Some of you might have noticed I've been really really quiet around here (pretty uncommon for me). I've been stupid busy at work, in Argentina for some two weeks....and starting to plan for a move to Houston. Yep, all the cool kids are moving to Texas these days!

To tell you guys the truth, I'm a little disappointed with the quantity of houses I've seen on har.com with 4 or more garage spaces. I've been concentrating on the west Spring, Cypress area since that appears to offer a good balance of high end schools/decent commute into downtown/big house for not too much $. We'll see though, I've only been outside of downtown Houston once and that was to Spring so I'm a little biased since I don't know anything else. Any advice here would be appreciated!

I cant imagine what those poor movers are going to think when they open up the garage and see things like LT1 engine blocks, a hydraulic press, band saw, etc sitting there waiting for them I've already packed the things they wont move: long sticks of metal, chemicals, explosives, ammunition, the race car...normal stuff

Al,

Let me know if you have any problems getting your Texas Passport. I know people.

Check out an area called The Woodlands.

I'd also look at Kingwood, off of I59. Since TxDOT has done considerable work on I59, the commute back and forth from/to Houston is nowhere near as bad is coming out of the Spring area. I know nothing of schools there, though.

Andy, he should have no prob with the Passport. Didn't you notice he's moving ammo and hazardous chemicals? He'll fit right in.

hahaha Andy is my character witness based on the deal we made for a z28 for a trunkfull of guns. People here in Norcal are just freaked out when I tell them about that one.

I've heard stories that the woodlands is at least 1:15 away from downtown during commute hours with shared transport, worse alone. That sounds like a lot to me.

I think that's going to go down as one of the great stories of frrax history.

Heck, moving the ammo and hazardous chemicals is my favorite part....

He's gonna have to lose that goofy accent, though.

Better start saying 3 times fast.

Home BREW!!!! and Barbeque!!!!!!


John

PS Sorry Mitch couldnt resist

Bah! All of you guys have goofy accents!

Al,

The more "hardware" you have, the faster you clear through the Republic of Texas border so you should be OK.

Two pieces of advice ----

If anybody says " Hey, watch this!" after a 12 pack, look for a hole to hunker down in because something extreme is about to happen. If you are a passenger in a vehicle and the driver says this, well just bend over and kiss --- well, you know.

If you walk into a local restaurant and get the bad eye, immediately order a big glass of sweet tea. That is a secret sign.

If it is a bar, order a Shiner and ask if anyone else needs one.

Maybe that will get you through the first coupla weeks. I wouldn't talk a whole lot in public if I was you.

Damn South Africans..... You guys want a southern accent, Mericet has a southern accent....

Though it actually sounds more Dutch..... And it did take me most of a year to be able to understand him on the phone.



Mitch said he was given the same advice when he was in Indiana.....

....sorry to hear that Al......I've BEEN to Houston.......













.....seriously.....my opinions on the matter mean nothing......I hope it all works out for you! Best of luck!

Haha, we've got a German guy and a South African guy from Siemens at work right now and I'd rather work with the South African any day. At least he's got a sense of humor! Dolf and Ulf, what a pair

Congrats on the move, Al, but I have no tech to provide.

Well, just like the South Africans these days. I am sure there is more of them living outside the country than in it. I have an ex SA friend who also works for Siemens (lives in West Palm Beach). And Al, don't worry, I've been to Texas often and never had any problems. Heck, they even understand me!

I'm not worried about my fellow Texan race fanatics understanding me, but I am certainly going to miss my Cali racing buddies and the California race tracks. I think I'll like living in Texas but I do sometimes worry about how on earth I'm going to deal with cowboy hats and country music. I'm pretty sure my bright yellow s2000 will fit right in among the pickups with shotgun racks though Texans love little imported convertibles right?

My recolection is Texas is a "must have a front plate" state. That true? Cali technically is but its never enforced. I HATE front plates. Few things look worse than front plates. Am I going to have to deal?

Anyone have any input on how easy/difficult it is in reality to get a carry permit??

"We got both kinds of music...country AND western"

Al,

The front plate thing is going to go away at some point in the fairly near future. I know some that just ignore it now and they do get pulled over occasionally. It is like a $40 ticket.

My son just got his CHL. One day class with everything included. I think the permit is $140 plus the class. There is a 6 month residency requirement. When I got mine, I was told TX was the ONLY state that also did an FBI background check, thus the 2 sets of fingerprints. Because of that TX has reciprocity with a large number of other states.

Everything you need to know is here:

TX CHL requirements


You can probably get by in that yella sporty car if you have an appropriate bumper sticker like an orange longhorn or "Drink Beer-Raise Hell" or "You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold dead fingers" . Something like that.

Other bumper sticker candidates ...

"Forgive me I'm from Kalifornia"

"My gun rack is at the powder coater"

"I thought it had a Hemi"

"Drifting sux"

"I'm not really a Kalifornian, but I play one on TV."

"It's Z06 yellow"

"It's my wife's car and she's a HOT Asian"

Difficult to carry a gun in Texas? I'm betting they are one of the easier states for a CCW/CHL. Everybody carries guns in Texas....



Ohio does electronic finger printing, at least they did when I got my permit and I believe they do the full FBI check as well. It's only $45, but it takes "forever" to get approved.

Somehow I think Al will fit right in with the Texans. Heck, after trading a trunk full of guns for a car, you should have been qualified as a Texas resident on the spot.

Not the Woodlands, where every tree is sacred, _Kingwood_. The Woodlands are off I45 (North Freeway) (like Spring). Kingwood is north of Houston off of I59 (Eastex freeway). Oh, and by the way, EVERY road in Texas has at least two names. That is especially true in Houston, where they will change names as you cross roads. Each time the name changes, it will again, have a (many times) DIFFERENT two names. Lots-O-fun when giving out directions.

And yes, the Woodlands are at least an hour from town, sometimes two, if someone does something stupid on their morning commute, like run into someone else.

Texas has a law on the books commonly called the "Travel Law" -- basically it says if you are traveling overnight and more than 2 counties away, you can conceal a handgun in your car. You can't carry it on your person, but you can have it in the glovebox, under the seat etc. You can also take it into the motel with you.

You can also shoot someone in Texas for trespassing.

And, they have the Nightime Mischief law-- if someone is vandalizing your car or property AT NIGHT you may shoot them.

Also, we have Texas Rangers that just deal with cattle rustlers.

But enough of that......

The more I read this thread, the more I have the urge to move to Texas...

Ahh, well, when I win the lotto

Check out:

www.packing.org for all the TX info you need