I’ve been living in Austin for almost a year now and as the anniversary approaches I’ve been reflecting on what I like and dislike about this weird city. My random thoughts are compiled below.
The Good
The people are very friendly and strangers always want to chat. This is an aspect that takes some getting used to for a northern introvert like myself, but it is a pleasant change. Of course, sometimes this can go too far (I don’t need to know the full sexual history of my Lyft driver, for example).
Austin is full of these friendly people, but if you need to get the hell away from them there are dozens of parks and wilderness areas that feel incredibly remote. There are also plenty of dog parks, which is good because literally everyone has a dog.
Since moving here my sandwich consumption has been cut in half. The reason for this is simple: tacos. There is a huge array of incredible food, but nothing has the reach and power of the Austin taco. Over-hyped? Maybe. But certainly not overrated.
This town embraces music, and there are so many shows that it’s hard to keep track of them all. While I skip the big festivals, I’ve made it a point to check out the smaller venues and rock clubs. Lately I’ve been creeping the open mic night at the legendary Cactus Cafe and the quality of musicians is above-average to say the least.
The Bad
It’s too damn hot. I’ve never tolerated heat well, probably due to my northern origins and nervous disposition. The flip side is that it doesn’t get as cold or generally horrible as Minnesota in the winter. Now that summer is waning it is cooling off a bit and I am able to enjoy the city without sweating through my shirt.
The traffic is also bad, but I’ve never been to a city that didn’t have this problem so I don’t get what all of the fuss is about.
The Ugly
Cockroaches. I hate them.
Is Austin perfect? No. But it is a pleasant place to live, especially if you like music and tacos.
Jackson Atkins 