I dont get it. Sure, Houston is home but i always just want to get the hell out of here. I love telling people i'm from Houston when i'm in a different city or state, but i just don't want to live here anymore. Lately, i don't think America is even it for me, though i would love to move back to San Diego or Honolulu.
I just feel more at ease in the Houston area. It's the familiarity. And I swear people are way, way more laid back than they are in the rest of Texas. It seems to be that way anywhere close to the coast. And it doesn't hurt that you get 20 offers to stay somewhere when people hear you need help. Nah, it's UTMB. I know where you're talking about and my old office-mate works in the IT department there now.
You're right about Montana winters if you are uninitiated. But, I lived through 25 of em before leaving so I know what i'm getting into. Besides, Christmas just isn't the same when its a balmy 78 and sunny in Houston. AND I get to leave Hurricanes behind so I got that goin for me. I'm not surprised about your friend. There really isn't any big cities...just a few medium sized ones and a lot of small towns with names like Two Dot, Twin Bridges, Red Lodge, Absorkee, Fishtail, Ekalaka, Livingston, Virginia City, Roundup and Glendive. But although the towns are small, they are a big part of the charm of Montana.
My wife and I have been thinking of a move back to Greater Houston. I'm grew up in The Woodlands and my parents are still there. We've been in the Austin area for 12 years and are just starting to feel like we'd rather be closer to family (her family is in San Antonio and that is not an option). All this and the fact that I'm fed up with my company and have actively started looking for something new. We love Austin and have made a good life here for us and our kids but there just isn't anything holding us down here anymore. Resumes are flying out so hopefully something comes of it and I can finally get back home.
We hired another guy about 6 months before Ike. After I left, they cut all of the departmental IS groups (I'm sure you knew that) and only kept four of the staff. David was kept on; this other guy wasn't.
I was thinking about this over the weekend and there's a lot of truth to it. Dallas feels more like the gateway to the midwest. Fort Worth city is certainly TX, but if you go north, it feels like Oklahoma.
It's possible. We do love it here and have made a nice life. Like I said, though. There's nothing really keeping us here. My wife hasn't made many friends and a large majority of my friends here are old enough to be my parents. Family is 3 hours away in one direction and 1-1/2 away in another. Should it happen, there will be a lot about Austin we'll miss...like being able to get to the other side of the city in less than an hour rather than having to make an entire day out of it. OTOH, there's so much that has changed in just the 12 years we've been here, Austin really isn't the same place we moved to in 2000...even less so than the one I started visiting as a teen in the early 90's.
Sounds nice! I left Houston - for good - in early 2011.... but only made it to Austin Serious improvement... but can definitely see myself leaving Texas at some point, too. No offense to the state, but it's a weather, geography thing for me. Montana is gorgeous. Love the Rockies, the PNW... heck, could even see New Zealand as an option. That said, family is VERY important, especially when you have young kids and their grandparents are around a lot. All that said, I'd rank Houston ahead of Dallas, of course. Though don't think it's as extreme as many make it out. They're very similar cities in a lot of ways.
Hey Xerobull, what's the position you got at UTMB? I think my coworker behind me applied the same position
Sounds nice. IF I ever become wealthy, I'll def invest in a ranch up there. Seems like a perfect place for a quiet summer getaway.
