# Holy Shit! I'm movin' to Dallas! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 18, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336 "2004-08-18T02:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/61 "2004-08-24T20:41:49Z")
> [@Dewey Cheatem Undhow](#): > > Now other Dopers need to step to the plate. We can’t have **Billdo** (and **Greathouse** in Dallas) shouldering my drinking needs all by his lonesome. 🙂 Missed this thread when it was first posted because I’ve been out for a couple weeks. I’m good for a beer or three. Don’t drink alcohol myself, but don’t have a problem hanging out with those who do. If you’re still looking at the housing situation drop me an email. A friend of mine is an apartment locator. He’ll be fair with you and he covers a wide area. I’m with **minty** on the commute issue. I’ve got about a mile and a three-quarters from the house to the office and I love it(if the drivers weren’t so nuts in this area and the sidewalks such crap I’d cycle/walk/jog to work and back fairly frequently as opposed to the infrequently that I do it now). Six minutes in the car, tops. Many older neighborhoods inside the loop of 635 are being revitalized by yuppies and other professionals moving in and fixing up the older homes. You can find fantastic deals on some fixer-uppers(generally because the owners got too old to keep up maintenance on the place but weren’t ready to retire yet) in well established neighborhoods if you don’t mind there being a generation gap between you and your neighbors. If you need a hopping nightlife and lots of younger people/families then you might want to look north of the loop in the Addison/Plano area. I’m in the Las Colinas area and while some areas of it are primarially younger people(mostly north) the area I’m in(smack dab in the middle, by the Four Seasons where they play the Byron Nelson) is mainly families with teenagers or empty-nesters in houses they had built in the early seventies. The one thing I would caution you about is some of the stupidly fast-growing areas like Flower Mound or Valley Ranch. They claim to be “master-planned” communities, but what they really do is throw up a bunch of zero-lot homes in next to no time and in a few years they have all kinds of issues. I’ve got several co-workers who live in Flower Mound and they complain of everything from school issues, drainage/pests, to flat out lies by the realtors when they purchased their homes. There are these lovely brick walls around communities that were beautiful when they were first built and the homes were for sale but once the realtors had sold most of the homes they let the landscaping of the community go to pot. The walls are falling down and the trees they planted were fast-growing, fast-dying varieties. YMMV of course, but for my money it is an established neighborhood whose infrastructure wasn’t slapped together by a bunch of jerks looking to cash in on the recent growth boom. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![light\_strand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a6a055/32.png) [@light\_strand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/light_strand)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/62 "2004-08-24T21:18:54Z")
Well I can put my two cents in here. I live in Plano East of 75. I like to think of it as the “slums” of Plano. The reason I say I live in a slum, is due to the fact that I have to hear “Oh my gawd, YOU live East of 75? I can’t believe it! ” Despite the fact that I live in a really nice area with good schools (after all we just passed a 280 million (yes million) dollar millage- grrrrrr) great home prices, big parks, and pretty good lot sizes. I love my neighborhood so much that I have decided to take my home over my commute and stick it out. The problem I have is that I live north of 635, and work south of it. They are doing major construction to be completed 2006, and my formerly 20-30 minute drive has become 50 to 90 minutes But they’re ahead of schedule so hopefully it’ll end soon Oh and remember: look for a place that has easy access to a liquor store. Many areas are dry, dry, dry. I have the good fortune of working right by a liquor store so I don’t have to go too far, but a friend in Lewisville has an hour round-trip to pick up rum. Plano, of course is neither dry or wet, as they sell beer and wine. I like to think of it as “moist”. If you have that beer down by Baylor Medical Center, I’m in. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/63 "2004-08-24T23:31:18Z")
You work at Baylor? Say hi to my sister next time you see her. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2004, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/64 "2004-08-24T23:47:13Z")
Must…resist…straight…line… ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/65 "2004-08-25T00:12:20Z")
Aaaaaaack! Trying to pick a car to buy, something I haven’t had to think about in years (well over a decade…I drove the same car my senior year in high school, all through college, and all through law school, and haven’t needed one in New York). I was all set to be practical, then **minty** mentions to me via email the notion that everyone should own a sports car at least once in their lives. Now my practical side and my boyish side are at war. Hmmmm, a nice zippy convertible _would_ be nice… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/66 "2004-08-25T00:15:14Z")
Two words: “Yes, Dear…” ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/67 "2004-08-25T00:23:46Z")
> [@Dewey Cheatem Undhow](#): > > Now my practical side and my boyish side are at war. Hmmmm, a nice zippy convertible _would_ be nice… We get a week of good weather in the fall, and another couple weeks in the spring–why not buy something sensible (think “superb air conditioning,” “remote starter” and “hail resistant”) and simply _rent_ a convertible a couple times a year? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/68 "2004-08-25T00:45:17Z")
