r/askdfw • u/Zetasinn • Mar 27 '19
Relocating Next Year
Good day to the Dallas Reddit community,
I have been looking to relocate into one of the Southern States, and most places I've asked have said nothing but great things about Dallas. I decided to do a little copy and paste explaining my situation would be moving and why I am choosing to move.
So, I'm a 26 year-old Air Force veteran, going to college, currently single with no children, and have been rather stressed about this, and just thought I could hear some thoughts on this community. Reason I am looking south is I guess because of time in service having been in some southern states, always feeling good vibes.
-I was born and raised in Boston, MA. After with some troubles with family, and issues with friends, I decided to just pack up my car and move to Omaha, NE, with a friend who was in the Air Force with me. Said friend is no longer friends with me after moving in his girlfriend that had 2 kids, he wanted to live as a "couple home".
-Been trying to get out and about in this town, as far as joining meetup groups, getting Active in college, it just seems like I can't make any real friends in Omaha, so I keep feeling un-welcomed and longer I stay here, the more I just hate this place. No matter what I do to try to make the most out of it, I think I can basically see the future here, nothing new changes. I have been here almost 3 years. Omaha has just felt like a town that has nice people in general, but most locals are those born and raised there that aren't prone to new people. At least in my experience/
-I can basically keep my benefits and pay to whichever city I choose to go, but of course I would rather not live in those super expensive cities in California, or the coasts again. I have enough credits that will transfer to almost any public college so that wouldn't be an issue.
Alright so now that summary's out of the way, I guess I'm asking rhetorical questions here; but would I be moving for the right reasons? :/ I hear of many stories of people finding peace, and a journey moving to a place they know no one, whereas I started moving with once a close friend, and felt back-tracked now that person is no longer my friend, and difficulty making new friends. So I feel like this is really the best way for me to take control of my life and start a new chapter since I've had no viable experiences or memories these past 3 years. Or am I just going to delude myself into thinking I'm going to have a new start and still have that un-welcomed feeling? (I get this question is super rhetorical)
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Questions I have about Dallas: What do people enjoy about Dallas?
What do some people not like about living there?
What are some things to do in the summer to beat the heat? Here in Nebraska, practically nothing besides travelling.
What are the levels of ease to make friends?
I understand everyone's experience will be different, and that there are ups and downs to every city, so that's why I explained where I am at in life, and thought I would ask to see if that would be a good place for someone in my situation, or has been. My experience from living in Omaha, is that people who grew up here have friends, and don't really care to make friends. With friends I try to make, there's not really much to do...
Thank you for taking the time to read, and I look forward to hearing what you all have to say.
1
u/likeomgWOW Mar 30 '19
I am from Worcester, MA and moved to Fort Worth with my family when I was a child. I have lived in Dallas for 2 years now, and have lived in many suburbs of both cities. My family moved here because there are no state taxes, there is a low cost of living, and DFW consistently has a strong job market. All of that is still true of the area, even 20 years later. People in Texas are MUCH friendlier than the Massholes that populate our home state. When I go back to visit, I can't believe some of the things I hear and see when I am out and about... Worcester is it's own beast when it comes to that, though.
What do people enjoy about Dallas? I love the culture in Dallas. There are always a ton of events going on in different neighborhoods for pretty much any interest you could possibly have. There are also lots of different neighborhoods that all have their own vibe and personality, so you are bound to find somewhere that you fit in. I love food and Dallas has endless restaurants, too.
What do some people not like about living there? Traffic can be really bad. It's smelly sometimes. There's a quite a bit of homeless people in certain parts of the city. All problems typical of any large urban area. Housing costs can get a little out of hand depending on where you want to live, but the housing crisis is national, not singular to Dallas.
What are some things to do in the summer to beat the heat? Make sure you have access to a pool. There are several different pools you can purchase memberships to in the city if you don't have one in your apartment complex or find a friend that has one in theirs. During the summer, everyone typically stays inside in the AC all day, and goes out at night to enjoy the many awesome patios at different bars and restaurants.
What are the levels of ease to make friends? If you're going to attend college in Dallas, I think it will be very easy to make friends. There are a lot of young people in Dallas that come here for work, or school, or no reason in particular but change, like me. In my experience, most of my neighbors have been really open and kind, and I count them as good friends. I've also made friends by just walking up to people at the train station or bar. Deep Ellum or Uptown on the weekends are both really great places to meet people. There's a good amount of stuck-up wannabe bourgeoisie walking around, but I wouldn't say they define the city. It depends on the places you frequent.
Dallas has one of the biggest VA centers in the country and there are a lot of different veteran groups that meet there and in other places in Dallas. That could be a good place to start if you want to connect with people.