Hippie dippy relocation

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unique_user_517@reddit

"I don't like cars, capitalism, the current state of politics, heat, or guns."

Is this satire?

DFW is the capitalism capital of the country. It was 94 degrees this last evening when I went out to walk at 10pm. This is one of the most car dependant regions in the US? Everyone even the leftists carry here.

This couldn't be a more opposite area to live than your goals?

There is great music and food here, but to get to any of it you're going to have to drive mad Max style surrounded by people you seem to hate.

I'm really not trying to be an ass, but like you couldn't have crafted a more absurd on the nose list if you were writing fiction. I feel like it's almost satire.

Yes off course there are a handful of blocks in Dallas where you'd probably be more or less happy. But DFW is a flat concrete strip mall the size of New Hampshire.

The benefits here are many, but mostly for those of us who own businesses, want cheap labor, cheap land to expand manufacturing, huge McMansions, wide roads to drive big trucks, seemingly all the stuff you hate.

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KillBosby@reddit (OP)

I get that - but I feel dating will be very easy. Women will just see cowboy #1, cowboy #2, cowboy #3, and then go home with the novelty hippie guy. So far, the pros:

food
dating
affordability

I think that's it.

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unique_user_517@reddit

It really sounds like your mind is made up and you're trying to justify it. And that's fine too.

I've lived all over the world, I'm originally from the super crunchy parts of Colorado. I've lived in the PNW, lived a decade in Europe, every corner of the US.

I sort of get where you're coming from. But you absolutely seem exactly like the type of person Texans aren't super fond of. I might be wrong but it seems like you're going to move here for 1 good thing, and are going to hate the other 99, and then spend your time talking about how much Texans suck while voting to make here like where you left from.

You said you don't like heat, we typically see 3 months straight of triple digit days each summer, and it's easily hitting 90s starting in April and that lasts until October.

The driving and the traffic are in my opinion, a positive. Because as long as you're in a truck, you can do 90 in a 65 and the cops will blow past you to go push the other traffic for being slow. But, if you're wanting to be timid, non aggressive, and driving a Jetta, you're not going to enjoy it. -"well I just won't drive much"

Then you don't understand how DFW works. I live in Southlake (firmly suburbs), I will routinely need to hit 3 or 4 different "interstate type" highways, talking 6-8-10 lanes, just to get to the next city over to get to a different restaurant I like.

Texas is constitutional concealed carry. I'm a business guy in health IT, I wear a suit. I don't have a colleague that I know of who doesn't carry daily. One of my account managers grew up in Osk Cliff, she carries two pistols on her to go to Ikea. And she's a full on HRC donating lgbt activist. You said you hate guns, more chicks here that you're trying to date will have guns in their purse or car, than any of the dudes in pnw, unless we're talking Eastern Washington.

I would also ask what industry you're in, because while people highlight how cheap it is in DFW, people might not understand that this is a cheap place to be rich. But it's seemingly not a great place to be lower income. This is a great place to cheaply raise a family, have a very large house, cars boats, etc. because of those mentioned benefits to business owners, homeowners, etc. this is a place where a solidly 'upper middle' family can live and feel like they are rich. But, single in the city doing the apartment thing, can quickly become pretty crazy. Now if you're in tech, or healthcare you'll probably do better than fine. But if you're just a wagie, the attractiveness of getting a 5500 sqft house for 750k in a planned gated community isn't really there for you.

You would think everyone telling you this is a bad idea would be a sign, but again, it's a free country. Everything you've shown is that you won't be happy here. And for however bad it sounds the vast majority of us won't want you here. It's not personal, it's very practical.

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KillBosby@reddit (OP)

Yeah I think your assessment is accurate. By not liking guns, I just mean I don't perform oral on them and make them my personality like many of you do.

I like driving, I drive aggressively, but again - I don't make it part of my personality and dream about my car when I'm not using it.

Thanks for the advice unique user.

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unique_user_517@reddit

There it is, the deeply soy coded condescension.

"I hate everything about Texas, but I'm absolutely insufferable so I'm going to move there and bitch about it."

Have fun being miserable here and crying about why you can't find a way to move out of this dystopia in a few years.

(Hint: you're going to be miserable everywhere you go. Because you'll always be there.)

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KillBosby@reddit (OP)

Even powered by soy - I'm twice the man you'll ever be, dead bedroom bb 😘

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unique_user_517@reddit

Ahh yes, the steroid dealer who talks to men stuck with bad hormones. You've caught me. I'm very emasculated by the flannel brigade. 🤣

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KillBosby@reddit (OP)

You spend so much time, money, and effort to have my natural testosterone level.

Imagine if it just came naturally? You're gonna die at age 50 trying to be me. What an existence.

