Potential Destination: SAN ANTONIO

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It's not really that bad, worst is the fact that we have BOTH Brown Recluse and Black Widow. My major issue is that I have chairs on my patio (the folding cloth ones.) You just learn to shake them our REAL good before sitting in them, if they have been in a closed postion.

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Its a great Area though, Maybe I will Spot some of Y'all New Braunfels people at the shooting range, I am starting to requent the outdoor range up in That city (seeing as how San Marcos isn't lucky enough to have a range)
 
WOW! This is almost exactly what my wife and I were discussing this evening! We are sick and tried of living in the California Bay Area and not being able to afford a house.

It's almost funny that we were also discussing a move to Texas....Our downfall would be not having a house to sell here to bankroll our move.

I am currently a sales rep for United Rentals, how is the construction industry down there? Are there various rental places that i might be able to find work at. I actually specialize in underground construction work, is there much of that type of wrok going on down there?

Thanks in advance for any insight that you can give me--Rob
 
Need help with area assessment

Hi guys,

I found an apartment at 9400 Fredericksberg road 78240 zip.

Its called Stone Hollow and I can get a real great deal - $195 move in, no rent in Sept with a year lease.

This is in the Medical District or something...?

How is this area for crime and other problems? My wife and boy will be home a lot and I want to not worry too much about them.

Also dont want people stealin my guns when I am out.

Can anyone report on this area or apartment? I need to go with it in the next 48 hours or so.

Also - would anyone be into helping us move in around Sept 1st? We would be happy to pitch you a little cash and spring for pizza :)

Thanks and let me know,
 
Fredricksburg road near the medical center isn't to bad an area, lots of stuff close by, groceries, restraunts, and assorted other stuff. What school district is it, Northside? Supposed to be pretty good. I think you made a good choice of an area, the only bad part is the traffic, but it'll put you right in the area you need to look for a job. Probably not bad traffic by CA standards though, I spent 2hrs going 9 miles in LA once.

I should be able to help out Sept. 1, i'm self employed so I can take off if I want to.:D PM me and i'll send you my phone number, you can call me when you are inbound, i'm sure some others around will pitch in and help. We'll get you set-up and you can start looking for a house and job then.

I actually applied for a job that may move me out of the area, if so this place may end up for sale, range and all.
 
Pendragon - couple of things

to consider;

I live south of DFW (in Texas 24 yrs) and MANY of the points
raised here are valid throughout the state

1) yes - wages may be lower in Texas BUT no income-tax (YET !!)
no tax on food so that'll help
2) Flash flooding in many places - just don't pick the house
at the bottom of a sloping road/or hill/or grade ;-)
3) summers can be HOT but nearly EVERYTHING is
air-conditioned
4) some bugs big enough to put a saddle on but mostly
harmless (I said MOSTLY !!)
5) MUCH more gun friendly than what you're used to
6) Yes - definately get an apartment for say 6 months
this will give you time to explore/learn the area and
figure out where you may want to buy/live as opposed
to jumping at the first place you find/like and learning
sometime later that maybe you should have picked
something else
Just some food for thought based on a lotta mistakes (MINE !)
 
As St. Gunner pointed out, traffic is the big issue on Fred. Rd. When I was in that area some years ago (Horizon Hill), rents were higher because of proximity to Medical Center, USAA, etc. In the current market it's probably better. I don't think its a particulary safe area, but its not a crime hot spot either. Convenient to shopping/eats/etc. You're definitely "in town". If you're staging into a home purchase, I say go for it.
 
I may be able to help on the 1st. The medical center area is good. The school district is Northside ISD. It is one of the best in SA. Good Luck!
 
Pendragon,

I used to live about 1/2 mile from there, in the apts on the corner of Gus Eckert.. This was about 10 years ago, and it was quite a nice area, as it was still a little north of the full 'city'.. I am always surprised how much the area has GROWN since then, especially to the north along I-10..

I live in Houston now, but still have friends that I visit regularly on the NE side of SA, around 1604 & Judson Rd.. I now prefer this area of town, it seems a little more laid back..

