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Old 10-02-2011, 07:15 AM
 
1,632 posts, read 3,331,436 times
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Houston's primary advantage over Bakersfield (and just about any other major city in the US) is the cost of living. For $200k you can get 3,000 sqft in a nice neighborhood with great schools and amenities within about a 40 minute commute of downtown (during traffic hours) -- very few cities where this can happen.

Other nice things: Great culture, very diverse city, lots of young families, GREAT museum district around Herrman park (you can spend all day there with your family), great family city, great food (tex-mex, bbq, anything else you'd ever want), lots of trees and usually very green. The summers are fairly hot, but not so hot that it keeps you from going outside unless you're a a wuss, but the other 'seasons' are very mild and great weather. Great people.
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Old 10-02-2011, 07:34 AM
 
Location: Charleston Sc and Western NC
9,273 posts, read 26,521,307 times
Reputation: 4741
Quote:
Originally Posted by MsIzzy View Post
I want the hardcore truth from real Houstonians (is that correct?) please.

We're going back and forth between a move out to Bakersfield or Houston, and both places have some major negatives for me, but we HAVE to move because of a job. Those are the choices (oil world), and they both have things that bother me.

So, besides the God awful traffic and humidity from hell, what are the great things about life in Houston?

What are the most awful things that you, a native, find you would run away from if you could.

I am sooooo confused.
Native Houstonian here, and I will be honest, the heat this last summer has me "running away." It was gawdawful this last time around. But it's getting nicer now, but honestly I'm not in for much more of that if I don't have too. I'm a very outdoor driven person, and I was a total lock-in this summer when I was in town.

Traffic? Hate it but I've moved to an area where it's a non-issue. I have commuted before and I would never,ever do it again..it's just not worth it. Just live within a few miles of work and in a area that has everything you need for good QOL for YOU, and you'll be fine. Houston is full of neighborhoods that feel like individual small towns. The personality of this city is different in every direction you go.

Diversity? It's everywhere and especially the outer suburbs. The city seems to segregate itself by income and race, the burbs are a mish-mash.

What I love about this city??
*If you live in a suburban neighborhood in the city, it feels like a hometown within a 3x3 mile box.
*The people. In general everyone is very courteous. It's changed a little with so many people transferring/moving in, but in general it's still hospitality.
*Great restaurants and a decent theatre district.
*Pride in the state. People who are from Texas generally support it. They tend to look past the negative and focus the positive...which drives the DebbieDowner NE transfers INSANE.
*The city provides a great lifestyle if you hustle. And that great lifestyle allows you to travel when the heat gets to be too much..or you get bored.

Just do your research and settle in an area that reflects your personality and make the best of it. Like I said, your "experience" here has a lot to do with where you settle down.
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Old 10-02-2011, 07:43 AM
 
114 posts, read 225,326 times
Reputation: 151
Houston over Bakersfield. But stay away from Alief that is the southwest are suburb. Some suburbs are crime infested though there are nice ones, do your research my cousin is from Bakersfield it seems to have changed for the worse she says but now she lives in south orange county which she loves. Can u get a job there? South orange county>Houston (the nice parts)> Bakersfield
Houstonians are nice but my cousin is nicer. The soccer moms here are a bit fake in that it is hard to make real friends. I have only one real friend I tell my secrets to, be careful who to trust but I think you'll like it here
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Old 10-02-2011, 09:53 AM
 
71 posts, read 190,497 times
Reputation: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by DejaBlue View Post
LMAO!!!

Last time I checked *looks at hands, leans over to mirror* I look black, I'm perceived as black, birth certificate considers me black.

Guess you have to try a different angle now, huh?



Technically, from where I'm standing, in those areas I'm more likely to be unsafe in those areas because crime and incidents tend to be mostly race on race in those areas. You (I'm guessing you're white) would be witnessing something but it would be worst for me because like I said, I'd be a target more than you.
Lmao what does race have to do with being afraid of color? I know plenty of black suburbanites scared to leave the bubble. And no I am not white, and no crime isn't jut race on race in any given area. Most murders and violence have some kind of motive and its extremely ignorant to say that a black man from kashmere gardens will murder you just because you're black.
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Old 10-02-2011, 10:39 AM
 
2,945 posts, read 4,998,963 times
Reputation: 3390
Quote:
Originally Posted by TVC15 View Post
Yes food you can get any where...but not anywhere close the to the outstanding host of foodies that you will find in Houston. Houston has more outstanding food establishments then most big cities. It is right up there in the top.

