What do you like about where you live?

[Tex .416]

For those looking at Texas rural areas, do some serious homework on water availability before buying. Texas west of I-35 has always had limited water. That also is true in many areas of the country west of I-35. Droughts are the norm for most of the state, except for the south east around Houston. The Houston area is subject to flooding and hurricanes on a regular basis. So Houston has too much water and the rest of the state has too little.

Now with the massive influx of people, water resources are over committed and face very real serious shortages. The last time I looked, which was last spring, over 500 municipalities were imposing some level of water restrictions and over 30 had complete failure of the municipal water supply.

Urban areas are buying up water from rural areas. So rural areas are facing major drawdowns of aquifers at unsustainable rates in many areas. Also be cautious of groundwater pollution in areas with lots of oil and gas production.

Water availability is a major issue in many areas of the state and the situation is critical in some.

I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, over 60 years, other than some time in England in college. The land can be harsh, but the people here are wonderful, independent, and self-sufficient. The women are beautiful, the food is good, and hunting is great.

However, our culture is being wiped out with the influx of those from other states. The population has tripled in my lifetime.

These folks from California and the Northeast moving here will flip this state blue in the near future.

My happy place is in the Brush Country of South Texas. We went to Tanzania and felt like we had landed in Cotulla, Texas, except with elephants and no Mexican food. The habitat feel is strikingly similar.

Here is the drought monitor map for the US. Clicking on a state will enlarge it. The map is updated every Thursday.

Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor

droughtmonitor.unl.edu

 

[Tanks]

7 bedroom 8 baths. 9000 sq ft. Needs some work. You are completely tone death, or just really don’t give a shit. I suspect I know. I have bit my lip so many times on your posts, but you really are a special POS. Tango your happy ass to Virginia.

Ahem, the cost of that home is less than a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2500 sq. ft home on a postage stamp lot in a decent neighborhood in CA, so it is all relative. Heck, my daughter's 3 bedroom co-op in NYC costs more.

And I was being serious. If you look at the pictures, landscaping and entry road is a bit rundown and carpeted areas need to be redone (hardwood most likely). Pool needs a complete update etc., etc.. And that is without even being there.

I don't know what your beef is. Is it the cost of the place or the size? Cost I explained above, size you might have a point, my girlfriend thinks it is too big as well. I pointed out to her that I have two kids, and four grandkids and would want everyone to be able to visit and vacation there at the same time.

I also don't know why you care one way or the other. We have other members here that live on huge ranches or estates. Is Bernie Sanders in you sneaking out?

 

[Tucketed]

Third move back to Florida after numerous East Coast residences. We always enjoyed our past residences, always finding positives of where we lived. We now live in a small beach town with a great community of friends. It has gotten more expensive but where hasn’t it. It does have hurricanes which suck. We love the weather, even in the summer the breeze off the ocean allows us to sit on back porch during the afternoon and read. Even in summer we are outdoor people. Our state kept things open during COVID allowing us personal freedoms. Our state has beliefs in line with mine. Besides watching out for hurricanes I cannot really find a detractor.

 

[Tanks]

Droughts are the norm for most of the state, except for the south east around Houston. The Houston area is subject to flooding and hurricanes on a regular basis. So Houston has too much water and the rest of the state has too little.

Heck, one of the reasons I moved from the Houston area, lived in Friendswood, was the hurricanes and the floods. I had water come to just a few feet from my front door during hurricane Alicia.

Funny story. I had one employee call me saying he would not make it to work that day due to floods in Clear Lake. He said the water was almost to his door. I said that's not bad. That is when he mentioned he was on the second floor of his apartment building!!!

 

[Tex .416]

Tanks,

your post about looking at Spicewood is what prompted my warning about water availability. You really better do some investigation about water in that area before making a final decision.

Here is a link to one of the main GCD’s for that area. It is in emergency drought conditions with 40% curtailments i.e. 40% reduction of a well’s permitted pumping volume. This may be a factor in why it is priced as it is. They are warning that water wells “are failing at an unprecedented rate.”

Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District – Northern Hays County Groundwater Conservation District information.

haysgroundwater.com

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

For those looking at Texas rural areas, do some serious homework on water availability before buying. Texas west of I-35 has always had limited water. That also is true in many areas of the country west of I-35. Droughts are the norm for most of the state, except for the south east around Houston. The Houston area is subject to flooding and hurricanes on a regular basis. So Houston has too much water and the rest of the state has too little.

Now with the massive influx of people, water resources are over committed and face very real serious shortages. The last time I looked, which was last spring, over 500 municipalities were imposing some level of water restrictions and over 30 had complete failure of the municipal water supply.

Urban areas are buying up water from rural areas. So rural areas are facing major drawdowns of aquifers at unsustainable rates in many areas. Also be cautious of groundwater pollution in areas with lots of oil and gas production.

Water availability is a major issue in many areas of the state and the situation is critical in some.

I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, over 60 years, other than some time in England in college. The land can be harsh, but the people here are wonderful, independent, and self-sufficient. The women are beautiful, the food is good, and hunting is great.

However, our culture is being wiped out with the influx of those from other states. The population has tripled in my lifetime.

These folks from California and the Northeast moving here will flip this state blue in the near future.

My happy place is in the Brush Country of South Texas. We went to Tanzania and felt like we had landed in Cotulla, Texas, except with elephants and no Mexican food. The habitat feel is strikingly similar.

Here is the drought monitor map for the US. Clicking on a state will enlarge it. The map is updated every Thursday.

Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor

droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Damn Californians F’ing up the whole country!

 

[Tanks]

Damn Californians F’ing up the whole country!

Hey now, without Californians you'd still be using a rotary phone and not have much of a technology

 

[Rare Breed]

Damn. That was uncalled for. What was meant as a snarky, sarcastic post came across as just mean spirited. My apologies to @Tanks and to the reader.

Note to self; After a martini(s) and a bottle of cab, set the iPad aside.

LMAO!!! Been there done that only after bourbon a few times on here and I too had to apologize!!! We know you are a great guy and thought you just might have a bit to much to drink before you made that post! Nice job with the apology and knowing Andy he probably just chuckled especially on the tango part

 

[Rare Breed]

Ahem, the cost of that home is less than a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 2500 sq. ft home on a postage stamp lot in a decent neighborhood in CA, so it is all relative. Heck, my daughter's 3 bedroom co-op in NYC costs more.

And I was being serious. If you look at the pictures, landscaping and entry road is a bit rundown and carpeted areas need to be redone (hardwood most likely). Pool needs a complete update etc., etc.. And that is without even being there.

I don't know what your beef is. Is it the cost of the place or the size? Cost I explained above, size you might have a point, my girlfriend thinks it is too big as well. I pointed out to her that I have two kids, and four grandkids and would want everyone to be able to visit and vacation there at the same time.

I also don't know why you care one way or the other. We have other members here that live on huge ranches or estates. Is Bernie Sanders in you sneaking out?

I love it! Think about all the themes you could have…a Tanzania room, Zambia room, etc….seriously. I lived 9 years in Texas and loved it. 16 acres outside of Austin would be awesome and easily fit your requirements

 

[Tanks]

In vino veritas. Post hoc, ergo propter hoc. That being said, no problem. You can't be in boarding schools, fraternities, construction sites etc. without having thick skin.

 

[Tanks]

I love it! Think about all the themes you could have…a Tanzania room, Zambia room, etc….seriously. I lived 9 years in Texas and loved it. 16 acres outside of Austin would be awesome and easily fit your requirements

This place is in VA. 16 acres outside of Austin would be triple the price.

 

[Rare Breed]

This place is in VA. 16 acres outside of Austin would be triple the price.

Bummer…no wonder I thought it was a great deal!

 

[Tanks]

Bummer…no wonder I thought it was a great deal!

Yep. I'd be wiring the funds already if it was.

