I am seeing some hope for society here in Austin.....

[gimmethesimplelife]

I took this travel book with me to Austin TX where I am now on vacation and in it the author states that anyone spending a day in Austin will leave with stories to tell. True that! Mine have to do with utter amazement but in a good way. Case in point A. Several times on the bus I have seen what appeared to be utter strangers strike up a conversation with one another, and I even did this myself today!!!!! Case in point B. Yesterday on the bus I saw two young guys holding hands and leaning in to each other - utterly amazing as people walked right by them on the bus WITH NO REACTION WHATSOEVER!!!!! This is something you don't see in Phoenix - nor do many strike up conversations with strangers. Case in point C. On the bus yesterday I saw an ad with two women standing very close together, with the tagline that sexual orientation discrimination in housing was against the law in Austin. The ad went on to state a number to call in the event of discrimination, and also went on to mention other covered classes of people. AND THIS WAS ON A PUBLIC BUS!!!!!

Gotta say I am falling in love with this place. Rob

[lhamo]

Maybe it is time to contemplate a move? Sounds like you would enjoy it there...

lhamo

[Zoebird]

Austin is a cool town. Dh loves it there.

When it looked like things in NZ were about to collapse, we considered hawaii (we were going to head there for a short stint to figure out what to do with ourselves), LA and Austin. It's a good little place. :)

[pinkytoe]

I can't speak for all the newcomers and how it will change that, but Austin has always been a very tolerant place. What other city idolized Leslie, a transvestite who wandered the streets half-clothed but always smiling? On the flip side, I get my feelings hurt when I see how unfriendly some of the newcomers are. Downright unpleasant. In my hood, there are at least five gay couples within a block - living next door to seniors and new families with young children. No one really cares who you love.

[Gregg]

I love Austin. It has all the pieces parts to make it a cool place and it's just....weird. Trying to get DW interested for the upcoming snowbird departures. SXSW should do the trick if the fajitas don't.