Should I move to TX (Instead of AZ??)

[1stFreedom]

I'm thinking about packing up from NY and moving out to Texas. But before I consider moving out there, I want to make sure I'm not moving to another Kalifornia or New York.

What is the political climate like? Is it conservative? Republican?

What are the philosophical undertones of the population? Conservative? Liberal?

How about the faith of the population? Is there a large Catholic [faituful] population?

How are the gun laws? Open carry?

Income tax? Corporate Tax?

Is the State homeschool friendly?

How organized are Freepers out there?

What is the best place to find employment for IT workers?

What is the best place to move to avoid allergies?

Is the state moving towards the left?

Is it as dry as Arizona?

[maxwell]

New Mexico is beautiful but it depends on what line of work you do.

Scientific research.

New Mexico is also more Democratic in mindset

Well I figured as much; barring Austin, of course... I am still a tad traumatized from the last time I was down in Austin-- Dallas suits me alot better...

What do you know about Albuquerque and Santa Fe area?

[FITZ]

Weatherwise --New Mexico ---lots of reasons to like New Mexico and in spite of a state income tax, taxes are lower over there, property taxes here match NY's ---it's always funny to hear people complaining of only $2000-3000 a year in property taxes on a nice house.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Besides I've heard that Texans have no teeth. I couldn't vouch for the truth of this statement though. Every time I tried to look at one they ducked back into their holes.

[maxwell]

Nothin north of the Red River is close enough. Texans are southern by geography alone. We are a culture unto ourselves.

Bwahaha... Yes, I know that well...

I admit it, I'm just a Texican-wannabe... No matter how much the pay-off is... ;)

[Consort]

Do the people where you now live want you to move?

[wireplay]

As a lifelong Texan, the Mexicans have always been part of Texas and are part of the Texan culture. This is true for the entire SW which used to be part of Mexico. The Mexican culture is perfectly fine and is basically a Western European culture with a blend of Indian. Plus the food is great.

As far as humidity is concerned, never got used to it. That's why I moved to the mountains...'August' in one word.

[Az Joe]

Texas?!! Why would you want to move to the East?!

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

That is good to hear. If what you say is true we will all enjoy living under Mexican rule.

[wireplay]

Santa Fe is pretty. I haven't been to Alburquerque in a few years. I feel that it is just a large city and no particular reason to drive there.

If you are considering New Mexico, I would suggest looking at Colorado instead. New Mexico is great but I grew up in Texas and therefore the hispanic culture is close to heart. If you haven't, then you might want to look elsewhere. New Mexico is muhc more hispanic and Indian than Texas and some folks may not see that as positive.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Plus, every other rock has a copperhead under it.

[wireplay]

The culture is here, not the government, why do you think they are all leaving?

[Conservative4Ever]

Just stay away from West Texas!

Does that include Alpine...I kinda liked West Texas. :)

Red

[Torie]

Am I the only one on this Forum who all things being equal, would prefer to live in a place that had folks in it with diverse opinions, including liberals. Variety is the spice of life. Granted, I live in a place that doesn't really meet that criteria. Such are the viccisitudes of life. Most folks in my area are a bit more conservative than I am in general, although it depends on the issue. Few are interested in arts or letters at all, and I miss that.

[kstewskis]

Where ever you move, make sure and don't bring New York's problems with you. We have a lot of influx of people from up North in my area in the South. They claim they are trying to get away from the over regulation where they came from.

However as soon as they get here, they try to get on the local city and county boards and recreate the nightmare they came from.

They start with zoneing laws to support the value of the house they have just built and it mushrooms from there. They don't like low income housing being built near them and they want all the ammenities that they left which creates new taxes. They want to increase the standard of living for the area just to satisfy themselves so they can have it just like they left.

Basically, they just screw up the area that the locals have been happy with for the last 300 years.

Hey! You've just described the Greater Phoenix area, and for that matter, a good portion of Arizona!

[wireplay]

Alpine is the prettiest town in Texas. I absolutely love that area. Very, very remote however.

[wireplay]

I still have liberal friends and I can chat about the arts and literature. I am just happy that liberals aren't in control here.

[Charliehorse]

I have lived in Texas from birth with four years service in the USN. I am now 70 and believe it is a good place to live.Gets hot in the summer. moderate in the winter everywhere other than the panhandle. East is wet, West is dry.

Political climate is conservative and Republican. No Democrat holds state wide office.

Conservatve underlying philosophy.

There is a large Catholic population. Big evangelical Catholic group. Southern Baptist are largest denomination.

Open carry gun law. Must take training.

No income tax. Franchise tax pesky for small business.There is a property tax that varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. I live in Garland (just outside Dallas). We pay about 2000 dollars property tax per year. I have a friend in Dallas who pays over 4000 dollars per year. He has twice the price house I have. There is a roughly 8% sales tax on all sales with the exception of services and food.

Texas is homeschool friendly. Court action in 1986 set precedent that a home school is a "private school" that is legal by constitution. Most people generate the paperwork to pose as a private school with a superintendent, principle and teacher identified. Many co-ops to provide support, joint courses, fellowship events,etc. One Co=Op in the Dallas has more than 300 families. There is a pro bono lawyer group just in case a school district gets frisky. I know these things because I am the principle of our grandaughters homeschool.

Freepers are reasonably well organized. Always need more.

Probably IT workers are most needed in the Aerospace (Dallas Ft Worth), Oil Industry (Houston) or State Government (Austin).

Don't know about Allergies. My son has lived in the Dallas area, Austin area, and San Antonio and he was moderately bothered by allergies.

The state has a growing Hispanic population both legal and illegal and the newcommers are pulling the politics left. They are also good workers and becoming more and more middle class which is pulling the state to the right. I would say that overall the state is slowly growing more conservative.

In the west the average rainfall is in the teens of inches per year, in Central Texas the average rainfall is in the low 30 inches per year, and on the southeast coast the rainfall is well over 50 inches per year.

[Torie]

Why don't you just move to Prescott by the way, and be happy, if you can live anywhere, and cybercommute? The climate in Texas sucks. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

I just love La Mordida!

[Torie]

Some of my most enjoyable evenings are with liberals. Of course, I tend to diffuse almost every stereotype they have about "conservatives," and I like that dynamic. Of course, many here consider me an ersatz conservative. Life is complicated.