Torn - the US half is very unsure about repatriating

My take on Texas was even worse...small minds. At the time, my ex and I were heavily involved in church. I found it very stiffling and oppressing. Now my primary concern would be racism given my situation. But mind you dallas is quite large you can probably find any number of outlets for about anything you wish. Also flights internally are cheaper so the positive is that you can probably visit family more.

Texas just didn't suit me in a lot of ways.  The people are very friendly and kind in general, but for me it was the whole religious right thing and havthat made it a no-go for the long-term, Austin excepted.

Just my 2p.

Thanks, it's a good point. DH and I are not very religious and don't regularly attend church. How much of that infiltrates into everyday life? Is it the kind of thing that presents itself at every opportunity? I guess what I mean is, are there going neighbors that either stay away from you b/c you're not very religious or try and get you involved? Or is it more that if you steer clear of it, you can avoid it for the most part? Anything else I should be aware of for settling in texas?

Avoid small towns. Even suburbs around Dallas. They will never welcome you. Your kids would still be the newbies...when they were old and gray. Small towns in Texas don't want you unless your great-great-great grandfather lived there (not quite that bad, but almost).

Avoid small towns. Even suburbs around Dallas. They will never welcome you. Your kids would still be the newbies...when they were old and gray. Small towns in Texas don't want you unless your great-great-great grandfather lived there (not quite that bad, but almost).

That is really interesting and quite major to me. Especially if I am goign to be a new mom in the next few years. I have posted on ivillage's site about life in dallas to see what anyone there might say. I can see that life there could be really good. Some friends of mine have said that it can be pretty superficial there with people only caring about their looks and everything is on the surface, the caring and kindness I mean. And that a lot of women are tall, blonde with big boobs etc... Now, I felt this to be a big stereotype and a little unfair.

I think you'll just need to do your homework. Maybe rent at first as you'll have better luck checking out potential neighborhoods in the Dallas area once there. Dallas is pretty cosmopolitan from what I understand, so there will be some areas you'll feel more at home in.

Is there something like NetMums there where people new to the area can meet other new folks? I've met all my friends in Exeter that way but have no idea if there is something similar in the US.

Since you teach pilates, perhaps go introduce yourself to a few local gyms when you get there.  Maybe they can tell you what you need to do to exchange your UK qualifications to US ones, if anything.  Also, this may help you work on getting your business re-started.  Or even joining one and checking out their classes as a refresher course may help. 

My friend is from Dallas and was liberal non-church going and really liked the area she lived in.  I agree, it is such a huge city you will need to check out different areas. 

I guess what I mean is, are there going neighbors that either stay away from you b/c you're not very religious or try and get you involved?

they wont steer clear of you -- they'll be more likely to be in your face all the time, inviting you to Bible studies and telling you they will pray for you and wishing you a 'blessed' day. 

i , for one, would be happy to have neighbors who want to interact with me about anything, inviting me to something and telling me to have a nice day. i have lived in the uk/london area for 7+ years,  and have had a only a few neighbors that even bothered to say hello. and we have lived in 4 different houses. as i happen to be a christian, i would welcome an invitation to church or biblestudy, and i don't imagine it would be such a hard thing to be nice to a neighbor who invited you to such functions and maybe try to find something in common, wherever you are...... and if you move into my neighborhood, and don't want to go to go to church or a biblestudy, i'll be happy to have a coffee with you. christians aren't poison

I'm not sure about Texas, but I know when I lived in TN the people there were also very religious.

It wasn't just being Christian...I knew that if I wanted to see friends on a Sunday or Wednesday I had to go to church with them. Baptists have two church days a week (I'm Catholic, VERY much a minority down there. Most of the Catholics were Yankees who'd move down South.)

I also found that if you weren't Baptist, some people would try to teach you all about it and really hope that you would want to convert. I lived there from ages 9-16.

I know some people who love Texas! I think it really does depend on your personality and where you end up.