Agree it will be fine as a 'home base' for your job and house hunts..

Glad to see you're making the move.. Like the bumper sticker says, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could!"

R
 
Pendragon,

Here is a pic of me, so you know who is showing up to help that day.:D Wouldn't want you to shoot me thinking you where fixin to get robbed. The hair on my face is longer now, and the hair on my head is gone, well a 1/2" is left.:D
 

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Guys!

Thanks so much for the info and the willingness to help us out when we get there.

One thing that is really cool - my wifes parents - who are pretty torn up about this whole deal - have been discussing what it would take to move there with us. Her dad has someone interested in buying his business and he has ordered a ton of info from the SA Chamber of Commerce.

Before, they said they would never move, especially to Texas (her mom was actually born there but she is just very comfy where she is). So its far from a sure thing, but its moved from no way to a definite maybe :)

Thanks again guys, I will keep this thread updated.

Oh, is anyone self employed in computer consulting/support ? I was planning on going that way there - supporting Dr.'s, Law-yers, Dentists, and maybe a few other professional type offices...
 
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I drove by the appt complex you mentioned on the way back to work from a local burger joint this afternoon (Chesters....mmm.....) and saw someone taking pictures of the outside of the complex.

Was that by chance any of ya'll?
 
ok, we bailed on the first apartment (we made no commitment).

We settled on a place called (get this) "Blue Swan Apartments".

We thought it sounded like a "no-tell mo-tel" but we looked at it on the internet and it is very nice with several "designer" features like french doors that my wife is really excited about (happy wife=happy life).

Unfortunately, we have to pay about 3 months rent up front since I have no job, but you gotta pay the rent anyway so what the heck.

They are at 11710 Parliament , SA TX, 78213

Our move in date is Saturday, September 6th and I think we will probably fly in a day or two before that and stay in a Hotel.

The apartment is on the 2nd floor and I have a couch and a "Cal King" bed to move up there - almost everything else could be done by one guy but if anyone wants to help, I will pay up to 2 guys $50 each for up to 3 hours of moving If we get done early, you still get $50. Plus pizza and soda afterwards are on me :)

If y'all are busy or cant make it, I will hire a couple movers...

I have to say - its very surreal. It is so hard to look around at the place I have lived for 16 years and think I am not going to be here in 4 weeks. My wife is trying to be brave and not worry about missing her family too much or being overwhelmed by taking care of our son without family to pitch in. She is a tough lady.

The cool thing is - her parents are REALLY looking at moving there. I did some on line real estate searched with her dad and he just could not believe what things go for - he was flabbergasted to say the least. He has also been looking at the cost of doing business - he found that commercial electric rates are 40% of what he pays here. We are trying to find out the workmans comp rates because they have about tripled in the past couple years and are going up even more. He owns a building supply warehouse in Gridley CA (60mi N of Sacramento). He also has a guy interested in buying him out and he said he would sell if the deal is decent.

This probably aint that interesting to most of you - but it does speak volumes of what happens when regular CA people see how much it really costs to live here and what other places are like.

My wife is trying to to get too excited about them coming in case it does not happen, but from what I see in her dad, he would do ANYTHING to see his grandson and I dont think they will be able to move fast enough once they cant see him anymore.
 
That is a decent area. I used to make service calls over there.

You are very close to shopping, suermarket and it is in the area for one of the highest rated schools.

Congrats.

Also in the sub-division nearby is Delview where you can get a nice older home in a good neighborhood for about 52k to 60k.

PM me if you want any additional info
 
I am in the Bulverde area, just north of San Antonio....work in SA. I think you will find SA satisfactory.

If you get the chance, check out the surrounding Hill Country areas to live, Bulverde, Boerne, New Braunfels, all are within 30 miles of SA. I am approximately 20 miles north, takes no time at all, but i start work at 7:00, so I do miss most of the morning traffic.

