re: Where would you live out of Houston, Santa Fe, and New Orleans

Santa Fe. You are real close to Colorado skiing.

I’m strongly considering a move there (or to the rates) to work for the Indian Health Service after my kids finish high school.

Out of those three, Santa Fe for sure. I love New Orleans but I'm not sure I would want to live there. Still I'd prefer it over Houston. I've already done one tour of duty in Houston.

Houston has a bigger pond, with more fish in it. If the day job is the same, you have a better chance of fulfilling your nights.

Houston > SF > NOLA

Houston has much better schools and an infinite number of things to do, cost of living low, good airports. Traffic sucks, it's ugly as sin and cookiecutter AF with no character. Oppressive heat and humidity.

Santa Fe, great climate, beautiful, small, no real crime, lots of character. High cost of living, not very much to do, you'll get bored after six months, schools are worse than even Louisiana. You have to drive to ABQ to get to an airport with practically no direct flights anywhere or shop at a normal store.

New Orleans, lots of stuff to do and restaurants, character. Violent Crime off the rails, schools suck bad, worse climate than Houston by a teeny bit and loads of self important douches like that Fleurty Girl chick.

Santa Fe is the better place but is more of a place to retire. Beautiful but not really a good place to raise a family.

Early 30s married with kids on the way, Houston is the way to go. Mainly for the kids.

SF is great, the wife and I visit every year for the wine festival at the end of September. I would retire there but not live there if I was 30.

You could not pay me to live in Houston.

Nola
SF
Aids
Houston

Not sure how New Orleans is even an option. Probably Santa Fe

Santa Fe


New Orleans

Houston

quote:

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if you can afford it.

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I live in The Woodlands and don't consider that "Houston", but do really like it there. But for both Houston proper and NOLA, if I could afford it, there are multiple places I would love to live. But I can't swing a multi million dollar home at this time.

Never been to Santa Fe, so I can't comment there.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I’ve never been to SF but my biggest concern is the economy there. Where/how do I progress? My wife is in healthcare; I work in policy/lobbying.

For me I’m looking at it like this:

Santa Fe
Pros: beautiful, 4 seasons, outdoors, change of scenery
Cons: far from family, don’t know anyone, kind of small

Houston
Pros: economy, already have friends there, close to family in LA
Cons: it’s Houston

New Orleans
Pros: we all know the pros
Cons: we all know the cons



Basically if I want the one with the dynamic economy I choose Houston. If I dont (and I’m leaning towards not), then should I choose SF or Nola?

Thinking about having kids soon and don’t know if SF is a good place to raise them, especially with all my family back in Louisiana.