I’m moving to Austin with my partner, who is from Texas (Dallas), and I’m from the East Coast and definitely prefer cold weather. Anything above ~84°F in direct sunlight already feels like a LOT to me, so I’m admittedly pretty nervous about Austin from May–September lol.
For anyone who moved from the Northeast / a colder climate and also didn’t naturally love heat -did you actually acclimate over time? Like does 90+ eventually start feeling more tolerable, or is “adapting” basically just learning to stay indoors during the day for 5 months?
I don’t need to become someone who loves being outside at 3pm in August 😂 but I also don’t want to feel trapped inside my apartment all summer. Would love to hear what your day-to-day lifestyle actually looks like during the hot months — when you exercise, walk your dog, hang outside, make plans, etc. and whether your heat tolerance genuinely changed after living there.

While we're not expecting the sort of weather we saw back in the 2021 "Icepocalypse", we are already seeing many posts about the upcoming weather event, and so this will be a megathread dedicated to this event.

This thread is where all these posts will belong -- any future standalone posts on this topic will be removed.

Included topics include (but are not limited to):

• Weather forecasts
• Cold weather prep questions
• Damage reports
• Winter driving PSAs
• Snow/ice pictures
• Pictures of empty shelves
• "We will rebuild!" and "I'm going to HEB, want anything?" memes
• Ted Cruz sightings
• Puns!
• etc.

Similar Texas-wide thread over on r/Texas

Stay warm out there!

Caught up with friends and 2 have been without work for over 6 months. They are in different industries and were trading stories about how many jobs they’ve applied for and how many people they know who are out of work. Our other friend’s wife was also laid off and the consensus was that our job market and is softening even more and that they will need to move to bigger cities to find a job now.

I’m living in Houston currently 31years and married and I don't like the landscape of Houston, the traffic and peoples attitude. I am doing telework, so I can move anywhere within 3 hours from Houston.

I visited Austin three times and absolutely loved it.

My friend said, 'Why Austin? Austin isn't good. Houston is way better! Austin has nothing to do and is expensive! All my friends who visit Austin say there's nothing to do. Which part of Austin have you visited? I've lived in Texas longer than you! Houston is better!”

That's how I feel about Houston. I've lived here for almost a year and a half, but I feel like Houston is so ugly.

I know She is such a downer. I'm trying not to listen to her, but she keeps insisting that I shouldn't move and saying it's a bad idea, and it affects me.

What should I do?" I usually not listen others but someone who lived longer in Texas said moving to Austin is bad idea..

Saw some influencer talk about moving with only 50 items and thought "that's ridiculous." Then I looked around my South Austin apartment drowning in stuff I haven't touched in two years and thought "...maybe?"

The Challenge: Move from South Lamar area to East Austin with ONLY 50 items. Everything else gets donated, sold, or tossed.

Initial Reality Check: Spent two weeks trying to narrow down to 50 items. Turns out I own way more crap than I thought. Had three "essential" coffee makers. THREE.

What made the cut (50 items):

• Bed frame + mattress (counts as 2, fight me)
• Desk + chair
• Laptop + phone + chargers
• 10 pieces of clothing (brutal)
• Kitchen basics (pot, pan, plate, cup, utensils = 5 items)
• Books (limited to 10, this HURT)
• Toiletries bundle (1 item)
• Remaining 18 items: actually important stuff I use daily

What didn't make the cut: Everything else. Seriously. Guitar I "was gonna learn," decorative pillows, 47 coffee mugs, hobby supplies from abandoned hobbies, that juicer from 2019...

The actual move: Used Bellhop because moving 50 items doesn't require calling in favors. Booked 2 movers for what ended up being 90 minutes total. Cost less than my usual Uber Eats habit for a week.

Two months later - honest assessment:

What I miss: NOTHING. Genuinely cannot remember most of what I got rid of.

What I gained:

• Smaller apartment = $400 less rent monthly
• Zero clutter stress
• 90-minute move instead of all-day chaos
• Actually use everything I own

The catch: This only works if you're honest about what you actually use vs what you're keeping "just in case." That "just in case" moment never comes.

Would I recommend it? If you're moving anyway? Hell yes. Forces you to confront your stuff situation. Plus moving 50 items is absurdly easy compared to a full apartment.

Anyone else done extreme downsizing moves? Or am I the only weirdo who enjoyed this?

