1. This Isn’t Your Mama’s Texas
Living in Austin is every bit as liberal and proudly weird as you’ve heard. It’s a blue dot in a sea of red. If Texas was a waffle, then Austin would be the syrup.
2. But That Doesn’t Mean That This Isn’t Texas
Remember, this is still Texas and just because Austin proper doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold, that doesn’t mean that you won’t still find it. Local and surrounding areas can still be very highly conservative.
3. It’s Getting Pretty Crowded
Austin consistently tops the charts of fastest growing city statistic lists and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Not only is it getting crowded but housing costs have gotten really high because of it.
4. And The Traffic Is Even Worse
The traffic is bad. I know a lot of cities make the same complaint, but this one is so true, it hurts. According to INRIX, Austin has the fourth worst traffic in the country and residents can spend upwards of 38 hours per year stuck sitting in it.
5. But Rumors That Austin Has Jumped The Shark Are Ridiculous
Where else can you find a real-life Mystery Machine driving the streets like living in a scene from Scooby Doo. Or walk into a place that specializes in bacon to find none other than… Kevin Bacon?
6. There Is Definitely A Hierarchy Here
When you hear people complain about Austinites being pretentious, it’s not entirely off-base. The longer someone has lived here, the moodier they can get about the population boom.
7. Live Music Capitol Of The World Is An Understatement
Live music is never more than a few blocks away when you live in Austin, no matter what time of day or what day of the week it is.
8. If All The Beer Dried Up, Austinites Would Die Of Thirst
You know who drinks wine coolers? No one who lives in Austin, that’s who. Learn to love beer, there are plenty of great bars and craft selections to choose from here.
9. Breakfast Tacos Are The New Waffles
Rumor has it that breakfast tacos are starting to make their way around the country. Just remember that they were an Austin thing first.
10. Tex-Mex Loyalty Can Get As Dicey As Political Affiliations
Where you get your tacos and Tex-Mex can say a lot about you in Austin. Are you a Torchy’s loyalist? Or do you prefer the dives? Choose wisely, and prepare to have your selection judged hard.
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11. If Austin Were A Planet, It Would Be Made Of Cheese
I don’t want to say that Austin is obsessed with cheese, but in queso emergencies, Austinites know to pray to Cheesus.
12. You’ll Wonder How Everyone Can Be So Fit
Austinites know how to party until the bands shut the bars down and they have a steady diet of tacos and cheese. So they couldn’t possibly be fit, right?
Wrong. Austin is rated as the 11th fittest city in the country and everywhere you go, it seems like someone just left yoga class.
13. Get Yourself Two Wheels
There is an active cycling community in Austin and getting around on two wheels is a breeze. If you’re unconvinced, even Lance Armstrong agrees that Austin is as bike-friendly as it gets.
14. But Don’t Give Up The Car Just Yet
Unless you don’t plan on leaving your neighborhood, you’re still going to want to keep your car.
Traffic sucks, but the city is spread out pretty far and public transportation leaves much to be desired.
15. SXSW Is A Even Cooler Than You Heard It Is
Austinites don’t like to brag but… Oh, yes they do. SXSW is the best festival you’ll ever attend. That’s right, Coachella, I’m looking at you.
16. But That’s Not The Only Festival In Austin
ACL and Marley Fest are amazing, too.
17. Never Had Allergies Before? You Do Now
If you can make it through this list without sneezing, you must be made of metal.
18. You’ll Learn To Not Hate Bats Anymore
Unless your name is Bruce Wayne or Dracula, you probably don’t have a deep love for bats. But in Austin, they’re a local treasure.
You still probably won’t see the big deal about them since they’re bats and all, but watching a million or so emerge from under the bridge at dusk is pretty cool.
19. No Sports Team? Says Who?
Austin might be the largest city in the country to be without one of the four major sport leagues. But they have the Texas Longhorns and that’s all they need.
20. Hook ‘Em
When you see someone from Austin throwing up the devil horns, they’re not channeling their inner Dio. That’s how you “hook ‘em” for the Longhorns.
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21. Find Yourself A Thunder Buddy
The storms in Austin don’t mess around. The sky can go from perfectly clear to ominous in a matter of minutes.
22. The Graffiti Is Better Than Architecture
In New York, locals complain about out-of-towners holding up traffic and jamming up the sidewalk to check out the skyscrapers.
In Austin, you have to deal with everyone stopping to rubberneck all the completely unique graffiti and art around town.
23. Austin Has Fishing On Steroids
Sometimes you go fishing in Lady Bird Lake and sometimes the fish catch you.
24. The Lake Is Actually A River
Speaking of Lady Bird Lake, it’s actually a river. It’s just called a lake. That’s because there is a dam on both sides of it.
Although technically that makes it a reservoir. But whatever. It’s Lady Bird Lake, just deal with it.
25. Austin Is Proof That The Midwest Knows Nothing About BBQ
You’re free to argue this point all you’d like but as soon as you try the barbeque around here, it’s checkmate.
26. Food Trailers > Diners
Food trucks are big in other cities. But Austin does food trailers because they don’t do it like other cities.
27. Don’t Forget It Is The State Capital
With all the music and the fun and the art and the weirdness, people tend to forget that Austin is the state capital of Texas. And the Capitol is the biggest in the country – which makes sense, since it’s the Texas Capitol.
28. The Pools Here Are A Bit Different
Austin is really hot and every season is swimming season. But you don’t need a pool here. The watering holes around here turn the city into a paradise.
With Hamilton Pool, Krause Springs, and Jacob’s Springs, a cool down is never far away.
29. Gourdough = True Love
Calling the concoctions at Gourdough “donuts” doesn’t really do them justice. They’re more like a confectionary dream come true.
30. Come To Think Of It, Living In Austin Isn’t That Great
Like the shirt says, Dallas is lovely.
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