Tech bro moves from CA to Austin - immediately reverses course after calling culture 'bland'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Texas has incredible diversity and food. If you can’t find it you have no creativity and no common sense. The Indian population is massive. No sympathy for him whatsoever.

+1. Haven’t been there in a while, but I love Austin. Never had a shortage of places to go or things to do.

[Anonymous]

I used to live in Austin and never even heard of the "suburb" he moved to. I had to look it up and understood what happened here. He moved to an exurban area. You don't get that kind of land in the suburbs. No wonder it was such culture shock. Also the traffic out there on west 71 is awful. When I used to drive out there, that section was a 2 lane road. He should have just bit the bullet and moved into Austin proper but then it would have been much more expensive and probably would haven't still questioned his move. He moved from San Francisco to an Austin exurban location. Think about that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Austin and never even heard of the "suburb" he moved to. I had to look it up and understood what happened here. He moved to an exurban area. You don't get that kind of land in the suburbs. No wonder it was such culture shock. Also the traffic out there on west 71 is awful. When I used to drive out there, that section was a 2 lane road. He should have just bit the bullet and moved into Austin proper but then it would have been much more expensive and probably would haven't still questioned his move. He moved from San Francisco to an Austin exurban location. Think about that.

I posted this, let me also add this (probably more important). People shouldn't be moving and uprooting their families just to buy big houses in other places - especially if you have kids. Moving for work either for a job (if unemployed) or career advancement are things that make sense to uproot your family. If you're doing it to buy a bigger house than you can afford in your current location then you're being really unreasonable. I think a lot of people are under the impression that owning more, bigger, better stuff leads to happiness. That just isn't the case.

[Anonymous]

Californians b*tch about how expensive CA is, then they move elsewhere and complain about how those places aren't CA. It seems these people moving are just confused!

[Anonymous]

I know that area of Austin, it’s wealthy sprawling suburbia. If you want more character and city feel, move to Old Enfield, Clarksville, Old West Austin, South Congress, Barton Hills, Hyde Park, even parts of Lakeway/Westlake which are more suburban but closer to downtown. God knows the only people who can afford to live in those areas are wealthy tech people now. The downside is most of the tech offices are North of the city and even the reverse commute is awful on Mopac.

Most of the part of Austin dominated by tech feels like San Jose to me—just a big morass of suburban sprawl. It’s also pretty politically moderate—used to be more Republican until Trump.

The cool/liberal/funky part of Austin is very small and expensive to live in. I went to UT for grad school and the transformation in full throws at that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw this online. He comes off as rude and dim, in part because he's trying to make a buck by writing about his failure to think about a big move. That said, I don't like Austin and would never live there. I don't get what people like about it.

- Bay Area native who likes NOVA pretty well.

Weird.

NoVA is the worst of the three.

[Anonymous]

Seems he acted impulsively and was drawn in by the idea of a huge house. He should have researched the feel/culture of the area more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know that area of Austin, it’s wealthy sprawling suburbia. If you want more character and city feel, move to Old Enfield, Clarksville, Old West Austin, South Congress, Barton Hills, Hyde Park, even parts of Lakeway/Westlake which are more suburban but closer to downtown. God knows the only people who can afford to live in those areas are wealthy tech people now. The downside is most of the tech offices are North of the city and even the reverse commute is awful on Mopac.

Most of the part of Austin dominated by tech feels like San Jose to me—just a big morass of suburban sprawl. It’s also pretty politically moderate—used to be more Republican until Trump.

The cool/liberal/funky part of Austin is very small and expensive to live in. I went to UT for grad school and the transformation in full throws at that time.

Exactly. I've lived in Austin and Silicon Valley. This move was like moving to Morgan Hill and complaining its boring and bland. It's too far from all the "cool" stuff and traffic is horrific if you need to be DT or north to Round Rock. But, if he'd done his research he would know that. He had no clue what he was getting himself and his family into and can only blame himself. But if you want the brand new house on a lot of land, that's where you would go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that area of Austin, it’s wealthy sprawling suburbia. If you want more character and city feel, move to Old Enfield, Clarksville, Old West Austin, South Congress, Barton Hills, Hyde Park, even parts of Lakeway/Westlake which are more suburban but closer to downtown. God knows the only people who can afford to live in those areas are wealthy tech people now. The downside is most of the tech offices are North of the city and even the reverse commute is awful on Mopac.

Most of the part of Austin dominated by tech feels like San Jose to me—just a big morass of suburban sprawl. It’s also pretty politically moderate—used to be more Republican until Trump.

The cool/liberal/funky part of Austin is very small and expensive to live in. I went to UT for grad school and the transformation in full throws at that time.

Exactly. I've lived in Austin and Silicon Valley. This move was like moving to Morgan Hill and complaining its boring and bland. It's too far from all the "cool" stuff and traffic is horrific if you need to be DT or north to Round Rock. But, if he'd done his research he would know that. He had no clue what he was getting himself and his family into and can only blame himself. But if you want the brand new house on a lot of land, that's where you would go.

Yup, I loved Austin, went to school there, bought our first house there, had our first baby there. Miss it terribly.

