Not Moving to Austin - Just Not For Me
-
6/17/2012
I recently returned from a visit to Austin, TX. It's rated as the fastest growing city in the U.S. right now -- the best job growth in the country right now as the economy sputters on (concentrated in the tech sector.) I'm looking for another city and after reading all the hype, I booked a flight and hotel room. On the plus side, I did get the impression that it's less pretentious than Washington, DC where I currently live. DC is a political materialistic city and the egos are huge. Austin is a very laid-back kind of city; everyone dresses casual. Most people don't wear suits in downtown Austin. Some people were friendly and some people were not. The people at the UT campus were particularly friendly; but I'm not a student, and not planning to attend UT. The city was very empty and slow, and really not much was going on. I learned that most people head to the Lake. I didn't want to spend the money on a car rental for the few days that I was there. Also, the heat was really bad. It really shocked me. The weather is definitely better in DC.
I really got the impression that it's still a college town, even though the big tech companies have set up offices in and near Austin. It also seems like a city for young male tech workers. There were a lot of bar/restaurants in downtown Austin and there were a lot of young guys hanging out there. I'm a single woman in my 40s (raised in NY), and I've never liked the bar scene. I headed to the museums at the UT campus, which offered interesting exhibits, and toured the state capitol, which was impressive. I talked to a few people, but couldn't find out much about all the hiring that's going on for the tech companies. The heat, lack of activities, and slowness -- had me thinking Austin is not for me. So, can anyone recommend another city that isn't so hot in the summer, has more activities going on, is more cosmopolitan, and has job growth during this miserable recession? Or am I just dreaming that I can find such a place at this point in time in the U.S.?
AS | Washington, DC