Impulsively Thinking About Moving to Texas

[Rockport]

Try Beginning of May till mid October.

I would recommend East Texas.

First cold front normally arrives mid Sept. May is nice and even in to June. I wouldn't recommend East Texas to anyone. It's the armpit of Texas. Hot, muggy and it stinks.

 

[Rockport]

My take on the move and Texas.

Texas is a helluva large state ... if DFW is your destination I can give little advice except it's hotter than where I live in the woods here in East Texas but I'm 75 miles from the coast and the humidity can be cut with a knife. The closer to the coast the more wet the air is. Get up in the morning in Galveston and there's water dripping off of everything almost like it rained.

More on the coastal thangy. The Gulf of Mexico is brown pretty much all the way to the mid coast (600 miles of coastline from Orange to Brownsville). Not pollution but a plume of sediment from the outflow from the Mississippi River and westward flowing ocean (Gulf) currents. If the water is brown don't expect white sand until south of Rockport (see what I did there RP?). The only advantage I can see is the daily onshore breezes which can be blustery but keep it cooler coming off the water and all. When it's 105 in DFW it's 95 along the coast and 50 miles inland. Did I mention hurricanes? The upper Texas coast has been whacked and flooded 3 times since 2005. I'm talking 70" of rain in 3 days flooded. Even me being 75 miles inland got devastated by Hurricane Rita in 2005 with no power for 3 weeks and heavy timber losses on my lands. In DFW all you have are heat, tornadoes, and hail.

Having said all that we had a wonderful spring from early March until about 10 days ago. Now we are gearing up for sticky summertime ... 2 showers a day and pool, lake, and creek times.

Further from the coast the less humidity and more heat.

I'm happy where I live, if I weren't I'd move. My wife is Canadian and loves it. She never wants to see snow again ... ever !

Anyway ... my take on the Texas weather scene.

My best friend is originally from Canada and he says the same thing. Doesn't ever want to go back mainly because of the cold.

 

[jterrell]

I understand the sentiment, but my field has done nothing but benefit from this entire crisis financially so I'm actually making more money currently than I ever have, even though I was denied a promotion that would've doubled my salary several months ago. Ain't life a kick in the head?

And none of what I've mentioned in the OP has any sort of timeline. This could be a year out or maybe even two. I'm not sure. Hell may not even happen at all. There are a lot of variables and moving parts to consider. It's a lot easier said than done to just move away from your home of 30 years, but at the same time I'm doing a disservice to myself if I choose to stay complacent. Q

2019 was just a very rough year for us personally and this COVID mess kind of allowed a lot of time for self reflection and evaluation.

I think in the short term I'm gonna plan a 2-3 week sabatical during the summer and go from there.

It is FAR cheaper to move now than anytime in the last 5-6 years.
Some advice can safely be ignored, lol.
You will have to look at properties virtually for the most part but that fits perfectly since you are so far away.

Places are offering no deposit, first month free at many places be it house/condo or apartment.
Shipping/car rental and such all very cheap right now.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Everybody wants to come to Texas.


I blame it on the food. When you take the best barbecue in the world then add in Tex-Mex, Cajun, Creole, Soul Food, and all our different herbs and spices, you asking for trouble. Heck they got folks on east/west coast that don't even know what a boudin is or what a chimichangas are. They've never had Blue Bell, 30 different smoked sausage, or fried turkey legs. So when they come here they always want to come back, to stay.

HELLO...its the fattest state in the union, why come here? In one week you gain 10 pounds and your cholesterol shoots up 3%.

All true, but just don't expect good Chinese food lol.

 

[John813]

I'll move out there one day.

Probably near the DFW area or surrounding area.
Have some family in Southlake.

 

[kskboys]

Most parts of Texas, rain is like Christmas. Funny how different places have different perspectives.

Texas is in a state of perpetual drought w/ occasional heavy flooding!!!!

 

[Oz-of-Cowboy-Country]

All true, but just don't expect good Chinese food lol.

You mean the Chinese food that's cooked by Hispanics. Is that the Chinese food you're talking about? The only thing they get right is the salt & pepper chicken.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Interestingly enough. The Dallas Fort Worth area is one of (if not) the largest metropolitan areas in the world that is not on a major waterway. Most major metropolitan areas on on waterways for shipping purposes. With places like D/FW. You have to ship to Houston, then truck or rail goods in. It makes it a lot more expensive and a lot of extra overhead.