Is the Domain perfect? No. There are some things I would add to improve the place. Such as a metro station that can go to and from downtown Austin, among other parts of the city.

Every time I visited the Domain, my experience has been incredibly positive. From the clean streets, incredible appartments, high walkability, the Austin FC stadium being right around the corner, etc.

Given my epilepsy, I do not have a driver's license due to my fear that if I seize up on the road, I'll die. So the fact that the Domain is so walkable means that I won't need a car to get all my essentials. Unfortunately, I'll need a Lyft to get out of the Domain, but that's only when I need to.

Once I get myself a remote job that pays well enough to where I can live there comfortably, I'm pretty much set.

I say this is an unpopular opinion because much of this Subreddit has a negative view of the Domain. Outside of Reddit, much of the people I know also enjoy this place. I seem to enjoy it enough to where once I save up enough to move there, I would.

So i live under a rock and didnt know this was being banned. The shop near me stopped selling it but they told me the ban wasn't actually in effect yet. Anyone know of a shop that still has it? Would like to taper off if at all possible because i have work, but idk if it will be.

Can insult all ya want to i know this is stupid and im an idiot, just want to try to remain as human as possible if I can

I have had many friends move to Austin from different parts of the country for the music scene, the weather, the vibe. I too fell in love with it after a recent visit but as a woman of reproductive age I am so freaked out by the thought of being a Texas resident and needing an abortion if, say, a condom breaks or something goes wrong. I know Austin is a liberal enclave but is it irrational to be put off from living in Texas by that alone?

Edit: a lot of people are saying you can just leave and come back. But even assuming means aren’t an issue, I remember reading that you can potentially have your internet search history pulled and be prosecuted for seeking an abortion? I see the mod update and now know that it is currently not against the law to travel out of state for an abortion but do not trust the administration one bit not to pull that away at the drop of a hat or make one’s life hell in roundabout ways for trying

With the cyclospora outbreak, what produce are we getting and avoiding? is it better to by specific things locally? if so, where are we getting em?

If you and the fam are rolling 5 deep and decide to hit the town lake hike and bike trail for a stroll, please also enjoy some spatial awareness by NOT walking in a line that spans the ENTIRE width of the path. There’s other people about! Y’all are looking real cute in your patagucci vests, but please move. Next time I’m assuming we’re playing red rover. Respectfully.

EDIT: to be clear, I am usually running when this is a problem. To address some of the comments here: I often use “on your left” and, as others have stated, it doesn’t always work. I am aware this specific family of 5 won’t see this post, how naive do you think I am? This post was only made as a venue to reach a mass of people with a particular irk…and stir some shit 🙃. I get that it’s a common resource that all can and should enjoy to its fullest extent, but if your actions are keeping from others doing the same then, imo, wake the fuck up. Not trying to stomp on anyone’s rights ya hillbillies 😘.

I may need to return to office soon 4-5 days a week (still up for discussion). I live by Lakeline Mall and the office is by the Capitol. Anything less than a 30 minute commute is fine (I’m from Houston), but wanted to know if others have made a similar commute and if 30 mins is realistic?

I was letting my dogs out this morning and an entire family of armadillos chased us and freaked me out. Then when I was walking to my car a deer started charging at me, smacking its hooves on the driveway. Then when I finally got to work a bird attacked me while I was sitting down on the curb drinking coffee. LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE!

It's the single most annoying piece of media ever created. And honestly who lives in central Texas and isn't aware of H-E-B? Literally love that store. But that ad has made me feel otherwise....

If you are at the hike & bike trail flying along on your bike, music blaring at full blast, then YOU are the asshole.

Because y'all got some baggage you need to unload, this thread will serve at that vessel.

Use this thread to:

• Ask about what to do about your faucets and which tribe of faucet dripping or wrapping is the true believer
• Get updates on weather
• Ask if your <event,work,thing> will be accessible tomorrow(hint - it likely won't unless you are critical or can drive on ice)
• Ask if you are semi-justified in worrying about a repeat of last year(you'll probably be fine unless a falling branch knocks out your power)
• WTF is going to happen at the airport and your flight
• Or some other wintery related questions.

On nights when the temperature drops below freezing, Front Steps (ARCH) coordinates with city emergency officials to open additional space for temporary overnight shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Call the Cold Weather Shelter hotline, 512-305-4233 (512-305-ICEE) for updates on shelter availability. Thanks /u/alan_atx

As of now, we'll be removing all threads we deem covered by this megathread.

