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Veteran
Posts: 118
| My husband and I are seriously considering relocating to Texas in the near future and while it may seem strange to ask for advice following such devastation in the state, the outpouring of support and love for Texas that I have been watching since the hurricane pulls at my heart strings and makes me want to move there more than ever. I have dreamed of living in Texas since I was a little girl and I am almost 30, so its time to take action! Anyway, long story short, my sweet little hometown in NC, where I was born and raised, is quickly becoming an extremely expensive overpopulated equestrian minded uppity tourist trap. Its just not my scene! I am a RN at the one and only (and getting too big for their britches) hospital within a reasonable driving distance and there is no where else to work unless you take a huge paycut and work in an office setting. Also, even tho a certain big barrel race is bringing a lot of attention to the area, there just isn't a lot of barrel racing in my parts unless you travel to a nearby state. Our local NBHA district has two races a month considering they don't get rained out as we have had almost 40" of rain this year. So...I want the good, the bad and the ugly of TEXAS. I want to know the best areas to live for jobs, barrel racing and horses and since I am a mountain girl coming to the flat land, an area with minimal tornado activity would be nice lol. And yes I know it is HOT. We plan on making a few trips down at different times of the year before we commit to moving. Thanks for any feedback! |
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 Expert
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Location: Gainesville, TX | First of all, if you want barrel races and frequently with good payouts then this is the place to be. In my area (North Texas) there are jackpots almost every night of the week and even a few series through the winter. North Texas does have tornadoes though, and yes we are hot. If you get down into the hill country, its hotter but fewer tornadoes. The hill country is more expensive though. You have a few less problems with tornadoes around Stephenville and it is definitely a horse capital. Weatherford also has tons of activity. Decatur and Pilot Point are other areas (though Pilot Point is uber costly). I will say you can find 'uppity' or 'snobbish' horse people anywhere so don't think moving here will cure that completely though I know you will meet many who are down to earth too. DFW, Austin, any major urban center is going to have plenty of jobs. But if you are an RN, finding a job shouldn't be too hard. Places are always looking for nurses THOUGH the BSN is quickly moving in as the new minimal requirement so keep that in mind when looking for jobs. |
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Veteran
Posts: 118
| oija - 2017-09-06 11:08 AM
First of all, if you want barrel races and frequently with good payouts then this is the place to be. In my area (North Texas) there are jackpots almost every night of the week and even a few series through the winter. North Texas does have tornadoes though, and yes we are hot. If you get down into the hill country, its hotter but fewer tornadoes. The hill country is more expensive though. You have a few less problems with tornadoes around Stephenville and it is definitely a horse capital. Weatherford also has tons of activity. Decatur and Pilot Point are other areas (though Pilot Point is uber costly). I will say you can find 'uppity' or 'snobbish' horse people anywhere so don't think moving here will cure that completely though I know you will meet many who are down to earth too. DFW, Austin, any major urban center is going to have plenty of jobs. But if you are an RN, finding a job shouldn't be too hard. Places are always looking for nurses THOUGH the BSN is quickly moving in as the new minimal requirement so keep that in mind when looking for jobs.
Thanks for the reply! |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| First of all there is a shortage of nurses here. Obviously we a few extras to deal with our natural desasters. You need to be aware that we have a lot of heat, drought, tornadoes, regular flooding, fires, straight line winds, sandstorms, and hurricanes. That just depends on what part of the state. You need to know that we measure approximate distance here a little differently. Right down the road may be 20-30 miles. He is one of my neighbors may mean he lives two roads over and it may take 15 minutes to drive there. I drive 25 miles to work and don't think about it. You may have to drive 10- 15 milks to get groceries. I live in E Texas. In WTexas your nearest neighbor may be 5 miles down the road. We still vote with paper and pencil. Other than the fact that your neighbor may have moved to Texas from somewhere else and is a freakin idiot, we all love each other for the most part. I can't speak for the larger cities because I would rather die than live there. |
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | So many great places to live in Texas. I'm west of San Antonio, if I were to move elsewhere is the state I would consider the following areas:
Llano
Abilene
Stephenville and surrounding areas
So excited for you!!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 972
Location: Texas! | I am a Texas transplant also and have lived in east, north and now central Texas. I LOVE the little town I'm in. Beautiful area close to Waco, not far from major airports and within an hour from barrel races almost nightly. There is a good from what I've heard hospital even in town and it's only 2500 population. I didn't love east Texas and north twxas was alright but I prefer the hills and scenery of central Texas personally. Land can be pricey but we actually are i he process of buying a little place with 15 ac and it's very affordable |
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Veteran
Posts: 118
| GoMistyGo - 2017-09-06 12:06 PM
So many great places to live in Texas. I'm west of San Antonio, if I were to move elsewhere is the state I would consider the following areas:
Llano
Abilene
Stephenville and surrounding areas
So excited for you!!!Â
I've been looking at Abilene!
Thanks! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| I was born and raised in Dallas, lived in Austin a few years and have been in Houston for the last 20 years. We also have barrel races thruout the week and your choice of where to go on the weekends. If I had my choice I would condider these areas Stephenville, north of Waco, Weatherford, Ft Worth. All have big hospitals, and you will be in the heart of barrel racing country. In addition to local small races easy access to Waco who hosts huge events, Stephenville has huge events, there are numerous arenas towards FT Worth that hosts great races too, again easy to get too. That area too is an easy drive to Oklahoma for the big races there. It is hot in the summmer but you don't have the humidity we deal with here.
