Learn me San Antonio

Never been there. I know nothing other than my biased preconceived notions.

I've got a job offer that would mean I would have to move there- 12-18 months at first, then a possible permanent relocation.

I'm a family man, so family stuff matters (although I'd be there without my family for the first year).

How bad is the cost of living? Good growth? Congestion? Sprawl?

How is the long term outlook for the commercial construction industry?

Any first hand experience? Any links?

I've got about a day and a half to make a decision.

Thanks!

I was in San Antonio for about 5 months 25 years ago. I liked it.

Sorry I can't be of more help. :-)

San Antone is nice. If the money's right and you're moving anyway, I'd do it. Oh, and it gets hot there.

Umm... it's been over 100 degrees here for the last 3 weeks. I'm OK with hot.

I didn't say I am moving anyway. It's just a great offer that is hard to resist and I'm trying to put it into context and look at all the angles.

I enjoyed it the week I spent there about a month ago. Definitely one of the better parts of Texas. Oil business is booming so I don't know your position on fracking but you better get that settled before you go.

Have no clue about the schools, but it seems like a nice place.

The weather is very similar to where you live, a little dryer. It's a lot bigger than most people think and can take a while to get out of the sprawl, depending on where you live. As with any city, some areas are nice, some are not. Traffic can be as bad as Atlanta, depending. Tons of culture and things to do. Embracing Texas as a country and appreciating Hispanic culture helps. I visited often as a kid and lived there in my early twenties and forties and really enjoyed living there.

Schools. The public system is from pretty good to all the way down to poor, depending on location. Lots of private schools, mostly Catholic, but not all. I can put you in touch with an elementary school principal in the UTSA area. She is quite a mover and shaker down there and her husband was a university prof there so she has all the poop and would give to you straight. Lots of higher learning choices.

There are a couple of lakes in the surrounding area and the Guadalupe River is fun to tube down. In comparison to your area I like the Texas beaches more than the Alabama/Fla panhandle but give the nod to the south eastern Atlantic beaches.

Cost of living is lower than Atlanta or Phoenix, fairly similar to Tucson. I don't know much about the economy except that it is better than most for growth.

i was there for 3 days a couple of summers ago... only saw the downtown part (Alamo, river walk, etc) but it seemed like a pretty laid back and clean place... and it was 115 degrees in the day, but it wasn't that bad because it was a dry heat- the 95 degrees/135.7% humidity that was awaiting me when i got back to MN 3 days after leaving there was worse..

Hasbro wrote: ...and can take a while to get out of the sprawl, depending on where you live.

That's not good. I've gotten used to hitting a 2 lane and setting the cruise.

I'm afraid I will be in the thick of it- at least for the first year. I will be working at a mega-mall project called "The Rim", and living nearby.

Hasbro wrote: Traffic can be as bad as Atlanta, depending.

Again, not good. But it is helpful, and a good reference. I understand ATL.

Hasbro wrote: Embracing Texas as a country and appreciating Hispanic culture helps.

That's good, especially since my wife (and kids) are Hispanic. I embraced her a long time ago.

Hasbro wrote: I visited often as a kid and lived there in my early twenties and forties and really enjoyed living there.

Great!

In reply to Hasbro:

Schools: We Homeschool, so it is less of an impact, but I recognize the importance.

Beaches: It is a pretty rare occurence that I am ever found on a beach (but my family loves them).

Cost of living: For the first year, all my expenses will be paid, but that is good info for later.

The rim is on the edge of town and traffic can be a little bad out there sometimes. They built up a lot of new housing on the 1604 loop and right there on the edge is a bit of a traffic mess but not as bad as any of the other TX cities.

It's a heavy Hispanic city. Over 63% right now that are documented. You have some good driving roads west on I-10 out by Kerrville and Fredericksburg. Cost of living is the lowest of any of the major Texas cities.

they have good tacos. and apparently they are very good at basketball too.

It's hot. I lived there for 5 years. It's so hot it's hard to do outside things sometimes.

Cost of living was LOW compared to Washington state, and the biggest thing I liked was how laid back people were. It's living in a big city without feeling like you're living in a big city, but it is a BIG city.

For places to live I would recommend the north-west side of town just inside (or just outside if you can afford it) of loop 1604. There's Cline Ranch for 4-wheelin, you can head out highway 16 on through the hill country if you have a corner carver, and there's a range called the "bullet Hole" if you're into shooting.

I'd also recommend living on the North East side outside of 1604 in Universal City or Selma. There are lots of other nice pockets, but those areas were places I lived in. There are also lots of bad areas.

If you can live with the heat, and don't mind living in a city that's gonna take you a tank of gas to get out of, San Antonio is great. Unfortunately, like Stevie Ray, "I couldn't stand the weather".

Best of luck to ya!

I spent 9 weeks there and saw every kind of weather possible. It was blazing hot, bone chilling cold, tornadoes (not the ones you buy at 7-11 that hurricane out your ass), hail, etc. I can't tell you much more than that other than it did seem like a laid back city when I did go out into town. It's huge, the people were nice and the food was great. I actually get to go back for a few months and kind of excited. Good luck with the choice.

There's a sweet natural history museum getting redone that'll reopen early 2016 or so (still open for now, I think). Other than that, I got nuthin.

Good luck!

Been in and out if there a bunch since W. was in office. Basic Training didn't give me much time to get out. First time we ever had REAL salsa, life changing.

We love San Antonio. Most military families I know living there, love it as well. MANY military retire there. People are great. Cost of living is pretty darn good. Traffic moves nicely, although there's a bunch of it. BBQ and tacos. We spent our summer getaway there, Schlitterbahn and River Walk. You'd only be 4-ish hours from me. Win.

I lived in Austin in 2008. I somehow spent a lot of weekends heading towards San Antone. As mentioned, the Guadalupe River and the entire length of River Road is an amazing place. I never thought something so simple as sitting on a tube drinking an ice cold Shiner Bock beer could be so enjoyable. A lot of real, authentic country music is played around the area that will make you question why it isn't being played on the radio rather than the "hell yeah party loud in a tail gate party beer" country music that's being played today. The best Tex-Mex food period. Plenty of cool stuff to do on the weekends like River Walk and Alamo (they do get old fast, however).

I guess I can't comment on the nice vs. bad areas, schools, etc. that matter to me now as a family man because I lived there as a single 23 year old. I worked in the engineering/consulting field when I was there and the growth was insane. It was growing even faster than Charlotte before the housing crash. I wish I could've stayed there, but it was meant for me to move on to eventually meet my wife. Good luck to you and your family. Moving is extremely difficult with a family involved.

Thanks for the help, guys. That is what I was looking for.

Decision made.

I'm staying in GA (although, San Antonio sounds great).

Maybe next time.

Man, I thought you'd be riding with us to the Challenge.

Will catch up with you in October.

ScreaminE wrote: I never thought something so simple as sitting on a tube drinking an ice cold Shiner Bock beer could be so enjoyable. A lot of real, authentic country music is played around the area that will make you question why it isn't being played on the radio rather than the "hell yeah party loud in a tail gate party beer" country music that's being played today.

Preach on man! Preach on! I've been trying to tell people this for years.

according to ted nugent, san antonio rhymes with suck my bonio

Greetings from canyon lake, tx. Here thru sunday. We are hanging out in san antonio at the riverwalk today.

Need some LEGIT suggestions for must try texmex/mexican and bbq (or other awesome food) in the. austin and san antonio areas. Our rule is no eating food we can get at home.

So you were thinking about moving there for a Rim Job?

There is a rallycross in San Marcos on Saturday. I won't be there, but I can probably hunt up a car for you.