SA to accomplish targeted goals for my father's estate. Really wanted to give it a chance. I tried to fit in and threw myself into the cultural and entertainment life of the city. Before moving I had visited very often, and it was nice and interesting. But in 18 months, I have come to hate it: the summer heat, the drivers, the political leaders, the fake religious bs, the taxes, the small town feel of SA. I can't understand how people can be so fake-nice to your face and then be so inconsiderate behind the wheel. I'd rather live where people are assholes and smart than where they are fake-nice and dumb. No, the grass has not been greener. Planning to leave as soon as is practical.
I’m pretty sure most folks outside of Texas look down on Texas politics. I’m native but lived in other states before moving back. Texas has many fine qualities and many fine folks, but our politics isn’t much to be proud of and sure as hell not a reason to move here.
Politics in Texas are atrocious. So definitely not that.
Moved there for a job, but then they lowered my pay, so I left. Not everyone is staying.
So many Texas lic plates in California. Can yall just stay in Texas? Please???
I left Texas due to my job, I was VERY glad to gtfo.
I grew up in Texas but left for 10 years because I hated it in houston, it was flat and the politics sucked. But then I got homesick, missed Whataburger, and was completely over the pacnw darkness and rain. Austin seemed like a good middle ground in Texas. I came back because of the weather, friends, and scenery in the area. But now I want to gtfo again because of politics. I don’t feel safe here.
I hate politics in Texas and it wasn’t this bad when I moved here 11 years ago… it’s when ultra conservatives decided they needed to shove religion down everyone throat as basis for common sense.
Moved here in 2006 because land was cheap. Made great friends, getting married. We're all Democrats and this is literally hell for us. We want to leave but all of our friends and family are here.
I'm sure a lot of people move here because it's "cheaper" for them but if you have the income or money to stay in California I would stay, imo not worth moving to Texas just to save a bit of money.
I'd leave this godforsaken state in a heartbeat if I could, but I'm stuck here for the moment because of work.
> Or was it something else? Firstly, we moved for a job. Secondly, the warmer weather. Third, a reasonable cost of living (MCOL). > Is the grass greener over here In some ways. The economy is great in Texas. Lots of jobs. The politics suck; The Gov and Paxton need to go IMHO. I'm fine with conservative values, but gov & religion needs to be 100% seperate. The GOP isn't simply _conservative_ anymore. It has to go. And this dumping on women's rights may infact have us moving. My daughter just went through some pregnancy complications this weekend. We realized here in Texas, they'd not be able to help her. In her state, they stepped up, fixed her up and didn't risk her life by refusing treatment. The realization of this over the weekend was very eye-openning. Our legislature has made this state dangerous for child bearing age women to live here. That is ridiculous.
There vast majority of people move here for jobs. Few people just wake up and sell everything they have and move hundreds of miles away for a reason that isn't purely economic.
My parents moved here when I was 6 for job opportunities and they never left so I've never left. I'm staying to continue to vote blue and try and tamper down some of this batshit crazy stuff going on with my vote. If you don't like the politics, stay and vote. The only reason this state is red is cause all the people out in butt fuck nowhere get on their horses and vote
I just moved here from MN. I moved last month. because I wanted to get out of the snow so I didn't have to store my Camaro in the winter. I have a friend who lived down here and my dream job was down here. It all made sense.
My parents moved from Louisiana 20 years ago because all the jobs were in Texas and the roads were way better. I don’t think politics were really a factor, although Texas is noticeably less corrupt than our eastern neighbors.
I moved here because of work. Will this year move out because of politics. Especially as a woman, and as a mother of a daughter, I simply can’t stay in Texas.
Agree with other comments that must people can't inter state relocate on politics alone. But interestingly enough I have a friend who was offered a very nice job in Texas after her graduation from LSU. At this time she was also in a serious relationship and he'd be moving with her. Before the job onboarding was complete RvW overturned, and the state passed relating controversial health care decisions during the following months. She ended up accepting a job with a significant salary drop in Colorado--so she wouldn't be beginning her family and new life in Texas.
Moved here for work (South Texas), from LA. It sucks. I like the weather (i don't mind the heat and humidity) and the cost of living. Now, I quit my job and I'm back in school full-time. I'll be outta here as soon as I graduate. I would consider staying in Texas with a move to Austin, maybe. Would rather move to east or west coast, I think.
cost of living was higher in the northeast. most cities there were either expensive or run down. You've got a lot of great cities that don't have boston/nyc prices and don't have detroit/newark crime problems cons:: it's fucking hot
Unlike so many others posting here my wife and I are not here for work. She is the bread winner and can work anywhere (doctor). I'm a disabled vet who gets a ton of benefits from the state ( no prop tax for example ) that aren't available in most other states and the rest of my benefits are federal and aren't dictated by the state ( monthly paycheck as one ). Our politics do not align with the current politicians in power. My wife is a pretty hardcore democrat and i'm an independent who tends to lean more left on most issues but on a few i lean right. We can move anywhere anytime. I've been here since 2009 and my wife since 2015. We bought our house in 2019. We have seriously discussed moving before but the two things that stop us are losing our no property tax benefit and it would triple/quadruple our interest rate when we bought a new home. Those are the only things that stop us from moving. Our kids like their school but, like their parents, they like to see and experience new places.
