It's time to admit my daily life, residence and surrounding city of Austin, Texas is the BUBBLE life. As downtown, core neighborhood and even suburban residents, we must acknowledge that our ever-expanding, populous and peaceful city is very UNLIKE the rest of American cities and states.
Our city of Austin, Texas is economically vibrant and not dependent on large corporate or factory jobs. In fact, our entrepreneurial tech, real estate, government, tourism and sharing economy is so glorious it is common for young job fillers to become picky with their job search. Workers in Austin, Texas seeking corporate jobs currently have leverage in regards to pay, lifestyle and job duties. Our city has an abundance of youthful vigor, economic vitality and optimistic energy. While other geographic regions of the country moan and cry foul due to foreign factory displacement, Austin Texas does NOT have that gripe. Companys are eagerly lining up to fly and transport their business headquarters HERE. Apple, Google, heck I just bicycled past a "private party" event at Auditorium Shores yesterday solely for Facebook's causes. Large, mid and small size companies embrace Austin, Texas. We don't discriminate. All types of workers love to residentially live here, while companies are honored to boast flagship or satellite offices here too! In fact, Oracle's brand new Southeast Riverside Campus has excellent views of Town Lake and is a modern, classy, balcony friendly office building of beauty to gaze upon. Oracle's investment and new office building has increased awareness and helped improve the Riverside area. East Riverside previously was the city's most dire, least desirable and criminally dangerous neighborhood.
I live in a Bubble.
In regards to Real Estate in Austin and Central Texas, whether it is Residential, Commercial, Downtown and even far out raw land, few purchasing and selling mistakes are being made. My friend, a real estate client and thirty-something contemporary, re-enforced this thought the other evening at Barton Springs Pool, while we were conversing and sitting top hillside. He said and I'll paraphrase, "George, the real estate economy is so strong right now, it's made even the mistake-prone purchasers look smart and wise. The strength of Austin, Real Estate masks any mistakes, these unseasoned buyers might make." My friend is correct. He also said, perhaps its time for a "light freeze" to our profitable Austin Real Estate market. He thought a light freeze or downturn in the market might purge the "overabundance of real estate professionals" working and performing deals in Central Texas.
I live in a Bubble.
Socially, and culturally despite the recent closure of a few long time-local businesses and restaurants, the Austin Lifestyle is still thriving. Live Music is plugged in, rocking and loud! This past Friday I was able to bicycle over to Travis Height's WHIP-In to catch a free live outdoor rock show. The Whip-In is a sort of odd convenience store, meets grocery, meets beer garden, meets Indian Food venue. It's rustic and confusing, but it gels. The Live concert Band I witnessed that night had a Strokes-Esque Sound. Julian Casablancas would have been proud. The Whalers band emits a surf-rock sound. During this specific gig show, the lead singer actually sang through 2 different microphones the entire time. It was unique. This exact same night, I also had the opportunity to bicycle or electric scooter down to Stay Gold on East 1st street in the Holly neighborhood to catch my favorite band, the Canvas People. Yet their set start time was not until 11:30 pm and my girlfriend was planning to pick me up at 8:15 am on the upcoming Saturday morning to drive out to the naturalistic Hamilton Pool in the Hill Country. Austin's Live Music Scene remains a real-life attraction.
I live in a Bubble.
Every direction you can bike, walk or drive is pretty much happening in Austin Texas. East 6th's massive new developments, stores, hotels, and bars are popping up and collecting money. The East 6th street pedestrian walk now feels like a walk through below 14th street Manhattan. East 6th street has 2 brand new up and running Boutique Hotels. East 6th has Liberty Dive Bars and New-Age Modern Yuppie venues like the Last Straw. Cisco's Restaurant which is a Mexican Food Restaurant with Big Time National, State, and Local Political Gathering history was recently purchased and preserved with a Historical Marker Plaque. Thus East 6th's Cisco's will know officially live on longer than me. The Rainey District high rises continue to skyscrape upwards, while the patrons below dole out their credit cards at the house style bars and tables. West 6th street still brings the well-dressed cocktail ladies out for the nightlife. South Congress and 1st Thursdays are still a thing. The South Congress Hotel is a destination for local and touristy cool. This SoCo Hotel has got spacious lounges, swanky bars, a coffee shop, an elevated pool, an open-air Live Music space, a beauty salon, 2 restaurants and ample sleek hotel rooms above. As one ventures away from Downtown Austin's core, the city continues to strive and bring cultural options. North Burnet Road is becoming popular, North Loop has a steady stream of action and business going on. The Tarrytown and Westlake neighborhoods continue to be rich. The Hill Country is grabbing new residents, new housing, new developments, and car-friendly lifestyle residents.