Now that would not be a reason to pick it over Bakersfield...there are plenty of other reasons I would choose Houston over Bakersfield. Just the shear diversity of the city would be my reason to pick Houston.

It really depends on what your into. If living in a slow paced small city with not a lot of opportunity then Bakersfield might be for you.

Don't let the humidity of Houston be a deterrent...it is very good for your skin...you will look years younger.

I could never live in a place like Bakersfield...but that is because I like what a big city like Houston full of opportunity and diversity has to offer. It just depends on what you need in life to be happy. The cities are night and day apart.

Good Luck finding your new city
The emphasis people put on "Come to Houston because we have great food" i"Houston = food, "Best food in the nation" is why we're constantly in the upper echelons on fattest city in the country.

Maybe if we had more to offer than just stuffing a face we wouldn't as a whole look so fat.
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Old 10-02-2011, 10:51 AM
 
Location: Westbury
3,283 posts, read 6,059,458 times
Reputation: 2952
foodies and a culture of dining is far from "culture of fat" look at France. maybe it is all the poverty in houston where the fat people come from? hmmm or you never considered that?

a food culture is a high culture now (and always has been outside of the US). if you regularly dine at applebees i wouldnt expect people to know that. "hood" ha.

anyway...

what people on this thread dont seem to know is Bakersfield. it has very little redeeming qualities other than being in california which for some people is redeeming enough. there is a pretty good exodus from that city for various reasons. id suggest the OP to get on the CA page and read about Bako


a glaring fact is bako is under a half million people. houston is in the millions. you have to like a small town to like Bako
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Old 10-02-2011, 01:23 PM
 
Location: Central Bay Area, CA as of Jan 2010...but still a proud Texan from Houston!
7,484 posts, read 10,460,712 times
Reputation: 8956
Quote:
Originally Posted by DejaBlue View Post
The emphasis people put on "Come to Houston because we have great food" i"Houston = food, "Best food in the nation" is why we're constantly in the upper echelons on fattest city in the country.

Maybe if we had more to offer than just stuffing a face we wouldn't as a whole look so fat.
Actually it is a great thing that Houston has awesome places to eat out. What better way to enjoy your time with people and friends then to sit down and have a great meal together.

Heck I can't even find places as good as what Houston has to offer here in San Fran.
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Old 10-02-2011, 01:56 PM
 
Location: Central Bay Area, CA as of Jan 2010...but still a proud Texan from Houston!
7,484 posts, read 10,460,712 times
Reputation: 8956
Quote:
Originally Posted by testmo View Post
what people on this thread dont seem to know is Bakersfield. it has very little redeeming qualities other than being in california which for some people is redeeming enough. there is a pretty good exodus from that city for various reasons. id suggest the OP to get on the CA page and read about Bako

a glaring fact is bako is under a half million people. houston is in the millions. you have to like a small town to like Bako
How I look at it is...if you are going to live in CA and pay high taxes and a state income tax on top of that...at least live in a nice area that is a pleasure to live in. I can't imagine why anyone would want to live in Bakersfield if they have a choice. It is the armpit of Southern CA.
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Old 10-02-2011, 02:25 PM
 
2,223 posts, read 5,492,139 times
Reputation: 2081
Quote:
Originally Posted by thesouthwest View Post
I don't even live in the inner loop. But I guess you're just another scared suburbanite afraid of anyone of color. Using your logic then Bellaire must be a warzone since it's next to Gulfton . The only thing that scares me about the heights are all the drunk yuppies on a friday night arguing about politics at Christians Tailgate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by thesouthwest View Post
Lmao what does race have to do with being afraid of color? I know plenty of black suburbanites scared to leave the bubble. And no I am not white, and no crime isn't jut race on race in any given area. Most murders and violence have some kind of motive and its extremely ignorant to say that a black man from kashmere gardens will murder you just because you're black.
Epic fail. Now go and fertilize your garden with it.
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Old 10-02-2011, 04:24 PM
 
Location: Westbury
3,283 posts, read 6,059,458 times
Reputation: 2952
a person of color referring to the disadvantaged of their own race as "hood" (and everything else said/alluded to) etc is a little smacking of internal racism. something fairly unique to the rising upper class of African Americans in the US

fairly classless and unfortunate
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