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My wife and I spent 20 years living in Sonoma County specifically Sebastopol and Occidental. Upon retiring, for 10 years we owned a home in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Austin. It would be hard to say one is better than the other. Western Sonoma County is still a very rural environment whereas Austin is a big city although (at least not yet) affected by as many urban problems as its larger counterparts. For us the biggest differences were cultural. The thing I really appreciated about Austin was the proximity to the UT campus and entertainment venues. The Sonoma Coast is gorgeous and rough reminiscent more of Ireland than SoCal or Florida. We now live between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe to be closer to family in our old age. If I had to choose between Sonoma County or Austin today, I would just toss a coin knowing that we would be happy in either place.
I absolutely love Sebastopol. What a lovely area! It is definitely rural in that part of Sonoma County. We were looking at Santa Rosa specifically so that we are in a city area but not in the woodsy part that's so rural. Still close enough to wineries, etc., tho. However, home insurance costs, particularly after that horrific fire a few years ago, are a concern.
Austin is a great place. I've been there for SXSW several times and my brother lives in Round Rock, so I've stayed with him quite a bit. Having family in the Austin area is a draw. I also have a couple of good friends who live there. I don't know anyone in Santa Rosa but that would change once I moved in with my family.
The 9% state income tax in California is a huge con in the pro/con file. No state income tax in Texas is a wonderful thing. Even with the higher property tax in Texas we'd still come out far ahead when the overall taxes we'd pay in each state are compared.
The 9% state income tax in California is a huge con in the pro/con file. No state income tax in Texas is a wonderful thing. Even with the higher property tax in Texas we'd still come out far ahead when the overall taxes we'd pay in each state are compared.
Actually, for us at least, the income tax versus property tax between the two locations was a wash. Round Rock which is in Williamson Co. may have lower taxes than Austin's Travis Co so that's worth checking.
Politics may come into play a bit as well, depending on how you lean. I've been in Texas for over 30 years now, and my husband is a native Texan, but we will probably be leaving in a couple years, largely due to the politics here. I don't know if that will be a factor for you.
I see that all the time on CD - people leaving a state because of the politics. I don't get it. I don't understand it. It makes no sense to me. How involved in politics is a person that they would allow politics to run them out of a state?
I see that all the time on CD - people leaving a state because of the politics. I don't get it. I don't understand it. It makes no sense to me. How involved in politics is a person that they would allow politics to run them out of a state?
I think it was about the time my husband and I took our teenaged daughters to get passports because there is a very real possibility that they may need to leave the country to get healthcare at some point.
Or maybe when it was when their school district was featured on the national news for banning books.
Or maybe it was when a very dear friend, pregnant with her second and very planned / wanted child was diagnosed with cancer and had to go to Colorado to get cancer treatment because no doctor in Texas would touch her (she was referred to a practice in Colorado by her oncologist here). FWIW, every, single solitary medical organization says treatment is safe during the 2nd trimester, but what do all those doctors know? Obviously politicians know more then those so-called experts.
Or maybe it was when my cousin was physically threatened to the point of actually having to run to her car, in tears, in the Lakeway HEB parking lot because she was wearing a Biden t-shirt (this was during the last election).
I see that all the time on CD - people leaving a state because of the politics. I don't get it. I don't understand it. It makes no sense to me. How involved in politics is a person that they would allow politics to run them out of a state?
I can understand it, politics lately have become so pronounced that they are more sharply influencing our lives than they have in the past, and this is happening with both parties.. ..but it also works in the inverse direction as well. I personally would not be happy in a state of which the political polarity of those in control trend entirely blue such as California, New York or Illinois. I will agree that moderation is needed but the ideals and values between both parties (and their gerrymandering) are so extreme that moderation is virtually impossible. One will eventually dominate the other.. ..I.E.. There cannot and will not be a purple Texas as many hope for, it will either be red, or a seed of blue in the right place will blossom into a complete systematic overhaul through policing eventually swinging the chambers in power toward a blue shift until all chambers of power are in alignment. Don't think it can't / won't happen. It has before. Texas was once Democratic, and California was once Republican.
Moderation throughout the country is hastily dissolving... So you end up picking a side who's values most align with your own. Is Texas and their liege perfect? No, there are major issues and people who need to be uprooted from office rather than selected only because they wear an 'R' or align themselves 'publicly' as Christians which gives distaste to the religion as a whole -- likewise the state as a whole I feel is not concentrating enough on the infrastructural needs for the growth they honor and uphold.. ..that stated, I used to disdain the Politics of Georgia and Texas but I suppose I have become more tolerant toward it... do I want a better system? Certainly, but I don't forsee that coming to past in the near future, if ever.
Gotta select what works best for you... and right now there are only two options.. .. Bad .. and .. Worse ..
Last edited by Need4Camaro; 04-07-2024 at 12:24 PM..
Texas is basicly a conservative but there are enough liberals and independents around the major and mid-major metro areas that nobody needs to feel isolated. Unless one wears their politics on their sleeves, I wouldn't expect any major issues for the average person who lives life day to day and isn't driven by politics. I can't see leaving a state that one is making a good living for another state because of politics.
I think it was about the time my husband and I took our teenaged daughters to get passports because there is a very real possibility that they may need to leave the country to get healthcare at some point.
