[quote=richardcain]We actually have quite a few people move here from Dallas and Houston because a large part of our land is not flat. Many enjoy our rolling hills and what’s called the “Texas Hill Country.” The landscape of Austin changes greatly just by going 5 miles west of downtown.
I’ve lived in Austin since 1993, and I have yet to see some of these creatures you mention. I think I may have seen a snake once (small garden snake). I’ve never seen a giant grasshopper. I don’t even know what a chigger is and the only tall grass I have seen is out by the ranches and farms that are miles from town. I have also not experienced noise from crickets at night.
I’m not sure where in Austin you were when you expeienced all of these things, but please share so that I know to keep away…sounds horrible!
I bet some of the views in San Diego are gorgeous! We have some spectacular hill country and lake views…but I’m sure nothing could compare to ocean/bay views. I would love to go sometime![/quote]
richardcain, yes, I have driven thru the hill country and throughout the entire state. I have seen the little armored critters in Paris and also Wichita Falls, Waco, outside of Midland, Amarillo, Dalhart, outside of McAllen and in the Ft. Bliss Army base (outside of El Paso, TX), as well as all throughout OK.
I have seen the tall grasses all along US-37 between San Antonio and Corpus Christi and between Houston and Austin. But this was many years ago and these areas may be developed now. At that time, Corpus Christi was home to large cotton gin(s) along US-77. The sound of the crickets were/are deafening at night both in the tall grasses of TX and the SE section of OK (also hill country) :=]
You folks in TX are very fortunate in that most of your citizens are not crowded together, as we are in CA (fighting for parking spaces, etc), esp as in the coastal urban centers here. You have a LOT of space in TX and an abundance of flat land, brick and tile plants and pretty lakes. You have much to be thankful for, richardcain. Even though you don’t have Pacific ocean views, you have a very high quality of life (MUCH less crowded) and very well-built beautiful brick homes, IMO, for the money it costs to live there (high property taxes and cost of A/C be damned).