Well, so far Dh is only 75% sure that he likes it and one of the things he is concerned about is culture shock. I'm just glad he recognizes that he and I will both have culture shock. I really enjoyed the lack of focus on religion here and that I didn't get the talk of trying to convert. However, i got that in PA too when I grew up there. I just ignored it then and was still friends with the woman anyway. I think it's about respecting when someone is truly not interested in your passion, which could be religion or stamp collecting. Talk about it a bit, then let it go. I don't want to turn this into an anti-religion thread, just that it will affect the decision to move.

I plan to get a real estate agent when we decide to buy a house, b/c we will be renting for at least 6mts before buying. That person can help us find a suitable area if we move to America. I appreciate anymore information from you if anyone has lived in Texas or knows someone well that lives there.

My parents and my sister and her hubby & kids all live in Amarillo, Texas.
They all moved there from California about 11-12 years ago and they love it.  Sorry for bringing religion into it again, but to be honest, church is the reason that they love it so much!
They are devout Christians and so is just about everyone else that they interact with.  Their entire social life revolves around the church, and there is a church-related activity every night of the week, which my family all enjoy and participate in regularly.

I have been to visit them in Amarillo 3 or 4 times... there are nice shops (a couple of big malls, plus lots of independent shops) and restaurants.  My family members have stunning, huge homes which i believe cost them very little.  Their only complaint seems to be the enormous cost of insurance for the houses... because of tornadoes and other bad-weather type stuff, the premiums are very high.

Hope that helps!

I would rent before buying to see if you like the area or not.  Dallas is a big place.
I lived in Texas for 8 years and DH (English) lived there for 13.  We lived around the Houston area. 
I hated it and would never move back there.
Your money does go far, so material items should not be a problem.  I could never get past the climate, the politics, and the religion.  I don't like people who start out conversations asking what church you attend.   
 
There were a large number of expats around-and most were quite happy. 
Best of luck to you.   

I don't like people who start out conversations asking what church you attend.   

Gosh does that ever sound familiar?!   I've even been asked on a flight (an airline flight! asked by a complete stranger!?!) deep into the heart of the Midwest/Plains once, when I was traveling with DH 'back home' for a visit to my mother.  Then of course, we get there & she would start up with it.   There's a reason that I've got as far away as possible...   I know that Christians aren't poison & I count some Christians as my friends too, but FFS whatever happened to religion being a personal & private matter for people?!  The US (in the general sense) has lost any sense of perspective on that.

As for Texas, well I would never want to live there personally.  If I were forced to, I'd pick Austin or San Antonio.  My brother had to live in the DFW area for a long time, because his work was based out of there.  He's a lot more middle of the road on things than I am (being that dirty American word - gasp! a liberal!), and he didn't like it either.  He never bought a house there because he so didn't like it & always thought (hoped?) he'd be moving somewhere else, then ended up being there 10-15 years until the company enforced a move elsewhere for him.  Ha ha - now he's in Atlanta & doesn't like it much better, but he prefers to be there over DFW.  (He has land in rural Colorado & would quite happily live there as a hermit -- with his wife, when/if they ever get to the stage of building there & retiring.)

hmmmm....I found it refreshing to be in the UK, where religion certainly takes a back seat to most conversations. However, my sister and mother in law were very straightforward and upfront asking me about religion on one of my visits to the UK. They talked about it like it was no big deal and were really open. Where I come from in the Northeast (allentown, pa), religion is a private matter and therefore, rarely discussed. I have gotten a little more used to their openness and his mother never tried to get me to convert or go to church with her and I'm glad.

DH has mentioned the difference in work culture over there - no pints on lunch breaks or going to the pub on a Friday after work for a few drinks, no taking the piss out of each other in the office, lack of lads culture in general in the office etc... He also said he found it to be more relaxed than his manufacturing environment than he's used to, which might mean his managerial style would be harsh for this job. He admitted he would have a LOT of adjusting to do when it came to work in general to fit in in America. That worries me to think that's one of the reasons we're moving to TX is b/c that's where he has this job offer - if anyone should be happy it should be him.

please keep the texas info coming, good and bad, I want to be as informed as I can about this possible jump.