OK, since you guys are generally well travelled and have lived all over this country... what are people's thoughts on San Antonio? I have a company that has contacted me about a job there, and while I have no desire to leave NYC, I feel that I should at least talk to them and see what they have to offer. I have been contacted about jobs in smaller locales, and turned them down upfront.

I realize it's not going to come close to NYC, but few places will. So I'm just looking for some general feedback and impressions on what the city has to offer (or doesn't have). About all I've heard is that people love to visit on vacation (but live?), and that it's very conservative. Thoughts anyone?

BTW, I lived in DC for 3 years and really enjoyed it, so I don't have to live in a huge city to necessarily be happy. But DC I think is distorted in terms of culture, gay scene, attitudes, etc. Some of my favorite cities, where I think I could easily live, are NYC, DC, Chicago, London and San Francisco. Perhaps Boston or San Diego. Not a big LA fan, mainly because everything is 45 minutes away by car, and no one walks anywhere. Not a fan of urban sprawl, I tend to like real cities with real downtowns and neighborhoods.

During the period right before I moved to Austin, I visited San Antonio and thought it was all over-hyped right down to the itty-bitty Alamo (I expected something much bigger), thought the River Walk was interesting. Plus, I thought San Antonio was not a very clean city...and a lot of the people really don't care how they look. It was recently named the fattest city in Texas. And, if you hate humidity, you will hate San Antonio...last year, one of the deodorant manufacturers also named it the sweatiest city in the country!

[ January 29, 2004, 06:53 AM: Message edited by: bobby78751 ]

Penn State -
Check this out

If cost of living is important to you, you'll live like a king in SA compared to NYC.

Cost of living in SA is less than half of NYC and Texas has no state income tax.

The median home cost in SA is $70,290.

Having said that they are two totally different worlds!

I visited San Antonio last May to see a college classmate. Lots of closet types because of the Air Force base and Catholic college. The river walk is fun...but how often can you do that. You will have to drive everywhere too. On a positive note, everyone we met was nice. Lots of young Airmen, if that is your thing. wink

cid90 is right on target. The river walk can charm only so long ... more importantly SA is the most un-gay place I think I've ever been. And by that I mean, there's just no hint of diversity there -- homogenous to a seismic fault (of course there are people of color there, but even they seem to have succumbed to the conservative military ethos -- and mind you I love a man in uniform, but cheez, I also want to see him willing to shed it on occasion). Boring is about the only thing I can add -- esp if you love NY (which I do): SA is almost the anti- NY. Put it this way: I never even once saw in public a single (much less coupled) man who rang my gaydar. The idea that men might look at each other with interest, caring or even longing seems utterly anathema there. Hmmm ... I think on the whole I'd raher be in Philadelphia.

AH HEMMM ... Move aside Gentlemen....

Penn, if you like a first hand account about the city from someone who has a bit of history with the city... hit me up with an e-mail...

I was born, raised and lived here all my life.
I even attended and graduated from one of those Catholic Universities mentioned... (YIKES!!!)

As you seen, there as many opinions and impressions of SA as are people who've been here. Is any one more true than another....it's all relative I suspose. I love the city, it's slow pace, it's history, my history. My view of the city and this land is bias having family ties to the land in this area since before most even thought about coming across the pond.

Hit me up buddy, Mi casa es su casa

[ January 31, 2004, 05:01 PM: Message edited by: satxbuddy1 ]

We'll expect you in May for Outsports Convention II. wink

Well, my experience in SA was nothing like jockpop's. We flew down there on the spur of the moment one time when Southwest Airlines was having an outrageously low friends-fly-free special. It was fun for a long weekend, but... the heat, the humidity! eek!

We stayed in the historic Menger Hotel right next to the Alamo, and it seemed to be a very gay friendly area, especially at night. There were lots of other gay guys staying in the hotel who helped us find our way around to the bars. If I remember correctly, there was one big bar within walking distance, but we had to take a cab to the others. They guys in the bars were very friendly and talkative with us out-of-towners. When we did the Riverwalk, we got quite happy on margaritas from one end to the other and back, and got that "knowing" look from other groups of guys when we did the river tour on the little boats. We took a bus out to Sea World for an obscenely low fair of 75 cents or something like that (this was 9 years ago). I understand that when you get out to the 'burbs it is quite sprawling, with a something-to-be-desired highway system (or lack thereof). I think I would want to do the downtown loft thing if I lived there.

The have no state taxes..but they will hit you hard on local taxes, and various state taxes ( such as tire disposal)

I lived there for 7 years, and am now living like a king in Ohio ( ok...stop laughing) and making a lot more money doing the same job.