There is usually a cause for large metropolitan areas to develop away from major shipping waterways. Dallas / Fort Worth's was due to where the Chisholm Trail crossed paths with Fort Worth. It used to run straight through Commerce St in Downtown Fort Worth. For those that don't know (who don't live in Texas) the Chisholm Trail was the trail that Texas Ranchers drove their cattle north to the Kansas railways so they could ship / distribute beef around the country. (everyone has heard of Omaha Steaks company right?) Post Civil war, Texas was in a massive depression. Cattle was only worth around $2 a head in Texas, but worth between $15-$25 in Kansas. That is was caused the Chisholm trail to become a thing and curb the depression that Texas was suffering from.

The largest single city not on a major waterway is Johannesburg, South Africa. The reason for Johannesburg's size in such conditions? The massive gold deposit / Witwatersrand Gold Rush of 1886.

 

[DFWJC]

The biggest adjustment there is I'd probably pay a landscaper instead of doing it myself, but I'll take heat over the incessant rain and humidity that we've gotten here the last two years.

North Carolina and Texas are two great states. Love them both!
I’m a native North Carolinian but have been in the Dallas area for over 25 years. Both my kids were born here..
Overall, it pretty hard to match NC’s beauty though. Stunning mountains, pristine beaches, great central piedmont rolling hills.
The Texas Hill Country is pretty too. But it sounds like thats not a target you and your wife

If you end up living on the Texas coast, you will be a very long way from Dallas. Almost easier to get here with all of those direct flights from Charlotte...lol.
If you end up in S Texas, the humidity is smothering and hotter than NC. As for beaches, unless you venture way down to Padre, not in the same league as those in NC.

As for Big D....hotter but with only medium humidity. A ton-of lakes in the area.

I always considered the cost of living in the two states to be similar. But if you’re selling a nice home in Charlotte You should be ok.

 

[YosemiteSam]

You mean the Chinese food that's cooked by Hispanics. Is that the Chinese food you're talking about? The only thing they get right is the salt & pepper chicken.

Living in NY area, even the average Chinese food here is better than anything I've ever had in Texas. For one, they can't get the rice even remotely right. It's like they create it out of a frozen bag or something rather than making it fresh. Almost as if they buy frozen pre-fried rice and just heat it up.

It's awful.

 

[YosemiteSam]

North Carolina and Texas are two great states. Love them both!
I’m a native North Carolinian but have been in the Dallas area for over 25 years. Both my kids were born here..
Overall, it pretty hard to match NC’s beauty though. Stunning mountains, pristine beaches, great central piedmont rolling hills.
The Texas Hill Country is pretty too. But it sounds like thats not a target you and your wife

If you end up living on the Texas coast, you will be a very long way from Dallas. Almost easier to get here with all of those direct flights from Charlotte...lol.
If you end up in S Texas, the humidity is smothering and hotter than NC. As for beaches, unless you venture way down to Padre, not in the same league as those in NC.

As for Big D....hotter but with only medium humidity. A ton-of lakes in the area.

I always considered the cost of living in the two states to be similar. But if you’re selling a nice home in Charlotte You should be ok.

I agree with this completely. Well, except the beach part. You just don't get the same beaches (the water with waves, sandy beaches can be created and in many cases are) from a Gulf or Lake that you get with the open ocean. It makes a big difference. Especially if you like to surf or body / boogie board.

 

[DFWJC]

Interestingly enough. The Dallas Fort Worth area is one of (if not) the largest metropolitan areas in the world that is not on a major waterway. Most major metropolitan areas on on waterways for shipping purposes. With places like D/FW. You have to ship to Houston, then truck or rail goods in. It makes it a lot more expensive and a lot of extra overhead.

