surfndirt Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Hi All, Having been a bit active on here for a while (and made reference to my intended 2x year stint in Texas) I thought I'd give people a bit of a view regards life on the ground there as I have just come back from another 3x week reccie and, well, this kind of info interests me so may interest someone else! Cost of living; Geez, what can I say - been in Aussie 7 years..... It's like being let loose in the real world again!!!! You can rock into a bar and actually have a drink and a feed for less than $10 bucks, remember that old concept of happy hour? wwwohhhoooo Some examples Average pint - $5 bucks (that's a pint, not a F*cking pot, or a f*cking schooner or any other shi*e) Happy hour - $1 a pint for domestic 3x bed 2x bath with land and near public transit in Denton / Plano, TX - $180,000 ($800 bucks a month mrtg) 2006 Chevy pickup (for my motorbikes) - $7000 (you can get 4cyl ones now, better mileage) Petrol - $3.80 a gallon (gone up alot since last time I was there, still OK though) Car Insurance (at above location) - $350 a year Meal in a middle of the road place - $15 a main (max), $4 a drink Meal in a tex mex joint - $8 a burritto, $3.50 a beer Jobs Yep, lots and lots of em. Same salary as mine in Aussie. 4x weeks holiday for all the people I talked too. Literally 50% better off. Same take home as Aussie in Texas, anyway.... (including the dreaded medical insurance) Lifestyle Road rage? A little but NOWHERE near Sydney / Melbourne and there's a good reason, have a look at the recent extension of the 'castle law' in TX - yep, most people have shooters in the glovebox. Kinda makes people think twice about being an idiot on the road from what I saw. People Fantastic - simple as that. Believe me or not but I have never chatted to as many nice people - esp if you go armed with an understanding of the country, it's history and the constitution. Make reference to that as a tourist and you are literally invited to become a citizen by people!!! hahahah Needless to say, I loved the place...... (again) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paisleylass Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I could happily live in Texas, it's a very friendly state although somewhat right wing politically for my liking. How did you land a visa? Would love to live in the US but visa conditions can be so restrictive, eg. partner of main applicant can not work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I take it you have your visa sorted for there or are a citizen. Sounds good, we almost booked a holiday to go there last november but ended up not doing it, hopefully some year. Does look a good place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northshorepom Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 I like it too. Wife would never wear living in the States though, worse luck. She's been there enough times with me (I lived in NH for a while and worked for a US Corp for 12 yrs which involved a lot of trips there that she came on) to know that.... North end of TX I like a lot. I hate Houston with a passion though, just a horrible humid swampbox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harpodom Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Hi All, Having been a bit active on here for a while (and made reference to my intended 2x year stint in Texas) I thought I'd give people a bit of a view regards life on the ground there as I have just come back from another 3x week reccie and, well, this kind of info interests me so may interest someone else! Cost of living; Geez, what can I say - been in Aussie 7 years..... It's like being let loose in the real world again!!!! You can rock into a bar and actually have a drink and a feed for less than $10 bucks, remember that old concept of happy hour? wwwohhhoooo Some examples Average pint - $5 bucks (that's a pint, not a F*cking pot, or a f*cking schooner or any other shi*e) Happy hour - $1 a pint for domestic 3x bed 2x bath with land and near public transit in Denton / Plano, TX - $180,000 ($800 bucks a month mrtg) 2006 Chevy pickup (for my motorbikes) - $7000 (you can get 4cyl ones now, better mileage) Petrol - $3.80 a gallon (gone up alot since last time I was there, still OK though) Car Insurance (at above location) - $350 a year Meal in a middle of the road place - $15 a main (max), $4 a drink Meal in a tex mex joint - $8 a burritto, $3.50 a beer Jobs Yep, lots and lots of em. Same salary as mine in Aussie. 4x weeks holiday for all the people I talked too. Literally 50% better off. Same take home as Aussie in Texas, anyway.... (including the dreaded medical insurance) Lifestyle Road rage? A little but NOWHERE near Sydney / Melbourne and there's a good reason, have a look at the recent extension of the 'castle law' in TX - yep, most people have shooters in the glovebox. Kinda makes people think twice about being an idiot on the road from what I saw. People Fantastic - simple as that. Believe me or not but I have never chatted to as many nice people - esp if you go armed with an understanding of the country, it's history and the constitution. Make reference to that as a tourist and you are literally invited to become a citizen by people!!! hahahah Needless to say, I loved the place...... (again) Freudian slip? It sounds great, but I'd worry about it being full of Texans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 I could happily live in Texas, it's a very friendly state although somewhat right wing politically for my liking. How did you land a visa? Would love to live in the US but visa conditions can be so restrictive, eg. partner of main applicant can not work. Right wing the better for me - never made any bones about that.... Small government, tight immigration, personal rights (inc 2nd amendment) and a general distrust of the government = my mindset, always has been.... I'm gonna be going lone-ranger so no issues with partner visas (I haven't finished my adventures yet, plenty of time for wife's and rug rats when I'm old and tired and raced out!)..... Visa can be done - just like anything. I actually got inspired by a mate of mine (same age, same outlook as above) who just packed in his 70,000 quid a year job, sold the Audi, rented out the Didsbury flat and turned up in Sydney 5 months ago. Now has a cracking job, on a 457 and having a new life adventure... Awesome. Kinda some as me 7 years ago although I had a job to come too - he didn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Not for me, we have family there and to be avoided :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 Freudian slip? It sounds great, but I'd worry about it being full of Texans Depends - if you believe the government has a mandate to look after people, dictate socialist laws and generally manage you then yep - you'd hate it being full of Texans and probably wouldn't have a great in common with em I reckon.... The only people I came across who didn't get along with it seemed to be the immigrants from India et al. All the mexican's, for example, were 100% with the program! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 I take it you have your visa sorted for there or are a citizen. Sounds good, we almost booked a holiday to go there last november but ended up not doing it, hopefully some year. Does look a good place Again, Visa can be done - esp from Australia..... Not really an issue for me TBH so that's a real benefit and very lucky (make your own luck though ay :-)) Yeah, you should go hey - seems there is a heap of negative propaganda about the place in general IMO. As stated in other responses - there is a def political bent so I guess raving leftists prob won't like the place (although having said that, Austin is very liberal indeed).... