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?

[Diddle E. Squat]

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

Of course, it is one of the most practical conservative states in the country, the GOP swept all statewide offices. Voting pattern is about 57-61% GOP, still getting crossovers from conservative E. TX Dems. Austin city itself is somewhat liberal, but the metro as a whole is about evenly split, with plenty of good suburbs. Rio Grande Valley and El Paso are the only other strong Dem regions in the state, plus the usual urban cores(but the suburbs are larger than every core city, including Houston).

Let me put it this way, if we get 8 years of Hillary, Texas is the most likely state to be the capital of the breakaway states.

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

See above.

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

Yes, many Catholics from other states and Latin American roots. Also strong in evangelical denominations. This is the state that fought all the way to the Supreme Court to keep their prayers at football games and graduation ceremonies.

How are the gun laws? Open carry?

Pro-gun, with conceal-carry.

Income tax? Corporate Tax?

No on income, property taxes are high, but not higher than in NY/NJ, and much lower considering the home prices are 1/3 of NY's. Some corporate taxes/fees, but compare favorably to most states, and certainly nothing close to California's.

Is the State homeschool friendly?

Yes

How organized are Freepers out there?

Groups in DFW, Houston, and Austin. What is the best place to find employment for IT workers?

Can't help you there(not my field), but in the past DFW and Austin, and to a lesser extent Houston, all have good sized high-tech sectors.

What is the best place to move to avoid allergies?

Alpine(the Big Bend area towards El Paso), but good luck finding an IT job out there!

Is the state moving towards the left?

Only in a few core urban cities and mature NIMBT inner suburbs. But some of those see periodic reverses, and they are merely pockets more than offset by booming suburbs. Greenies are more likely to flee CA and the Northeast for locales with greater reputations for scenery, such as the NW or the Carolinas, so even with all our influx of 'godless Yankees' their arrival isn't watering down our conservatism. Austin was about the only place to get Raleigh-ized, and even there the trend has been somewhat muted. Look at it this way, if Texas ever craters left, the only option remaining will be some place like Chile.

Is it as dry as Arizona?

Only out near El Paso. Houston is muggy as sin, but pleasant for 7 months. Austin and San Antonio are a bit drier with less rainfall, and pleasant for 7-8 months. DFW is actually the driest of the big cities, but still can be humid at times in the summer, pleasant for 8-9 months, plus snow every other year or so. All get hot, and occasionally have horrid long spells, but last summer DFW only hit 100 once. Just depends, but hey, at least you only have to scrape ice off your car a handful of mornings, and no shoveling. AZ has that dry heat, but if you turn the oven high enough you still cook fast.

[TrueBeliever9]

Do you speak Spanish or Arabic?

[Diddle E. Squat]

Oh I am quite sure, as a native and having studied the demographics and growth trends. There are plenty of problems related to immigration, but it is not the Aztlan reconquest of doom and gloom that some here like to spout.

[Conservative4Ever]

I just love Alpine...better half is from there, indirectly...visted there with better half a few years ago..to see family and friends...can't wait to go back. Would love to retire there...his folks did. We currently live in 'remote'..so Alpine is just like being home..only without CA nightmare.

Red

[Joe Hadenuf]

Texas or Arizona?

Well, about one in seven people in Texas is an illegal alien, and five months out of the year the heat and humidity in Texas is hellish, and it seems to be the new home to thousands of mid easterners that our government welcomes with open arms...

Middle Easterners streaming to Texas

Study says most live in Houston

By EDWARD HEGSTROM

Copyright 2002 Houston Chronicle

Texas has one of the nation's fastest-growing Middle Eastern populations, and most of the state's immigrants live in Houston, according to a study based on census data.

Researchers at the Center for Immigration Studies say Texas' Middle Eastern population more than doubled in the last decade, to just over 100,000, including more than 52,000 in Greater Houston.

Now Arizona,

Speaking of heat, if you like living like a lizard, you'll love Arizona. 114 degrees is common four months out of every year. So hot most of the time, they hold their little league games at night time so the kiddies don't roast. And if you don't like rivers, lakes and streams, ocean, etc, you will love Arizona.

I would choose Michigan

Good luck...

[Ditter]

Did you only live in Texas from June until Oct? Texas has the best weather in the world from Nov till May. I'll agree that its hot in the summer but haven't you ever been to New Orleans? Why doesn't anyone ever complain about the heat & humidity of NO or Mobile?

[Mr. Mojo]

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

Nah, the whole state is filled with gun-grabbin' Rats and Greens. Stay in NY. Or better yet, move to Massachusetts.

[maxwell]

New Mexico is muhc more hispanic and Indian than Texas and some folks may not see that as positive.

I hear what you're saying but I've no issues with this... Can't say as how I grew up around a hispanic culture, but it's something I look forward to experiencing, by which I mean the food in particular... My Sweet Thang's family is self-styled "latino" and they are great folks. Great cooks too... Never had a breakfast burrito like the one I had down in Laredo...

