If you had to live in one of these places for at least 15 months (Mobile, Montgomery (AL), or Houston), which would it be and why? Or perhaps more importantly, which would it not be and why not?

All considerations are relevant.

Please share and discuss in as much detail as possible.

Thanks.

-Rob

Houston is a hell hole but at least it's in Texas. And jhe888 knows where there's hookers and blow.

All have their nice areas and their not-so-nice areas, and all are H-O-T in the summer. If you can live in the eastern shore area of Mobile (Baldwin County), that would probably be my first choice. Mobile has character and good access to great beaches. Houston would be second, not because I love it but because I'm not a fan of Montgomery.

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Houston is a hell hole but at least it's in Texas. And jhe888 knows where there's hookers and blow.

It is?
It is hot/humid that is in agreement.
Can't speak for the differences from Mobile though.

Mobile and Montgomery are in the sticks. If you can handle Olympic-level traffic and don't mind being a minority, Houston is the way to go.

I'm on my 2nd stint living in Houston, and have never been to Alabama.

Pros:

Houston is Oil & gas hub. Companies have been pulling their people out of Mobile Bay, New Orleans, etc. for years and putting their jobs in Houston. Despite the industry hurting there are still a metric shit tons of good paying jobs here.

Houston medical industry. Research and teaching hospitals abound, #1 cancer hospital in US, and people from all over travel to Houston for medical care (i.e my buddy's friend has cancer and travels from Colorado to Houston for cancer treatment).

The Texas and Gulf Coast food is amazing, and over 100 languages spoken in Houston as it's a major international city which means there are numerous genres of food beyond Texas and Gulf Coast.

Houston is home of 2 of the Top 10 and 7 of top 50 BBQ joints in Texas. We know how to smoke meat and don't need to cover up lack of skill with a weird mayonnaise based bbq sauce.

Cons:

The humidity is miserable, but I doubt Mobile is any better.

The traffic is miserable. It's not as bad as LA, DC, NYC, or Boston but it sucks.

A lot of the infrastructure reminds me of a capitol city of a 3rd world country. Signs at IAH will have you in far left lane, and 100 yards later have you trying to switch 4 lanes. Areas of extreme wealth and extreme poverty. The highly expansive clay makes roads bumpy.

quote:

Originally posted by jaaron11:
All have their nice areas and their not-so-nice areas, and all are H-O-T in the summer. If you can live in the eastern shore area of Mobile (Baldwin County), that would probably be my first choice. Mobile has character and good access to great beaches. Houston would be second, not because I love it but because I'm not a fan of Montgomery.

^+1

I'd shoot myself in the foot.

Repeatedly, if necessary.


If forced, I'd choose Montgomery due to proximity to CMP South.

I have a little family (by marriage) in Houston. And it's pretty darn similar to Atlanta so I could live there. Beach is an hour away. It's a major city and comes with all of the good (entertainment, ease of travel, good food, etc) and bad (crime, traffic, etc) of big city living.

Mobile... Beach is close, fishing is good. If you can live in Daphne or Fairhope that'd be better.

Montgomery... no thanks.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: YellowJacket, July 12, 2017 01:28 PM

Grew up 50 miles from Montgomery
Lived three years in Mobile
Visited Houston

Montgomery. Far enough from coast to stay clear of the brunt of Hurricanes and close enough to take a three hour drive mostly interstate, down to the beach on a whim or just traveling light for a weekend. Hunting and fishing is good in central Alabama. Montgomery is on the Alabama River.

That said, some will say the best part of central Alabama is no matter which direction you drive, you're leaving

It was no accident that the first indoor sports stadium was built in Houston.

Summers are hot, and it isn't a dry heat.

Houston has so much more to offer. World class food and entertainment and shopping.

Alabama has football fans and woods, mostly, some beaches as well.

All three locations have significant drawbacks, but at least there's shit to do in Houston.

Biased, but Houston for sure. Never been to Mobile.
Born & raised here & have no real intention of leaving, aside from post-retirement buying some property in the Hill country.

As a kid I went to 8th and 9th grade in Mobile. In the CG I was on a ship in Galveston, TX for 2 years (82-84) and lived in Corpus Christi for 6 months in 85. Later stationed in Mobile as an adult from 89-94 and 98-02.

