What is it like to live in Texas?

[1ke]

It appears that the bugs and the humidity are a couple of the negative aspects of Texas.

It’s all in the way you look at it. Humidity keeps your skin hydrated. No one ever guesses my age.

 

[iepuras]

Are there people out in the summer? We lived in Las Vegas (Henderson) for 13 years and I couldn’t take the summers with the kids being indoors all day.

Two words - swimming pool

I grew up in Texas and for some reason I don’t remember it being unbearably hot as a kid. It’s not like it is really any hotter now than it was back then. It was routinely 98-102 every day in July and August. We were outside all day every day even in July and August. We also had a swimming pool that we practically lived in. If you don’t want to take care of a pool (which we don’t), slip n slides, water guns and sprinklers will do the job.

Most folks will go out in the morning, stay inside during the afternoons and come back out after 5 pm or so. If we are crazy enough to spend the afternoon outside, we just sit on the back patio under the fan drinking iced tea and listen to the cicadas.

 

[Xantippe]

iepuras said:

“Two words - swimming pool”

Exactly. We don’t have one, but having good access to a pool and/or water park is part of the survival kit for surviving a summer in Texas. A screened porch might also be nice in some areas for evening use in the summer.

I also note that even a lot of 1950s homes in town are much bigger than anything I’ve seen of that era elsewhere. You find a surprising number of 3,000 sq. ft. 1950s houses. (All together, now: "Everything’s bigger in Texas.) In our climate, there is a lot to be said for having more indoors available when you have a bunch of kids and a summer to get through.

We recently bought a 2,900 sq. ft. house. I never expected to buy such a big house, but for the first time in my life, I have a gated playroom that isn’t a playroom/masterbedroom or a playroom/living room. (For the record, it’s what would normally be the dining room–we put in soft foam tile flooring, gated it, and keep it full of toys safe for under-3s.) I am enjoying the heck out of it.

Also, please bear and mind that when we give the lists of positives and negatives, not every part of Texas has every item on the list. For instance, the Western parts will be more Southwestern in feel and won’t have such things as hurricanes or beaches (I haven’t been there myself). And, mind-bogglingly, Dallas and Ft. Worth (despite being joined at the hip), are notorious for having radically different culture.

By the way, if you like that sort of thing, I’ve seen some really cool residential landscaping with cactuses and huge agaves and other succulents. We live just shy of where you could safely grow palm trees (a blizzard a few back was brutal to our town’s cactuses), but just a little south of here, you can grow beautiful palm trees (I don’t know about you, but when I see a palm tree, I figure I must be on vacation). We do have gorgeous old live oaks in town, perfect for tree swings–they look like something from Tolkien. If you garden, the sort of garden you favor might help you narrow down your list of cities.

PM me if you’d like to know my specific area.

 

[angelic06]

I’m afraid that it is difficult to grasp the size of TX. The answer is “all of the above”. And recommending an individual parish is really not practical. You would need to determine where you were moving for overall purposes-- job, etc-- and then select a parish based on where you end up moving.

There are 146 parishes just in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston alone (not counting the Eastern Rite Churches, of which there are also a good number).

archgh.org/Our-Church/About-Us/Statistics/

Of the Eastern Catholics, I will say this:

There are Ukrainian Greek Catholics (a form of Byzantine Christianity):

pokrova.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=2

Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics:

stjohnchrysostom.com/

Maronite Catholics:

ourladyofthecedars.net/

Syro-Malabar Catholics:

stjosephhouston.org/

And probably more.

Also, in addition to the Eastern Catholics, of the Roman Catholics there are also those who follow the Anglican Usage:

walsingham-church.org/site/Welcome.html

While I have not personally been to any of these churches, I do wish to point these churches out specifically because they are not going to show up on a browsing of the local territorial (arch-)diocesan website.

Particularly with the Eastern Catholics, who comprise only about 2 percent of the Catholic population worldwide and who have their own hierarchies (most of them, anyway) in full communion with our Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Byzantine Catholics follow the worship and customs of the Eastern Orthodox (who are not in full communion with our Holy Father).

Therefore, I have made it my personal mission to look for any pertinent medium by which I can draw attention to these Catholics, including CAF.

 

[lax16]

I’m afraid that it is difficult to grasp the size of TX. The answer is “all of the above”. And recommending an individual parish is really not practical. You would need to determine where you were moving for overall purposes-- job, etc-- and then select a parish based on where you end up moving.

There are 146 parishes just in the Diocese of Galveston-Houston alone (not counting the Eastern Rite Churches, of which there are also a good number).

archgh.org/Our-Church/About-Us/Statistics/

You are right, it is difficult to grasp the size of Texas.

If someone were moving to Utah, I would advise them to find the church that suits them then try to move close to it. However, we can get to almost anywhere with a reasonable commuting distance.

Love the 146 parishes!!! Can you tell I have been in Utah for 8 years?

