Texas sailors

[RichT]

Hi All,

Quick question. I received an email on Sat about a possible job in BAY CITY, TEXAS. I checked mapquest, and found out it is about 80? miles south of Houston, less than half way to Corpus, near Port Lavaca? I checked housing and came up really short handed, only 11 properties between 100 and 150K. Is the place that desolate? How about marinas in the area? I had checked earlier on marinas in Corpus, and they are very reasonable (compared to SoCal rates), but if I do the liveaboard thing, and I'm still working, that is too far to drive every day.

So, for anyone familiar with the area, couple of questions. What is the likelihood of getting decent housing, modest, 15/1800 sq. ft., in the area of Bay City for 150K or less. and 2) are there any reasonably priced marinas in the area, or within a 30/40 minute drive???

Appreciate any and all advice or help. You guys are great...

RichT

[Pura Vida]

Wow, SoCal to Bay City...
That could be culture shock and then maybe not. I'm only familiar with the coast in general so take this information with a grain of salt. There is a surfer community there. The closest marina is in Palacous. I suspect that you can get a house in that price range, maybe cheaper. Clute, Lake Jackson and Freeport are bigger towns, possibly with more amenities. You will find more fishermen (professional) than sailors (of any kind) and Matagorda bay can be shallow. Desolate is a term that requires a reference so by West Texas standards it is teeming, by Houston Standards it is desolate. If you like cheap beer and shrimp this is the place for you. But there are worse places to be.

Welcome to Texas!

[delmarrey]

Whatca think............

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp...te=TX&zipcode=

[RichT]

Pura Vida,
Thanks for the info. It's not such a big shock, as I haven't always lived in SoCal. Try Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, Georgia, and Arizona. I prefer cheap women to cheap beer, but the shrimp sounds good, so can't be all bad.

Any one else out there with input or ideas? Serve em up.... thanks,

Rich

[mudnut]

Hey Rich,Would ya dump a cheap women for a CHEAPER one.Considering that a more costly one would at least appreciate the more expensive beer.Knowing full well,that, the cheaper will drink more and won't give a hoot what it is.Then again in hindsight,guys with rich women tend to drink richer beers.You should raise your standards.Cheap women tend not to buy rounds,of any degree,real good beer might be raising their standars to high.In fact,the cheaper ya go,the more costly it gets.<VBG>.Mudnut.PS,don't know about the place you asked about(Not local).But I do know about cheap women.Mudnut.

[RichT]

Hey Mudnut,

Appreciate the input, but before I respond, let me remove my tongue from my cheek, which was where it was in my last reply. Wasn't really serious about the cheap women thing, although after living in proximity to LA, I have some very definite observations about the term "high maintenance".

For example, when I was in Tucson, I went with a gal who was basically an admin type, probably making less than 30K a year. She was very nice, and generous to the extent that she could be. Always spending money on her son and family at Christmas, etc., always offering to go "Dutch", or even picking up the tab on occasion when we went out. She had no "extra" money, since it took most of what she made to pay normal expenses.

By contrast, I have dated several women here in SoCal that ranged from middle income to "wealthy". One, a real estate person, probably averaged between 800K and a million a year. SHE invited me to lunch at a restaurant on the pier in Ventura (read pricey), got drunk, stuck me with a $100 tab, then dumped me because " I won't get involved with someone who makes less than I do, because they are only interested in my money". Another, who is a manager for a major corporation, and pulls in over 70K a year, drives a Porshe, and owns rental property, expects me to pay for everything, and never offered to buy a round of drinks until after I lost my job, and told her I couldn't take her out anymore, because I couldn't afford 40 bucks for an afternoon lunch, or an evening of dancing.

So, I guess I shouldn't have said "cheap" women, I just meant women who can appreciate the fact that I'm not some tycoon, but have limited income, which I would prefer, at this point in my life, to put towards a boat, and enjoying the rest of my life.