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MicheleW Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 You are very fortunate with your leave, I have family over there and the most they get is 3 weeks a year, and that is after 5 years with the same company. Personally I would live in the US if I could, but unless they change their stance on same-sex partner immigration and sort out the health care costs, we will be staying in Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 . Small government, tight immigration,.... Tight immigration....with 11 million illegal immigrants? :huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I would love to work in Texas, its always rung truewith me about the place and I like the people. Canada also. I love the fact the old boys still wear the cowboy boots if you work in Oil. Surfndirt you have it made with a big truc and bikes, that is all you need Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 Tight immigration....with 11 million illegal immigrants? :huh: Ha!! Yep, very good point... Can't have everything I guess..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 I would love to work in Texas, its always rung truewith me about the place and I like the people. Canada also. I love the fact the old boys still wear the cowboy boots if you work in Oil. Surfndirt you have it made with a big truc and bikes, that is all you need Let's hope so hey.... Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfndirt Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 You are very fortunate with your leave, I have family over there and the most they get is 3 weeks a year, and that is after 5 years with the same company. Personally I would live in the US if I could, but unless they change their stance on same-sex partner immigration and sort out the health care costs, we will be staying in Australia. That's a bugger on both counts - your families leave situ and the whole same sex thingy hey.... I didn't know they wouldn't allow that for work type visas - that's a real sh*tter hey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Again, Visa can be done - esp from Australia..... Not really an issue for me TBH so that's a real benefit and very lucky (make your own luck though ay :-)) Yeah, you should go hey - seems there is a heap of negative propaganda about the place in general IMO. As stated in other responses - there is a def political bent so I guess raving leftists prob won't like the place (although having said that, Austin is very liberal indeed).... I always thought it was extremely hard to get into america although i read somewhere that certain healthcare professionals can go so if i graduate from uni i might join you lol. Well if you've got a visa sorted then it sounds a really good adventure, go for it! When you heading over? Yeah it seems theres much more to it than the usual stereotypes - when dave wanted to book for the F1 i didnt realise it had half the stuff that it did! The thing i dont like about america is all the guns - just dont see why everybody needs a gun! Bit scary IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I must admit American isnt a country I would entertain living in, hate the gun culture, the over the top flag waving and the huge social division but if it suits you then go for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest51810 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I must admit American isnt a country I would entertain living in, hate the gun culture, the over the top flag waving and the huge social division but if it suits you then go for it. I would hate the gun culture too but could maybe see myself trying america for a year or two. Doubt id ever get a visa though. I remember walking into wallmart and them selling guns there - i dont like that at all! Positive - such cheap shopping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Sounds wonderful for you and that it would suit you down to the ground. I am married to an American so could live there but I'm a bleeding heart liberal with an aversion to guns and I just couldn't live in that culture full-time. Beautiful country though and would absolutely love to do a year road trip around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chris955 Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 I remember when they used to sell guns in KMart in Geelong, I was married so it was in recent memory. It is bizarre seeing guns alongside the Lego. I would hate the gun culture too but could maybe see myself trying america for a year or two. Doubt id ever get a visa though. I remember walking into wallmart and them selling guns there - i dont like that at all! Positive - such cheap shopping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 Just showing how different things are, I couldn't stand Texas the times I've visited there--I found the people to be over the top rednecks. Since you spend time mentioning how cheap food and beverages are there, you should bear in mind that one of the reasons for this is that service staff only get about half the US minimum wage (which is less than half the Aus version) and are expected to get tips for any additional pay. Much as I like cheap beer, I'm less than happy knowing my waitress is earning about $2 an hour. And, as others have said, you're very luck on the holidays. The norm in the USA is 2 weeks per year, sometimes growing to 3 weeks after 10 years or so. Four weeks is virtually unheard of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol2Oz Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 lol, I made the opposite mistake. (I am american), and when I went to the Gold Coast to validate my visa, I sat down at some restaurant and ordered the regular foods that I order at home (including my favorite all time beer). Well, when the invoice came, I nearly fell out of my chair - I thought there must be some mistake, could I be paying for someone else's tab?? I just could not believe the price - especially for the beer. I only pay $1.50 for the stupid bottle here at home, but in Oz the damn thing was more than 5 times the cost. Oh man, I almost crapped my pants. Anyway, about the gun culture, it's not so bad once you're educated in handling them - most people use them as a tool. The problem is with too many people on mind altering medications - usually anti-depressants. As for a 4 week vacation - nope never heard of that - the only people who get four weeks of vacation are those who work in schools including universities or private business owners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maruska Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I must admit American isnt a country I would entertain living in, hate the gun culture, the over the top flag waving and the huge social division but if it suits you then go for it. Brace yourselves, the Memorial day is coming !!!!! Thinking of signing up to work. Last year we tried to go to the zoo and a trip that usually takes 10 min. took us 1 hour, we didn`t even try to go inside the zoo when we saw the crowds. This place is seriously overpopulated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichway1 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 I always think I must have lived in texas in a past life cos I would love to give it a go. I said this to my husband and he said I wouldn't like the BIG meat culture and that kind of put me off. But in some ways I find it really attractive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sol2Oz Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 There's nothing wrong with flag waving - people should always feel proud of who they are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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