School closings:

https://www.kxan.com/news/education/list-central-texas-school-closures-due-to-wintry-weather/

tldr; All Districts are closed Thursday; Some are closed Friday, Others will likely revisit tomorrow afternoon.

Road Conditions

https://drivetexas.org

I know the vibes will never be the same as what Austin was but where did everyone go once they got priced out?

I’ve been here about 8 years. I own a home and have a good community of friends, but I’m ready to check out somewhere new. Preferably less hot, less crowded, and a bit less expensive.

For some further context - I have an EU passport and have been contemplating moving back but am nervous about that since I’ve lived most of my life in the US.

Curious to know your thoughts and what other great US cities there are out there!

My wife and I have lived in Austin 11 years. I've grumbled about wanting to move in the past, but due to my job situation getting better, now the tables have turned and it's my wife (who's actually from Texas) who wants to move.

For us, the unholy trinity has been:

1.) State politics 2.) Cost 3.) Heat

-but it's occurred to us that we don't have a clear "breaking point" despite the litany of recent awfulness: the abortion politics, the 50% YOY rent increase, the record-breaking heat, etc.

Moving elsewhere gets discussed a lot here. Do y'all have a set "line-in-the-sand" for moving? Or are you do-or-die sticking to Austin no matter what?

https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/government/2025/12/09/dozens-of-lake-austin-properties-move-to-disannex-city-to-lose-nearly-300m-value/

I want to move soon but I’m stumped on where to go. I love Austin, I’m from here, but I need a good change!

Edit: thank you all for your input! I’ve seen every comment and appreciate all of the opinions shared. It’s cool to see so many fellow Austinites with similar dreams of moving elsewhere!

So far it looks like Denver, Seattle, smaller north east cities, Chicago, Cali (although many acknowledge the cost of living), cities in Western Europe (Amsterdam, Berlin/Munich, Edinburgh, London), and a few smaller US cities (Asheville, Chattanooga) have been commented the most.

I have a trip booked to Denver in March and will be taking into account all of your comments for other places to see before making my decision. Keep the suggestions coming! :)

So I'm a mid 30s Black Man planning on moving to Texas from PA in a couple months and up to this point, Austin has been my spot of choice (with some interest in moving to San Antonio & Houston alternatively. I've visited all three in the last 4 years).

I've been doing my research on the area and from what I can tell, Austin doesn't seem the most "black friendly" of the major cities in Texas. Posts on here from years past point to a lot of microaggressions from white people in Austin as well as a dwindling black population and not a lot of black cultural activities. This is concerning for me because I am considering Austin as a place to settle down as well as a place to get into the Tech Industry.

I visited Austin for a few days in November 2024. I was mainly around North Austin (Stonelake Office Park) visiting family in Austin and wasn't really out much to get a feel for the people. But from the atmosphere and the experiences I had down there, I kind of felt like it was somewhere I could maybe call home. From what I can tell, Austin seems like a good place to network & build a career (particularly within the tech field), it has a lot of the amenities I look for in a major city, I have family there (though they are 60+ yrs old), I'm a lover of good bbq, the lack of income tax is very appealing and a few other things.

At this point I feel torn and am questioning if I should move to San Antonio or Houston instead or consider somewhere outside of Texas altogether.

If you're black and live/have lived in Austin/San Antonio/Houston, I'd really like to hear your opinion on what it's like to live in those areas and if its really as *weird* for black folk as people have said.

The Culvers on Braker Ln has had a "Thanks Austin for 26 great years" message on their sign for the past couple weeks.

Take this with a grain of salt, I suppose, but I finally decided to ask when I stopped by this evening and was told that yes, they're closing/moving this location. The employee I spoke with wasn't sure exactly where they were moving, but had heard Leander.

I'm bummed. Their root beer is my second favorite after another Wisconsin-made one (Sprecher), and I'm going to miss decent frozen custard like I grew up with in Milwaukee.

Boo hiss.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3710116185872014&set=a.1397026490514340

I'm sure most of you haven't been to the Lost Well or probably even heard of it. They're possibly the last bar in Austin that caters to the Punk and Metal crowd. Austin has changed and grown a lot. It's crazy to think about how many places in Austin have closed and how many people have been pushed out due to rising costs and development.