Author Topic: City living or shorter commute?  (Read 5008 times)

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Offline 0.42

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City living or shorter commute?
« on: March 13, 2015, 02:45:10 PM »
Hello gE. I have a conundrum: whether to keep living in a big city (Austin) or move to a smaller place where my new job is (San Marcos, pop: 50,000). I'll post the pros/cons of my specific situation below. But seeing as this is combo-fanning, here's the overall question for the debate:

City living vs. a shorter and easier commute? Which is better? What do you prefer? etc. go cats.


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Offline puniraptor

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2015, 02:47:37 PM »
im getting confused because in general people commute to the city

Offline 0.42

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2015, 02:49:37 PM »
So here's the summary (tl;dr is next post down).

  • Current location: 7 mi. south of downtown Austin, still within city limits
  • Living situation: Apartment complex off the interstate that opens onto an access road that forces me into the worst intersection in the southern part of the city. Traffic can back up a mile and take as long as 20-30 minutes to get through the light. Lease is up in June and I'm gonna move.
  • Current commute: About 30 min. Could probably cut it down to 20 if I could get over to the other side of the interstate and/or avoid said intersection

So, if I break down my options:
Stay in Austin
Pros:
  • Most of my friends/social life are in Austin
  • Living in Austin is great if you're in your mid 20's, etc.
  • Just far enough away from my family to be close to home but not feel smothered

Cons:
  • It's not SF, but rents are kinda ridiculous.
  • Cost of living aside from rent is slightly higher than SM
  • I'd be avoiding most of the traffic with my commute south, but Austin traffic is godawful. Bus system is close to useless.

Move to San Marcos
Pros:
  • Can probably get an apartment for like 25% cheaper or a condo, maybe a house in a couple of years
  • Getting around is much, much easier. Commute cut in half or more
  • Some friends and my parents are still here so connections are set
  • I've lived in SM about as long as Austin and know the area well (also a con, see below)

Cons
  • A while ago I felt "stuck" there and kind of felt like I needed to move onto bigger and better things. There's a chance I might get restless again if I move back.
  • It's very much a college town, so social (and dating) opportunities for post-grads in their mid-20s are relatively limited. Driving up to Austin for partying and lots of social events would be a major PITA.
  • I'm a little wary of living in the same town as my parents. I'm on good terms with them, but I also like having some distance between us.
  • I go back to San Marcos a couple of times a month already for non-work things and I know the the town pretty damn well, so I might get bored fairly quickly.

I know it ultimately comes down to what I want (which I'm not sure of yet). Any opinions are appreciated, obvi.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2015, 02:53:35 PM by 42 »

Offline 0.42

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2015, 02:50:18 PM »
im getting confused because in general people commute to the city

I had a job in Austin, just took one in San Marcos (25 mi. south). Not sure whether to stay in Austin or not.

Offline michigancat

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2015, 02:53:58 PM »
stay in Austin for now, reevaluate in a year

Offline michigancat

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #5 on: March 13, 2015, 02:54:30 PM »
I mean a 20 minute commute is pretty great, really.

Offline puniraptor

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2015, 02:54:38 PM »
ok. you live in westport which you love but your new job is in leavenworth. do you move to leavenworth? stay in westport? is there some kind of middle ground lenexa?

Offline Rage Against the McKee

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2015, 02:55:39 PM »
I'd probably move and cut down on the hour spent in the car every day. If you can get your commute down to 10 minutes or less, that's really convenient.

Offline Mrs. Gooch

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2015, 02:55:57 PM »
Ask if you can telecommute to work at your new job.

Offline Mrs. Gooch

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #9 on: March 13, 2015, 02:58:07 PM »
How often do you plan to do "social" things in Austin? If fewer than 5 days a week (assuming you work 5 days a week) then move to San Marcos. Make sure to live across town from your parents, and make sure it is a place where they have to be buzzed in.

Offline 0.42

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #10 on: March 13, 2015, 02:58:44 PM »
I mean a 20 minute commute is pretty great, really.

Yeah. It is on I-35 which is always clogged with dumbasses, but it's not bad at all.

Ask if you can telecommute to work at your new job.

Not really an option right now. I might be able to wrangle that further down the line.

ok. you live in westport which you love but your new job is in leavenworth. do you move to leavenworth? stay in westport? is there some kind of middle ground lenexa?

