Should chegitz Mess With Texas?

[The Mad Monk]

Actually, Hawaii is the unemployment destination.

[Whoha]

oh yea forgot about that, they are actually starting to give unemployed people 1-way tickets to other places now.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

In the Cold War between the Red and Blue States, Austin is West Berlin.

I don't know how that helps you; I just like saying it.

[Docfeelgood]

Teh Bunnygrrl's and my mothers are pestering us to leave South Florida, as the job situation here is dismal. Not that I really want to leave, but we started discussing it, and we decided that despite our mothers' wishes, we don't want to go back to Chicago (we like having the sun).

We have other friends that have been pestering us to move to Austin. Austin has a lot of things to recommend it, but it's 1,000 miles closer to Slowwhand.

So, what to do, what to do?

Oh boy, Che, Slow and Doc could hang out together and become the three amigos!

[MrFun]

Don't forget to ride a bull there, Che.

[SlowwHand]

Good lord, that town is sad. I've bussed and driven through it twice now (once each), and it was awfully boring both times. Nice buildings, except they're from the 1800s and earlier, and haven't been fixed up since then.

Exactly. People in Lubbock seek encouragment by driving to Amarillo. They feel happy about returning to Lubbock.

[Theben]

I suppose I should visit before you move.

[chequita guevara]

ya think, all this time I've got nothing to do, and you could come visit, and we could hang out and go where ever, but no, you'd rather slave for you baby's mama.

[David Floyd]

Hey, Austin's an awesome town...if nothing else I'm sure I could hook you up with at least a part time job where I work - PM me if you're actually gonna move here and want me to help you out with that...

In all seriousness though Austin's pretty unlike the rest of Texas. We have our hicks and bumpkins on the outskirts (I avoid them at all costs, they're weird), but Austin itself is very diverse, has a pretty good economy going even now (relatively speaking), and a ton of fun.

[chequita guevara]

DF is in the plus column for moving to Austin, in all honesty.

[David Floyd]

Uh, I hate to ask why.....not planning on killing me are ya?

[Theben]

nonono... he rarely kills his victims.

ya think, all this time I've got nothing to do, and you could come visit, and we could hang out and go where ever, but no, you'd rather slave for you baby's mama.

Actually I don't trust her to take care of my kid. But right now I'm thinking of heading to North Dakota to volunteer to help against possible flooding. Seriously.

[-Jrabbit]

Tomorrow is my last day of work. I was thinking of driving to Austin.

Going to check out SXSW, Tex? Time's a'wastin'!

che -- I've had an awesome time on my trips to Austin. Both surrounded SXSW (though they were technically business trips for me). Awesome town. It's got the big university and state capitol -- sort of the Madison of Texas, an island of liberalism in the Great Texas Republic. (Rufus' turn of phrase strikes me as apt.) There was even a war protest last time I was there -- with excellent turnout.

Austin has plenty of old hippies, like you see in Colorado and Portland -- Willie Nelson's place is nearby -- so the vibe is mellow. I found the people in Austin to be noticeably friendly, and there is evidence of tolerance of diversity -- and yes, plenty to be tolerant of.

It's important to note that there is something around Austin that you don't have in FtLaud -- open space. Countryside. There's room to breathe, which was really noticeable for me. I liked that about Austin It's big and growing but not overdeveloped. Yet.

Incredible arts (especially music) and restaurant scenes. The number of reasonably priced diners with great local food and little performance stages will blow you away. All kinds of music, all the time. Austin literally has the highest concentration of performance venues per capita in the U.S. of A., my friend.

Moving without a place to crash nor any job prospects is crazy, but hey, I know you and Bunnygrrl are basically that way, so be it on your head.

[David Floyd]

We're also one of the most "connected" cities in the country - WiFi on every corner! You can sit outside drinking a beer or a cup of coffee while surfin' Poly and playing Civ4 at someplace like Austin Java. It's great

[chequita guevara]

We have a place to crash "as long as [we] need." and food too.

If we headed out that way, we'd probably throw 90% of our stuff in storage, take cloths, computer, and cats, hop in the car, and go. But giving up the beach, which is only a bicycle ride away is hard.