GETTING TO KNOW TEXAS- NEED FEEDBACK

We live west of Ft. Worth in Weatherford.  Parker County is definetly horse country. You would actually have the horses on your property and would not need to rent a stable, unless you chose to.  It's about 15 - 20 minutes to Ft. Worth and there are alot of Hospitals in Ft. Worth that would be very accessible.  Northwest Tarrant  county also has alot of areas that might work and they are fairly easy to commute to Ft. Worth.  Fort Worth in general gives you such a small town feeling and we love it here.  South of Ft. Worth also has alot of country atmosphere, but the commute up I-35 is a little tough at times. We are 15 minutes from a major mall and about that close to strip type of shopping such as Kohl's Lowes Walmart, etc.  If you narrow it down and want to look closer at this area, we would be glad to give you more information.  (This actually from Jack's wife- Ginny- I don't have my own OH acct but wanted to respond)  Good luck on your move.

hijack - hi ginny wondered when Jack got so talkitive :)
BTW are you guys coming to dinner sat night

Yes, we will be there Saturday. One last chance to see you face to face for awhile, wouldn't miss it. (from Ginny)

Thanks guys. I was just looking at Career Builder and sending in my hubbies resume to these different companies. I have to do something before he changes his mind. All your feedback is very much appreciated.

I'd look at some of the smaller towns outside Austin.

Wimberley is really nice but I doubt you'd find anything to rent there.

I just spent a month in Wimberley - and you are not going to find anything affordable to rent (much less buy there). However, the area I live in (Spicewood/Marble Falls/Burnet) is still affordable and definitely animal friendly. It is about a 40 minute drive to Austin - which is where we moved from.
Now - I do have to go on record again of saying that I HATE it out here, but that is because I am very much a city girl and hate not having neighbors, a grocery store closer then 30 miles away, etc. But, my husband and our 3 big dogs and the 5 cats love it. (When we have water and can swim - it is much better.)
Just keep in mind that Central Texas in the summer can be brutal - been over 100 degrees here ALL week....

we are north of dallas in plano not much country here but lots of in town stuff - north of us is allen and mckinny both have country living - we love the area - are getting ready to move b/c hubby is army and they think Georgia is a good place for us :)
but we will always come back to this area -

however if you are into desert and camping - check out El Paso/almagordo NM area - there are tons of outsidesy things to do and there is cloud croft (picture ski area but with farms and cattle) and whitesands nat park -(picture WHITE sand and lots of it)
from el paso it is 9ish hours to dfw and 11 to southern cali

we have lived both places and chose here simple b/c we have family here that we hate to leave

Well from everything I have read Texas is the right choice as far as the economy - we still have lots of jobs if you go by the news etc. 
Now if it is beautiful country, close to the bigger city and a place for animals namely horses you should really entertain the possibilites of Kerrville, Bandera areas.  I live in Bandera (Cowboy Capital of the World, and I am here to tell you it is like stepping into a whole different planet).  There is just one ranch after another and many stables to lease space for you horses.  Kerrville is a bit more expensive than Bandera.  Both cities in the heart of the Texas Hill Country.  Austin is really pretty and really hip but a bit more expensive to live in than the small towns outside of San Antonio.  I would not prefer to live in San Antonio either (just done with city life) but like the fact that I can drive there in 45 minutes through some of the most beautiful country you will ever see.  I have my own business and go there and into Kerrville alot to see clients and the drives are so tranquill.  I lived in Houston for 14 years, then Atlanta 12 years and am so glad to be back "home" in the Texas Hill Country. 
Health Care is the big industry in San Antonio, if you are looking for work in that industry you will do well in San Antonio in that field. 
Austin, is a good area for the IT Te*****al industry but Dell Computers has laid off alot of people in the past several yrs and there are alot of qualified folks looking for those jobs that are available.
Dallas, has alot of different jobs.  Many gaming companies there too.  If you are into that industry at all.
Good luck.

If you're looking for Northeast Texas - Sherman, Denison, Denton, Gainesville - all are somewhat country but within an hour drive to Dallas and the northern suburbs and less than that into southern Oklahoma.

Medical claims examiner for an insurance company?  There's a big Cigna (I think) office between Sherman and Denison.

East of Dallas I would check out Greenville - fair sized town and within an hour of Dallas.

Southeast of Dallas - Crandall, Kaufman, Combine - all well within an hour drive of Dallas and lots of farm land.

Don't know much about the west and southwest sides of the Big D!  LOL

CA???       Heck, I'd trade places with ya ..