Missouri or Texas and Why?

I would very much like to know what part of Texas you're talking about. It sounds great.

We are in Cameron County Texas, the southern most county in Texas. Before we came here, we heard all sorts of reasons not to come. It is mostly Hispanic, drug crime, Ill have to learn Spanish, they won't like us, etc. What I found is yes, it is Hispanic but so far (4 years) I've had no trouble with the culture. Just the opposite. They are very family oriented and have been very welcoming to us. As for crime, yes lots of drugs move through here on the way to the rest of the country but if you aren't working for the cartel, you'll not be a victim of their violence. We have a small farm on the edge of town with a canal that brings irrigation water. The grass here is Bermuda and when treated right, no weed has a chance. We keep it watered and it just keeps growing like crazy. This time of year the highs are around 100 but it is not that humid compared to MO. There is always a breeze off the gulf so after work I go outside with the animals etc. and it feels fine. People plant two gardens here, a early spring one and a fall one since in some years it never even freezes. the fields around are so fertile and raise lots of vegetables year round in addition to citrus orchards. 3 months out of the year are around 100 every day but the other 9 months are fantastic. I am outside on New Year's day in shorts and flip flops enjoying all the lovely blooming plants or working in my garden. I do not speak Spanish and have no need to learn. I know there are people who don't like it here but for me, I'm here to stay. I just read this week that Harlingen, TX is the cheapest city to live in for the nation. It is a great little city of about 75,000 with two hospitals and everything you need in a city. It is also surrounded by small towns with farms. As for schools, check out the Idea public school system and the UT system has just announced they are opening a medical school here in the valley. All I can say is it works for us.

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Living Large Down on the Farm.

What is the tropical storm/hurricane risk like down there?

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You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.

We are on the gulf and they do come through. I would not want to live on the island although the houses there have stood many a storm. We are about an hour from the coast and we get the wind and rain but very little damage other than a few shingles and some limbs. Our house was built in the 70's (a big old rambling ranch house) and the old man across the street says it has never flooded or had real damage.

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Living Large Down on the Farm.

.................The whole state of tx is subject to tornadoes , but the tx panhandle , and eastern new mexico get more than their share ! The 'coldest' wx is from Lubbock north to Texline , those cold fronts coming east across the northeast portion of NM really kickup the dirt from midland to Amarillo . The eastern , north<> south line separating nm from tx can get very COLD , but it doesn't last long and not much snow , Although , Amarillo can receive very large amounts of snow during the winter .
...................If , you're looking into the high lonesome , you should visit Alpine , it is situated at about 4,100' msl and is located out in the middle of no where . It also has a nice 4+ year college with a variety of degrees , oriented around teaching , agriculture and geology . It has some masters programs as well .
....................The country around Midland-Odessa is just plain UGLY , BUT , there is an oil boom there and lots of very high paying jobs , but very hard to find a decent place to live because the rents are so high . Midland has an excellent school system , college(s) offering degrees in several areas of Engineering and geology !
.....................Going east from midland on I20 , the topography slowly changes and transitions from semiarid desert to the great oak forest a little east of Abilene running all the way to east of Dallas for 60 miles or so . Once you get to Longview you're into ,very high humidity , and southern yellow pines and lots of other tree species I'm not familiar with .
......................Looking north , along the Red River you have Wichita Falls......wx up there is kinda odd cause it gets hotter and colder than it does just 100 miles south in the DFW area . Some of the very severe storms crossing Oklahoma west to east will include the country either side of the Red River .
......................Lots of very scenic country around San Antonio , Hondo , Seguine , called the "Hill country" , and also VERY expensive ! It gets hot down there , but not as hot as it does in the valley in my opinion . Starting at San Antonio and moving southwest to Brownsville area is almost exclusively Mexican dominated culture , some like it , some don't . It is very flat and very hot during the summers . Then , anywhere along the tx coast up to 100 miles or so inland you're subject to Hurricanes . You just have to have to have an escape route , preplanned so you can move further inland . I know nothing about southeast tx along the coast so no comment . , fordy

DB... did you guys decide anything?


I am sorry to hear that the sky does nothing for you. To be honest the skies in Phoenix and southern AZ were some of the most breathtaking I have ever seen or lived in. Ok more so in southern AZ as there is not as much "city lights" distracting you! Though sunset in Apache Junction was pretty freaking awesome! I just LOVED the blood red/neon pink skies in AZ!!!!!!

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You are confined only by the walls you build yourself.

I say split the difference and move to Arkansas. Here is a good place.http://www.outdoorlife.com/photos/ga...-found?photo=2

We shop in West Plains and just LOVE it!

Be sure to come to the Old Time Music, Ozark Heritage Festival in West Plains on June 20 & 21.

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Terri

Been all over found Good in every state. Lived in a few other states but always came back to Missouri.

Here I can totally live off the land. It is like a store I know where everything is. Summer and Winter last long enough to be sick of them and be refreshed by change. Plus I have Family here.

big rockpile

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I love being married.Its so great to find that one person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.



If I need a Shelter
If I need a Friend
I go to the Rock!

I know this is an old thread, but had to chime in for Missouri. I'm a Missouri native and my ancestors have been in Missouri since at least the early 1800's. It's truly home!

Texas is truly home for me, but I come to Missouri for six months each year.

By the way, I bought the 20 acres next door at the auction.

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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

I responded to this thread last year.
I just read my reply. I answered the day before fil passed away.

In that year we have moved into town.
I would still choose Texas. I miss my acre but I understand needing to be closer to the hospitals and things as we age. I grew up in Missouri and there are things I miss.
I chose to come to Texas even though my Missouri roots run deep.
I still would choose Texas today.
My heart though will always be where ever my Beloved MJ chooses to be.

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2Ti 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Luceo non uro

Over my Dead Body.

...............Tx lacks the flowing rivers that Missouri seems to have in abundance . Probably because of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers . And , so much of Tx is very arid and hi desert . , fordy

My vote...Missouri (Northwest)! Low taxes...four seasons...beautiful trees, hills, lakes, flowers...virtually regulation-free.

Texas doesn't have an income tax; Missouri does.

Texas has higher property taxes.

Only west and north Texas are arid. You've also got hill country in central Texas, bayou country from Houston to Beaumont, and the piney woods in east Texas.

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Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus

Trout and Hunting I like where we are in Lebanon, MO. with Bennett Springs State Park and Mark Twain National Forest but I really like Warsaw, MO. beautiful Little Town right on two major Lakes and Corps of Engineer Land . We have a Cabin there and I Love spending time there by myself.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warsaw,_Missouri

big rockpile

__________________
I love being married.Its so great to find that one person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.



If I need a Shelter
If I need a Friend
I go to the Rock!