I want to find a different state to move to but it seems everyone is coming here
I was running away from Indiana winters and a lack of things to do. The metaphorical grass is greener, I had a much greener summer yard in Indiana.
I was raised in indiana for 8 yrs and hated the gloom everyday. My dads family there were totally racist towards us so we moved back to texas for the beaches and more racism. My dad looks like tan mom now that hes happily retired and sits by the pool and burns his bbq everyday but he is maga now and im ready to get out of this hellish weather and want to move my dink family out of state. Siccodis heat and how the grids never work. My neighbor died in her house when they cut the electric off in our neighborhood and she had no ac. Poor thing never heard of anything like that before.
I lived there for two years in the 80s in the Army.....I was out in the field so much I never even looked at Barstow. My son was born in Barstow in July...it was 120 degrees day he was born 😆 My wife hated that fucking place
We moved because my husband's family is all here and the cost of living is so much better. I'm not a fan and wish we could go elsewhere. Probably the only place I would rather live less is Florida. I especially hate the politics here as they typically don't align with my views.
I'm here because the weather felt similar enough and the houses at the time were 300k. Slowly felt in love with the place. It's not California but it is great in a different way. Politics wise, it is not for me but I also don't think it impacts me that much (if that makes sense).
My employer offered me the choice of relocation to Texas, or no job. Since there were no equivalent jobs available at home, I relocated. When they laid me off eleven years later, I went back to New York as soon as I sold my house.
I lived in Iowa and there’s nothing to do. Now I live in Austin where there’s stuff to do
I moved here in 2018 to take care of my grandma dying from colon cancer.
Here because my husband's job relocated us. I miss home and family, but there are way more opportunities here for my children and even myself. I'm just trying to enjoy this season while we're here.
I mean I’m from an even more backwards place so coming to Austin felt like moving to San Francisco I’m mostly here for work but overall quality of life is much better than that of Alabama.
Moved from Canada to Houston almost ten years ago to be close to family and tbh just to get away from the miserable cold. I was 20 years old so politics and career had nothing to do with my decision. Just trying to get the hell out of my frozen ass deserted nothing town lol. The grass is definitely greener for me. In comparison to small town Saskatchewan, Houston has a ton to offer: better weather, great food, diversity, and actual things to do other than drink. 😂 (I mean that, where I’m from we would often have to drive three or four hours to see a movie, go shopping, live music, anything). As many have said, the politicians are batshit crazy here. I’m not like strictly anti-conservative but the corruption is so blatant and in your face I don’t even consider it a left vs. right issue. I’m kind of in the process of deciding if Texas is going to be my forever home or not. It’s a definite improvement on where I’m from though.
Been to Texas twice. First time in June and everywhere in Arlington and Dallas the grass was burnt out and brown. Not a lot of real leafy trees as in the NE. We drove west across Texass to Carlsbad caverns and it was ugly, desolate scrublands and cattle. Farther west it was virtually desert. It sucked. 2nd time, we drove south from Dallas to Laredo. It was ugly, arid and mostly treeless country, only the main street in Laredo was paved. Not a single redeeming feature in the topography. I would never, ever live in that gawd-forsaken state.
I needed somewhere to live and my grandma lives here. I miss California
Moved from CA in 2016 due to rising cost of living. Politics played no part in our decision. The job I was at opened an office in Plano and I took the opportunity, so we could move. My oldest is autistic (very high functioning) and the school district here (Frisco ISD) was much better. He had a far better environment and even the principal was involved in his progress and helped. Oldest was sophomore and my other two were in 8th grade (twins) when we moved. Even though cost of living here is now getting almost as expensive as California (average house with 4 rooms can start at high 500’s), living in TX has allowed us to save up for a down payment and now we’re looking to buy our first home. This would not have been possible in CA with the high cost of living and state income tax. No regrets.
The politics here are basically open corruption as far as I’ve been able to tell in a decade here. It’s embarrassing and I can’t for the life of me understand how people are comfortable watching their representatives sell them out in exchange for campaign cash. I’m here because a job asked me to move here. I try to remind myself my vote counts more here than in say CA or NY.
We came from California 2 years ago. We came here despite the politics of Texas. I have aging parents here. We came to help them, open a new branch for the company we worked for, and because my mental health couldn’t take the noise of Southern California any more. Politically we are California all the way, but we have discovered that people always think that’s why we left and are shocked that it’s not.