Or maybe when it was when their school district was featured on the national news for banning books.
Or maybe it was when a very dear friend, pregnant with her second and very planned / wanted child was diagnosed with cancer and had to go to Colorado to get cancer treatment because no doctor in Texas would touch her (she was referred to a practice in Colorado by her oncologist here). FWIW, every, single solitary medical organization says treatment is safe during the 2nd trimester, but what do all those doctors know? Obviously politicians know more then those so-called experts.
Or maybe it was when my cousin was physically threatened to the point of actually having to run to her car, in tears, in the Lakeway HEB parking lot because she was wearing a Biden t-shirt (this was during the last election).
Do you want me to keep going?
You don't need to keep going, unless you want to. I can see you have plenty of anecdotal incidences, but those things could happen anywhere. They're not unique to Austin or Texas.
I'm sure there are many books most parents would not want their child to have access to through the school library. That's just common sense. It's not like the State is banning non-pornographic books from being sold at privately owned book stores. BookPeople in Austin has a huge selection of non-pornographic banned books for sale.
I'm sorry for your cousin's frightening experience at the Lakeway HEB, but there are unreasonable, melodramatic people everywhere. In todays political climate, I would not reccomend wearing a political t shirt during an election and not expect the possibility of a confrontation. And it happens on both sides. I would venture to guess wearing a Trump t-shirt in a ghetto grocery store parking lot during an election could prove to be just as frightening.
And I'm sorry for your friend's medical experience, but how often does something like that happen that you must move from the state?
You don't need to keep going, unless you want to. I can see you have plenty of anecdotal incidences, but those things could happen anywhere. They're not unique to Austin or Texas.
I'm sure there are many books most parents would not want their child to have access to through the school library. That's just common sense. It's not like the State is banning non-pornographic books from being sold at privately owned book stores. BookPeople in Austin has a huge selection of non-pornographic banned books for sale.
I'm sorry for your cousin's frightening experience at the Lakeway HEB, but there are unreasonable, melodramatic people everywhere. In todays political climate, I would not reccomend wearing a political t shirt during an election and not expect the possibility of a confrontation. And it happens on both sides. I would venture to guess wearing a Trump t-shirt in a ghetto grocery store parking lot during an election could prove to be just as frightening.
And I'm sorry for your friend's medical experience, but how often does something like that happen that you must move from the state?
Although anecdotal, I haven't heard of these things happening other places. It was Leander ISD that was on the national news (and now Lake Travis).
There was already a process that let parents decide whether what their kids checked out of the library was restricted. Just like they could restrict what snacks they could buy from the cafeteria. Just sign a simple form. It's always been that way. Now they've decided that no one else's kids can check them out either.
If something like that has happened to someone wearing a Trump shirt, please let me know. But supporters don't seem so frightened to prevent them from wrapping their cars in support of him, flying flags from their trucks, and driving through Austin, which is supposedly ultra-liberal. I won't even put a sticker on my car.
And the medical thing happens more than you think. Even one is too many. But plenty of women have had to go out of state for medical care.
I have lived other places. And, yes, it was different, which is why we're looking to leave. My husband has never lived anywhere else, and even he's ready to go.
Although anecdotal, I haven't heard of these things happening other places. It was Leander ISD that was on the national news (and now Lake Travis).
There was already a process that let parents decide whether what their kids checked out of the library was restricted. Just like they could restrict what snacks they could buy from the cafeteria. Just sign a simple form. It's always been that way. Now they've decided that no one else's kids can check them out either.
If something like that has happened to someone wearing a Trump shirt, please let me know. But supporters don't seem so frightened to prevent them from wrapping their cars in support of him, flying flags from their trucks, and driving through Austin, which is supposedly ultra-liberal. I won't even put a sticker on my car.
And the medical thing happens more than you think. Even one is too many. But plenty of women have had to go out of state for medical care.
I have lived other places. And, yes, it was different, which is why we're looking to leave. My husband has never lived anywhere else, and even he's ready to go.
I hope you realize the reasons you give for possibly leaving a good prosperous region of the country are emotional rather than rational. That's something you might want to considet before making a life changing decision that will effect each family member. No place is going to be exactly as you would like it to be.
I hope you realize the reasons you give for possibly leaving a good prosperous region of the country are emotional rather than rational. That's something you might want to considet before making a life changing decision that will effect each family member. No place is going to be exactly as you would like it to be.
It's not a kneejerk decision. We've been thinking about it for years. My youngest has one more year of high school. We were considering downsizing then anyway.
Both of my kids were born and raised in Austin and never lived anywhere else. My oldest daughter didn't apply to a single college in Texas because she had no desire to stay here. My youngest has said the same thing. And trust me, we tried to talk them into it, for financial reasons, if nothing else. Both of my kids will leave Texas before we do, if we do, by their own choice.
I realize that it affects everyone, and that I am sort of the odd man out, seeing as I'm the only member of my family who is not from Texas. But I wasn't the one who brought any of this up. Actually, my husband was. And my kids are obviously totally onboard.
There is no timeline. It will depend on factors like the real estate market, etc. I work from home and can work from anywhere in the US. My husband's job is not so flexible, so there's that to consider too.
There are other good, even better, prosperous parts of the country.
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