What I Love (and Hate) About Living in Austin

There are times when I definitely adore residing in Austin: when I’m paddleboarding on City Lake, when I’m consuming a frozen margarita at Maudie’s, when I’m hanging out in hip East Austin beneath string lights.

That getting explained, there are specified things I’m fewer fond of: the sweltering summers, the isolation, the lack of walkability.

I’ve lived in Austin for nearly two years. Here’s what I’ve occur to like and despise about it:

What I enjoy about Austin

The People

By and significant, Texans are extremely pleasant individuals: generous, amusing, and sincerely type. When I experienced Covid, a number of neighbors introduced me tortilla soup and walked my puppy. People say hi there to you on the street right here, even if they really do not know you. Austin is by much the friendliest area I’ve ever lived.

The Food

An additional good – the food stuff. Austin’s foods scene is flourishing: you can find fantastic TexMex, Thai, Vietnamese, and of study course, barbecue. Some of my preferred spots are Uchiko (sushi), Odd Duck (new American), and Loro (Asian/barbecue fusion). I have also grown to Adore frozen margaritas, ha.

The H2o

As a born-and-lifted Michigander, I desperately need to have to dwell around water (that was just one of the things I uncovered toughest about living in Colorado). Thankfully, Austin has plenty of it: City Lake, Barton Springs, and Lake Travis, to name a few.

The Winters

The winters below are delightful – the temperature hovers about 70 degrees, and the skies are normally crisp and blue. Though we do have the odd snow day, the winter climate is very moderate.

Are living Songs

I’d be remiss if I did not mention Austin’s internationally renowned reside new music scene. I appreciate how you can walk into a random bar on a Tuesday and hear an amazing performance for the cost of a Shiner Bock.

The Canine-friendliness

In Austin, you can convey your dog virtually everywhere — I deliver my pup pretty much everywhere you go I go. My area CVS is even puppy-helpful.

What I Despise

The Crowds

Owing to its big acceptance in the latest many years, Austin feels insanely crowded at situations. Parking is really hard to discover, places to eat are packed, and the weekends in particular can be hectic.

The Substantial Price tag of Residing

Austin is really high-priced. To obtain a plot of land – not even a home – in my neighborhood, expenses a million bucks.

Bad Walkability

Sadly, Austin is not a walkable town. Bisected by two highways, Austin is a extremely vehicle-dependent town for walkability, it ranks 42nd in the US, in between Las Vegas and Pheonix. As somebody who loves to walk, this is a big downside.

The Allergies

Central Texas has been identified as the “Allergy Money of the Environment.” There’s even a everyday allergy report on the nearby information, wherever official pollen counts for ragweed, grass, and mould are measured. I never ever experienced allergies in my daily life until I moved below — ugh.

The Warmth

The summers in Austin are brutal. Temperatures can access 110 levels (or greater). Soon after this year’s scorching summer season, 90 degrees bizarrely feels to some degree cool to me.

The Isolation

Austin is near to only a several towns: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. Earlier this year I designed the miscalculation of driving to New Orleans, which took 10 hours. At times I really feel so envious of the East Coast – think about driving a number of several hours and becoming in a position to obtain Boston, Philly, and NYC? Sigh.

All this to say, I have been rather delighted in this article. I’m not certain if it is my eternally house (I’m not absolutely sure I have a for good property, time period), but I program to keep at the very least a handful of additional decades. And enjoy many more lake days and frozen margs.