 

[John A Flaws]

I live in California and love and hate the state for the reasons Nighthawk mentioned. The weather in Southern California is about as close to perfect as you can find. Sunshine most of the year with mild temperatures but for a hand full of days above 90 degrees each year. But as Nighthawk mentioned the politics and cost of living are total crazy. I am already retired, but when my wife retires in a few years I can see us moving to the Reno/Sparks area. Maybe even a bit south like Minden/Gardnerville NV.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

Hey now, without Californians you'd still be using a rotary phone and not have much of a technology

We live in a rural town in Colombia most of the year, Rotary phones are still common and a machete can do everything that all the tools in Home Depot can accomplish.

Safe travels

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

Hey now, without Californians you'd still be using a rotary phone and not have much of a technology

Said Tongue-in-Cheek. I’m born and raised in the Bay Area. Worked in Silicon Valley during the boom. 1995 to 2001 at every chip maker, semiconductor plant, tool maker, lab, and built every kind of R&D facility you can imagine… I was in the valley at Lam Research and Applied Materials for a couple projects in 2021. Resented the commute and the rat race. I guess I’m just getting old…

Just funny that even though I’ve had a NV residence since 2002, I feel like I’m being accused of being part of the problem where ever I go. I generally respond in jest…

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

I live in California and love and hate the state for the reasons Nighthawk mentioned. The weather in Southern California is about as close to perfect as you can find. Sunshine most of the year with mild temperatures but for a hand full of days above 90 degrees each year. But as Nighthawk mentioned the politics and cost of living are total crazy. I am already retired, but when my wife retires in a few years I can see us moving to the Reno/Sparks area. Maybe even a bit south like Minden/Gardnerville NV.

Been in Reno/Sparks for over 20 years now. It’s growing too fast. Was great in 2001 when I started investing in residential and commercial real-estate. The area has lost a lot of it’s small town America charm. It’s likely that I’ll collect my pension and base from there until I find my ranch/farm.

For now, I’ve got another year in Nor-Cal before I can retire. I’m sure I’ll keep a place here too… Fishing is still decent. Lot of family and friends here.

 

[steve white]

For those looking at Texas rural areas, do some serious homework on water availability before buying. Texas west of I-35 has always had limited water. That also is true in many areas of the country west of I-35. Droughts are the norm for most of the state, except for the south east around Houston. The Houston area is subject to flooding and hurricanes on a regular basis. So Houston has too much water and the rest of the state has too little.

Now with the massive influx of people, water resources are over committed and face very real serious shortages. The last time I looked, which was last spring, over 500 municipalities were imposing some level of water restrictions and over 30 had complete failure of the municipal water supply.

Urban areas are buying up water from rural areas. So rural areas are facing major drawdowns of aquifers at unsustainable rates in many areas. Also be cautious of groundwater pollution in areas with lots of oil and gas production.

Water availability is a major issue in many areas of the state and the situation is critical in some.

I’ve lived in Texas my whole life, over 60 years, other than some time in England in college. The land can be harsh, but the people here are wonderful, independent, and self-sufficient. The women are beautiful, the food is good, and hunting is great.

However, our culture is being wiped out with the influx of those from other states. The population has tripled in my lifetime.

These folks from California and the Northeast moving here will flip this state blue in the near future.

My happy place is in the Brush Country of South Texas. We went to Tanzania and felt like we had landed in Cotulla, Texas, except with elephants and no Mexican food. The habitat feel is strikingly similar.

Here is the drought monitor map for the US. Clicking on a state will enlarge it. The map is updated every Thursday.

Current Map | U.S. Drought Monitor

droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Yep! Last year the area around Graham Tx had most of the ponds go dry. The folks almost all had to sell off all cattle in a hurry, begging them at the sales barn to take them since they knew they would get watered there. And yet beef prices are high...sigh.
On a related note, I think we are going to have to get creative with refilling underground aquifers during times of flooding. Aquifers used to be a lot higher--remember all the Pecos melons, grown by sinking wells deeper and deeper until untenable?
I also think more piping of water from wet areas to dry would be helpful.

As far as where I would like to live? I'm a textbook case of living my life within 50 miles of birthplace, and unless my daughter and grand daughter move, I pretty much have one foot nailed to the floor!