https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:28:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-834404 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:51:01 +0000 hummusgirl 834404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know a ton about Houston though I was born there, but Texas in general is friendly, inexpensive and warm! Some unsolicited general moving advice though: When we moved from Dallas to NYC, we looked at it as a one-year adventure - I really wanted to move and my husband didn't want to keep me from my "dream," so he went along. The deal was that if for whatever reason one or both of us hated it (or couldn't find a job or whatever), we could move back in a year. It's only the cost of a couple plane tickets and some logistics, after all! </p> <p>We've been in NYC 3 years and are still loving it, but recognizing that we could always go back and things weren't set in stone helped us relax. Good luck! We'll be back in Texas eventually, it's home. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-834399 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:48:46 +0000 MrsSCB 834399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Thenetexan: @rattles: @MamaBehr: thanks so much for your perspectives, all of you are making me feel a lot better! DH's job would be by the Toyota Center basketball arena so I assume if he gets it we'd probably start out with an apartment near there, depending on how the area is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-834369 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 20:32:26 +0000 Thenetexan 834369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I you don't have kids yet, I would look at some of the close in neighborhoods that @rattles mentioned. I would add Rice Military to the list. In all of those close in neighborhoods, you will be able to walk to a few commercial establishments. Exact location will make the walkability variable; but I can easily walk to my hair salon, dry cleaners, coffee shop, local park and a handful of top notch restaurants. A little bit longer of a walk by Houston standards gets me to another handful of restaurant and some bars. Our public HISD elementary school is also highly sought after. Yes, you will need a car, but you can also bike and walk lots of places if you pick the right neighborhood. This is my third time living in Houston and it gets better all the time. Great people, great weather (January and February will make up for July and august), great economy, and it has all the arts and restaurants and sports that you could need. No doubt, it will be an adjustment. Most people come here kicking and screaming and surprise themselves when they really like it. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833978 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 17:39:53 +0000 Bookish 833978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: Yeah, Texas in general weathered the recession pretty well. We still have our unemployment, but take me as an example, I found a job in early 2011 just out of college, in the field I wanted, and just got a new, higher paying job this week! Texas is pretty good right now :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833643 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:47:33 +0000 lawbee11 833643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: It's true what everyone is saying about the people being nice. Strangers will strike up a convo with you in line at the grocery store, at the mall, in the elevator, etc. I am a total keep to myself person, though, so sometimes I find it annoying! I am like leave me alone I just want to buy my damn loaf of bread! But I'd rather be surrounded by lots of nice people than a**holes, I guess :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833621 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:41:21 +0000 rattles 833621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in Houston and DH is also considering a job down there now. We live in Chicago, so it would be a big lifestyle change for us as well. You'll definitely have to drive everywhere and it will be hotter than Hades, but Houston really is a great place to live. There have been tons of stories everywhere from Forbes to Business Week to the BBC in the last couple of months touting its economic resilience and cultural scene. I might try living a little further into the city if you want a more urban feel. The Heights and Montrose are quirky and hip. Rice Village and West U are pricey by Houston standards but awesome. We're looking around Memorial, maybe, for somewhere a little more affordable but closer in. The suburbs are great though - I grew up in Katy, but the Woodlands and Sugar Land are great too. Last I looked, Woodlands, Katy and Cy-Fair were the best school districts, but I haven't looked lately. Like everyone has said, the people are the best. Everyone says the midwest is friendly, but coming from Houston they seem stand-offish here to me! The food is fabulous - Houstonians eat out more than any other city, and it recently passed NYC as the most diverse city. It's super-sprawling though, so you'll have to find the places you like enough to be worth a trip across town. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833596 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:30:53 +0000 MamaBehr 833596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved here about two years ago, and it was a transition! We moved from Buffalo, NY and I was not ready for the heat... ugh. I would have to say though, almost everyone I meet is a transplant and that has worked out nicely. I think it has been pretty easy finding friends, and PEOPLE ARE SO NICE! Like, when I go to Chick-fil-a or some place like that, I'm not worried about someone spitting in my food because they genuinely like their job (or are just so nice!). </p> <p>I was able to find a teaching job pretty easily, but ended up quitting due to a second baby. The job market is pretty solid down here :) </p> <p>Another thing to know, it is Houston is HUGE. It has a great arts scene, wonderful restaurants, and so much to do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833538 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 15:08:40 +0000 MrsSCB 833538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T-Mom: thank you! It's basically his dream job so I am excited for him, just nervous about any big changes coming our way. We've started scoping out some places in Houston just in case and its crazy how much we can get for what we're spending on our tiny apartment here!</p> <p>@lawbee11: Driving a car again would definitely take some adjustment. We don't even own one now and I don't think I've really driven in about a year, haha. I'm glad to hear about the food, though, I'm a big foodie so that makes me happy!