Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

Hi,

I have been offered A Job in Dallas which I am seriously considering in accepting. I have read much about Dallas and Texas, some things I like others not, either way I'm still a bit torn :confused:. I thought therefore it might be a good idea for anybody who has lived there to list their top 5 Likes and Dislikes. This will really help me make my decision so thanks in advance.

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

Have you visited the States before (holidays to Florida do not count)?

Texas is known as the lone start state and those living there will explain why.

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

Why is it a good idea?????

What makes you think that your likes and dislikes are the same as someone else's?

Sounds like one of the dumbest reasons I can see for moving to another area, let alone a country.

Come for a three/four week visit and make your decision based on your preferences.

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

I lived in the DFW area for 3 years and loved it and really miss the place and the people. A lot of people have bad things to say about Texas but i loved my time there and the people are genuinely friendly. There are downsides too, weather is hot with no real seasons etc etc. As has already been said though you need to make your own mind - I love it others hate it!

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

I've just recently left Dallas, and lived there for four and a half years. I can tell you my likes and dislikes but of course, they are just based on my experiences, and will likely differ to everyone else as we all look at things differently, so, with that in mind here are mine :D

Likes:

1. Weather : Yes, it gets incredibly hot, but in the spring, there are the most amazing storms, I am glad I lived there just to witness some of the crazy weather, lightning that would go on for hours, giant hail that actually destroyed the roof and the left the satellite dish looking like the surface of the moon. It always felt pretty amazing to come out of the cinema at ten or eleven or night and it still be baking hot.

The weather reports are amazing, when a big storm was heading in, they could tell me when the storm would hit my area and I was prepared, I could look up the weather maps before I set out for the kids, and know if I would get caught in a storm or not which is fairly important in Dallas :D

If you're lucky enough to own a pool, or join a gym with one etc it is really easy to imagine yourself on holiday at the weekend because it's the weather you generally only get when you are leaving the UK for a break :D

2. Huge sky and sunsets: Just the most gorgeous sunsets I have ever seen in my life, regularly, and sometimes there are the most amazing cloud patterns, it's really beautiful.

3. Food: Seriously, having moved away from the area I am realising how much good food that was on offer in Dallas and the surrounding areas. There are so many restaurants, and their standards are pretty high, even the fast food is amazing and it's cheap, cheap, cheap.

4. Shopping: There are so many malls, indoor, outdoor, strip malls, you name it, and again, lots of stuff is cheap, cheap, cheap.

5. Big Houses: For very little money, it is amazing what you can get for your money, particularly if you are bringing cash from a house sale in the UK.

Dislikes:

1. Rednecks, politics and religion: I often found myself saying, I love Texas, it's the people I can't stand. I actually made some really great friends, but, they had mainly either come from somewhere else, or they had lived all over and had experience of life outside of Texas. I met more ignorant, selfish, and sometimes downright nasty people than I've ever met in my whole life up to this point. You have to learn to bite your lip, if you have a different opinion, in my experience at least, it will almost always come down to the fact you are British and not Texan. You can't just have a different opinion because you've considered something, or thought it over, it's because you are anti-American, anti- Texan, whatever, depending on what you are talking about.

If you are the type who has strong viewpoints politically, that are not republican, and you work in an environment which is largely made up of Texas natives, it will do your head in :D If you are not religious, and prefer not to hear about religion a lot, Dallas is not for you. There are churches everywhere and a lot of your social invites will be to church events, socials etc.

2. The Weather: There are not really any seasons, one day the leaves are green on the trees, the next day everything is brown and the leaves are gone. It gets so hot in the summer, the kids can't be outside for long or they will scorch, even with protection, and the outdoor toys will burn them. It doesn't cool down at night, and depending on the area you live in, you won't get a lot of use for your patio set in the evenings because the mosquito's will be chewing off your limbs :D

3. Air Conditioning bills: Prepare yourself, and if you do come to Dallas, particularly if you have a partner who will not be working, make sure you are getting paid well, because while most things are cheap, A/C bills are most certainly not. Texas is known for paying a lot for utilities - I'd have to google the actual figures but it's regularly on the news that Texans are paying a lot more than people in other states, and I don't know why. In peak summer time, I was paying $600 per month for electricity and water. The lowest electricity/water bills we got were in the winter, and they were still $200 per month, and of course the gas would increase to around $170 or so, I can look up specifics for the last year if needs be.