The North and North East school districts are good. The North East school district has a few schools I would avoid, notably the Roosevelt High School area. I graduated Roosevelt in 87, it has steadily gone downhill. I would look in the North/North East and North West sides of town. The areas along 1604 from I35 to I10 are really growing, same for areas north of 1604 on I10 and HWY 281.

Most of the ranges have been mentioned, I shoot at the Bullet Hole most of the time. Vern is a character, although I do find his RO annoying. only tip you get out of that guy is the thumbing speech.

Ho Guns on Culebra is my favorite place. Wayne is a good guy and his gun smith Chris is a well kept secret. He definately charges way too little, although Wayne says they are going to structure some pricing starting next year. Chris has my Delta Elite and Kimber Pro Carry running top notch. Both were purchased used and had some problems, not anymore. He does high quality work.

When you get here you are welcome to shoot with myself and friend, we go to the Bullet Hole most every Tuesday night.
 
A few years back I used to visit SanDamTonio pretty often. I am a systems analyst specializing in data transport systems and I was running the USAF Recruiting Service's comms for recruiters. I spent a boatload of time in SA, enough so I ended up being able to give directions to locals.


Good people down there. They taunt us Yankees somethin fierce, but if you're a regular kind of person, they take you in pretty quickly. I made some lifelong friends in San Antonio.

It is DEATHLY hot and humid. No, its not as humid and stifling as Houston, but hell isnt as humid and stifling as houston.

Juniper pollen will kill you for 2 years. Then you might get lucky and get used to it.

In the winter, when they get a little tiny scattering of ice on the roads, they spread "sand", which, down there, consists of boulders, construction debris and other giant, damaging material. More people suffer broken windshields from the "sand" than are damaged by ice induced accidents. A small patch if ice up in New Braunfels is enough to have San Damtonio shut down by law.

When you are trying to merge onto a highway from an on-ramp anywhere in Texas, do NOT expect anybody in the right lane to move over to let you in. I think its a law in Texas. Nobody will move over to let you onto the highway. You have to swerve toward them until you are close enough to make them evacuate their bowels. Then they move over. Grudgingly. Scientists don't know why they do this. :rolleyes:

You will find small restaurants that look like total dives in San Antonio that server the finest food you can find in the USA. All nationalities are involved. Often, the crudiest looking places serve the best stuff. Try Louigi's italian some time. Its on the southwest side of town. Also try El Caribe on the east side. Bahamas with a smile.

Get a civil service job working on an airforce base. You can be a total imbecile and still run huge projects with no fear of ever being fired. You can proclaim new, prohibited projects as being "maintenance" when they are really gigantic cost overrun projects designed to further the advancement of juvie officer's careers. Ask somebody at Randolph USAFRS about "AFRIS". Okay, maybe dont ask about that... Cooperate. You'll get paid. I didn't. I don't consult there any more!

Bass fishing in texas is more like street fighting than fishing. You need to relearn how to fish. First of all, the "hookset" needs to be strong enough to move a parked Volkswagon. In the parlance of Tejas bass fishermen, you need to "cross that bitch's eyes" when you set the hook. If you don't, your hook won't penetrate the 2.3 inches of solid bone that most Texas largemouth bass posses in their mouths. Be prepared to hang on to your rod as if you dont want it dragged (embarassingly) over the side. I must warn you, its happened before. I cant seem to remember who it happened to though.... hmmmmm...

San Antonio. Good memories from a Yankee. Nice people down there. North side good. South side can get hairy. Two miles further south and you're in boonies.

Go there. Do not come to NH. Ugly people, ugly countryside, too cold, no fish, no game, no jobs, horrible gun laws. Way, way crowded with anti-gun down country flatlanders.... :D
 
Yeehaw!

I land in San Antonio in aproximately 24 hours.

I seem to have everything lined up - the internet is SO useful - I even got a 210 area code cell phone for my wife and I last week.

Today is my moms birthday so we are spending tonight with my family (been staying with my wifes family).

I was hoping to go shooting one last time with my Father In Law, but I am sure there will be some cool places to take him when he comes to visit.