There's Kyle/Buda which is halfway between the two, but it's suburban hell. Not interested in living there unless I can find a non-shithole apartment or condo that's super cheap.

Offline 0.42

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #11 on: March 13, 2015, 03:01:16 PM »
How often do you plan to do "social" things in Austin? If fewer than 5 days a week (assuming you work 5 days a week) then move to San Marcos. Make sure to live across town from your parents, and make sure it is a place where they have to be buzzed in.

It varies, but the kicker is that the group of people I hang out most with are already on the other side of town in north Austin. Driving to them 2-3 or more times a week from San Marcos would not be great.

Offline Mrs. Gooch

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #12 on: March 13, 2015, 03:02:40 PM »
How often do you plan to do "social" things in Austin? If fewer than 5 days a week (assuming you work 5 days a week) then move to San Marcos. Make sure to live across town from your parents, and make sure it is a place where they have to be buzzed in.

It varies, but the kicker is that the group of people I hang out most with are already on the other side of town in north Austin. Driving to them 2-3 or more times a week from San Marcos would not be great.

How long is this drive?

Offline Phil Titola

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2015, 03:03:21 PM »
Live where you like to hang out...jobs change.

Offline 0.42

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2015, 03:04:51 PM »
How often do you plan to do "social" things in Austin? If fewer than 5 days a week (assuming you work 5 days a week) then move to San Marcos. Make sure to live across town from your parents, and make sure it is a place where they have to be buzzed in.

It varies, but the kicker is that the group of people I hang out most with are already on the other side of town in north Austin. Driving to them 2-3 or more times a week from San Marcos would not be great.

How long is this drive?

From where I live, about 15-20 minutes on a good day. From San Marcos it'd be anywhere from 45 minutes best case scenario to an hour and a half if traffic's bad enough (and it often is).

Offline sys

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2015, 03:05:05 PM »
move.  you're spending too much money in austin.
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Offline puniraptor

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2015, 03:05:32 PM »
move.  you're spending too much money in austin.

yes, your friends already left you for their own lenexa, tx.

Offline Mrs. Gooch

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2015, 03:08:07 PM »
I think you should live in Manchaca.

Offline Spracne

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #18 on: March 13, 2015, 03:08:20 PM »
How much is $$ an issue?

Offline Spracne

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2015, 03:08:56 PM »
I'm the Travis/Hays/Williamson county expert around these parts.

Offline 420seriouscat69

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2015, 03:10:27 PM »
42, how old are you? I've had this conundrum the last two years, but I love living where I play and I stay downtown. It helps tho, since I live with my gf, so that cuts down on costs. I would continue to live where you play until you take that next step in your life (marriage, kids, etc.).

Offline Rage Against the McKee

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2015, 03:11:41 PM »
You will in all likelihood start making new friends in San Marcos shortly after starting your job there. Then you will have friends 20-30 minutes away from your Austin location in both directions. You might as well move now. It would be a whole lot cheaper and more convenient.

Offline Institutional Control

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2015, 03:13:39 PM »
When is your lease up?  I would stay put until the commute became intolerable. 

Offline 0.42

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #23 on: March 13, 2015, 03:17:53 PM »
How much is $$ an issue?

I make enough to where I could afford to live on my own in certain zip codes of Austin and still sock some savings back, but it wouldn't be a lavish lifestyle or anything. In San Marcos I'd probably make a killing.

When is your lease up?  I would stay put until the commute became intolerable. 

June. I hadn't planned on breaking the lease yet.

42, how old are you?

26

You will in all likelihood start making new friends in San Marcos shortly after starting your job there. Then you will have friends 20-30 minutes away from your Austin location in both directions. You might as well move now. It would be a whole lot cheaper and more convenient.

I already know everyone at my new job since I used to work here part time (finally got a full time position with them). And you might be right, but a lot of the people I went to college with have already left. Everyone moves to Houston, DFW, San Antonio, or Austin.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2015, 03:22:18 PM by 42 »

Offline 420seriouscat69

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Re: City living or shorter commute?
« Reply #24 on: March 13, 2015, 03:21:23 PM »
I'd stay, but I'm hip and I like to party.