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The Astonishing Transformation of Austin

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Re: The Astonishing Transformation of Austin

#2

Post by fumar »

Interesting take on tech and Austin over a long period. I was one signature away from moving there in 2019. I had visited Austin on behalf of clients for fours years prior. It has it charms and a Texas-like version of Denver in a way. I passed on Austin because of its subtropical humid climate. My allergies coupled with high humidity made it an unbearable place to be for long periods of time. I put Miami in the same bucket. After years of traveling and experiencing multiple major US cities, I am sticking with Mediterranean climates.

Re: The Astonishing Transformation of Austin

#5

Post by forgot_old_user »

fumar wrote: post #2

Interesting take on tech and Austin over a long period. I was one signature away from moving there in 2019. I had visited Austin on behalf of clients for fours years prior. It has it charms and a Texas-like version of Denver in a way. I passed on Austin because of its subtropical humid climate. My allergies coupled with high humidity made it an unbearable place to be for long periods of time. I put Miami in the same…

where did you end up going? I love Austin but its a little too hot during the summer.

Re: The Astonishing Transformation of Austin

#6

Post by halfmatthalfcat »

I spent 8 months on a death march of a project that colored Austin for me but that aside, infrastructurally, Austin sucked getting around and didn't have a ton to offer that didn't revolve around UT (6th primarily) or Rainey. The public transit (what is that streetcar thing even?) is horribly underdeveloped and heavily car dependent. Downtown is "bridge and tunnel"-y. Maybe if I had ventured out to the burbs more, I would have found more? But it was pretty underwhelming.

Re: The Astonishing Transformation of Austin

#7

Post by MisterBastahrd »

fumar wrote: post #2

Interesting take on tech and Austin over a long period. I was one signature away from moving there in 2019. I had visited Austin on behalf of clients for fours years prior. It has it charms and a Texas-like version of Denver in a way. I passed on Austin because of its subtropical humid climate. My allergies coupled with high humidity made it an unbearable place to be for long periods of time. I put Miami in the same…

I've never lived out of subtropical climates... basically New Orleans and Dallas. The changes in seasons is always miserable for me. I've got seasonal allergies and also seasonal asthma. Back home in New Orleans, I was always fine from May until early October. And for the next half of the year, it's been a constant struggle with shortness of breath and sinus infections ever since I can remember.

Re: The Astonishing Transformation of Austin

#8

Post by fumar »

forgot_old_user wrote: post #5
fumar wrote: post #2

Interesting take on tech and Austin over a long period. I was one signature away from moving there in 2019. I had visited Austin on behalf of clients for fours years prior. It has it charms and a Texas-like version of Denver in a way. I passed on Austin because of its subtropical humid climate. My allergies coupled with high humidity made it an unbearable place to be for long periods of time. I put Miami in the same…

where did you end up going? I love Austin but its a little too hot during the summer.

Southern California. You can't escape compromising on certain factors like costs, but I find it a pleasant place to wake up everyday. As I've gotten older, I've prioritized my daily wellbeing more and more.

Re: The Astonishing Transformation of Austin

#10

Post by throwawaymaths »

halfmatthalfcat wrote: post #6

I spent 8 months on a death march of a project that colored Austin for me but that aside, infrastructurally, Austin sucked getting around and didn't have a ton to offer that didn't revolve around UT (6th primarily) or Rainey. The public transit (what is that streetcar thing even?) is horribly underdeveloped and heavily car dependent. Downtown is "bridge and tunnel"-y. Maybe if I had ventured out to the burbs more, I…

I mean honestly infrasructurally the bay area sucks too, unless you happen to live in certain parts of the city or on the Caltrain (in which case transit is good but eye wateringly expensive). Try living in Alameda, Burlingame, San Leandro, etc.

Even so. Like nobody goes from the marina to the mission, or sunset to the mission. People never go to east bay.

As for meaningful entertainment I actually think Austin has about as much to offer as sf, but that could just be due to the circles I frequent.

Legit the thing I miss is altitude hiking (go climb a huge hill like mt. Tam, or string together four parks around my house and do a six km loop, mostly in parks). Barton creek is amazing though, and it's fantastic that you can forget you're inside a city for about 20km

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