I Live in A bubble.
While large swaths of the country have perhaps been seduced by Trumpism and the racism, lies, white nationalism, white domestic terrorism and border immigrant hatred he spawns and represents; Austin, Texas has resisted.
Residents of Austin are happy, friendly, healthy, easy-going, career motivated, exercise enthusiasts, consciousness, caring, giving, fun, open to change, welcoming, fashionably indifferent, locally supportive, intelligent, nightlife savvy, well-traveled and more. Thus far, despite the occasional and random 2 am dirty 6th street random gunshot, there is little to no crime in Austin, Texas. We have been lucky enough to not directly experience the mass shooting terrorist trend. The government and country need to re-BAN, remove, and confiscate all Assault Weapons today! Background checks are NOT enough. American Citizens, just like a car license, should be required to possess, earn and retain a gun ownership license. My Texas Real Estate salesperson license requires 18 hours of continuing industry education.
As a local Austinite, East 12th street and Chicon was an infamous Un-Safe Intersection of Notorious badness. In today's 2019 Times, the East 12th and Chicon intersection is improving and much cleaner. There is the Dozen Street Live Music Bar, there are New Commercial Offices and Residential Townhomes, nearby. East 12th has removed history's unsafe stigma. It is changing for the better.
I live in a Bubble.
Will the Bubble Burst? Will the bubble Crash? Will America's problems eventually creep into Austin? I don't know. Is Austin Recession-proof? Maybe it is. Homelessness as previously chaptered is the prominent problem and city council issue of the moment. I personally think our country would be better served if President Trump was removed from political office. Our country would be better off if Donald J. Trump was just an old, retired C-List celebrity grandpa spewing his own crappy sentiments. We don't need him as a revered President and National Moral Compass. Dear Republicans it's time to denounce his hate and divisiveness and move along. Quit being his enablers!
They say in Marketing and throughout the Sales and Client Relationship that it takes 7 points of communication, reiteration, and enforcement to breakthrough. Well, President Trump's well-documented speeches and twitter hate spewings have far crossed over the 7 times mark. Unfortunately, America is starting to feel the consequences of Trump's ongoing onslaught of racism, hatred, and divisiveness. White Nationalism and White Domestic Terrorism are scary. I hereby denounce it.
For example, the first traditional cigarette you smoke, won't give you lung cancer, but, by the 50th self-purchased pack and beyond, you might bring it upon yourself. Your first 2-3 beers at happy hour, won't label you an alcoholic, but if your drinking all weekend from nighttime to morning, to bingeing afternoon and beyond, it may be time for an intervention.
President's Trump's constant Asshole nature is sadly rubbing off on the remainder of America and ruining once innocent and susceptible hearts and minds.
Oh and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, do you think we were going to forget about you? Give you a get out of jail free card? Nope! In regards to Texas having 4 of Top 10 Deadliest Mass shootings ever, I think it's time for you to call a "Special Legislative Session." The public and I specifically are growing tiresome and borderline ticked off with your "thoughts and send prayers" media, public relations speech and nothingness diatribe. Quit the bullshit Governor Abbott, step up and do something about Gun Violence, now! If it's strike 3 and your OUT and put in jail for a D.W.I. offense, then what does this 4th heinous mass shooting Texas-based event result in? Got an answer for that Mr. Republican? As we know in Texas talk is cheap, and legislative action speaks louder than words. Dear Gov. Abbott, your recent legislative and philosophical moves to the moderate middle have been a welcoming and commendable occurrence, yet gun control is now of critical and immediate priority. Make it happen!
Click here for Saturday Night Live's BUBBLE sketch.
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