</p> <p>@Bookworm: I'm glad to hear the job market is rebounding, that's really my biggest worry. Thanks for your info, I'm sure if we do end up moving ill have some questions about where to live since I've never been :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833404 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:29:18 +0000 Bookish 833404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I grew up in the suburbs of H-town and loved it. I agree with @T-Mom: you will be amazed at the cost of living down here in Texas! It's really reasonable considering well the job market in Texas is rebounding right now. In addition to being a pretty cheap city to live in, there are lots of excellent school districts to choose from (and linked to this, LOTS of excellent suburbs to live in, if you want to go to suburbia). One thing I loved about living in the suburbs (Sugar Land area), it was so close to the action. It only took me about 15-20 mins on the highway to get to the middle of downtown and go shopping at the Galleria, go to a good restaurant, etc.</p> <p>I miss living in Houston quite a bit (I live in a smaller town about an hour and a half away now, darn!) and although the summers are absolutely murder, it's definitely a fun place to be and has TONS to do and see :D </p> <p>GOOD LUCK with all of this and write on my wall if you want/need any more advice </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833343 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:11:43 +0000 T-Mom 833343@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Congrats on your DH's job prospects! The job market down here is really strong, especially in the energy sector. I live in a suburb of Houston but moved here from the Northeast. It was a rough transition, I will tell you that. Going from taking public transpo everywhere to not being able to even go to the neighborhood pool without taking the car was a big transition. However, the thing that keeps people here in Houston is the friendly people and the cost of living! You will get several times more house here than in NY or even NoVa. We have grown to really appreciate the benefits of living here, although we really really miss the East Coast weather (but not the blizzards). Being away from your family may be tough. I have a friend who moved here from NoVA only to move back a year later to be closer to family. I am lucky to have family here. Keep us posted! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833318 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:04:47 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 833318@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: There are a lot of really good school districts in and around the Houston area. I'm not 100% sure, but I think the best public schools are in The Woodlands (a BIG suburb of Houston), which is mostly Conroe ISD. We're actually moving to that area for that reason. (that, and we just love The Woodlands) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833305 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 14:00:53 +0000 lawbee11 833305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm a Houston bee...there are several of us! I love Houston! Moving from NYC I am sure it will take some getting used to because they're very different. Some things I don't like are that there isn't really a public transportation system (other than buses), so you have to drive everywhere. Also it does get really hot here in the summer. I also consider the weather a positive, though, because it never gets very cold (and you don't have to shovel heat!). The food is also amazing--tons of great restaurants. </p> <p>Here's an article that just recently came out about Houston:<br /> <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/why-houston-is-the-best-city-in-america-2013-5" rel="nofollow">http://www.businessinsider.com/why-houston-is-the-best-city-in-america-2013-5</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833298 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:58:20 +0000 MrsSCB 833298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: No not for Exxon, that's interesting though! I do like the idea of people being nicer because that's not necessarily something I experience all the time in NYC, haha. The heat makes me a little nervous, but mild winters sound like a relief. I know one other positive for me is that housing is so much less expensive down there. I don't have kids yet, but we're planning in a year or two. Do you know much about the public schools in the area? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833293 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:56:34 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 833293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSCB: Oh yeah - there's a bunch of us, but we're all spread around the Houston area. Your husband wouldn't be working for Exxon, by chance, would he? I ask because Exxon is moving a lot of people from your area down here. </p> <p>I've lived here since '97 and it took a while for me to really call it home, but now it IS my home. People are generally nicer here than any other place I've lived (I've lived in 8 states). There is so much to do year round! The Houston job and housing market is one of the most stable ones in the country. The only thing I hate is the summer - it's hot as hell (and humid!) most of the year, but we have very mild winters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-houston-bees-out-there-we-may-be-moving#post-833158 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:29:05 +0000 MrsSCB 833158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DH is in the final rounds of interviewing for a job in Houston. I'm sort of freaking out, TBH. First of all, I grew up in Northern VA and now live in NYC so I've never even BEEN to Texas, or that far south. I've never lived more than four hours away from my family, who are all still in NoVa. So I'm not really sure how I feel about that. Not great so far.</p> <p>Second, I'm a journalist and work for a network news company in NYC. I feel like my job prospects will be VERY limited down there, at least compared to what I have now. As bad as this sounds, I get a lot of my self-worth from my job. I know I will be depressed if it takes a long time to find something new. I've never been unemployed for even a day before! </p> <p>That is a long-winded way to say, I am SUPER nervous about this and would appreciate any insight from ladies (or men!) who live in the Houston area. What do you like about it? What do you not like? What do you know about the current job market down there? How do you like the people? Any advice/info is much appreciated! </p>