Portland vs. Austin

[LiLRedCV]

I lived in San Antonio just before moving to Western Washington. My older sister lived in New Braunfels (before moving up to OK to take care of our younger disABLED sister), home of the Schlitterbahn and German food. It's just down the road from Austin along I-35 and I have nephews that still live there and a cousin who lives in Schertz (also along I-35). There's so much to do! From hunting to fishing to boating to the best Cinco de Mayo parties around!

Plus, you're a hop skip and a jump from San Antonio for the River Walk, Six Flags Over Fiesta Texas, Sea World... and a 1/2 days trip to South Padre where you'll find sandy beaches and WARM water!

Too hot? One man's idea of paradise is another man's idea of hell. Personally, I do much better in the heat than I do in Western Washington.

What can you grow? Everything! Some soil amendments may need to be made, but it's probably no less than you're doing now.

 

[Xtina]

I know that Portland's climate classification is technically mild, but I think whoever labeled it that is insane. Average temps of 45'degrees for 9 months is not mild. I would greatly prefer Austin's climate to Portland. But I'd also prefer my friends in Portland over a bunch of strangers and having to make new friends! And mostly I'd lime to live near family, but that's not an option.

 

[LiLRedCV]

Quote:
Compared to the upper midwest and east coast climates (with their extreme winters), Portland IS a mild climate! Maybe some of your friends could fly down to see you? Austin has a better airport (and cheaper) to fly into than San Antonio!

There truly are some great people down there. Hit up the TX thread and find some fellow BYCers in the vicinity. Start making friends there first so you won't feel so alone once you arrive. I know it's not the same as the lifetime friends you've made in Portland, but it'll be a start to lifetime friends there too. Ask them about the best areas to live in ('cuz there's always a preference, right?).

 

[Xtina]

It's all a matter of perspective. Compared with places that I sometimes think are so cold no human should ever live...sure, it's mild! But compared to the places I grew up, it's downright unbearably cold. What can I say? I really like warm climates.

 

[Xtina]

Whoa, there were some typos back there! Sorry about that. I was trying to type on an iPhone while my son was screaming.

 

[chickened]

I hunted on a large ranch near Laredo and everyone there said most of Texas is private land. I can google the info but I am pretty sure there is not much public land.
Quote:
very little land in Texas? you've got to be kidding and Texas is clean. the motto here is 'Don't mess with Texas!' Maybe Dallas/Fort Worth or Houston is dirty but Austin is pristine hill country covered in cool caves and artesian springs

 

[AriLovesChickens]

That's a tough one. I've only been to Austin once - in the summer. I was raised in Iowa, and so I'm used to a fair amount of summer heat (and humidity!) but the heat is Austin and San Antonio was stifling to me. I really wanted to like Austin. We went to a huge spring-fed pool that was really neat (and cold!). We walked around and saw some shops; we ate good Mexican food. I just don't know if I could handle that heat continuously for 4-5 months. I'm also very sunburn-prone, so I'd have to seriously load up on the sunblock all the time. If I had to live anywhere in TX, that would be a very probable choice - but I just don't think it's for me.

Likewise, I've only been to Portland once. I live in Seattle now (and have been here a year). I had hoped to move to Portland but my husband's job brought us here. The long cool rainy period gets a bit tedious. The spring and fall are kind of depressing to me, since those seasons are nicer in the Midwest.

I guess I'd go with Portland.

 

[Frost Homestead]

Quote:
very little land in Texas? you've got to be kidding and Texas is clean. the motto here is 'Don't mess with Texas!' Maybe Dallas/Fort Worth or Houston is dirty but Austin is pristine hill country covered in cool caves and artesian springs


personally I don't think that's a bad thing. that means people actually own the land instead of the state or federal government. considering Texas' size I wouldn't be surprised if there was still much more public land in Texas than Oregon. they actually have to break down the state parks by region there are so many of them http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/parkguide/ Laredo is basically ON the Mexico/US border. Austin is nothing like Laredo

 

[no roosters]

I live in Austin, it is a pretty cool place. I have never been to Portland so I can't really say Austin is better, as far as growing goes, I have had good luck with just about anything I put in the ground. I know that a lot of people here say they have trouble growing corn here, but out of the last 4 years I only had one less than impressive crop, and that was more to do with my neglect due to too much time at work and an extremely hot summer. I have had great luck with tomatoes, squash of all varieties, eggplants, okra, green beans, lettuce, all types of peppers, herbs, etc. Pretty much as far as growing goes, with the right amount of compost and elbow grease you will be able to grow just about anything you want and with long growing seasons. I generally end up growing too much produce and either have to give it away or add it to my compost bins.

Austin is also a great place to raise a family with lots of parks, rivers, and lakes to go have fun without spending a lot of money.

Hope this has been helpful.

 

[Xtina]

That is helpful, thank you. In the last week or so I've been doing a lot of reading about it. People say you can't grow cherries, blueberries, and apples because they need cooler temps to produce and you don't get that in Austin. Not sure if this is true or not, so I thought I'd ask you.

To answer the previous poster's comment about public and private land, losing access to public land is a major drawback for someone from the Northwest. We are used to being allowed to access all kinds of recreational land. So it's all well and good if you own hundreds of pristine acres of your own, but even that couldnt compare to having access to half the state to freely roam.

Today I read that traffic is awful and property taxes are astronomical in Austin. Is that true?