Potential job interview in the mental health field plus a private practice in Tyler. New In-laws live in Dallas and 3 sisters/nieces/nephews are one hour north in Pittsburg, so this puts us 60 to 90 minutes from relatives versus the 4-5 hours currently in Houston area. I don't like small towns (been there done that)
This would be a place to finish my career in theory.

Thoughts on quality of life issues? Could live in the city or get small acreage slightly out of town.

I posted on the East Texas Board but there's been no activity there for 4 days.

Edit to add: I currently live near The Woodlands. Have no children and won't so school quality isn't an Issue. I'd be a professor so I'd want to stay to get tenure. I don't drink but I'm happy to go to cultural events, visit Starbucks regularly, shop at Macy's or Dillard's, and not have to deal with the panhandlers of big cities or higher crime. Can easily stay at in-laws in Dallas on weekends to experience Dallas (where I lived and worked at Parkland in psychiatry). I detest heavy traffic. Love camping and I can easily morph to get along with rednecks as required. My new Asian very conservative wife works at a hospital but is a complete Tom boy who loves the country and can out-fish and outshoot 95% of men (I won't shoot with her anymore due to my ego and those males competing with her).

30 minutes from the heights. Go for it.


In serious, some of the hottest women I have ever seen were in Tyler.

Tyler is actually a decent size town...but still quite an adjustment from life in a major city like Houston.

Tyler's not bad. It's deep east Texas, so you get some of 'that', but it's a nice place, and decent sized. It's kind of like Victoria to Houston. Big enough that you can basically get anything you need in town, but if you have to, Houston/Dallas is an easy day trip away..

Mustang1 said:

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Tyler is actually a decent size town...but still quite an adjustment from life in a major city like Houston.

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I think it would just depend a lot on personal preferences for how many bars and restaurants you need to be able to choose from, and if you don't mind strapping in for a ride occasionally for stuff you need or to go visit people.

Tyler and the region in general has its pretty parts, really just depends on your personal habits. Being closer to family would be a huge factor, I'd think.

I'd do it. Good sized town with lots more restaurant options added in the past 5 years. Decent bit of high end boutique shopping. Close enough to Dallas if you need that life every now and then. If you like lakes, great living to be had and still close enough to drive into town. On the other hand, you will have to deal with the east tx rednecks lol.

Oh yeah, you'll also be able to hang out at Johnny Manziel's grandpa's restaurant.

WorthAg95 said:

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I'd do it. Good sized town with lots more restaurant options added in the past 5 years. Decent bit of high end boutique shopping. Close enough to Dallas if you need that life every now and then. If you like lakes, great living to be had and still close enough to drive into town. On the other hand, you will have to deal with the east tx rednecks lol.

Oh yeah, you'll also be able to hang out at Johnny Manziel's grandpa's restaurant.

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Loggins single-handedly put 30lbs on me during my 5.5 years in Tyler. Like my grandma was in the kitchen.

How big a boy are you?

I was pretty dang solid during my Tyler days. I'm in better shape now.

I loved my time in Tyler. You really can choose what you want your experience to be like. You can live in the country, on the lake, on a country club or in the heart of the "city". People are great, crime is just the petty crap that happens everywhere...Most people complain the loudest about having to drive one county over to visit the liquor store.

I lived in Commerce, TX for a few years long ago. It's university made it bearable as I got an MBA at night while working full time. Later spent 2.5 years in a cornfield town up north with no college and 1/3 the size of Commerce. I'm not a fan of large cities like Houston or Dallas except to visit, so basically I think Tyler is just the right size (only downside is it lacks the international medical scene of the Houston Medical Center) - a bit of a hassle to visit but well worth it IMHO. Tyler puts me within 90 minutes of 10 relatives and that becomes more important as I'm no longer in my 20's or 30's.
There's only one professor position open so this is a long shot although I could move there and just focus on a private practice.
Thanks for all your input. I'm 60% country boy so believe me the panhandling crime infested inner city or really hip pub and eateries aren't a huge draw.

Sounds like you are talking yourself into it. Tyler is a good sized town, about 100K. It is a family centered community. Without kids you may find you meet most of your social friends through work, church, volunteering or clubs (country clubs if you like golf/tennis or perhaps a shooting/outdoors club). Plenty of good places to live in or near town. UT Tyler's Cowan Center for symphony, theater, touring acts and cultural events. Plenty of parks and camping in the area. A lot of trees and some hilly areas. There is quite a bit of old money in Tyler. The medical community is big with two large hospitals. Good weather and cooler in the winter and early spiring.

Dallas and Shreveport are close and easy to access via I-20.

Grew up in Tyler.. couldn't wait to get out after high school. Now, wouldn't mind moving back to raise the family. It's a 90 minute drive to Dallas. It's def a different Tyler from 20 years ago.

You should do it and don't look back. Seems you'd fit in well there.

I forgot about the traffic! No reason a town that size should jam up like it does. It isn't 610 and Westheimer bad, but the loop bogs down bad. Even when it is not traffic time, there are 50 million lights on the loop and you will hit every single one. They time it that way or something.