Should this native californian move to Houston, Texas?

rgrgray · Aug 4, 2005

I will graduating soon from USF (University of San Francisco) and I am really considering relocating to Houston mainly out of affordability. Plus I here Houston is pretty liberal (not as much as San Francisco, but reasonably) and has all the major amenities of any major metropolitan city, plus affordable homes and sustainable wages. I don't think I will ever be able to afford a home in california, even with supplemental income from my partner. I was thinking of working 2 years after graduation first to save for a nice down payment, then make the plunge. We are a gay couple (together for 7 years now--since highschool) and see children down the line. Do you think Houston is friendly to people like us?

hi i live in houston and once lived in the cupertino area and let me tell you it is sooooo much more affardable here than there. i live in a home that is 4 years old over 2,000 square ft, 4bedrooms 2 1/2 bath and we paid 116,000 dollers. my home is very nice there is nooo way we could even think about living in california compared to how we live here. gas is about 2.19 a gallon here right now and that is really high for us... i love houston but it is hot here... we are very liberal here but you will run across a few red necks... if you have anymore questions feel free to ask here is my email address [email protected]

rgrgray · Aug 4, 2005

hi i live in houston and once lived in the cupertino area and let me tell you it is sooooo much more affardable here than there. i live in a home that is 4 years old over 2,000 square ft, 4bedrooms 2 1/2 bath and we paid 116,000 dollers. my home is very nice there is nooo way we could even think about living in california compared to how we live here. gas is about 2.19 a gallon here right now and that is really high for us... i love houston but it is hot here... we are very liberal here but you will run across a few red necks... if you have anymore questions feel free to ask here is my email address [email protected]

ohhh i forgot to tell you we do have a great gay community here in houston you will have no problems adjusting here.... :)

USFguy · Aug 4, 2005

ohhh i forgot to tell you we do have a great gay community here in houston you will have no problems adjusting here.... :)

Thanks for the info. I am really scared of moving but at the same time excited about living somewhere new. The housing there seems incredible. I was looking at some homes online and I can't believe what you get for the prices. You could literally buy a 3500 sq. ft. home for $200,000 to $250,000! I can't even find condos going for that here in the bay area. I love CA but I need to be able to purchase something now while I am young to build some equity and save for retirement and college for kids.

I will email you with some additional questions. Thanks.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Aug 4, 2005

hi i live in houston and once lived in the cupertino area and let me tell you it is sooooo much more affardable here than there. i live in a home that is 4 years old over 2,000 square ft, 4bedrooms 2 1/2 bath and we paid 116,000 dollers. my home is very nice there is nooo way we could even think about living in california compared to how we live here. gas is about 2.19 a gallon here right now and that is really high for us... i love houston but it is hot here... we are very liberal here but you will run across a few red necks... if you have anymore questions feel free to ask here is my email address [email protected]

A few rednecks, this is the home of Rednecked Republican Moral Majority Right Winger Extremists of all the entire US of A.

May the Democrats return to Power

soso · Aug 7, 2005

I will graduating soon from USF (University of San Francisco) and I am really considering relocating to Houston mainly out of affordability. Plus I here Houston is pretty liberal (not as much as San Francisco, but reasonably) and has all the major amenities of any major metropolitan city, plus affordable homes and sustainable wages. I don't think I will ever be able to afford a home in california, even with supplemental income from my partner. I was thinking of working 2 years after graduation first to save for a nice down payment, then make the plunge. We are a gay couple (together for 7 years now--since highschool) and see children down the line. Do you think Houston is friendly to people like us?

I for one cannot wait until I'm done with school so that I can move back to Texas if not for one thing but affordable housing!!!

I lived in Dallas (I'm a native Bay Arean) for a couple of years and was amazed at the number of openly gay persons. I just assumed since it was the south, the Bible Belt, it would be totally taboo. I've actually heard that there are probably more gay people in Texas than in California. It's just that California's gay population is more politically active so more attention is given. There is a large gay community in Houston and Dallas so I'm sure you will be fine. Of course the further out you move from the metro, the more conservative people will be.

I do have a question for you...how do you enjoy going to USF and what program are you in? I have a BA and I am taking my prerequistes at the Peralta colleges and will be applying to the MEO program at USF. You hear alot about UCSF and Samuel Merritt but how would you rank USF. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Best of Luck in Texas!!!

Soso

soso · Aug 7, 2005

I for one cannot wait until I'm done with school so that I can move back to Texas if not for one thing but affordable housing!!!

I lived in Dallas (I'm a native Bay Arean) for a couple of years and was amazed at the number of openly gay persons. I just assumed since it was the south, the Bible Belt, it would be totally taboo. I've actually heard that there are probably more gay people in Texas than in California. It's just that California's gay population is more politically active so more attention is given. There is a large gay community in Houston and Dallas so I'm sure you will be fine. Of course the further out you move from the metro, the more conservative people will be.

I do have a question for you...how do you enjoy going to USF and what program are you in? I have a BA and I am taking my prerequistes at the Peralta colleges and will be applying to the MEO program at USF. You hear alot about UCSF and Samuel Merritt but how would you rank USF. Thanks in advance for your advice.

Best of Luck in Texas!!!

