Would you move to Texas for USD 5k more a month

[Constance17]

DH has been offered a job in U.S, we have children aged 6 & 8. What concerns you most?

Texas isn't a state I'd really want to live in. If you love Football and God you'll do OK once you find your "church family" It's such a huge state that there are much greener parts as well as hotter dryer parts.
If the relocation package is a good on that gives UK annual leave allowance and health care that includes medical/optical/dental.
Have a look on britishexpats.com/forum/ theres a lot of Brits all over that know the ins and outs of living and transfering to every state.

Houston is a great city, a modern metropolis. Oil is the main industry. It's full of well educated wealthy people who aren't all gun toting god botherers. That's not to say there aren't some gun toting god botherers too. It's got the best breast cancer until on the planet, which hopefully you won't need.

But like all big cities, there are nice bits and not so nice.

But...man, it's fucking hot. And running aircon 24/7 ain't cheap.

Go for it.

Houston is a bit sterile (boring even) but a family place.

Much more 'european' in outlook than parts of rural Texas. Not as expensive to live as the trendier parts but certainly not cheap. Have you costed it all out?

Texas isn't a state I'd really want to live in. If you love Football and God you'll do OK once you find your "church family"

Houston is not like that at all. Yes, most people are Christian, but are tolerant of others that aren't.

Texas is well regarded for its support for children with autism (education and healthcare). The education system for pupils with autism is recognised worldwide.

Dallas? Not a chance in hell

Austin? Maybe

Why does Mumsnet allow such disgusting anti American sentiment? It wouldn't be allowed towards any other country.

I agree, appalling xenophobia from people who have never been to Texas.

@Lifecraft yes I agree she wasn't great either but at least a Democrat. Bernie all the way for this family.

Why does Mumsnet allow such disgusting anti American sentiment? It wouldn't be allowed towards any other country.

Agree if it was about any other group this thread would have been removed by now

Yes I would, great experience for you and the dc

Are you non white, do you look 'foreign' op

I agree, appalling xenophobia from people who have never been to Texas.

I'd love to see the following exchange on MN

OP: I've been offered a chance to work in the UK, shall I go?

Good god no, the knife crime is awful. And they are all drunken slobs with bulldogs who fight over football. They live in tower blocks that catch fire and they are all very right wing.

OP: Thanks for that, I've turned down the job. It was in some place called Isle of Skye, but I don't want to live in a dangerous tower block and be stabbed to death.

There are regularly threads like that about London!

Texans voting for Hillary is by-the-by: Trump is the one in charge.

Definitely not, based on climate alone. It is bastard hot and when it isn't, the storms are epic.

If I were in my 20's and didn't have DC, Austin would appeal. It's got a phenomenal tech sector, a thriving expat community, and on a personal level enough friends of mine living there to not be lonely. There's a terrific music scene, too. DH is constantly getting offers from there some of them very appealing in terms of salary but the thought of living in that heat is such a turn off for me. I just couldn't handle it, plus I don't want to live far from family with young DC again.

Not only is running air con not cheap but it's also pretty environmentally disastrous.

Houston is fine. There are some very nice areas and it's a huge city so you will have access to everything. Your husband should get an idea from his work on good areas to move to that won't be bad to commute from. Nicest area from what I remember was The Woodlands. Lots of shopping, safe and affluent but far more affordable when you compare it to the UK.

@catsofdoom you must live in a lovely place for such a school. In the best school district near Houston, we have 23 to a class, it’s run like a military operation. 25mins for lunch, back to class, 1 recess per day of 20mins. Taught to pass the test, given multiple chances to pass, anything under 70 considered a fail.

On The other hand the school district does provide assessments and extra help for students that need it. The kids with additional needs have an assigned helper. The middle school teachers offer before school tutorials to help kids keep up and pass those tests.

OP take a look at www.greatschools.org for school ratings. Private schools in Houston are British international (in Katy), awty, the Faye school (until grade 5) and many others which are in Houston.

I am an expat American living in the UK and I refuse to move to the USA.

I know that there is a relatively small chance my kids will be killed in school by gunshots in the USA. But the worry gets in your head. There is an article today in the New York times about parents buying bulletproof backpacks. My sister thinks about mass shooters all the time. I don't want to add that kind of stress to mine or my children's lives.

There are lots of wonderful things about America but the racism and the guns put me off.

Just an example of a house

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/50-Vershire-Cir_Magnolia_TX_77354_M74185-37320#photo38

You can use realtor.com to find rentals on areas you like (I assume you probably wouldn't be buying anything straight away). I think you might really enjoy it, good luck OP.

I loved living in the US. I really miss it. Houston is great. If your package includes healthcare, I’d go for it.

OP there is some horrible anti-Americanism on this thread. I’d suggest that advice from people who’ve never been to Texas, or at least the US, is meaningless and uninformed.

If you are thinking of moving to Houston, definitely look at flood plain maps.

It absolutely and completely depends on where in Texas. It's an absolutely huge state with massive differentiation in terms of politics, wealth, social diversity, etc. Austin - yes. Bumfuckmiddleofnowhere North Texas? No fucking way.

Not only is running air con not cheap but it's also pretty environmentally disastrous.

I've heard it all now! OP, make vital financial decisions based on whether you have to run the A/C (or heating, which is also disastrous for the environment)

I'm not American, my future son-in-law is, though. He's also a native Houstonian.

This thread is beyond ignorant.

In the past, DH & I have discussed living in the US for a year or two, but I wouldn’t go now that we have DC and Trump is president.

Air con is disastrous for the environment though. However much it bothers you to have that pointed out and however many family members you have living in an environment where it's used extensively. Although I suppose it is indirectly reducing people's need for heating so there is that. It is hilarious that your response to someone pointing out an unpalatable truth is to complain about ignorance.