What's it like living in Houston?

Looks like my 24 year old son will be relocating from the Pacific NW, and no offense, but I'm feeling sick. Mostly because he is moving away from his family, but also because I have an inherent dread of Texas. Please tell me it isn't all freeperville. Hoping some fellow dems can cheer me up. What does he need to know about Houston?
:cry:

My inlaws live there. It's really an appalling climate. They talk about "summer, July and August." August is literally unliveable. You'll spend 24 hours a day going from an airconditioned house to an airconditioned car, to an airconditioned office. Anyone from the Northwest is used to humidity (I lived in Portland for 4 years), but it rains nearly three times as much in Houston (like, 100 inches a year).

Anyone with money leaves in August. (Why do the Bushes spend every Augsut at Kennebunkport?!)

It's really a swamp. The water table is two feet under the mean ground level. The bugs are HUGE. The winter is livable, but the weather changes very quickly.

And it has the worst air quality in America, worse the last several years than Los Angeles, where I live.

Other than that, it's also about 80% Republican. Lovely place.

we live in the Portland metro area, but have no clue as to what that kind of humidity is like. My son would probably adjust but don't think I could ever stand it. He was a repub before Bush so hope he doesn't regress.

Same as Houston. Air stinks. It's like a swamp. Disgusting for someone used to the clean air and beautiful summers in Portland/Seattle.

except Orlando in January one year. I thought that was humid.
We've lived in Portland 15 years, and before that, the Bay Area.
Gulp.

are all wet? Thats what living in Houston is like with the humidity.
Also--think about when you are in the car and the heater is too hot and it makes your chest feel like its out of air? Thats what the heat feels like. Hope he enjoys Houston!

I have quite a few friends there.

However, the climate is hell on earth. It's hot, muggy, and polluted.

Tell him to make sure any vehicle he buys has AC.

Big, brash young city, sprawled out. There's something for everyone here -- it's BIG. Did I say BIG? 3.5 million people in the county -- the size of Iowa and Vermont put together.

Yeah. August is hot and miserable. I always try to get out of town part of August.

However, it was 70 degrees today and clear - January 25th. That's a bit warmer than usual, but hey -- better than 3 feet of snow, eh.

As for 80% Republican. No. It is not. In fact, if you take EVERY Kerry voter in both WA and OR and add them together, you don't get as many Kerry voters as there were in Texas. The WA + OR Kerry vote = 2.4 million. The TX Kerry vote = 2.8 million. So there.

Oregon voted 51.6% for Kerry.
Washington voted 52.8% for Kerry.
Harris County, Texas voted 45% for Kerry. (I don't have the Houston figures, but they were probably close to 50-50.)

There's plenty to do -- pro sports, theater, clubs, the housing costs are the best or at least 2nd best among the top 10 cities, and the beach is only an hour away.

Inside the Loop is cool, with restaurants, museums, universities, etc.

I love the Pacific NW, but Houston is a multi-cultural city that is very friendly and entrepreneurial. Sure, the Baptists and rednecks and Daddy Bush are here.

But there are kids in the elementary schools who speak 28 different foreign languages. Lots of Houstonians come from somewhere else. With this many cultures and neighborhoods and whatever else, your son will find something to make him feel at home. (Advise him not to live too far out in the suburbs though.)

thanks, Zan.

I love Portland but my kid really doesn't like it here. Graduated college a year ago and spent several months searching for a job. Ended up with something that probably didn't require a degree, but his company has been bought out and now has this opportunity to be transferred.

He's a bit big, brash, and young himself so maybe Houston will suit him.

Just try to steer him away from the 'burbs. They are heavy with freepers. Traffic is bad (no worse than Portland or Seattle, though!) so he should really try to find a place reasonably close to his work. There are a lot of small neighborhoods worth living in within the "beltway" of roads around the main city. This is possible because housing is generally affordable, even close in.

Lowest housing costs of any major metro area, I'd bet.

and you will be fine!

Enjoy

and still loving this town! Not the county - not the state, but Houston is wonderful.

Just got screwed again yesterday by one of the major oil companies here, BUT they're California based. Our lawyer is looking at it now.

Mary

My 25 year old son moved from Houston to Portland five years ago.

Having a kid move that far away is tough. My good thoughts are with you.

Houston is not all bad. I live Fort Bend, 30 miles southwest of Houston - supposedly the most Republican county in the State. However, Tom DeLay only got 53% of the vote here. And, check out the map (and active group!) on this page: http://www.fortbenddemocrats.org/

Yeah, August is awful and the first half of September ain't much better. But, it's the end of January and I went out in shorts today. That more than makes up for about 6 miserable weeks where we all make a mad dash to the air conditioning.

