Help FReeper move to TX or NH

me ^ | 6/10/2004 | me

[Rate_Determining_Step]

OK.

Living in Seattle sucks. It's June 10th and the rest of the country is basking in warm spring weather and it's 51 degrees outside.

I wouldn't mind TX, but the wife says she can't stand the heat. Is it really that hot in TX? All of TX? Are there any semi-moderate places there?

Been looking at NH. I don't like snow, but I'll put up with it for 3-4 months, etc.

Looking for some FReepmail from natives on the really skinny on weather, crime, taxes, etc.

I took a survey and it said El Paso is the place for me. The closest I've been to Texas is Utah.

I like decent metro areas (love Manhattan). But, I want a house with a 2 or 3 car garage, etc.

It'll be nice to move out of an area where I'm up to my armpits in lefties!

Thanks,

[sionnsar]

Living in Seattle sucks. It's June 10th and the rest of the country is basking in warm spring weather and it's 51 degrees outside.

Rate_Determining_Step, we'll be sorry to lose you. Some of us like 56F (that's what it is out here in Redmond) and drizzle... but it's not everyone's cuppa tea.

[Sally'sConcerns]

I've lived in Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. I have relatives who live in the panhandle in Amarillo. Texas is hot during the summer! That's just the way it is.

I live in a a small town in Oklahoma now and I like it here.

[TXBubba]

We had friends from Washington visit us (in Austin) in March. It was raining. They really didn't mind because it was warm. Yes, it gets hot here in the summer but that is what AC and the local pool are for. And we don't have to shovel the heat.

[thackney]

You know you are in Texas during the summertime when:
6/7/02

The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance.

Hot water now comes out of both taps.

You can make sun tea instantly.

You learn that a seat belt buckle makes a pretty good branding iron.

The temperature drops below 95 and you feel a little chilly.

You discover that in July it only takes 2 fingers to steer your car.

You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window.

You actually burn your hand opening the car door.

You break into a sweat the instant you step outside at 7:30 a.m.

Your biggest bicycle wreck fear is, "What if I get knocked out and end up lying on the pavement and cook to death?"

You realize that asphalt has a liquid state.

The birds have to use pot holders to pull worms out of the ground.

The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt, and pepper.

Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying hard-boiled eggs.

The cows are giving evaporated milk.

The trees are whistling for the dogs.

[sinkspur]

Yes. Texas is hot in the summer (we haven't had much heat yet this year, though), and, some years, very dry (six inches of rain in the last 48 hours, though).

But, no income tax yet (though property taxes are pretty high).

But, we have mild winters, and quality of life is very good.

There's good and bad about most places, though. Depends on what your priorities are.

[theDentist]

I'll put up with it for 3-4 months, etc.

And some winters 5-6 months.

[Phantom Lord]

I suggest taking a look at North Carolina.

[lowbridge]

bump

[Politicalmom]

Try Georgia. We have air conditioning. : )

[bannie]

AHAHAHA!

We must be related! Bakersfield, CA fits notch on your yardstick!!

[hispanarepublicana]

I wouldn't mind TX, but the wife says she can't stand the heat.

If you move to El Paso, you'll be not too far from the Davis Mountains, where it's 80 degrees or so in the summertime. Look up "Fort Davis" on mapquest.

[don-o]

Oh. I thought you needed a pickup truck. Never mind.

But, I prefer New Hampshire, if I had to leave Tennessee.

[bannie]

North Carolina--

:(

That's where I learned the significance of the wetness or dryness of heat. It matters!!!!

[lormand]

I guess it is all relative. I have been in Texas for over 7 years now after I fled Lousyana.

I lived in the Dallas area for 3 years, and now the Austin area for almost 4. When people say it is hot here, I just shrug it off. Most of the time when they say it is hot, one can stand in the shade and not break a sweat. However, in South Lousyana, the only escape is indoors.

To me, it is a no brainer, TEXAS is the place you should be. Sounds like your wife will whine no matter where you live, so you may as well live in a place that is solidly Conservative.

[Blood of Tyrants]

No, it's not that hot in the Texas panhandle. Some summer days it only get up to 93 or 94 degrees.

[Mavis]

It'll be nice to move out of an area where I'm up to my armpits in lefties!