It's hard to imagine he even visited the area he moved to before picking it, given (apparently) what he values. Hell, besides the land he would have been in much better proximity to "cool" things but still have the 'burb and new house vibe in Circle C and have paid a fraction of the price.

Austin has a lot of wonderful amenities, including a ton of outdoor activities--including a lot to do on the water. I'm just sort of baffled by this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that area of Austin, it’s wealthy sprawling suburbia. If you want more character and city feel, move to Old Enfield, Clarksville, Old West Austin, South Congress, Barton Hills, Hyde Park, even parts of Lakeway/Westlake which are more suburban but closer to downtown. God knows the only people who can afford to live in those areas are wealthy tech people now. The downside is most of the tech offices are North of the city and even the reverse commute is awful on Mopac.

Most of the part of Austin dominated by tech feels like San Jose to me—just a big morass of suburban sprawl. It’s also pretty politically moderate—used to be more Republican until Trump.

The cool/liberal/funky part of Austin is very small and expensive to live in. I went to UT for grad school and the transformation in full throws at that time.

Exactly. I've lived in Austin and Silicon Valley. This move was like moving to Morgan Hill and complaining its boring and bland. It's too far from all the "cool" stuff and traffic is horrific if you need to be DT or north to Round Rock. But, if he'd done his research he would know that. He had no clue what he was getting himself and his family into and can only blame himself. But if you want the brand new house on a lot of land, that's where you would go.

Yup, I loved Austin, went to school there, bought our first house there, had our first baby there. Miss it terribly.

It's hard to imagine he even visited the area he moved to before picking it, given (apparently) what he values. Hell, besides the land he would have been in much better proximity to "cool" things but still have the 'burb and new house vibe in Circle C and have paid a fraction of the price.

Austin has a lot of wonderful amenities, including a ton of outdoor activities--including a lot to do on the water. I'm just sort of baffled by this.

Lakeway was a retirement community up until about 15 years ago. Now it's filling up with younger families since the closer in areas are less affordable. But if you're into the "Keep Austin Weird" vibe then its not where you should end up. He should have talked to more people, spent more time there to get the feel for it. I don't get the "school choice" complain either. Sounds like he was looking for private schools which there aren't many very close to there. Why wasn't he ok with the publics? Again, if school was important to him researching the options prior to the move would have been helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that area of Austin, it’s wealthy sprawling suburbia. If you want more character and city feel, move to Old Enfield, Clarksville, Old West Austin, South Congress, Barton Hills, Hyde Park, even parts of Lakeway/Westlake which are more suburban but closer to downtown. God knows the only people who can afford to live in those areas are wealthy tech people now. The downside is most of the tech offices are North of the city and even the reverse commute is awful on Mopac.

Most of the part of Austin dominated by tech feels like San Jose to me—just a big morass of suburban sprawl. It’s also pretty politically moderate—used to be more Republican until Trump.

The cool/liberal/funky part of Austin is very small and expensive to live in. I went to UT for grad school and the transformation in full throws at that time.

Exactly. I've lived in Austin and Silicon Valley. This move was like moving to Morgan Hill and complaining its boring and bland. It's too far from all the "cool" stuff and traffic is horrific if you need to be DT or north to Round Rock. But, if he'd done his research he would know that. He had no clue what he was getting himself and his family into and can only blame himself. But if you want the brand new house on a lot of land, that's where you would go.

Yup, I loved Austin, went to school there, bought our first house there, had our first baby there. Miss it terribly.

It's hard to imagine he even visited the area he moved to before picking it, given (apparently) what he values. Hell, besides the land he would have been in much better proximity to "cool" things but still have the 'burb and new house vibe in Circle C and have paid a fraction of the price.

Austin has a lot of wonderful amenities, including a ton of outdoor activities--including a lot to do on the water. I'm just sort of baffled by this.

Have you lived in the Bay Area? I don't think Austin has as much varied outdoor activity and, if you don't like the weather--especially the heat, you may not be doing as much outside for large parts of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that area of Austin, it’s wealthy sprawling suburbia. If you want more character and city feel, move to Old Enfield, Clarksville, Old West Austin, South Congress, Barton Hills, Hyde Park, even parts of Lakeway/Westlake which are more suburban but closer to downtown. God knows the only people who can afford to live in those areas are wealthy tech people now. The downside is most of the tech offices are North of the city and even the reverse commute is awful on Mopac.

Most of the part of Austin dominated by tech feels like San Jose to me—just a big morass of suburban sprawl. It’s also pretty politically moderate—used to be more Republican until Trump.

The cool/liberal/funky part of Austin is very small and expensive to live in. I went to UT for grad school and the transformation in full throws at that time.

Exactly. I've lived in Austin and Silicon Valley. This move was like moving to Morgan Hill and complaining its boring and bland. It's too far from all the "cool" stuff and traffic is horrific if you need to be DT or north to Round Rock. But, if he'd done his research he would know that. He had no clue what he was getting himself and his family into and can only blame himself. But if you want the brand new house on a lot of land, that's where you would go.

Yup, I loved Austin, went to school there, bought our first house there, had our first baby there. Miss it terribly.

It's hard to imagine he even visited the area he moved to before picking it, given (apparently) what he values. Hell, besides the land he would have been in much better proximity to "cool" things but still have the 'burb and new house vibe in Circle C and have paid a fraction of the price.

Austin has a lot of wonderful amenities, including a ton of outdoor activities--including a lot to do on the water. I'm just sort of baffled by this.

Have you lived in the Bay Area? I don't think Austin has as much varied outdoor activity and, if you don't like the weather--especially the heat, you may not be doing as much outside for large parts of the year.

Well, I've spent a fair amount of time there but no, haven't lived there. Its not my favorite place in the country, but OK.

But this isn't really about the Bay Area vs. Austin (and I didn't claim one was better than the other in my post, if you read it again). Its about someone who clearly didn't do due diligence before uprooting their family--I don't object to anyone who prefers the Bay Area over Austin, but there didn't seem to be any real effort to learn more about the area he was moving his family to before doing so. His complaints seem to be mostly based on very basic things that he easily could have learned before moving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I used to live in Austin and never even heard of the "suburb" he moved to. I had to look it up and understood what happened here. He moved to an exurban area. You don't get that kind of land in the suburbs. No wonder it was such culture shock. Also the traffic out there on west 71 is awful. When I used to drive out there, that section was a 2 lane road. He should have just bit the bullet and moved into Austin proper but then it would have been much more expensive and probably would haven't still questioned his move. He moved from San Francisco to an Austin exurban location. Think about that.

I posted this, let me also add this (probably more important). People shouldn't be moving and uprooting their families just to buy big houses in other places - especially if you have kids. Moving for work either for a job (if unemployed) or career advancement are things that make sense to uproot your family. If you're doing it to buy a bigger house than you can afford in your current location then you're being really unreasonable. I think a lot of people are under the impression that owning more, bigger, better stuff leads to happiness. That just isn't the case.

lol.. we did exactly that. Moved from expensive west coast city to the east coast to afford a bigger house, but the school district here is better than where we came from. But it's a metro area so not the exurbs like this guy moved to. I would not have done that move. And actually, we thought abou Austin, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know that area of Austin, it’s wealthy sprawling suburbia. If you want more character and city feel, move to Old Enfield, Clarksville, Old West Austin, South Congress, Barton Hills, Hyde Park, even parts of Lakeway/Westlake which are more suburban but closer to downtown. God knows the only people who can afford to live in those areas are wealthy tech people now. The downside is most of the tech offices are North of the city and even the reverse commute is awful on Mopac.

Most of the part of Austin dominated by tech feels like San Jose to me—just a big morass of suburban sprawl. It’s also pretty politically moderate—used to be more Republican until Trump.

The cool/liberal/funky part of Austin is very small and expensive to live in. I went to UT for grad school and the transformation in full throws at that time.

Exactly. I've lived in Austin and Silicon Valley. This move was like moving to Morgan Hill and complaining its boring and bland. It's too far from all the "cool" stuff and traffic is horrific if you need to be DT or north to Round Rock. But, if he'd done his research he would know that. He had no clue what he was getting himself and his family into and can only blame himself. But if you want the brand new house on a lot of land, that's where you would go.

Yup, I loved Austin, went to school there, bought our first house there, had our first baby there. Miss it terribly.

It's hard to imagine he even visited the area he moved to before picking it, given (apparently) what he values. Hell, besides the land he would have been in much better proximity to "cool" things but still have the 'burb and new house vibe in Circle C and have paid a fraction of the price.

Austin has a lot of wonderful amenities, including a ton of outdoor activities--including a lot to do on the water. I'm just sort of baffled by this.

Lakeway was a retirement community up until about 15 years ago. Now it's filling up with younger families since the closer in areas are less affordable. But if you're into the "Keep Austin Weird" vibe then its not where you should end up. He should have talked to more people, spent more time there to get the feel for it. I don't get the "school choice" complain either. Sounds like he was looking for private schools which there aren't many very close to there. Why wasn't he ok with the publics? Again, if school was important to him researching the options prior to the move would have been helpful.

His school choice critique was very specific and not about private schools.

There's also little public school choice. In California there are charter schools, two day schools, public schools, cash/combo charter school/homeschooling, you name it. In west Austin, just public schools. Don't know why, but I heard that the high school football industrial complex opposed charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Lakeway was a retirement community up until about 15 years ago. Now it's filling up with younger families since the closer in areas are less affordable. But if you're into the "Keep Austin Weird" vibe then its not where you should end up. He should have talked to more people, spent more time there to get the feel for it. I don't get the "school choice" complain either. Sounds like he was looking for private schools which there aren't many very close to there. Why wasn't he ok with the publics? Again, if school was important to him researching the options prior to the move would have been helpful.

His school choice critique was very specific and not about private schools.

There's also little public school choice. In California there are charter schools, two day schools, public schools, cash/combo charter school/homeschooling, you name it. In west Austin, just public schools. Don't know why, but I heard that the high school football industrial complex opposed charter schools.

Tech bro can't google schools before moving.