There is usually a cause for large metropolitan areas to develop away from major shipping waterways. Dallas / Fort Worth's was due to where the Chisholm Trail crossed paths with Fort Worth. It used to run straight through Commerce St in Downtown Fort Worth. For those that don't know (who don't live in Texas) the Chisholm Trail was the trail that Texas Ranchers drove their cattle north to the Kansas railways so they could ship / distribute beef around the country. (everyone has heard of Omaha Steaks company right?) Post Civil war, Texas was in a massive depression. Cattle was only worth around $2 a head in Texas, but worth between $15-$25 in Kansas. That is was caused the Chisholm trail to become a thing and curb the depression that Texas was suffering from.

The largest single city not on a major waterway is Johannesburg, South Africa. The reason for Johannesburg's size in such conditions? The massive gold deposit / Witwatersrand Gold Rush of 1886.

Dallas has become a distribution center hub though.
Order from Amazon and you may even get same day service.
California companies just keep moving here....lol.
The central location plus manufacturing and distribution centers actually makes getting stuff easy here now, compared to years ago.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Dallas has become a distribution center hub though.
Order from Amazon and you may even get same day service.
California companies just keep moving here....lol.
The central location plus manufacturing and distribution centers actually makes getting stuff easy here now, compared to years ago.

Oh I agree. I mean these types of places not on major waterways don't just spring up, but once they are established and have a thriving economy. Nothing stops them from continuing to grow.

 

[DFWJC]

You mean the Chinese food that's cooked by Hispanics. Is that the Chinese food you're talking about? The only thing they get right is the salt & pepper chicken.

The Dallas area has one of the largest Asian populations in the entire country
Richardson, Plano, Frisco....

 

[YosemiteSam]

The Dallas area has one of the largest Asian populations in the entire country
Richardson, Plano, Frisco....

I lived in Coppell right near the old Valley Ranch before I moved to NY. They didn't have any good Chinese restaurants back then. Maybe that has changed? I don't get out into NE Dallas anymore.

 

[ClappingCarrot]

North Carolina and Texas are two great states. Love them both!
I’m a native North Carolinian but have been in the Dallas area for over 25 years. Both my kids were born here..
Overall, it pretty hard to match NC’s beauty though. Stunning mountains, pristine beaches, great central piedmont rolling hills.
The Texas Hill Country is pretty too. But it sounds like thats not a target you and your wife

If you end up living on the Texas coast, you will be a very long way from Dallas. Almost easier to get here with all of those direct flights from Charlotte...lol.
If you end up in S Texas, the humidity is smothering and hotter than NC. As for beaches, unless you venture way down to Padre, not in the same league as those in NC.

As for Big D....hotter but with only medium humidity. A ton-of lakes in the area.

I always considered the cost of living in the two states to be similar. But if you’re selling a nice home in Charlotte You should be ok.

If we end up moving, that in all honesty will be the toughest part. Last August I was pier fishing in the Outer Banks, caught a tuna, and the guys at the local restaurant seared it to perfection for us, then a week later I was in Boone watching a college football game at my alma mater on the side of a mountain. It really doesn't get much better than that.

 

[DFWJC]

I lived in Coppell right near the old Valley Ranch before I moved to NY. They didn't have any good Chinese restaurants back then. Maybe that has changed? I don't get out into NE Dallas anymore.

Not sure about Coppell.
Not as much in the Asian corridor of DFW.

Im guessing Richardson and Plano alone have 50 authentic Asian restaurants—Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai, Mongolian.
I make the short drive to there if I want the real deal. Its incredible.
When my friends visit from New York or LA, they are pretty shocked.

 

[DFWJC]

If we end up moving, that in all honesty will be the toughest part. Last August I was pier fishing in the Outer Banks, caught a tuna, and the guys at the local restaurant seared it to perfection for us, then a week later I was in Boone watching a college football game at my alma mater on the side of a mountain. It really doesn't get much better than that.

Few states can offer that spectrum of quality mountains and beaches. NC and Cali have that in common.
My niece and her husband went to App State, btw.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Not sure about Coppell.
Not as much in the Asian corridor of DFW.

Im guessing Richardson and Plano alone have 50 authentic Asian restaurants—Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai, Mongolian.
I make the short drive to there if I want the real deal. Its incredible.
When my friends visit from New York or LA, they are pretty shocked.

I will have to make my way over there next time I visit. Though most of my family live in Fort Worth.

 

[jsb357]

and things like this to deal with from time to time