 

[lax16]

Of the Eastern Catholics, I will say this:

There are Ukrainian Greek Catholics (a form of Byzantine Christianity):

pokrova.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=2

Ruthenian Byzantine Catholics:

stjohnchrysostom.com/

Maronite Catholics:

ourladyofthecedars.net/

Syro-Malabar Catholics:

stjosephhouston.org/

And probably more.

Also, in addition to the Eastern Catholics, of the Roman Catholics there are also those who follow the Anglican Usage:

walsingham-church.org/site/Welcome.html

While I have not personally been to any of these churches, I do wish to point these churches out specifically because they are not going to show up on a browsing of the local territorial (arch-)diocesan website.

Particularly with the Eastern Catholics, who comprise only about 2 percent of the Catholic population worldwide and who have their own hierarchies (most of them, anyway) in full communion with our Holy Father, Pope Francis. The Byzantine Catholics follow the worship and customs of the Eastern Orthodox (who are not in full communion with our Holy Father).

Therefore, I have made it my personal mission to look for any pertinent medium by which I can draw attention to these Catholics, including CAF.

Thanks angelic!

I have attended the Byzantine church on the feast day of St. Nicholas. It is very different and beautiful.

We don’t have a Byzantine church here in Utah. If we did, it would be my parish!

 

[lax16]

iepuras said:

“Two words - swimming pool”

Exactly. We don’t have one, but having good access to a pool and/or water park is part of the survival kit for surviving a summer in Texas. A screened porch might also be nice in some areas for evening use in the summer.

We have a pool in our community and I really like that. That is why I would like to find a master planned community that has a pool and/or water park.

I also note that even a lot of 1950s homes in town are much bigger than anything I’ve seen of that era elsewhere. You find a surprising number of 3,000 sq. ft. 1950s houses. (All together, now: "Everything’s bigger in Texas.) In our climate, there is a lot to be said for having more indoors available when you have a bunch of kids and a summer to get through.

We recently bought a 2,900 sq. ft. house. I never expected to buy such a big house, but for the first time in my life, I have a gated playroom that isn’t a playroom/masterbedroom or a playroom/living room. (For the record, it’s what would normally be the dining room–we put in soft foam tile flooring, gated it, and keep it full of toys safe for under-3s.) I am enjoying the heck out of it.

That sounds about right. My favorite house was 2500 square feet and we lived in every inch of that house!

Also, please bear and mind that when we give the lists of positives and negatives, not every part of Texas has every item on the list. For instance, the Western parts will be more Southwestern in feel and won’t have such things as hurricanes or beaches (I haven’t been there myself). And, mind-bogglingly, Dallas and Ft. Worth (despite being joined at the hip), are notorious for having radically different culture.

I definitely would like to avoid tornadoes!
Yes, I realize that there are positives and negatives to everything. However, after living in three states, I have made my share of mistakes and think I know now what I need to look for - the culture/thinking of the people in the area.

By the way, if you like that sort of thing, I’ve seen some really cool residential landscaping with cactuses and huge agaves and other succulents. We live just shy of where you could safely grow palm trees (a blizzard a few back was brutal to our town’s cactuses), but just a little south of here, you can grow beautiful palm trees (I don’t know about you, but when I see a palm tree, I figure I must be on vacation). We do have gorgeous old live oaks in town, perfect for tree swings–they look like something from Tolkien. If you garden, the sort of garden you favor might help you narrow down your list of cities.

PM me if you’d like to know my specific area.

Awesome info - thanks!!!

 

[1ke]

You are right, it is difficult to grasp the size of Texas.

If someone were moving to Utah, I would advise them to find the church that suits them then try to move close to it. However, we can get to almost anywhere with a reasonable commuting distance.

Love the 146 parishes!!! Can you tell I have been in Utah for 8 years?

El Paso is closer to Los Angeles than it is to Houston.

 

[angelic06]

Lax16,

Tornadoes are not numerous around my area, but they have been known to occur. A tornado was suspected to touch down a few years ago in NE San Antonio (I say “suspected” because a tornado was believed to have occured based on the damage done, but one was not actually seen).

 

[lax16]

Lax16,

Tornadoes are not numerous around my area, but they have been known to occur. A tornado was suspected to touch down a few years ago in NE San Antonio (I say “suspected” because a tornado was believed to have occured based on the damage done, but one was not actually seen).

So, it is nothing like Kansas or Oklahoma?

We were driving through Nebraska last summer and a tornado warning came on the radio and scared the heck out of us. When we got off the highway (as the radio told us to do) and stopped at a hotel and asked for information on what we should do, nobody knew what we were talking about.

 

[1ke]

So, it is nothing like Kansas or Oklahoma?

Again, it depends. The Panhandle and parts of North Texas are in Tornado Alley. Other parts of Texas are not.

You are going to have a chance of tornadoes anywhere east of the Rockies. They are only rare in the Western US.

 

[lax16]

Again, it depends. The Panhandle and parts of North Texas are in Tornado Alley. Other parts of Texas are not.

You are going to have a chance of tornadoes anywhere east of the Rockies. They are only rare in the Western US.

1ke - You need to read my posts a little better we were talking about San Antonio.

