well, i’ve been here in austin over a month and i’m loving it so far. i want to share my top reasons with you as of now being one month in. it’s been a serious whirlwind, but i’ve learned a lot in a short amount of time…
everyone is SO nice
southern hospitality is real y’all. my cousin has a theory that southern hospitality rubs off on the people who move here too, it’s a major thing. people are so kind and polite. even when i’m walking to the gym at 5:30 in the morning, almost every single person i walk by tells me good morning. people hold the door (men and women), please and thank you’s are said much more frequently, and small talk about how your day is going is common with anyone (even in an elevator). i’ve realized that the bay area used to be that way when i was growing up, but it’s gotten to be less and less of that, and i love that about austin.
things are more affordable
before i took the job here, i did my research. cost of living is significantly cheaper here. food is cheaper, gas is cheaper, movie tickets are cheaper, housing is cheaper and cockatails are cheaper YAHOO! also, there isn’t state tax here, so your paychecks are a little nicer!
active lifestyle
one thing i love about the bay area is how outdoorsy and active people are, well austin is the same! people are out and about all the time. i live right near lady bird lake & there are always huge crowds of people running, biking, walking, rowing, paddle boarding and kayaking along. there are tons of free workout classes around town & the classes that cost money are more affordable than the ones i’m used to taking.
live music and going out
did you know austin is the live music capital of the world? any major street you walk along, you will likely hear blaring music throughout. it’s so fun to go in to bars that have music and tons of games that people really get in to. in the last month i’m shocked by how many people i’ve exchanged numbers with while playing corn hole or life size jenga.
food and restaurants
there are new restaurants popping up everyday here that are next level, but there are so many austin staples that are world renowned. the bbq here is crazy good and the mexican is too! the best part, like i mentioned earlier, it’s just more affordable!
pools and sunshine
i didn’t realize how much i missed having a pool (when i lived in SoCal for college) & how nice it is to have some sunshine. sf will always be home to me, but it’s been so so nice to soak up the sunshine. i know the summer will get crazy hot, but i’m enjoying the heat over the rain so far.
there are a ton more things i’m loving about austin. i get to walk to work and our office is super tight knit, which is so fun! i also love spending quality time with my cousin and bestie who live here, and i truly love meeting so many new people. it’s been a serious blast and i can’t wait to see what experiences the coming months will bring.