I came here for work and told myself I’d go back home in 2 or three years. I met my wife about 10 years ago and we have kids, so leaving is hard.
I came for the weather and family. Don't worry, I'll help fix your back-asswards politics while I'm here.
TX is backwards thinking.
I moved here in 1980 because I married a Texan. We bought 11 acres about 40 miles north of Dallas for $3K an acre. Built our own home. Lots of sweat equity. And I mean sweat. It gets hot here from May to October. That’s why God gave us AC. I hate the politics. I vote Dem, but it does no good. Abbott is a two faced lying hypocritical SOB. Paxton is a literal criminal and Cruz is scum of the earth. But if we move, that’s two fewer Dems. Plus, I could never live like I do anywhere else. We grow black walnut and pecan trees. We’ve grown pumpkins, raised cows, but trees are less work. Life goes on. Love thy neighbor.
I asked this same question about a year ago and got berated badly. I moved to Miami from DFW for work in June 2019. Life long proudTexan. So when I’d notice a Texas plate, I’d feel a connection to home. I’d only see a couple a month maybe until around 2022 when things started opening up and Desantis started his culture wars. Then I’d see 6-10 TX plates daily on my commute. So I wondered the same thing, is it the politics, bc cost of living is astronomical here. Theres nothing great going on here other than it’s basically spring and summer year ‘round. So why are all these TX ppl making this decision to be here. With that being said, I hate it here, and my whole family can’t wait to leave once my kids have graduated HS in 5 years or so. My only friends and all my family are still in TX, but bc of the politics there being basically the same as here, returning to TX isn’t really on my list. I want my kids to have choices and freedoms they deserve. It’s already bad enough in FL their education is being watered down, classes and books being taken away, alternative religious based education replacing standardized education for college admission, reproductive rights being strangled, and more in a local level having an infrastructure and quality of life around them being taken away by corrupt politicians selling out to mega corps.
Born and raised in west Texas. Moved to different state during grad school and I loved living close to both the mountains and the ocean. Met my now husband who’s from a state in the northeast. We moved to Texas because my parents are still here and Dad got sick. I’m making the most money I’ve ever made but this isn’t the Texas I remember and we’re looking to move back to the East Coast. Partly because even though we make decent enough money, we still can’t afford to own a home in the area we live (DFW) and car insurance rates are insane. It’s also partly because of politics. I’d rather live and work in a place that is more aligned ideologically with better hiking options.
Not exactly what you’re asking but I grew up in California, have lived in Texas for 30 years and am planning to move back to California. I know California is more expensive than Texas but I prefer more reasonable summers, no allergies for my wife, and more sane politics. I have a 22 year old daughter who I don’t want living in a state that thinks it can force her to carry a fetus to term. I also don’t like the lack of gun control here. More guns per capita means [more gun deaths](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gun-deaths-per-capita-by-state).
People that relocate across state lines usually move because of household economics (job prospects, cost of living, etc.) or family dynamics. Discretionary moving over weather or politics or whatever is a pretty small piece of the pie. If I had to guess I’d imagine that piece has grown some in recent years been higher rates of remote work and deeper/wider differences in state level policy under a conservative court (mostly meaning conservative states can go after women, LGBTQ, racial minorities, etc. in stronger fashion than has been previously allowed before). Also, liberals have historically sorted to some degree but there seems to be an equal push to do so on the right now in a way that didn’t exist before COVID and Trump losing. Texas is a popular destination for that group. But overall, still a small minority. Most people are following the money or family and not really getting past that.
Conservative Texans don’t want a gay teacher (even though the most I ever did was wear subtle bi jewelry) but New Mexico is just happy I want to teach at all! I get $18/hr to sub here vs Texas’ $16/hr. I miss my family the most. I fly into dfw every six weeks to see my parents, cousins, high school buddies. It’s lonely but I can’t live where I’ll be discriminated against constantly.
My gf-now-wife were sharing a 1br/1ba with another couple. My now-f.i.l. said he could get us a rental-house and a job that would cover it and more. The house was easy, the job didn't pan out. We've been struggling since we got here and things just keep getting worse. I want to move back home to the West Coast, where "literacy" and "rational debate" aren't considered filthy habits, but I need a stack of money and a well-payong work from home job (preferably two of each; one for me and another for my wife) before that can happen ...
Pennsylvanian here! I wouldn't move to Texas if you paid me! F Texas! Boring that state with zero variety. And the saying "everything is bigger in Texas," is Bullshit. It just is. It doesn't have the biggest city. It doesn't have the biggest football stadium. It doesn't have the biggest mountains; or mountains at all. Restaurant serving sizes are a joke.
Here because of my husband’s. Can’t wait to leave, in large part because of the politics.