The hubby and I have decided to move to Texas in June. Reasons being that as beautiful as California is, do I really want to pay $600k for a 3 bedroom home when I can get a mansion in Texas for the same price? Plus the Bay Area traffic and increasing prices from the Tech Crowd is changing the whole dynamic of the area and I just want out! Hubby is also a Republican and Texas is like Mecca for him
I love my job and the only reason I'm skipping town is for our future and all that jazz, blah, blah, blah. We are looking to move to Amarillo because I have a friend who works at a great hospital there and I think I could get a position there with no acute care. I want to take a refresher class and I'm already talked to a recruiter so I think my prospects are good. However, I love school nursing and I would like to know if anyone could give me some insight on school nursing either in the Panhandle or in Texas in general. I know either way it will be a major pay cut for me, but the drop in the cost of living will be worth it (currently we are renting a 2 bedroom/2 bath townhouse for $2150/month!).
Someone give me advice, hope, or talk me out of going back to the small town, desert life
Taxes are lower in Texas, but that's evident when you look around ...and when you see someone beating a dog to death, call the police and are told, "Sorry, we really don't have anyone who follows up on those types of things."
I hope you're not an animal lover or that things are much better in north Texas than they are in the south. I moved from Texas to California and am much less depressed with my surroundings despite the high cost of living.
Taxes are lower here because we don't waste taxpayer money on sewer treatment plants and water purification plants. We still use Outhouses and haul our water from the creek. We just now started using Velcro. And Texas is well known as having the highest percentage of animal haters. Of course there are some negative things about living here too. Despite all this I think you'll enjoy the lifestyle.
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
Taxes are lower in Texas
State income taxes are nonexistent in Texas, but the property tax rates are somewhat pricey. So if one is a homeowner in Texas, the supposed tax savings are really a wash.
I grew up and lived in San Antonio for most of my life. Texas is a great state, but I agree with others that I would never move to Amarillo! San Antonio, Houston, Austin are all great cities, lots to do, lots of jobs, and awesome culture! If your coming from California, where I was born, you will have serious culture shock in Amarillo. Seriously try someplace else!
Austin is getting expensive - it is our "tech town." Houston has at least a hundred hospitals to choose from. I don't think I could live in Amarillo unless you seriously want to live a "country" life. San Antonio is a small/big city. Houston and Dallas are huge sprawling cities with lots of opportunities. What does your husband do that he can move so easily?
Massachusetts followed by Maryland, Cali pretty far down the list.
Don't be knocking my state!
Though it is true. My husband's family lives in the Dallas area. Was just there over the break. I am a Northeast girl through and through and after 2 days in Texas, I am done. Did like Austin when we visited, but when we land back in MA, I am so happy.
But the cost of living - I will give that to Texas. I am still shocked at it when I go there. My husband's parent aren't from Texas originally, but are looking at retirement and the low cost of living is why they will likely never leave Texas. My in-laws just downsized to a 3 BR house that cost under $90K (!). My current rent is close to kenderella's in MA, but I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. To each their own!
Despite the rep, there are plenty of friendly people in MA. However, I often get told in TX that I am not friendly enough. Oops!
Though it is true. My husband's family lives in the Dallas area. Was just there over the break. I am a Northeast girl through and through and after 2 days in Texas, I am done. Did like Austin when we visited, but when we land back in MA, I am so happy.
But the cost of living - I will give that to Texas. I am still shocked at it when I go there. My husband's parent aren't from Texas originally, but are looking at retirement and the low cost of living is why they will likely never leave Texas. My in-laws just downsized to a 3 BR house that cost under $90K (!). My current rent is close to kenderella's in MA, but I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. To each their own!
Despite the rep, there are plenty of friendly people in MA. However, I often get told in TX that I am not friendly enough. Oops!
You must not be blue, otherwise not a knock:up:. I'm in Md., I am with ya'.
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.
Well I can see he and I are on the same page; obviously a smart man. You will, but it'll happen naturally, no pressure. Yea, I should have know about the plastic bag/California thing. Austin is like an extension of California anyway. Just an example of where you're moving to. Remember, in Texas, you can hang your AR or shotgun on your shoulder when you are shopping at WalMart - without a gun permit; that's only required for handguns. Plastic bags are the least of our thoughts. Most grocery stores still stock paper bags for those who request it.
Oh he's a former Marine. He's e-l-a-t-e-d for the change in gun laws. He almost cried from happiness when we went to a gun store in Nevada and saw all the goodies he can't have in California.
Illinois is considered a blue state, I think. Most of the population is around Chicago, which leans blue. The rest of the state is farm country which leans red.
With all the corruption in IL, the closest we come to state pride is elation that our governors are incarcerated.
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.
From Amarillo, currently live in Lubbock. Northwest Hospital (NWTH) is the 'County Hospital' of the area so they take the indigent, etc. despite the fact that they are still designated as a For-Profit hospital. Baptist St. Anthony's (BSA) is directly adjacent to NWTH and they are the place to go when you want the nice room with all the amenities because you have the insurance to cover it. There are a few more but they change names so often I don't know what they're called anymore... Triumph last I remember... then some specialty hospitals scattered about. NWTH and BSA are the primary two though and because Amarillo is the largest city within a 60 min span, they get patients from the small rural outliers.
Prices between Amarillo and Lubbock are comparable - our mortgage in Lubbock is $1150/mo for a 4 BR, 2 BA, my parents and brothers live in Amarillo and they pay probably the same or comparable to what we do. Sales tax is (price x 1.0825).
As far as night life, it is what you make of it. No, it will never be compared to 95% of the cities in CA for cultural endeavors but it depends on what you are into as well. As far as snow goes, we usually get one or two good snowstorms per year which quickly melt anyhow.
$1150 for a 4br HOUSE?!
Nightlife is no big deal to me. We are boring. Netflix and home cooked meals. But I'm looking forward to the BBQ!
Also, the hospital I'm looking at is BSA so good to hear
Specializes in School Nursing, Public Health Nurse.
NOLA is great. My husband and I have toyed with the idea of moving there.
I would totally move back home, but they pay Nurses crap there. My dad has been a nurse for over 10 years and he refuses to work in NOLA. He works in Alexandria and go home when he's off.
OldDude
1 Article; 4,787 Posts
Taxes are lower here because we don't waste taxpayer money on sewer treatment plants and water purification plants. We still use Outhouses and haul our water from the creek. We just now started using Velcro. And Texas is well known as having the highest percentage of animal haters. Of course there are some negative things about living here too. Despite all this I think you'll enjoy the lifestyle.