There are occasions after I completely adore residing in Austin: after I’m paddleboarding on The town Lake, after I’m ingesting a frozen margarita at Maudie’s, after I’m putting out in hip East Austin below string lighting fixtures.

That being stated, there are specific issues I’m much less keen on: the sweltering summers, the isolation, the loss of walkability.

I’ve lived in Austin for just about two years. Right here’s what I’ve come to like and hate about it:

What I like about Austin

The Folks

By means of and massive, Texans are extremely great other folks: beneficiant, humorous, and sincerely type. Once I had Covid, more than one neighbors introduced me tortilla soup and walked my canine. Folks say hi to you in the street right here, even supposing they don’t know you. Austin is through some distance the friendliest position I’ve ever lived.

The Meals

Any other certain – the meals. Austin’s meals scene is flourishing: you’ll to find very good TexMex, Thai, Vietnamese, and naturally, fish fry. A few of my favourite spots are Uchiko (sushi), Unusual Duck (new American), and Loro (Asian/fish fry fusion). I’ve additionally grown to LOVE frozen margaritas, ha.

The Water

As a born-and-raised Michigander, I desperately want to reside close to water (that was once one of the most issues I discovered toughest about residing in Colorado). Fortunately, Austin has a lot of it: The town Lake, Barton Springs, and Lake Travis, to call a couple of.

The Winters

The winters listed here are pleasant – the temperature hovers round 70 levels, and the skies are typically crisp and blue. Although we do have the extraordinary snow day, the wintry weather climate could be very gentle.

Reside Tune

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out Austin’s the world over famend reside track scene. I like how you’ll stroll right into a random bar on a Tuesday and listen to a fantastic efficiency for the cost of a Shiner Bock.

The Canine-friendliness

In Austin, you’ll carry your canine virtually anyplace — I carry my domestic dog virtually all over I am going. My native CVS is even dog-friendly.

What I Hate

The Crowds

Because of its massive reputation in recent times, Austin feels insanely crowded from time to time. Parking is difficult to search out, eating places are packed, and the weekends particularly can also be disturbing.

The Prime Price of Residing

Austin could be very pricey. To shop for a plot of land – no longer even a area – in my community, prices 1,000,000 greenbacks.

Deficient Walkability

Unfortunately, Austin isn’t a walkable town. Bisected through two highways, Austin is an excessively car-dependent town; for walkability, it ranks forty second in america, between Las Vegas and Pheonix. As any individual who loves to stroll, this can be a massive drawback.

The Hypersensitive reactions

Central Texas has been known as the “Allergic reaction Capital of the Global.” There’s even a day by day allergic reaction record at the native information, the place legitimate pollen counts for ragweed, grass, and mould are measured. I by no means had allergic reactions in my lifestyles till I moved right here — ugh.

The Warmth

The summers in Austin are brutal. Temperatures can achieve 110 levels (or upper). After this yr’s sizzling summer time, 90 levels bizarrely feels rather cool to me.

The Isolation

Austin is on the subject of only some towns: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Previous this yr I made the error of using to New Orleans, which took 10 hours. From time to time I think so resentful of the East Coast – believe using a couple of hours and with the ability to get entry to Boston, Philly, and NYC? Sigh.


All this to mention, I’ve been beautiful glad right here. I’m no longer positive if it’s my ceaselessly house (I’m no longer positive I’ve a ceaselessly house, length), however I plan to stick no less than a couple of extra years. And revel in many extra lake days and frozen margs.

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