Soso

USFguy · Aug 11, 2005

I for one cannot wait until I'm done with school so that I can move back to Texas if not for one thing but affordable housing!!!
I lived in Dallas (I'm a native Bay Arean) for a couple of years and was amazed at the number of openly gay persons. I just assumed since it was the south, the Bible Belt, it would be totally taboo. I've actually heard that there are probably more gay people in Texas than in California. It's just that California's gay population is more politically active so more attention is given. There is a large gay community in Houston and Dallas so I'm sure you will be fine. Of course the further out you move from the metro, the more conservative people will be.
I do have a question for you...how do you enjoy going to USF and what program are you in? I have a BA and I am taking my prerequistes at the Peralta colleges and will be applying to the MEO program at USF. You hear alot about UCSF and Samuel Merritt but how would you rank USF. Thanks in advance for your advice.
Best of Luck in Texas!!!
Soso

I love USF. I did my pre-reqs at Laney college. I went here because I didn't have any degree and wanted a university experience and to get a BSN and MSN. The MEO program does not grant you a BSN, only the MSN in Healthcare Systems Leadership or any of the combined degrees (MSN/MBA, MSN/MSIS, MSN/MPA in Healthcare Administration). It is a non-advanced practice degree so you won't be an NP, CRNA, CNM, CNS. You would be fit for unit management, infection control, case management, informatics, patient education with the MEO degree. You would be an RN, MSN. That is what I want as I am not really too interested in becoming an advanced practitioner. Your focus really changes when your an NP, CRNA, CNM, CNS. You aren't a normal nurse anymore but more like a doctor. Now, if you want your BSN before you get your MSN (alot of people have expressed concern with not having a BSN before their MSN as employers in some states look down on it---I disagree, but whatever) I would choose the Accelerated BSN program at Samuel Merritt and then going on to USF for the traditonal MSN or UCSF/Samuel Merritt if you decide you want to be a NP, CRNA, CNM, CNS. If you don't care about the BSN and just want your RN, MSN and don't want to be an advanced practice nurse, then USF is the place. The MSN in healthcare systems leadership is unique and I haven't seen any other programs in the area that compare, even at UCSF.

Oh, by the way, our MSN program ranked 50 in the nation. UCSF is, of course, near the very top. I don't know about Samuel Merritt but I do know their CRNA program is highly ranked. You can email for more info:

[email protected]

Thanks for the info on texas y'all. :) I look forward to visiting the state and checking it all out for myself.

RN34TX · Aug 11, 2005

I've lived in Dallas for years and now near Houston with my partner.

I loved Dallas but it's gay community has an unfriendly reputation (somewhat deserved I think) but it was still a nice place to live.

Houston is a more laid back and friendly gay community than Dallas but you still have to remember that this is Texas, not California.

Our own governer recently told us all on TV that we should move somewhere else if we didn't like Texas not recognizing gay marriage.

Galveston Island has a surprisingly visible gay community of it's own for only having 60,000 people, mostly gay couples more than single people.

Both Dallas and Houston have great nursing opportunities but in general Houston pays better. As far as expenses go, I really didn't notice a price difference in housing, etc. but some people will swear that one is more expensive than the other.

You can also kiss your great CA weather goodbye, Houston is very hot and muggy humid most of the year.

krob0729 · Aug 11, 2005

we are very liberal here but you will run across a few red necks...

a FEW??? :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

RN34TX · Aug 11, 2005

... we are very liberal here but you will run across a few red necks...

I had to laugh at that statement as well.

Maybe, I said maybe, in Austin that statement could possibly be somewhat a little bit true. But the rest of the state?

It's easy to think it's gay-friendly if you never leave the Montrose area of Houston, but if you do, it won't be difficult to find people who have no problem vocalizing their negative views on gays.

My philosophy is that people can hate who I am all they want, I'm still staying here in Texas and I'm not going anywhere.

I'm sorry but in my book, in order to qualify as a gay-friendly city, you need to at least be able to hold your partner's hand in public (God forbid kiss in public) in areas aside from the designated gay part of town.

Houston and Dallas do not qualify here. If you leave the gay parts of town and try to show affection in public, you're asking for trouble.

USFguy · Aug 11, 2005

I had to laugh at that statement as well.
Maybe, I said maybe, in Austin that statement could possibly be somewhat a little bit true. But the rest of the state?
It's easy to think it's gay-friendly if you never leave the Montrose area of Houston, but if you do, it won't be difficult to find people who have no problem vocalizing their negative views on gays.
My philosophy is that people can hate who I am all they want, I'm still staying here in Texas and I'm not going anywhere.
I'm sorry but in my book, in order to qualify as a gay-friendly city, you need to at least be able to hold your partner's hand in public (God forbid kiss in public) in areas aside from the designated gay part of town.
Houston and Dallas do not qualify here. If you leave the gay parts of town and try to show affection in public, you're asking for trouble.

That's sad to hear. I have live in America's gay capital and I still get looks and stares if I show public affection for my partner. Granted I might not be as likley to be beaten for it (although San Francisco bay area has had several such incidents....GWEN ARRAJO for example) as I might in Houston or Dallas. My partner and I aren't very showy and don't ususally hold hands anyway unless we were on some romantic vacation or something.

I too don't give a flying crap what people think or believe as long as they don't bother me. I think if I did care so much than we would really limit where we could live in this country because the truth is most people don't like us and our so-called "lifestyle." I grew up in a upper middleclass/affluent suburb about 45 min. outside of los angeles and gay people were invisible there. So were black people and any hispanics you saw were maids and or janitors. I guess that is just typical of any American suburb anywhere. I don't expect houston to be any different. Unless you stay in the inner city, there aren't too many havens for gays and minorities.

I am looking at austin too and heard nice things. I hear the pay is lower however and the housing pricier--the opposite of houston?