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sherespondedwith@reddit

Jokes on you, the dating scene here sucks

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unique_user_517@reddit

I like it :)

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Thingstwo@reddit

I think you’re overestimating the novelty effect. A fair number of women in the dating pool will be at least somewhat conservative, even some of the left leaning women.

I graduated from UW-Seattle. Lived here right around 20 years. There’s pockets but it’s rough.

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MechanicsAntics@reddit

There's alternative men here still, we're just trying to leave because DFW sucks if you're alternative. Seriously, I think you'd be happier in almost any other city.

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Dick_Lazer@reddit

It’s a mix. Even though Fort Worth is more conservative overall it seems like there tends to be a bit more alt-minded women out there. But they won’t often drive to Dallas & I’m sure as hell not driving out to Fort Worth.

In Dallas itself it’s more of a mix. Even the left-leaning women here will tend to be very career-minded & material focused, so a lot will depend on what kind of job you have and how far above a six figure salary you are. And even though Dallas tends to vote blue a lot of the women on dating apps tend to be very conservative & church focused. (In my daily experience in Dallas I sometimes wonder where all these blue voters are hiding.) So for a good portion it may help for you to cosplay as the cowboy a bit, especially a rich cowboy.

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ChangingThymes@reddit

You just described Denton. (Except maybe heat and cars)

Go grab a lunch at the rooftop restaurant “LSA Burger” on the square and then walk across the square to D20 to play some board games and talk to people.

It all depends on your commute. Denton to downtown Dallas is a pretty long drive or train ride

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Then_Supermarket18@reddit

I lived in Denton for a long time. OP described the strip of land from UNT campus to the square.

If OP is over 25, they're going to struggle in Denton as much as anywhere in DFW

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ChangingThymes@reddit

Not sure I agree. I am over 25 and really enjoy denton. Idiots hill. West of Carroll. Downtown. Denia area. It’s certainly not huge but any age can find an area of denton they can fit. But the young and divergent crowds I enjoy tremendously due to how it makes central denton a more vibrant and diverse community than most other parts of DFW.

I was suggesting OP go check out the square and then decide if it’s too small or too young or too whatever.

The big negative I think for denton is the commute required for higher paying jobs. Interestingly many people I know in big cities have hour commutes each way so for us locals what is unacceptable for others may actually be a wash.

Up to you OP. Reddit has lots of DFW haters but there must be a reason DFW has over 8 million people. Decide for yourself. DFW has been a great decision for me personally but it has its disadvantages (heat, cars, politics I understand… but there is a tremendous amount to do in DFW if you make the effort. Also you can be smart and navigate a pretty positive cost of living balance. Not everyone has to rent in uptown or buy in frisco. So many of us in denton, mid cities, Lewisville, Corinth are off living our best lives)

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Then_Supermarket18@reddit

Maybe you're more used to the rest of us, and God bless you for that. I don't know if OP is going to like Denton as much as Portland though

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ChangingThymes@reddit

I’m almost afraid to share the good things but in general here’s what has worked for me

Love the sunshine, crazy weather, mellow winter, smatter of snow sometimes, amazing spring and fall.

I take a 2 week vacation to Colorado or cooler areas in the middle of summer. That break is critical. Instead of 1 long hoy summer you get 2 short hot summers.

Things to do:
Hike 10 miles at knob hill
Mt bike 10 miles at north shore trail
Smoke a blunt while playing frisbee golf at north lakes park
Play cheap golf at lake park
Rent a boat or jet skis on lake Lewisville or grapevine
Enjoy the many denton and surrounding festivals
Roadbike all over argyle and south denton
Enjoy many denton live music events every weekend (rubber gloves, dans silverleaf, …)
Go to public pools or join a gym they has one.

Occassionally venture to dallas or fort worth for conventions, concerts, live arts, foodie tours

Shop cheap flights from DFW and love field and enjoy Mexico or anywhere in the world in a direct flight

Museums

White rock lake. Dallas arboretum. Two zoos.

Explore small fun areas like bishop arts, lower Greenville…

Every quarter do an event overnight weekend to Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Arkansas (eureka springs), hill country …

And if you’re so inclined
Get a good corporate job
Buy a house for under $400K
Have kids (lots of great universities)
Get certified at the many city colleges (welding is on my bucket list)

Net net. Portland and many places are way better than DFW in so many ways. But you can be beyond happy here and love your best personal and professional life if you choose.

