Moving to Abilene (Dyess AFB) (Dallas, Austin: for sale, homes, neighborhoods) - Texas (TX) - Page 3 - City-Data Forum

UWSNYC · 12-11-2009, 10:32 AM

It's good to know all the ins and outs of things over there. Well, no one got

smacked out the front door today ... there are another 3 or 4 hours to go to the workday ... still time for layoffs. Management did outsource our email this week. Those with new computers are rumored to survive a bit longer than others. That means I'll survive beyond today ... uh, most likely. Who knows, maybe this will go on for several months ...

... time will tell.

butterflybird · 12-12-2009, 09:47 AM

Sounds like maybe you'll be able to hold on awhile longer in NYC, but it's a good thing that you have a backup plan for yourself. We all have a Norman Rockwell concept about small town America, and sometimes it's true, but I don't think AB fits that image. Again, it's all in the eye of the beholder and the only way to find out is to see it firsthand.
Then you can make an informed decision. I think the people who are happy here are long time residents who have established family roots and the military retirees, etc. Also, there's a lot of churches, so if religious pursuits are a big thing for you, that might work and is the source of a lot of the social/community life around Ab. Then there's ACU (Abilene Christian University) and Hardin Simmons, private colleges. However, for older people, that isn't gonna provide much social life or outlet. People from outside assume a small town of 115,000 which is about Ab's pop. is gonna have the same things a big city has, and it just won't.

butterflybird · 12-13-2009, 05:25 PM

I would also suggest checking out the Abilene forum, someone there posted a lot of pics of a certain area of town that gives you an idea of the problems in AB, I think the thread is called Ab, a (very) rough diamond or something...
this person has taken pics of places in the north area but unfortunately those pics are just the tip of the iceberg as to how crumbling a number of areas in Ab. are. esp. shack houses that should be bulldozed, poor condition of streets and abandoned storefronts.

Steel Man · 12-13-2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by butterflybird

I would also suggest checking out the Abilene forum, someone there posted a lot of pics of a certain area of town that gives you an idea of the problems in AB, I think the thread is called Ab, a (very) rough diamond or something...
this person has taken pics of places in the north area but unfortunately those pics are just the tip of the iceberg as to how crumbling a number of areas in Ab. are. esp. shack houses that should be bulldozed, poor condition of streets and abandoned storefronts.

You could say the same about San Angelo (check the streets around Goodfellow AFB) or any other town/city in Texas.

Here is the post you mentioned:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/11636872-post1.html

butterflybird · 12-15-2009, 11:24 AM

thanks for posting that link - lots of pics at that one. And as someone pointed out, "Where's the people?"...you don't see anyone on the streets around there because that part of town has been let go....really, this is a community wide problem and it's up to the good folks of AB to get more pro-active, start going to city council meetings and make their voices heard about blight that pervades many parts of AB.

Mama Crow · 12-16-2009, 08:38 PM

You seem to know soooooo much about Abilene, butterflybird... and it is all bad.

butterflybird · 12-18-2009, 04:02 PM

It's not all bad, but there are problems in Ab. that need to be addressed. The people are quite friendly and there are some pleasant neighborhoods. I just think someone coming from a large city like NYC will go through a lot of adjustments and am just trying to alert them to things they may not know. That's what's so great about this forum, we can share both the good and bad to help others out and then it's up to them to do their homework and find out if it's the right place for them.

NAdams65 · 12-21-2009, 07:23 AM

I can second Butterflys observations and add a couple of my own.

Bike Friendly.....No!! Probably risking your life riding the city streets.

Sidewalks.....No....funny for such a "family friendly" town there are no sidewalks. My kids don't go visit other kids in the area unless I escort them because I feel it's just not safe for them to be walking in the street.

We are closing in on 4 years in Abilene and while there are some redeeming qualities (schools, no traffic), I must say it has not been my cup of tea. Coming from NYC I would think you will have a tremendous culture shock.

While people are overall friendly, there is a distinct feel that we do not fit in here. If you are not from Texas (we are military) they seem to look at you as an outsider.

Wylie is a "snobfest".....a bunch of locals that seem to think they are running the show. Too bad...if they ever cut the cord and ventured outside of Abilene or, God forbid, Texas...they would see there is a lot of cool stuff out there in the good 'ol USA.

Make no mistakes, even though they have 2 Lowes and 2 Home Depots, this is still a small town with nothing much to do. Eating is the main passtime here and it shows in the town's population. If you are looking for a healthy environment...this is not it.

I wish we had known more about Abilene before we relocated here....might have made a different choice. We will be moving next spring and won't be looking over our shoulders as we drive away.

James2496 · 12-22-2009, 02:59 PM

Butterflybird and NAdams65 apparently don't live in the same Abilene that I do. While the city has problems, it is a friendly and easy place to live. We moved here from Northeast Ohio and love it. The city is easy to get around in, has nearly everything a person needs, is close (2 to 2 1/2 hours) to Dallas/Fort Worth area, has more than two universities (the statement that there are two was incorrect--there are a total of 9 institutions of higher learning here) with lots of concerts, athletics, plays, etc. There are not a lot of places to ride bicycles, but there are some. There is a great hike/bike trail around Abilene Christian University. My wife and I have lived lots of places, and we like Abilene as well or better than others.

TT Dave · 12-22-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James2496

Butterflybird and NAdams65 apparently don't live in the same Abilene that I do. While the city has problems, it is a friendly and easy place to live. We moved here from Northeast Ohio and love it. The city is easy to get around in, has nearly everything a person needs, is close (2 to 2 1/2 hours) to Dallas/Fort Worth area, has more than two universities (the statement that there are two was incorrect--there are a total of 9 institutions of higher learning here) with lots of concerts, athletics, plays, etc. There are not a lot of places to ride bicycles, but there are some. There is a great hike/bike trail around Abilene Christian University. My wife and I have lived lots of places, and we like Abilene as well or better than others.

I agree, I've lived here in Abilene for a long time and I like it here. I've lived in several other Texas cities and also lived up in the Midwest once so I have some perspective. From some of the posts above, you would think that this city is nothing but a run-down wasteland!...LOL. There are some bad areas of town but there are also some very nice areas. You will find run-down areas in just about any city (believe me, I've seen them in some of the other places I've lived). Abilene has no more or less of those areas than any other city I've lived in. Abilene is not for everyone but I think overall it's a nice place to live and like you said, it has a lot to offer for a city of it's size.