Edited by rodeomom3 2017-09-06 12:33 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 118
| WYOracer - 2017-09-06 12:10 PM
I am a Texas transplant also and have lived in east, north and now central Texas. I LOVE the little town I'm in. Beautiful area close to Waco, not far from major airports and within an hour from barrel races almost nightly. There is a good from what I've heard hospital even in town and it's only 2500 population. I didn't love east Texas and north twxas was alright but I prefer the hills and scenery of central Texas personally. Land can be pricey but we actually are i he process of buying a little place with 15 ac and it's very affordable
I am used to pricey land, a flat one acre lot in my parts will cost you anywhere from $50,000 to $250,000 depending on location...if you want property with a view go ahead and add a few more $$.
That being said I have been finding many very affordable move in ready horse properties in nice areas of Texas that make me green with envy lol!! |
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Veteran
Posts: 118
| rodeomom3 - 2017-09-06 12:26 PM
 I was born and raised in Dallas, lived in Austin a few years and have been in Houston for the last 20 years.  We also have barrel races thruout the week and your choice of where to go on the weekends.  If I had my choice I would condider these areas  Stephenville, north of Waco, Weatherford, Ft Worth.  All have big hospitals, and you will be in the heart of barrel racing country.  In attention to local small races easy access to  Waco who hosts huge events, Stephenville has huge events, there are numerous arenas towards FT Worth that hosts great races too, again easy to get too.  That area too is an easy drive to Oklahoma for the big races there.  It is hot in the summmer but you don't  have the humidity we deal with here.Â
Thanks for the feedback! |
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Veteran
Posts: 118
| streakysox - 2017-09-06 11:32 AM
First of all there is a shortage of nurses here. Obviously we a few extras to deal with our natural desasters. You need to be aware that we have a lot of heat, drought, tornadoes, regular flooding, fires, straight line winds, sandstorms, and hurricanes. That just depends on what part of the state. You need to know that we measure approximate distance here a little differently. Right down the road may be 20-30 miles. He is one of my neighbors may mean he lives two roads over and it may take 15 minutes to drive there. I drive 25 miles to work and don't think about it. You may have to drive 10- 15 milks to get groceries. I live in E Texas. In WTexas your nearest neighbor may be 5 miles down the road. We still vote with paper and pencil. Other than the fact that your neighbor may have moved to Texas from somewhere else and is a freakin idiot, we all love each other for the most part. I can't speak for the larger cities because I would rather die than live there.
Thanks for this! |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| Don't forget the Fire Ants and the snakes. |
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 Peat and Repeat
Posts: 2773
Location: IN MY OWN LITTLE WORLD AT LEAST THEY KNOW ME HERE | And mosquitos and mustn't forget about our humidity |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| Sandok - 2017-09-06 2:51 PM
Don't forget the Fire Ants and the snakes.
Very true. The fire ants are horrible. Hate snakes but after last year and there were too many to kill, I decided on peaceful coexistence |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| I debate moving to Texas regularly.
The snakes and their road system terrifies me  |
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 Expert
Posts: 1440
Location: Texas | WYOracer - 2017-09-06 12:10 PM
I am a Texas transplant also and have lived in east, north and now central Texas. I LOVE the little town I'm in. Beautiful area close to Waco, not far from major airports and within an hour from barrel races almost nightly. There is a good from what I've heard hospital even in town and it's only 2500 population. I didn't love east Texas and north twxas was alright but I prefer the hills and scenery of central Texas personally. Land can be pricey but we actually are i he process of buying a little place with 15 ac and it's very affordable
Wyoracer where do you live. I live about 1/2 he from Waco in Hubbard. |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | Mrs.Stepniak - 2017-09-06 12:13 PM GoMistyGo - 2017-09-06 12:06 PM So many great places to live in Texas. I'm west of San Antonio, if I were to move elsewhere is the state I would consider the following areas:
Llano
Abilene
Stephenville and surrounding areas
So excited for you!!! I've been looking at Abilene! Thanks!
Abilene is a great area. We went to the HS State Finals Rodeo there for the last several years. The people there are so nice. We commented on not interacting with one single person who was not really nice. Not a server, not a Walmart employee, not any store person. Not one. I live in east Texas and I would not mind moving to Abilene. Between Abilene and Ft Worth there should be plenty of barrel races.
You mentioned that you are a nurse. Tyler has a large medical community and is still a relatively small town.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | Texas is big and diverse. What does your husband do for a living? What kind of climate and landscape do you prefer? There certainly is a lot of choices. I am not a fan of humidity myself. If you were considering the location and climate of Abilene, you might look at San Angelo as well. The more rain you want, go East.
But what do I know, I live in Midland, lol! |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12842
| I just passed about 10-18 wheelers loaded with hay at the Marshall,Tx Convention Center. They are waiting for others and are headed for South TX.
I forgot to mention in Marshall, they love those fire ants so much they have a FIRE ANT FESTIVAL.
Most of the year we have a barrel race somewhere every night of the week within about 60 miles |
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 Scooters Savior
Location: "Si Fi" Ville | It sounds like you would love east Texas. D finitely small town feeling, opportunity and more barrel racing than you can shake a stick at. Now, it's gonna be a heavy dose of sweet tea, yes mm, rolling hills, pretty sunsets, and a lot of "can we help
Y'all with that".
Beautiful souls and pretty countrysides where you can imagine yourself up at daybreak, putting on your most comfortable boots and tshirt to go on a cattle drive. |
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