We have great entertainment, several notable universities willing to share their goodies, a first class art museum, excellent seafood and a fun downtown area. It's really not a bad place to live.

Plus, you already know some "mommas" to direct him to!

Wondering how your son likes Portland!

My biggest concern is the distance, but he is looking forward to it. His new company is giving him a 60 day "try out" contract to start with, along with travel allowance to come home. He'll have a company car to use, a Suburban (surprise, surprise).

Feeling more hopeful here, thanks for the good thoughts. :)

and my family still lives there, for 34 years now. I live outside of Austin.

I agree with the posts that tell you how cool Houston is. There are some wonderful old, funky neighborhoods with interesting shops and restaurants. There's gorgeous Hermann Park just west of downtown and downtown itself has been completely revitalized in recent years with tunnels connecting underground malls. They've started a light rail system with, hopefully, more to come. My family is Republican but they're not the redneck or freeper type. My mother has been very active in Habitat for Humanity and her church has some great exchange programs with churches all over Harris County. And she lives in the Spring area, one of the many suburbs of Houston.

Every time I go to Houston, I am amazed at the cultural diversity, even out in the burbs -- much more than I see in Austin, the so-called liberal hotspot of the state!

It's hard when your child moves away -- my youngest is a 20-year-old Marine stationed in Japan until August 2006 and my oldest is in Colorado right now looking for a job. But I wouldn't worry about your son moving to Houston. We do get used to the heat and humidity and there's much to enjoy down here! Good luck to your son and give him a big HOWDY from all of us! :D

I'm beginning to have a better feeling about what's ahead, and think my son will find plenty things to enjoy about Houston. He's already been invited to a big Superbowl party down there. Promised me he wouldn't become a redneck.

All the best to your children in Japan and Colorado, too! Never thought I would worry about my kids so much when they became grown-up.

Especially when we no longer have any "control" over what they do (I use that word lightly, wondering if I ever did! ;))

I'm sure your son will be fine and now you can come visit and see what you think for yourself. I don't know if I'll make it to Japan but I'm sure we'll be making more trips to Colorado! I'm going to send along our kingsize inflatable bed with our daughter so we'll have a place to sleep in her apartment. :D

LOL. Gave up on that after they went to college. Sort of. Have to admit that's been a difficult one for me. My daughter currently has a "secret" boyfriend at school. :eyes:

Another mom with three living away and one here in Houston. It gets easier (eventually).

I sent you my addy in the PM, if I can help with info, let me know.

Mary

Knew I could count on you Texas DUers. :)
Son will be landing in Houston right before superbowl and his first order of business is par-tee. :o
Thanks to y'all for all the tips and good wishes.

are the DUers there. If you go visit your son, you have to meet them. Those of us in Texas have to live in the belly of the beast, and you won't meet a more dedicated, fun-loving bunch than we are. the Houston Democratic state convention this year was a total blast.

Especially, you have to meet Richardo, Lisa0825, the PDitties, slutticus, and brazosboomer. They're a cuddly lot. The first four I've met in person, Juanita Jean I'll get to meet ONE of these days.

Good luck to your son, and to you with the withdrawal thang. Just think of the great days at the beach you'll have when you come visit!

FSC, little further north than Houston, but still a Texan gal

and have to buy Mary a cuppa joe and beingets.

My son is afraid I won't fly into George Bush Airport. Aaaack.

thanks for the good wishes, fudge stripe. :yourock:

by flying into Hobby Airport. Southwest Airlines announced this week that they're pulling out of Bush anyway. :D

avoid becoming a statistic.
Drive a decent car, preferably at least 300 HP.
Do not antgonize other motorists, with slothfullness.
Move one lane away, from emergency vehicles w flashing lights.
Speed is life.
..
You need good brakes.

There was a funeral procession and someone hit the hearse--guess they weren't driving fast enough.:shrug:

Yikes.

There are lots of "slothfull" drivers here in the NW, who don't know how to merge or move out of the fast lane.

Speed and brakes. Will pass that info along.

I've lived here for almost 6 years now, and it's been a blast. It's also really cheap to live here. You can have an amazing apartment or even a house for a fraction of the cost of other places in the US.

It gets ridiculous in the summer, and if you're coming from the pacific NW, be in for a complete shock. The humidity is demoralizing, but you get used to it!

Houston's a great place for someone in their 20's. Lots of cool bars and clubs, and some of the best restaurants in the country.


Oh yeah....and have him brush up on the driving skills. It's madhouse on the freeways!