Possible move to Houston but worried about gun crime

[Cannaeshoveyergranny]

There's a strong possibility that my husband is going to be offered a secondment to Houston which would probably last two years. It's a great opportunity career wise and I could cope with being away from family and friends, but find that I'm fixating on gun crime in the US and I'm not sure if I'm being over the top or not.

So anyone in the US - does it impact you at all, do you find yourself worrying about school shootings or similar, or does gun control not really enter your head as you're going about your daily life? I am from a small town, very low crime rate so I'm struggling to imagine life in a big city full stop never mind one where anybody can carry a gun.

Any thoughts/experience would be welcome!

[InformalRoman]

It was a few years ago now, but we lived in Houston for a while. We were aware of the gun culture and were always careful to be polite on the roads (you never know who might be having a bad day) but apart from seeing police officers with weapons it didn't impact us much.

One thing that did occur to us (late in the day) is when your children go on play dates to know that the parents have any guns locked away safely (and not kept in a bathroom cabinet, as one friend found out).

We were in Sugar Land, which I think will be too much of a commute (traffic was horrendous when we were there), but you could take a look at Pearland or League City?

www.movoto.com/guide/houston-tx/best-houston-suburbs/

I had a great time (just had a toddler back then), met loads of lovely people, and there's lots to see and do - state parks, museums and galleries, the zoo, historic houses, beaches. Brazos Bend SP was a favourite - although you'd have to like alligators

[Cannaeshoveyergranny]

Thanks for the pointers on areas and schools. Our 4 year old isn't 5 until December so although he will start school here in August, if we were to go out there in the next year or so, he wouldn't start kindergarten until 2018. So my next concern is that, depending on what happened when we came back, he might have to be put back a year. And he'll be ready for school in August - after 3 full days a week at nursery school currently, I don't think being at home with me all the time would be right for him! Am wondering if the company would fork out for private preschool...

...and I hadn't even considered alligators!!!

[InformalRoman]

My DS went 2 days a week to a fabulous preschool attached to the local baptist church (he was only 2). It wasn't expensive and my MIL (retired teacher) was gobsmacked at the resources they had available.

I had no idea about the wildlife either before we went out - but loved the hummingbirds coming to the garden every day. And red winged blackbirds and cardinals at the bird feeder.