 

[mh2007]

I have been in Texas for over 30 years. Migrated from Illinois. It was the best thing I ever did. The 5 months of cold winter weather in the north is a non-issue - especially in south Texas, including Houston, Corpus, McAllen, San Antonio, Austin, etc. Dallas gets cold in Jan & Feb for sure.

There is plenty of opportunity in just about every line of work. Housing is affordable.

If you don’t like summer heat, go to Colorado or up north from July 4 to Labor Day. Missing those 8 weeks makes all the difference.

Being a Texas resident is far better than living in most other states economically.

 

[Xantippe]

Central Texas also has tornadoes. We have regular tornado warning practices, where they run what sounds like an air raid siren.

If there are tornadoes in your area, that should figure into your choice of home. You’ll want a house with a windowless interior room (say a bathroom, walk-in closet or similar) on the first floor. For the full effect, cover up with a mattress, ideally in a bathtub (not kidding!). That sounds really stupid, but I’ve sat through two tornado watches, and it’s like waiting for the angel of death to pass over. (Unfortunately, at this point, our whole family won’t fit into the bathtub.) Also there are construction features that are safer.

Nowadays, they do internet weather tracking that shows where suspected tornadoes are and their trajectory, so you can be pretty sure when it’s all over.

On a lighter note, one of the things I’ve had to get used to in Central Texas is lizards in the house. For a while, we (i.e. my husband) were carefully unsticking geckos from the ceiling and taking them outside, but then we read up on them and discovered that geckos eat cockroach eggs and other bugs. Yippee! So, ever since, we’ve been on much friendlier terms with the lizards that hang out indoors. At our new house, we have a bigger lizard called the anole, but that one has mainly stuck outside.

A lot of people here say their kids love the lizards. Important tip: a number of lizards drop their tail off when startled, which is a little gross the first time you see it, so don’t startle them.

 

[gardenswithkids]

I have been in Texas for over 30 years. Migrated from Illinois. It was the best thing I ever did. …If you don’t like summer heat, go to Colorado or up north from July 4 to Labor Day. Missing those 8 weeks makes all the difference…

This is what I’m interested in, except I want stay up north longer than 8 weeks. I am tired of the snow and cold!!!

 

[angelic06]

Some of things to consider also are that many areas of Texas experience near drought conditions from time to time.

I grew up in the Texas Panhandle. Every once in a while there is a wildfire. While my family has never been ordered to evacuate, there is always that chance.

 

[pnewton]

Thanks for the book recommendation!

What are the churches like - are they beautiful and traditional or more modern?

Both. The new cathedral in Houston modern in it’s simplicity, but traditional in style. I know in San Antonio both can be found. I can reference any questions to someone who knows the one’s in the I 35 corridor there.

Speaking of the Hill Country, it is my favorite part outside my own home. East Texas has the piney woods, but the hill country is the most beautiful. Also, you will find there the best water park in the country, Schlitterbaun, truly the best way to spend a hot summer day.

 

[Hiswifehermom]

I am a Michigander living in Houston.

This is my second “go” at Houston, I also lived here while I was on a work project around the time of Hurricane Katrina.

I have to say that I dislike Texas (Houston as a whole) more than any place I have ever lived. In Houston if you aren’t smelling the oil being burned off you are smelling a fiery car wreck that has happened with no weather conditions, no reason and simply insane circumstances.

Outside of the medical advantages we have here (I am a cancer patient) I cannot wait to either go back home, or to another place that suits our Midwestern frame of mind.

SO frustrating. I have tried to mingle with the other moms, the groups at her school and everything else and since I am not “one of the girls” I am not accepted. I do not and will not ever believe it is ALL bad here, but I will say I don’t believe the whole everyone is sweeter in the south rumor.

 

[1ke]

I am a Michigander living in Houston.

This is my second “go” at Houston, I also lived here while I was on a work project around the time of Hurricane Katrina.

I have to say that I dislike Texas (Houston as a whole) more than any place I have ever lived. In Houston if you aren’t smelling the oil being burned off you are smelling a fiery car wreck that has happened with no weather conditions, no reason and simply insane circumstances.

You only smell the smells of the plants if you live on the East side of town.

Outside of the medical advantages we have here (I am a cancer patient) I cannot wait to either go back home, or to another place that suits our Midwestern frame of mind.

I am sorry for your cancer situation, glad Houston has world class medical facilities you can take advantage of. Many people long for “home” and that’s ok too. Texas is home for some, and a temporary assignment for others.

SO frustrating. I have tried to mingle with the other moms, the groups at her school and everything else and since I am not “one of the girls” I am not accepted.

I don’t think that’s a function of being in Texas. I think that is a function of being on planet Earth. Human behavior is not always the best, even when it is supposed to be among Christians.

I am sorry you’ve experienced that.

 

[Burt_Macklin]

You only smell the smells of the plants if you live on the East side of town.

You must mean the West side of town. The only smell you smell in the smelly east is the smelly smell of something that smells smelly. I believe it is all the H2S from the petrochemical refineries. Or to my way of thinking, the smell of money.