-They are leaving MA for NH in droves. We have no income tax up here, but the property taxes are pretty high. Long winters (November - April realistically), with lots of snow are brutal, but they give you a good excuse to stay inside by the fire with your honey and a cup of cocoa.

[Mavis]

It'll be nice to move out of an area where I'm up to my armpits in lefties!

-They are leaving MA for NH in droves. We have no income tax up here, but the property taxes are pretty high. Long winters (November - April realistically), with lots of snow are brutal, but they give you a good excuse to stay inside by the fire with your honey and a cup of cocoa.

[thackney]

Dear Diary:

May 30th: Just moved to Houston...Now this is a city that knows how to live!! Beautiful sunny days and warm balmy evenings. What a place! Watched the sunset from a park lying on a blanket. It was beautiful. I've finally found my home. I love it here.

June 14th: Really heating up. Got to 100 today. Not a problem. Live in an air-conditioned home, drive an air-conditioned car. What a pleasure to see the sun everyday like this. I'm turning into a sun worshipper.

June 30th: Had the backyard landscaped with western plants today. Lots of cactus and rocks. What a breeze to maintain. No more mowing lawn for me. Another scorcher today, but I love it here.

July 10th: The temperature hasn't been below 100 all week. How do people get used to this kind of heat? At least it's kind of windy though. But getting used to the heat and humidity is taking longer that I expected.

July 15th: Fell asleep by the pool. (Got 3rd degree burns over 60% of my body). Missed 3 days of work. What a dumb thing to do. I learned my lesson though. Got to respect the ol' sun in a climate like this.

July 20th: I missed Morgan (our cat) sneaking into the car when I left this morning. By the time I got to the hot car for lunch, Morgan had died and swollen up to the size of a shopping bag and stank up the $2,000 leather upholstery. I told the kids that she ran away. The car now smells like Kibbles and s***s. I learned my lesson though. No more pets in this heat.

July 25th: The wind sucks. It feels like a giant freaking blowdryer!! And it's hot as hell. The home air-conditioner is on the fritz and the AC repairman charged $200 just to drive by and tell me he needed to order parts.

July 30th: Been sleeping outside by the pool for 3 nights now. $1,500 in damn house payments and we can't even go inside. Why did I ever come here?

Aug. 4th: It's 115 degrees. Finally got the air-conditioner fixed today. It cost $500 and gets the temperature down to 85, but this freaking humidity makes the house feel like it's about 95. Stupid repairman. I hate this stupid city.

Aug. 8th: If another wise ass cracks, "Hot enough for you today?", I'm going to strangle him. Damn heat. By the time I get to work the radiator is boiling over, my clothes are soaking wet, and I smell like baked cat!!

Aug. 9th: Tried to run some errands after work. Wore shorts, and sat on the black leather seats in the ol' car. I thought my a** was on fire. I lost 2 layers of flesh and all the hair on the back of my legs and a**. Now my car smells like burnt hair, fried a**, and baked cat.

Aug. 10th: The weather report might as well be a damn recording. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. Hot and sunny. It's been too hot to do s*** for 2 damn months and the weatherman says it might really warm up next week. Doesn't it ever rain in this damn desert?? Water rationing will be next, so might $1700 worth of cactus just dry up and blow into the damn pool. Even the cactus can't live in this damn heat.

Aug. 14th: Welcome to HELL!!! Temperature got to 115 today. Forgot to crack the window and blew the damn windshield out of the car. The installer came to fix it and said, "Hot enough for you today?" My wife had to spend the $1500 house payment to bail me out of jail. Freaking Texas. What kind of a sick demented idiot would want to live here??

[Rate_Determining_Step]

I've lived here since I was a little kid and I don't know if it's me, but I just can't handle all the 40-50 degree weather. Remember 2000? Something like 4 months straight of rain? I almost lost it that year.

I mean the scenery is second to none. We spent some time in Reno and San Jose and those were arm pits compared to the PNW. Wastelands. I had my hopes on Reno. Supposed to be the small business capital of the country. NV like WA is a no tax state. But, I was really disappointed in the city. Rather hich (no offense to hicks!), but I've grown up in a big city and love the resources it offers.

Northern California would be *perfect* if it wasn't part of California. And southwest OR would be nice if it weren't for the 6% state income tax.