So, to keep this "nautical" and more towards the boating venue, I would appreciate any info on the area around Bay City. I know there is sailing in Houston, obviously, and in Corpus. I did check one time into marinas around Port Lavaca? but didn't find much. If I have to work, I would prefer not to drive more than 25/30 miles to work, and would need a place that accepts liveaboards. Any place like that around the Bay City area?

Thanks to all in advance for any info or advice.

Rich

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by RichT

By contrast, I have dated several women here in SoCal that ranged from middle income to "wealthy". One, a real estate person, probably averaged between 800K and a million a year. SHE invited me to lunch at a restaurant on the pier in Ventura (read pricey), got drunk, stuck me with a $100 tab, then dumped me because " I won't get involved with someone who makes less than I do, because they are only interested in my money".

Rich

Sorry to be unable to offer you anything regarding the information you're looking for, Rich, but I just wanted to throw a couple of things in here:

1 - Given the current trend in real estate, that bi...(sorry) "lady" will probably not be making that kind of money for too much longer.

2 - In the movie Peaceful Warrior, the lead character, while struggling to meditate and come up with something profound to say to his mentor, offers "If you loan someone $20, and you never see them again, it was probably worth it."

Good luck in your search.

TaoJones

[RichT]

Tao,

While the down turn in the market probably will affect her somewhat, I'm not shedding any tears for her yet. She is the designated relocation specialist, read "exclusive", for Mercedes Benz for all southern California, as well as Lockheed Aviation. She also owns beach houses at Parker on the Colorado River, plus other commercial property. Bottom line, if she sells a house for 1.2 mil that sold 2 years ago for 1.4 mil she still nets her 2%, or in some cases 5%if she is the buying and selling agent. Minimum comm. is still over 20K, so whether the price is up or down, she still gets her cut, just like a stock broker who takes your money whether he makes or loses it for you. My point was that by eliminating anyone who makes less than herself, she is cutting out probably 95% of the male population, then wonders why she can't find the "right" guy...

Thing is, I really liked her, and didn't need her money, would have gladly signed a prenup or better yet, would have just lived with her and kept our finances separate. I did not need, not want her money, just liked spending time with her. Reality is that she could have paid for lunches, dinners, vacations, etc. and never would have missed the extra little bit that would have been added having me along. Ex. I went on a windjammer cruise summer two years ago. Spent the grand total of 1500 bucks for the whole thing, airfare, etc. At the same time, she did a chartered sailboat cruise with a friend of hers, for 2 weeks, and spent almost 10 grand on the trip.

Anyway, thanks for the insight, still looking for insight on the Texas coast from anyone out there familiar with the area.

Rich

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by RichT

My point was that by eliminating anyone who makes less than herself, she is cutting out probably 95% of the male population, then wonders why she can't find the "right" guy...

You're probably right about that, Rich, and the percentage of those who can't clear the income hurdle is actually higher, I would guess.

The irony is that, of those males who do "qualify," few, if any, will be impressed with what she does and what she makes. When she finds herself no longer in her accustomed position of power and authority based on her money, she will probably he quite unhappy, and it's doubtful such a relationship would last long.

Effectively, her wealth and status have isolated her.

TaoJones

[rtbates]

It's NOT my favorite part of the Texas coast. Freeport is a commercial port. The pits years ago. MAY have changed.

[RichT]

Tao,
I don't know that she is isolated, as she has a lot of friends, but she is still single, last I heard, and seems to want someone in her life. She is cute, and a lot of fun, but you're right about one thing, the guys here who are at her income level, i.e. over a million a year, typically can have pretty much any one they want. There are a ton of Hollywood bimbos out there, who only look at a guys bankbook, or what kind of car he drives. Otherwise, there must be a lot of guys taking their daughters out to dinner, because I see them all the time. You know, the 65 year old, gray hair, driving the 200K, 450 HP Masarati down the freeway, doing 45 in the left lane, like it was a Yugo, with the 30 something blonde in the pax seat. Do I sound envious, sorry about that...

rtbates, other than it's a commercial port, which we also have here in Ventura to some extent (lot of commercial fishing vessels in/out), what don't you like about it? Any specifics, define "pits" maybe?? Thanks,

Rich