4. Cheap fast food: It's bloody amazing, but it's so hot in the summer that you get more and more tempted not to cook, especially as the fast food is so cheap and so quick and so tasty. You will see people around with the weirdest shaped bottoms and wonder how they got that way. After a few years you will realise it's from fast food, and not having to really get out of your car, the bank is drive through, the fast food drive through, the pharmacy drive through, even the rubbish bins at the side of the road are angled so you don't have to get out of the car and it's too bloody hot to walk anywhere :D

5. Big Cheap Houses: They build em very quickly, and around the ten year mark they really start to fall apart, because of the type of soil, the earth moves a lot, and the foundation slabs crack. Lots of people find themselves unable to sell their houses, as who wants a ten year old house with a repaired foundation when they can buy a brand new house. The builders throw in all kinds of new appliances, granite counter tops etc to entice new buyers and it's hard for the homeowner to compete.

There is an awful lot to love in Dallas, certainly in terms of what you can get for your money, bigger houses, cheaper cars, it's great. Some areas have fantastic internet connections now with Verizon FIOS (fibre optic) and the cities are great at keeping areas looking immaculate, everything looks clean and with the sun almost always shining, it looks shiny and new.

On the other hand, shiny and new often feels like Stepford, there are as many negatives for your positives but it's all about what you like.

I did enjoy living there, but I knew early on I wouldn't be able to stick it there long term, I felt my quality of life was good in terms of material things, but the quality of life for my brain was not so good as I'm not religious and couldn't cope with people trying to force it upon me. I hated that the nasty people I would meet would very often be wearing a "what would Jesus do" wristband.

It was that stuff that wore me down.

I was volunteering at a cat rescue though, and found that the regard for animals amongst the redneck types was low, so I think I came across more ignorant and nasty people because of that. This was my experience, yours will be almost certainly different and we all value different things so your decision has to be made on what is important to you.

I did live right on the edge of Garland, I have heard quite a few times that it's far better in places like Plano, even Rowlett, places with less rednecks. I liked where we lived, it was a lovely neighbourhood but I can't help thinking if I'd moved to somewhere with more foreigners I'd have liked Dallas a whole lot more.

I found the friendliness that Big D talks of was very often superficial, (not all the time of course) and not really genuine at all, and a lot of the women I met would smile very sweetly at you, when they were actually hard faced cows :D

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

How can getting other peoples opinion be a dumb request !!!! Have you never taken other peoples opinion to help you make an informed decision?

I have been all over the US over the last 10 years or so, admittedly not for longer than four weeks and very little in the south. I am also married to an American (born on the N. east coast) but she has no real experience of the south. I was therefore asking for some expat views of Dallas to help me in my decision making. Isn't one of the reasons this site exists, to share opinions, views and generally help other people - be that current Expats or soon to be expats !!!

snorkmaiden - thanks for the detailed reply this is just what I was looking for, if you could PM me what you estimate utilities to be that would be really useful, thanks :)

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

I think Leslie66 lives around there.

Now wether that's a pro or a con... I dunno.:lol:

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

I understand where you are coming from and karma sent....:)

have you considered houston??? it's oh so luverley :sneaky::p

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

Funny you should mention that because the company has two locations, Dallas and Houston. Although I will be based in Dallas my medium term aim would be to get involved in the Houston site as well.

I take it by that comment Houston is a nicer place to live ?

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

i was taking the mickey with you.....i'd stick to the dallas area if i were you ;)

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

:o:o:o Suitably Embarrassed - lol

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

I think you likely to get better insights from people who know the place rather than making up your mind after a short visit. Countless times on this forum people have been laughed at for visiting the US for a short trip and then deciding they want to live here. Sounds, to me, as though you are doing your research. Well done!

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

Will do, but it will have to be tonight as I'm just off out to pick up my Mum from the airport and she's bringing chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate, I expect to be in a sugar coma for the rest of the day.

However, mid evening (so it will be tomorrow for you) I can put together something detailing utilities, I can even chuck in some TV/Internet/Phone costs as well if you like.

As far as Texas is concerned, I have heard that Austin is the better city, I've heard it described as a liberal oasis in a republican sea - it's also prettier, or I thought so at least, but I think they get more humidity and mosquitoes, and there is an awful lot to be said for avoiding that ;)

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

Thanks - much appreciated

Re: Dallas - Your Top 5 Pro's and Cons
 

:confused: