Should I shed my California skin for some Texas grass?

[Taverner]

There are some job openings I'm interested in, however they are in Dallas and Houston. Not Austin.

Now I like Austin, and I like the gulf coast Houston weather (call me crazy, but I lived in Thailand for 2 years and loved the weather.) But Houstonians aren't all as nice as the ones on DU, and Dallas, well I've heard things about that city.

Also add to the mix that I can't keep my mouth shut. I call a spade a spade, a racist a racist, and a asshole dipshit motherfucker an asshole dipshit motherfucker.

So tell me - would this be a bad mistake?

[Bullwinkle925]

1. Send a PM to DeposeTheBoyKing

She lives just outside Dallas. Ask her some things about what it's like being Liberal in a red state.

[jandrok]

2. I lived in H-Town for almost 14 years.

Prior to the move out to the mighty Hill Country. I still have a lot of relatives and friends who live there, and quite honestly, if your choices are Houston or Dallas, go for Houston. It's a big, sprawly, swampy, overgrown place, but it's still a cool town in many ways. Much more progressive and tolerant than the Big D, IMO. If you can't get to Austin, Houston or San Antonio are good second choices.

[0007]

5. I'll second that! n/t

[Horse with no Name]

3. Dallas county is almost blue

Dallas County voted 49% for Kerry in the elections and elected a Hispanic lesbian sheriff.
Get a nice loft downtown...who knows?
Maybe you are enough to turn it 50%.
It's a nice city--not at all what you think.

[Taverner]

4. The one thing that REALLY bugs me about Texas, the state is...

The fact that schools are ALLOWED to abuse children as punishment. They allow corporal punishment in their schools...and I'm wondering how easy it will be to find a private school that does not beat the kids.

[Horse with no Name]

8. IF you are like me

all you have to do is send a letter to the school that you won't permit corporal punishment.
Now you have to be ready to go get your child from school if they act up...but that is an issue readily discussed at home and with one child graduated and one child a senior....it was never a problem. I informed my kids if I ever had to go pick them up for misbehaving, they will wish the school was allowed to spank them because their punishment would be spending a GREAT deal of time at home without any extracurricular activities of any sort.
Since you do have children, I wouldn't advocate living in Dallas if your child has to go to public schools because DISD does suck.
The problem you get into there is that all of the suburbs are deeply red.
I've lived in Houston before--can't say I liked it much at all.
Between the two I would surely have to pick Dallas.:shrug:

[LaurenG]

6. Pdittie is from those parts too

He could give you a heads up. Good luck.

[AlCzervik]

7. The downtown area of Houston is pretty cool, i used to live in a

suburb and if i had the chance to live downtown i would have moved there in a second.

[argyl]

9. There are progressive areas of Dallas you'd like;Oak Lawn,Lakewood,

Lower Greenville,downtown loft area,parts of Oak Cliff. Dallas proper is much more liberal and diverse than the rep it gets from the rest of the country. The northern suburbs,Plano in particular,well, that's another story.

I've also found many of your typical Texas good ole boys to be much more openminded than expected as well as having great senses of humor.

Lived in Dallas for years but have been here in Denton for a number of years now.You may like it here. Two universities(one,UNT,has a well respected music department as well as an excellent graduate program in Environmental Sciences) and a thriving club scene.
If you like horses the Denton area is real cowboy country.Some of the finest quarter horses in the country and world are bred in Denton Country.

Far as summers go,yep,it do get damned hot.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

10. NO NO NO NO NO NO!

Stay here in California!

We would miss you....even though you live in NoCal!


Well, someone had to say it!



:loveya: :pals:

[Maddy McCall]

11. I love Dallas.

My liberal, gay cousin lives there and loves it. He's been there over 20 years. I say give Dallas a try.

[bliss_eternal]

16. Hmmm--how bad could it be?

If Our own Maddy loves it? Her cousin loves it, too!

Still hate to think of possibly losing another progressive Californian--but you have to do what's best for you, Taverner.

We'll miss you. :hug:

[begin_within]

12. If you like hot, muggy, dirty air, move to Eewstunk - I mean Houston.

[bliss_eternal]

13. Are there any people of color that can weigh in on this thread?

Not to hijack (sorry Tavener)--I don't want you to leave CA either. :cry:

But I'm always interested, for the sake of thorough discussion to see how one of color, or one that's gay feels living in such places.

I honestly have had a HUGE fear of going to Texas and swore I wouldn't do it. Reasons? W's home state. But on the flip side, The Dixie Chick's home state--:D :thumbsup:

Another reason--where in Texas was a black man dragged to his death?

:scared:

It's one thing for liberal, caucasian DU'ers to give a stamp of approval to a town or city, but I'm always interested in the opinions of those that may be treated 'differently' in said state... In the spirit of giving a balanced perspective.

[entanglement]

14. The dragging death incident occured in Jasper, TX

n/t

[bliss_eternal]

15. Wrong city--thank you!

:hi: