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I would make the swim lessons a very high priority...because of the climate, water features in a lot of activities, whether it's swim parties, kayaking, tubing, waterparks, whatever. Not being able to swim would seriously hinder their integration. Plus every year there are reports of kids drowning in their own or their neighbours pools...:( Summer swim league is a great way for them to learn/improve - and very cheap. There was a thread on it somewhere a while ago. I would highly recommend getting in with your local (probably subdivision) team - don't be put off by the "competitive" aspect - they generally take all standards.



Bugs and snakes are around, but its luck of the draw to a large extent. I've only ever seen one snake on my property (been here 12 years) and that was almost dead. I'm sure they are around, but they tend to keep themselves to themselves. Neighbours 100 yds down the road (closer to the bayou) get snakes in the garage weekly during the summer - some nasty ones too!

We do very well with mosquitoes here - hardly bothered at all. We back onto a lake and have a good breeze round the house, and I say its that that keeps them away, but I don't know if there is any science in my belief! The subivision also spray and treat the lakes, which I'm sure helps. They say it is pet/kid/environmentally friendly, but.......:sneaky: The neighbours above have a lot more trees on their property, goo for shade, but it restricts the airflow making it a lot hotter, and they are inundated with mossies.

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Yes, but I was talking about the games industry.

Where the pay is shit and the internships are worse.

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Exploring this country has been a recurring theme in your posts.
Here's a link for some late night surfing - when you want to dream/fullfill your wanderlust before arriving....

TakeMyTrip.com Road Trip Guide: Select a Road Trip

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Swimming has always been a priority but since moving here we have had issues of pools never getting back to me. I am now taking them monthly to a local pool to increase their water confidence on the tiny slides they have. I will be taking advantage of the many facilities for sure and i am sure we will find somewhere to take them on even if it is just the 15 year old and 11 year old at first (no chance for 14 year old). We are also going to take advantage of the cul De sacs and learn to bike ride (coordination a big issue for my children ). These are my first priorities for my kids to be able to integrate easier.

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Atm he doesn't care about pay as he wants to do what he loves but then he is only 14 and a lot to learn about financial independence and financial need.

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This was not to do with travelling this was about the wooded areas the green areas the plains (if they are caled that ). Why can't I dream a little of seeing thevast state and then visit parts of the country. There are planes trains and automobiles. It can't be impossible very few things in life are impossible to all.

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Sorry. :huh:
Misunderstood. :confused:

Disregard my post.

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No problems

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There really aren't that many public swimming pools in the Austin area and most are only open from Memorial Day (last Monday in May) to Labor Day (1st Monday in September) as they rely on high school students as life guards and most of the pools are outside. The indoor pools are mainly run by the YMCA and they do swimming lessons in the summer mainly.

There are plenty of swimming clubs around which train all year around but they tend be to expensive and expect a lot of hours of training. All of my kids were competitive swimmers before they moved to Pflugerville but none of them got on well with the swimming clubs due to the number of heats in the competitions,sometimes there would be 20 heats, then the quarter finals, semi finals and finals. That is a lot of waiting around, especially in the heat. Also getting up at 5.30 in the morning didn't appeal to them much. Only my son managed to keep it up and his coach thought he would be State champion for his age group at one time. The only program he really loved was the summer one where the ages went from 4yrs -18yrs. The older ones taught the younger ones to swim. He loved teaching the little ones to swim. He still loves swimming but only for recreation now.
Like Yorkieaboard, don't really see that many snakes and they are more scared of you, so quickly slither away. Don't seem to get scorpions in Pflugerville but I think where PF lives and certainly down in Circle C they get a lot but apparently the sting is pretty mild. Our biggest issue are wasps/bees. We are on the watch for new nest all the time as they like the eaves of the house. Our neighbour has had the Bee people around several times because for some reason they like their shed. We also get lots of squirrels, opossums and skunks in our garden. There are parts of Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park where deer are a real problem. In Georgetown, they also have issues with wild pigs.
Biking is not that safe around her due to the car traffic (although UT students seem oblivious to this) but there are plenty of parks around. I do not like adult bikers in parks as they ride too fast but that my beef. One day a child is going to be seriously injured in our local park.
Local libraries are also a good source for young kids for activities and unlike most activities around here, are free.

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What about fire ants and rasperry ants? Having not lived in Texas I am fearful of suggesting they might be a problem lest I am set upon by the KVF (Katy Vigilante Force). :eek:

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Cheers for the info on the swimming. Camps would be good. I would only be teaching the kids on bikes. I would be very cautious

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I had to google raspberry ant - it seems they are the same as the crazy ants that everyone was talking about last year, apparently invading us from the East, but not really heard anything since. Apparently it's a variant on the black crazy ant, originally thought to be of African or Oriental origin and is now is found throughout the SE USA from Texas to South Carolina as well as California.

We do hear a lot about fireants, although it seems to be a handle hung on anything that looks like an ant. We o get a lot of ants from time to time, mainly in the untreated areas of parks, especially after rain, but very few are actually fire ants. I use an "over an out" type product annually and it sorts them out for the whole season.

Oh, is poor Mr P upset because he's not being given free reign to talk his usual bollox about Texas........:rolleyes::rolleyes:

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I have free rein, I was showing a little self restraint. :o

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Come on you two...kiss and make up. :kiss: You know you want to. :sneaky:

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So far this year the Crazy Ants have not appeared. Maybe they got washed away by all the rainfall this year. Actually I would rather have fire ants as they don't seem to come so close to the house.


We were thinking of retiring to NC. Can you tell me where to avoid, I really would like to be close to a big City. Something like Houston would be preferable :nod: