Moving to Texas...need help! :)

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 17, 2008

You've mentioned several places that are in the Mid-Cities region of DFW (Euless, Grapevine, North Richland Hills, and Grand Prairie). These cities would be convenient because you'd be within reasonable commuting distance of either Dallas or Fort Worth. My friend lived in Euless back in 2005, and she's been living in North Richland Hills for the past 3 years. However, these suburbs might be deemed boring to a young person who is used to an interesting night life.

Although I'm in my twenties, I've never been into the night life. My friend must go to the hipper cities such as Addison in order to enjoy herself. Addison is a clean city populated with plenty of young professionals, clubs, restaurants, and so on.

tngallygal · Dec 18, 2008

Hi, I am a single mother of 3 great kids. I would also like to relocate to Texas. I need help with lots of things, too. I thought about moving to Corpus Christi, how often will I be able to find onsite daycare? I have home health experience, how much of a demand is there for that in Texas? Any comments would be appreciated! Keep in mind, that it will be only myself and my children, who thinks I'm crazy? :bugeyes:

jspacegirl · Dec 18, 2008

Hello! I have been to Texas to visit many times and decided to finally move there with a friend. I need help with not only opinions of certain cities, and also some direction as to job searching. I wouldn't be moving until June or July. I am looking to stay close to DFW...my friend and I have found apartments we like in Grand Prairie, Euless, Grapevine, and North Richland Hills. We did see a couple in Fort Worth as well. Any particular feelings about these cities? We are both in our 20's and would like a city that is nice, but also has alot going on. As for nursing jobs, by the time I move, I will have 2 years charge experience. I am really wanting to get into either public health nursing, school nursing, mental health nursing...or anything just out of the typical hospital med-surg setting passing pills and doing charting on 10 patients until I want to scream. I'm looking for something with more meaning, maybe where I can educate more, public health jobs are hard to come by here and that is what I am really interested in. I know this question is kind of generalized until I decide where to live, but I appreciate any direction somebody can give me! I am from a smaller city and not used to so many options. Thanks so much for any help!

If you are single, I would not recommend moving to any of the above cities (with the exception of Fort Worth), because they are all suburbs. Like the Commuter said, look at Addison, as well as areas of Dallas such as Uptown, lower Greenville, Lakewood, and Oak Cliff. You should be able to find nice apartments with reasonable rents and there will be a lot more to do in the way of shopping, restaurants, nightlife, etc. Not to mention, you will be close to lots of hospitals.

If you are looking to go into public health, try looking at Parkland Hospital. It is the county hospital for Dallas, and they have several COPCs, have mobile healthcare units that reachout to the homeless, etc. You might be able to find something that you are looking for there.

back2thebooks · Dec 18, 2008

Most of those suburbs are considered mid-cities. There's not going to be a lot of "night life" there--it's suburbia. But, you are still close enough to go to downtown Dallas/downtown Fort Worth if you are interested in clubs/bars, etc. Dallas and Fort Worth are pretty different---so you get a nice variety of things to do.

I live very close to North Richland Hills---I'm 33 and I have 2 small children, so my husband and I don't really go to bars anymore, but there are some neighborhood type pubs around us that we'll stop and have a beer if we have a date night. There are also some wine bars and pretty good restaurants around here.

It all depends on what you like to do.

back2thebooks · Dec 18, 2008

Hi, I am a single mother of 3 great kids. I would also like to relocate to Texas. I need help with lots of things, too. I thought about moving to Corpus Christi, how often will I be able to find onsite daycare? I have home health experience, how much of a demand is there for that in Texas? Any comments would be appreciated! Keep in mind, that it will be only myself and my children, who thinks I'm crazy?

I can't say whether or not you'd have luck with on-site care or comment on the demand of home health care, but I can tell you that my husband is from Corpus and either you really love it there or....you don't. Definitely visit for several weeks before you decide to move there, IMO. Good luck :)

hellooonurse28 · Dec 18, 2008

Thanks for all the input from everybody! After doing some more apartment searching and thinking about what we want, we decided we'd rather be in the suburbs. I am not quite the partier anymore, but would like to be relatively close to an area with museums, nightlife, restaurants, comedy clubs, sporting events, etc. After looking at apartments, we really liked some in Grapevine, Euless, and Grand Prairie. Are these communities safe? Any thoughts? I'm planning to go view some apartments soon, but would love to have opinions from people who actually live and know the area. How are those areas for jobs? I am thinking I am interested in public health so I know I'd have to seek out boards of health in the area. I'd really like to do work out in the community. Are there many jobs in public health? I'm also interested in psych nursing and working with alzheimer's patients at a GOOD LTC facility. Any suggestions as to good places for psych or LTC. I really appreciate everyones help!!!

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2008

i'm a country girl..dont like the city but wanted to welcome you to texas

check into the burleson area...about 20 south of downtown ft worth ...

zamboni · Dec 19, 2008

I grew up in and currently live in Grapevine, and I adore it. I'm single, and while it's certainly not Lower Greenville, we do have a few great bars/restraunts, plus we have our two huge street festivals every year. I feel like it's very safe with a low crime rate, especially since I lived in Arlington for five years prior to moving back here. So far this holiday season, our biggest crime problem has been someone going around putting the yard reindeer in obscene positions. Another thing I love is that the city takes very good care of the citizens. Our taxes may be a bit on the higher side, but I think we get a better return than many other places. We also have a fantastic lake and parks for summer.

We are close to Dallas and Forth Worth, so it's a decent commute, although traffic can get log jammed here at certain times of the day (but it's usually predictable, and easy to work around).

Just my opinion...I love it here. I've watched Grapevine grow from a tiny little town in the 70's. They could have easily just become another "burb" without identity, but we have good leaders that made sure the city grew with it's own identity. If you want anymore info, feel free to PM me.

And welcome to Texas!

back2thebooks · Dec 19, 2008

Another vote for Grapevine. Out of the suburbs you are considering, definitely the most central--and in my opinion, the nicest. Plus, lots of new development going on in Grapevine--lots of great new things to look forward to. Check out the apartments on Main Street in Old Town Grapevine---they are above retail shops---whenever I drive by them, I always think "If we didn't have kids/dogs...." They are relatively new. Also, Southlake and Keller are very nice (my neck of the woods). You will love Texas. It's truly unlike any other place in the country.

ETA: JMHO, but I'd stay away from Grand Prairie. There are some very nice areas, but it does tend to have higher crime and is considered a very industrial area. Again, this is just my opinion--so no offense to any GPers out there

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 19, 2008

One thing to keep in mind is that Grapevine tends to be slightly pricier than the other suburbs mentioned due to its location and reputation. The OP would definitely get more bang for her buck in Euless, North Richland Hills, or Grand Prairie in the form of cheaper rents.