I love Mobile, and wouldn't even consider Montgomery or Houston over Mobile. Mobile is a fairly small town, Houston is the 3rd largest city in the country. Are you a small town guy or a big city guy?

I'm a small town guy, so a place the size of Mobile is just about perfect for me. The only down side to Mobile for us was the public schools, yet I went to them and so did my son (albeit only a couple of years for each of us). One of the reasons we moved to the Memphis area in 02 over staying in Mobile was the proximity to my job (I could have commuted like most pilots do) and the school issue. I don't know about the school system in Houston, but I would guess that its better than those of Mobile or Montgomery.

Mobile is pretty close to the gulf, so its just as vulnerable to hurricanes as Houston. The beaches within an hour or two of Mobile (Gulf Shores, Pensacola, Destin and others) are much nicer (in my opinion) than those in Galveston south of Houston.

Traffic in Mobile is kind of hosed along Airport Blvd and on the back roads during rush hours, but otherwise its easy to get around. Can't imagine having to put up with the sprawling traffic jams that plague Houston daily.

Montgomery is the capital and has an Air Force base nearby if you able to shop on base that could be a factor. I don't have much other knowledge about Montgomery.

Being a small southern town the politics in Mobile take some getting used to, but I consider it my adopted home town and would definitely choose it for a short (or permanent) stint over a large metro city like Houston. Nothing against Houston or Texas, just my personal preference.

You can live around Houston and still be near enough to everything without having to live in the "hell hole". I'm not sure about the economy in those other places but Texas is going strong. Houston itself votes Dem but there are plenty of conservatives all around. The 9 month summer sucks, the possibilities of hurricanes suck but they are infrequent enough that you may never see one. Traffic sucks too but I've seen worse (Austin comes to mind). There are plenty of ranges around and probably any type of shooting you want to do. I stay here due to the job market, I don't ever foresee being without a job and if I don't like where I'm at I have multiple other places to work. Lastly, everyone knows Texas is the best state anyway so there's nothing really to consider.

I had an opportunity for a sweet gig in Montgomery several years ago, while still with kids at home. I am from Bham, went to Auburn, have a sister and BIL who live in Montgomery, along with some friends from college. I went for an on-site visit but turned down the gig; everything I suspected would be issues with the area were, and worse. Still get there pretty regular now, it's not better. At all.

I think of those three I'd pick Mobile, but Mobile and Houston both suck for weather, humidity and for Houston gridlock and crime.

Maybe another job?

No way I'd voluntarily live in Montgomery or Houston. Montgomery is landlocked, hot and there is nothing there. Houston is massive, gridlocked traffic, hot, humid - not for me.

Out of those choices, it would definitely be Mobile for me.

Daphne/Fairhope Alabama is a bout 5,miles from mobile over the causeway. It is a fantastic place. mobile isn't a small town. It is a medium sized city with great food. The gulf is 30 minutes away.
Orange Beach/ Gulf Shores. Pensacola is 30 minutes away.

Move to Daphne/Fairhope. You will never want to leave. Houston is a smelly dump. You have to get pretty far away from it, and that will never be as nice as Fairhope. We live in Pensacola and my wife wants to move to Fairhope.
That's where she goes for her girls weekend every year for the past 18 years. She could go anywhere.

Think Savanna, Georgia but with a gulf coast flair.

quote:

Move to Daphne/Fairhope. You will never want to leave. Houston is a smelly dump. You have to get pretty far away from it, and that will never be as nice as Fairhope. We live in Pensacola and my wife wants to move to Fairhope.
That's where she goes for her girls weekend every year for the past 18 years. She could go anywhere.

Yep. Fairhope is nice. The high class folks hang out at Point Clear. Bellingrath Gardens is close by. Lots of old Southern money in the area.

Have lived in all 3. I do love Texas, but don't care for Houston. Of those I'd pick Mobile. Close to the beach, and plenty to do in the area. Montgomery has gotten a lot nicer in the past few years.

Caveat: I don't like big cities and don't care for Houston. Also, I don't care for Houston one bit. Have I mentioned Houston is my least favorite?