If anyone has a line on a decent IT support job in the area, send me a PM.

I have pretty much decided that I am going to just set out and work for my self - then I dont gotta worry about getting fired for CCW on the job and whatnot.

Thanks to everyone who encourged me and gave me good info and tips on the area - I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks and months ahead.

If you are a religious person, say a prayer for all the passengers on the plane - for we are traveling with a highly active 21 month old boy. Bless them Lord, for they know not what they have gotten themselves into...
 
Good luck, have fun and keep your eyes open. :D

When you get there you might check to see if the Bijou is still a going concern. Twenty five plus years ago it was a real dive with smoke in the air, cold beer, hot B-girls...and the best bluegrass music west of Asheville. It was kind of a rough place but a lot of fun.

They have a huge beer festival at the expo hall with lots of interesting stuff once a year.

And there is always the Lone Star brewery.

Somehow all my San Antonio memories are beer soaked. Probably similar to those of the other 9,999,999 servicemen who trained there the last 50 years. :neener:
 
One thing I havn't seen mentioned yet is SA's close proximity to Thunder Ranch. Get over there for some training while they are still open.

I enjoyed SA while I was there for a 5 day course at TR, but the concept of a frontage road along a freeway needs to be rethought. :p
 
Made it... more or less...

Well, here we are.

The past week was a near perfect storm of Murphys law made manifest.

Our stuff was delayed, the phone company changed our phone number (after I sent several resumes out with the now invalid number). Our car was smoking like a chimney when we picked it up - that turned our to be minor so we hade a blow out on a busy road - whee!

It's ok though, here we are. :)

First, I took my Valtro and my great-grand fathers Winchester Model 63 with me on the flight (checked of course).

TSA was actually very cool. They saw my rifle case and asked if it was a rifle and then helped me get a skycap to get checked in. Southwest Airlines was extremely cool and professional. It got even better when the guy who checked my rifle turned out to be a former student of mine from when I taught at the local business/tech school. He was one of my best students - I am sure he went on to get his MCSE, but there he was playing luggage cop. He was nice, but when I aked him how he liked the TSA gig, he just kinda got quiet and said "heh, cant really say anything (lah dee dah)".

Anyway, it was extremely easy to travel with the guns.

A couple things:

1. I did not declare any ammo - I thought I did not have any, but when I arrived, I found 16 rounds that I had kept in for defense. Gives me a funny feeling to think about them finding it when I did not declare it.

2. My wifes baggage was searched by hand and TSA left a little pamphlet that said "we searched your bag". She had an antique style tin sign and a metal sand pail and spade in the bag - probably looked too dark on x-ray.

3. They dont give you a second walk through the metal detector like they used to. I thought I got all my metal out, but I still beeped - I think it was my belt buckly which is tiny. I was wearing denim shorts and a T-shirt - all they did was want me and make me roll my wasteband.


About Texas:

I really like it here. Everything is bigger - just like they say. People are a LOT nicer than California. San Antonio has a few grungy parts, but some really beautiful parts as well. We are liking the city already.

We are very suprised to find that it seems like 10% or less of the people have an actual Texas accent. At times, it is easy to forget this is Texas.

I have not been a lot of places, but I have not seen any 30.06 signs yet.

Tomorrow we will have been here a week - I still have not been to a gun store. Is this a felony or a misdemeanor?
 
Yes Sven.

It does feel different here. It's hard to put your finger on it but when I talk to the real Texans, I sense it. This one cab driver that drive us all over - very interesting guy, very intelligent and well educated - former aerospace, although it took me 45 minutes to find that out. A lot of people might dismiss him as a crank or a hick or whatever - he talked kinda like R. Lee Ermey. He talked about the government and the President - said its ok to like a politician every once in a while, but that don't mean you trust 'em.

I would say that its not that freedom is so noticeable per se - whats noticeable is the lower level of government intrusion, oppression, regulation and control.

Come on down, the waters nice... :D
 
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