And then there's the heat. How long can summers last? At least its not as bad their as it is in Houston.

It can go a long time without a drop of rain, but when it does rain, it can flood. I got flooded out twice in 2 years

Tell me about it. My brother bought a 3000 square foot house there--5 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, a balcony off the HUGE Master BR, and an attached 2-car garage. He paid $191,500 for it.

He moved there from Plainfield, IL. a SW suburb of Chicago, where he had a 1400 square foot house w/ 3 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths. He sold that for $191,000 after buying it for $171,000 three years earlier.

After losing my job in December 2002, I came home to SA for free housing (an old family home was sitting vacant) while I go back to school.

Like sattxbuddy says, it's very slow paced. I think a New Yorker would go crazy here. There's not much to do. It's arguably the most Hispanic city in the country, so it's very Catholic and conservative. (It is definitely as much a Mexican city as it is an American (U.S.) one.) The border is very close and trade is important. Also, many Mexican families come up to shop here on weekends.

Illiteracy and obesity rates are high, and there aren't many good jobs. Everything is geared towards tourism. If you are a homebody, who doesn't like to go out to clubs, theatre, restaurants, etc you'll be fine here. But if not, I suspect you'd be traveling to Houston and Austin quite a bit on the weekends.

Money magazine did name it the cheapest place to live in the U.S for singles, but it also declared it a "cultural wasteland." For gay men, I think it's worse unless you're into drag. It's definitely the drag capitol of Texas.

I'm not slamming it. It has its charms. People are proud of the city and its heritage. It has well preserved historical neighbourhoods, and the architecture downtown is interesting. But, think twice before headin' down. I've only just adjusted, and I only came down the road from Austin. SFO before that, so my politics are all wrong. They loves the Shrub down here.

varig3, you have mentioned several of the negative things I have heard/read about the city.

satxbuddy1, if I progress to interviewing in person, I'll email you for your perspective.

I did a phone interview the other day, we'll see where it goes from there.

If you move to TX, the zero state income tax is nice. However, the sales tax is 8.25% so it makes up for it (which is about like NYC's tax if I remember from yrs back).

Car insurance is also extremely expensive and you WILL need a car in TX anywhere you live. Public transit is not great anywhere.

I havent heard many bad things about San Antonio though. But nothing good either. If you move to Texas, I would pick Dallas or Austin.

San Antonio is a nice city that is growing rapidly. San Antonio will probably pass Dallas as the 2nd largest city in Texas when they release the 2003 census numbers.

The other advantage to San Antonio is that you are only 150 miles or so to the beach if you are into that. Austin is also only 90 miles north if you want to visit another larger city. The Texas Hill Country is also beautiful.

San Antonio has some good resturants and if you like Mexican food, no place like it.

I love the Big D but, I would not want to live there, way too much attitude.

I've lived in Houston, a great place to visit, but I would not want to live there again.

Austin is a great city, I've had fun everytime I've been there, but way too trendy for my taste.

SA isn't perfect. No doubt, there are cities that are faster paced, richer, more sophisticated in some areas, but no place is as unique as SA.

What alot of people don't realize is that because of SA's unique place, geographically, the city has, does and always will be a hub of difference.
The city is the first "Big City" north of the Mexcian border so there is a strong Mexican presence but with a strong Texas twist mixed with Americanism. So many who visit the city from other parts of the nation and who are, should I say, disappointed with the city, it's dynamics and it's people aren't prepared to experience another culture being so prodominatly present in the society over the American culture. When you hear that the people are short, heavy set or fat, ugly, not attractive, don't care what they look like, poor, slow, uncultured, etc... are those who hold the dominate American culuture and it's "values" as being the "way to be."

I guess I'll throw my 2 cents in here. I've lived in Sherman, Garland and Ft. Hood (Killeen) for about a year to a year and a half each. I've made my way to Austin and San Antonio a few times too. Now I live in South Florida and I seriously miss the Texas / Oklahoma area. If you are a gay man, and you are into the butch, cowboy, midwestern kind of guy you need to be in Texas. The further you move out of Texas the less likely you are to find that kind of man. I'd have to say the Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky area runs a close second. I'm not just talking about the gay men either. People REALLY are friendlier in Texas. You are a lot more likely to know your neighbor and courtesy is the rule. I know I'm going to get some different opinions on this one, but when is the last time you met a rude cowboy?

When I moved to South Florida I could really see the contrast. No Mexican food, no country bars, neighbors that speak 8 different languages (and none of them English). I guess you just don't know what you got until its gone.