There are occasions once I completely adore dwelling in Austin: once I’m paddleboarding on The town Lake, once I’m consuming a frozen margarita at Maudie’s, once I’m placing out in hip East Austin below string lighting.
That being stated, there are particular issues I’m much less keen on: the sweltering summers, the isolation, the loss of walkability.
I’ve lived in Austin for just about two years. Right here’s what I’ve come to like and hate about it:
What I like about Austin
The Folks
By means of and massive, Texans are extremely great other folks: beneficiant, humorous, and sincerely sort. Once I had Covid, a couple of neighbors introduced me tortilla soup and walked my canine. Folks say hi to you in the street right here, although they don’t know you. Austin is by way of some distance the friendliest position I’ve ever lived.
The Meals
Any other sure – the meals. Austin’s meals scene is flourishing: you’ll in finding very good TexMex, Thai, Vietnamese, and naturally, fish fry. A few of my favourite spots are Uchiko (sushi), Unusual Duck (new American), and Loro (Asian/fish fry fusion). I’ve additionally grown to LOVE frozen margaritas, ha.
The Water
As a born-and-raised Michigander, I desperately want to reside close to water (that was once probably the most issues I discovered toughest about dwelling in Colorado). Thankfully, Austin has quite a lot of it: The town Lake, Barton Springs, and Lake Travis, to call a couple of.
The Winters
The winters listed below are pleasant – the temperature hovers round 70 levels, and the skies are in most cases crisp and blue. Despite the fact that we do have the unusual snow day, the wintry weather climate could be very delicate.
Reside Track
I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out Austin’s the world over famend reside song scene. I like how you’ll stroll right into a random bar on a Tuesday and listen to a fantastic efficiency for the cost of a Shiner Bock.
The Canine-friendliness
In Austin, you’ll deliver your canine nearly any place — I deliver my puppy nearly all over I am going. My native CVS is even dog-friendly.
What I Hate
The Crowds
Because of its massive reputation lately, Austin feels insanely crowded now and then. Parking is difficult to seek out, eating places are packed, and the weekends particularly may also be worrying.
The Top Value of Dwelling
Austin could be very dear. To shop for a plot of land – now not even a space – in my group, prices one million greenbacks.
Deficient Walkability
Unfortunately, Austin isn’t a walkable town. Bisected by way of two highways, Austin is an overly car-dependent town; for walkability, it ranks forty second in the United States, between Las Vegas and Pheonix. As somebody who loves to stroll, it is a massive drawback.
The Hypersensitive reactions
Central Texas has been referred to as the “Allergic reaction Capital of the International.” There’s even a day by day hypersensitive reaction record at the native information, the place reliable pollen counts for ragweed, grass, and mildew are measured. I by no means had allergic reactions in my lifestyles till I moved right here — ugh.
The Warmth
The summers in Austin are brutal. Temperatures can succeed in 110 levels (or upper). After this 12 months’s sizzling summer time, 90 levels bizarrely feels relatively cool to me.
The Isolation
Austin is as regards to only some towns: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Previous this 12 months I made the error of using to New Orleans, which took 10 hours. From time to time I think so resentful of the East Coast – believe using a couple of hours and having the ability to get entry to Boston, Philly, and NYC? Sigh.
All this to mention, I’ve been lovely satisfied right here. I’m now not positive if it’s my ceaselessly house (I’m now not positive I’ve a ceaselessly house, duration), however I plan to stick a minimum of a couple of extra years. And experience many extra lake days and frozen margs.