> [@Dewey Cheatem Undhow](#): > > I was all set to be practical, then **minty** mentions to me via email the notion that everyone should own a sports car at least once in their lives. Sorry, I forgot to tell you that time is _after_ you have already been approved for a home mortgage. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/69 "2004-08-25T01:12:05Z")
> [@minty green](#): > > Sorry, I forgot to tell you that time is _after_ you have already been approved for a home mortgage. Ah, but my wife and I have been saving as though we would need to buy a home in the northeast. We are not worried about the mortgage. Now, **elucidator** ’s concern is more valid… ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/70 "2004-08-25T02:27:37Z")
Lemme explain the difference between “down payment” and “mortgage” . . . ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/71 "2004-08-25T03:32:10Z")
> [@Dewey Cheatem Undhow](#): > > Now other Dopers need to step to the plate. We can’t have **Billdo** (and **Greathouse** in Dallas) shouldering my drinking needs all by his lonesome. 🙂 Happy to add some farewell libations. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/72 "2004-08-25T05:33:20Z")
You know, **Dewey** gets to Dallas and two weeks go by, and he hasn’t spent even one night in de-tox or been arrested, I’m gonna be mighty disappointed with you guys. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/73 "2004-08-25T05:38:26Z")
~sigh~ I miss Texas. I lived in the ‘mid cities’ area for 10 years, working for American Airlines. I too would recommend Plano/North Dallas. One more thing… remember every year there’s an event called the OU / Texas Game. If anyone tries to tell you it’s the “Texas / OU” game, you must pretend you don’t know what they’re talking about until they say it correctly! 🙂 See you in Texas on October 9th! I’ll be the drunk guy with the Sooners shirt on! E3 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/74 "2004-08-25T05:55:27Z")
Good! We’ll be the ones with the rope! ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/75 "2004-08-25T12:38:01Z")
> [@delphica](#): > > What am I, chopped livah? 😉 I prefer to think of you as pate. **Dewey** , when will you be heading off, and when do you think would be good for the festivities? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/76 "2004-08-25T14:07:57Z")
> [@minty green](#): > > Lemme explain the difference between “down payment” and “mortgage” . . . I understand the difference. However, a down payment that represents a significant percentage of the home value means a lender will be more comfortable making the loan, as the homeowner is less likely to default because he’d lose all or most of the cash he put in. My wife and I are both professionals; income-wise, we’re set. Our credit history is totally clean. We have a year to go to pay off my wife’s Jeep, but other than that no major debts. I paid my student loans off ages ago. Seriously, I cannot fathom having any difficulties getting the mortgage, even with a spiffy car. I’m not talking about buying a Ferrari here. Having said that, I am my father’s child and I’m sure I’ll end up doing the practical thing. Dammit. > [@Enright3](#): > > One more thing… remember every year there’s an event called the OU / Texas Game. > > If anyone tries to tell you it’s the “Texas / OU” game, you must pretend you don’t know what they’re talking about until they say it correctly! Ahem. You’re talking to graduate of the University of Texas Law School here. So don’t try to foist that bullshit on me, mister. My feelings on OU, and Oklahoma in general, were best expressed [in this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=183703), where (among other things) **minty** and I debated the best approach to handling those heathens north of the Red River. > [@Billdo](#): > > Dewey, when will you be heading off, and when do you think would be good for the festivities? I keep putting off that decision, but I figure sometime during the first full week of September. Let me know when’s good for you (you got my email, right?). ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/77 "2004-08-25T14:23:25Z")
First full week in September? Yep, I’m officially out of the country that week. That means you’ll have to get the in-laws to carry your sleeper sofa up two flights of stairs. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/78 "2004-08-25T14:46:04Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > JUDGE: “The Jury will ignore any references to 1920s Death Rays or to Opal; and I’m reminding both counsel for the plaintiff and defendant that ‘cite?’ is not a valid objection.” Coffee, nose, monitor, etc. Congratulations, **Dewey** , and best wishes to you and the missus on your return to the land where men are men, women are scarce, and cattle are nervous. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/79 "2004-08-25T14:51:58Z")
> [@minty green](#): > > First full week in September? Yep, I’m officially out of the country that week. That means you’ll have to get the in-laws to carry your sleeper sofa up two flights of stairs. 😃 Oh, that’s when _I’m_ coming. The sofa, etc., will follow a couple of months later after my wife wraps up her current slate of audits and transfers to the Dallas office. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336/80 "2004-08-30T14:03:13Z")
By the way, I’m a-leavin’ on a jet plane, don’t know when I’ll be back again, on Sept. 10. So the New Yorkers who want to go out for drinks, let’s pick a date. Next week is better than this one, and this Thursday is right out. Other than that, I’m open to anything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holy-shit-im-movin-to-dallas/260336.md?page=5)