[Walkingfeather]

The Texans will kill me here but I will throw out this....Okay I am taking cover..... I found the Texas culture a bit superficial. Great warm people on first meeting but I found you could get to about level 2 of depth of relationship. Not a lot of interest in getting down to real relationships. If you are a social person and like to go to po'folks or luby's after church great... you won't notice. But I found Texans ( not every and I am sure those on FR are not like this) to be a bit too surface to me. Now that is my experience and it is based on living there for 5 years. Okay now if you want to flame me go ahead.
If genuine deep relationships make up who you are .... you might want to check a different culture. Oh yeah... The DFW has the HIGHEST divorce rate in the country.

[Alissa]

Texas is hell! Pure humidity! One swims to work and play.

I guess you've never lived in the southeast, where the humidity is 100% at midnight and the temperature is 90+ degrees and the air is completely still & stifling! I grew up there.

San Antonio is not nearly as humid as the southeast although I understand Houston maybe an exception. The saving factor to Texas' hot summers is in the evening there is always a nice wind to cool things down. I always compare a Texas summer to a northern cold climate - just stay indoors as much as possible if the heat becomes too much for your comfort level. Some Texans go jogging in the heat of the day in August. Some people love hot weather and some love cold weather. If you love cold weather, then you probably won't enjoy Texas weather.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Texas is more humid than New York. Plus you are still moving to an area that will soon be under Mexican control. This will be an adventure! The whole S.W. is in the process of going under Mexican control.

Five months out of the year, the weather in Texas is not even habitable, and you are correct, Mexico is literally taking over Texas, and Arizona, and many other areas of the United States.....

[Diddle E. Squat]

New Mexico is beautiful, and if you are in position to do so, places in the forested mountains, such as Cloudcroft and around Santa Fe are hard to beat. But the state did vote for Gore(barely) and just elected the fumbling secrets to the Chinese, Monica chauffering Gov. Krispy Kreme, so when it comes to politics they have issues(and watch out for all the drunk drivers).

[Vision Thing]

In the just-released Forbes list of the "Best Places For Business And Careers":

Austin is #1

Dallas is #9.

Best Places For Business And Careers

[maxwell]

Alpine is the prettiest town in Texas.

[snortle] Mixed memories here, of trying to get a rental car in Alpine on the weekend to get back to DFW... (Trying to go to Terlingua, and the durn rental broke down.) Alpine did have its charm though. Sometime I plan to go see whatsitcalled, Marva? Marpa?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Because people that live in NO and Miss. can't talk! No I'm sorry! Texas is Hell. No worse humidity anywhere on earth. Plus, be honest now "Copperheads." My poor cousin bent down to turn on his water and came up with three of em attached to his face. Lord it was horrible.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Don't come to Cal, to crowded, weather is lousy, and gangs of religious cults will kidnap you. Go to Texas......

Me, I am headed to Arkansas......

[asneditor]

You got that right!!!!!! South Texas might as well be Mexico!!

[FLCowboy,]

The Governor, Senate, and House are all Republicans and even the Democrats are not usually overly liberal

Except for Mollie Ivens and Ann Richards

[4mycountry]

Hope these help:

>>>What is the political climate like?

All for our President.

>>>Is it conservative?

Oh yeah.

>>>Republican?

We DEFINE Republican. Heck, we gave you President Bush!

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

Conservative.

>>>How about the faith of the population?

Christian.

>>>Is there a large Catholic [faituful] population?

Since I'm not Catholic, I couldn't tell ya.

>>>How are the gun laws? Open carry?

No. Gun laws are strictly enforsed, and you MUST have a license to carry.

>>>Is the State homeschool friendly?

Most definitly.

>>>How organized are Freepers out there?

I'm organized!! Really! ^_~
Well, I live out in the middle of nowhere, so I couldn't really say. You'll have to look at other Freepers for that info.

>>>Is the state moving towards the left?

It'll be a sub-zero day in hell before THAT ever happens. No way. We are right-wing, behind our President, and DARN proud of it!!

>>>What is the best place to move to avoid allergies?

I'm not 100% sure, but I'd avoid up north. Lots of trees, grass, what-have-you. Winds from the south can bring anything with 'em.

>>>Is it as dry as Arizona?

Not quite as dry. It can get dry in the summer; but if you live near the Gulf of Mexico, there's plenty of natural water. Otherwise look for water parks and lakes. Trust me, there's alot of 'em.

[wireplay]

All of the southwestern food is excellenet: it is what I cook at home the most. All of the cuisines, however, are different. To me, it is easy to tell Mexican from Tex-Mex, from New Mexican, etc. They use different ingredients and styles. Best thing to do is to learn to cook a particular style and start practicing. I won't say anything bad about New Mexico. Personally, I would look at Santa Fe or Taos. I would never live in a city the size of Alburquerque.