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InformationOk6366@reddit

This is a good rec

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sumone321@reddit

Denton would be the best place I think for you. Small town vibes. lots of live music, and the people dress very hippyish. It’s sorta a college town with UNT nearby but that’s why it has a young vibe I think. My boyfriend who was born and raised in Dallas and went to UNT told me it has the reputation of being a hippy town. Anywhere else in Dallas is very corporate. Oak Lawn is LGBT friendly pretty chill area but it’s still in the heart of Dallas which is very much urban commercial area kind of vibe. But I would say there is no PNW vibe places really in Dallas. Dallas is very corporate soulless nature free place generally

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eight24@reddit

Austin is what you’re looking for

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morri765@reddit

Would not recommend coming here but if you do try Denton or bishop arts

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Then_Supermarket18@reddit

DFW is the worst version of all the worst things you've been trying to avoid

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stykface@reddit

I'm pretty hippie - I don't like cars, capitalism, the current state of politics, heat, or guns.

I mean, then you'll hate Texas in general, but since you're coming to a city then you'll find "your people" fairly easily.

But also you may find that all these things you hate, has some good things about them. And it's only when you get into the rural areas that you find the concentrated types of the list you mentioned. But the Texas heat does not discriminate when it arrives, ha. Luckily there is A/C everywhere, but heat is great for things like lakes and driving down to a beach along the coast for a getaway.

If you're looking for the best spot then there will be no better spot than anything in or around The Gayborhood in Dallas.

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Chazzybobo@reddit

Try Austin first

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Wholenchilada@reddit

Don't move here. Stay where you're at. You're not welcome.

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Archgate82@reddit

If you also like chain restaurants, strip malls, aggressive panhandlers, and skinny parking spots with giant trucks backing into them then you’ll like it here. A Starbucks barista with a nose ring will be about as hippie as you get.

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yakit21@reddit

Denton is what you’re looking for.

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TheGoatOption@reddit

There are plenty of people like you in DFW. The thing is, we are all trying to leave as fast as possible. You love hiking and hate capitalists in lifted trucks? Why even consider Dallas?

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AP_722@reddit

You will be deeply unhappy in DFW based on what you said you like and hate. Please, do not move here. From someone who thought those same dislikes could be overcome - they can’t. Save yourself the misery (and money and trouble of moving).

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Dick_Lazer@reddit

Ironically, I like a lot of the things that you like which is why I’m planning on getting tf out of DFW and have been scouting out places in the PNW.

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ParsonJackRussell@reddit

Check out Orcas Island Washington

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Jimfred0@reddit

Little Forest Hills keeps it funky and crunchy

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frosty_the_snowman-@reddit

As a person who hails from Chicago and lives now in DFW, it’s pretty boring here. U can find little corners for everyone but it’s more of a niche culture versus what u find in huge established cities with great downtowns like nyc or chicago.

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MorningtonCroissant@reddit

Lower Greenville or M Streets. I call it the crunchy side of town.

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ABabblingRhyme@reddit

My partner moved here from the PNW about 15 years ago and remains an Oregonian at heart. In my second-hand experience, it could likely be an... adjustment... for you. Maybe not a terrible one, as long as you mentally prepare yourself to feel "other" in some circles, which kind of stinks.

To be sure, there are, erm, "anti-hippie" pockets in the rural PNW that could stand toe-to-toe with their like-minded cousins here in Texas. Dallas itself may lean politically and ideologically closer to your stances than other areas around the state, but we're still affected by the same statewide politics that frustrate us, so we still do plenty of mentally screaming into the abyss.

That said, my partner has found things to like about it here, but in the sense of "making the best out of a chapter in life that keeps us here" rather than a "this is where they'd willingly choose to live if we didn't have to for now" way.

That said, I've rarely seen them happier here than those random days in late November through maybe early March when there's a drizzly, 60° gray day. It's like it unlocks their core, "Why would I need an umbrella?" identity.

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MechanicsAntics@reddit

Based on your likes/dislikes, I would stay far away from DFW. Maybe 15 years ago I would say give it a try, but current political tensions have made the unsavory people in DFW much more dangerous. The traffic has gotten really bad too, and you can't get anywhere with public transit. We also don't have strong community because of the suburban sprawl and car-centric infrastructure.

I've lived in DFW my whole life and have similar values to you. I'm trying to escape to Chicago as soon as I can. If you haven't been, I would give it a visit! It might be your kind of place. If you're not a fan of Chicago, maybe Boston or Albuquerque? (heat, I know, but they have some neat "hippie" type culture)

Otherwise, I think you're exactly where you should be, culturally. Unless there's a strong reason to move a far distance away, I would stay in the PNW :)

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Redfandango7@reddit

Anything that exists in the world can be found here. I haven’t seen a single publicly displayed maga flag since the Epstein files. However saying that you will be on the business end of those lifted trucks more often than you’re probably imagining. I hope the reason for moving here is solid enough to justify at least one summer. Good luck.