In 2008, August weather in Austin started in mid-May. This year, it's starting in mid-June. I've fucking had it.
Yesterday, I did some web searches about moving to Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and Seattle. Today, I went to the bookstore to find some books on the same subject matter.
I've been forming some mental checklists about the pros and cons of moving to those locales. Those destinations are primarily west coast because I'm tired of long flights to Honolulu. Here's what I've figured out so far:
Los Angeles
Draws
- Major music town
- Significant gay community
- South enough to avoid the cold but north enough to escape the heat
Demerits
- Car culture (I'm tired of owning a car)
- LAX
Network connectivity
- Slight. I know one former co-worker, but we never really hung out. I also have a college friend I haven't really seen in more than 10 years.
Likelihood of moving: Low
San Francisco
Draws
- Significant gay community
- Kronos Quartet
Demerits
- Expensive enough to make Honolulu and New York City look like amateur hour
- Parking (from what I gather)
Network connectivity
Practically non-existent. The friends I might have in the area don't actually live in San Francisco.
Likelihood of moving: Low to medium
New York City
Draws
- I've lived there before
- Mike Doyle
- Kinokuniya, Book-Off
- Lincoln Center
- Ess-a-Bagel
- Major music town, especially new music
- Subway system == no car!
Demerits
- Expensive. Holy fuck expensive
- Cold
Network connectivity
Promising. I have a cousin who moved to the area recently, and I know at least one former co-worker from Waterloo Records.
Likelihood of moving: Medium to high
Seattle
Draws
- Wayne Horvitz, Robin Holcomb and Bill Frisell
- Big community of former Hawai`i residents
- No state tax
Demerits
- I've never been there before, so I have no idea what the city is really like
- North enough to be cold, but not as cold as Chicago or New York City
Network connectivity
High. Two former co-workers live in Seattle, one of them the former personnel manager of Waterloo Records. A colleague from the Dow Jones Newspaper Fund lives there as well.
Likelihood of moving: Medium to high
If I weren't traveling to Japan this year, I'd be visiting each of these towns to get a feel for them. I've never been to Seattle or San Francisco, and I've only ever seen Anaheim in Los Angeles. I'll have to save those trips for 2011 — assuming I don't blow all my cash before then.
I just know I can't endure very many more Texas summers. And I find Austin tiresome. The novelty has worn off.