Austin is the place to be right now. Hailed as a utopia for gastronomy, music and culture, and the fastest growing city in the U.S, not to mention the only place in the world where Harry Potter yoga is actually a thing; it seems the city can do no wrong. All that’s missing are the streets which are paved with gold, although the sidewalks can sure look that way when the sun’s beating down on them (which it does for most of the year). However, as many locals will tell you, Austin’s quirks can be divisive and the things that a lot of people find charming often infuriate many others. So if you fancy yourself as one of the 150 people who continue to move there each day then here’s some reasons why it may be the best, or worst, idea you’ve ever had…

It’s the live music capital of the world

If listening to live music is your thing, then you’ll be spoilt for choice in Austin. There are events at venues all across the city usually every night of the week. From the tiny intimate locations like Hole in the Wall to grander venues like Austin City Limits Live, there really is something to divert every music lover here and you’ll never tire of finding new places. However, be aware that the locals tend to reject anything that becomes too corporate or well-known so don’t spread the word if you find a real gem. People really loved South by Southwest until the whole world knew about it…

It’s the home of Car2Go

You may be familiar with the city bike schemes that have popped up in major cities all over the world but you’re probably yet to encounter the car equivalent. Car2Go allows you to pick up tiny cars from locations across the city and drop them off at the closest Car2Go point to your destination, without having to drive it back. However, the whole reason why this scheme was even born is because bikes simply don’t cut it in Austin, and the public transfer system leaves much to be desired, so you kind of need a car. Also be sure to avoid venturing out during rush hour, unless you happen to enjoy spending hours of your life sitting in traffic.

It’s really hot

If, like me, you shrink from the idea of venturing out into the cold and the rain then Austin may be your dream place to live, besides the Caribbean of course; but only from April to November. The winters can actually get quite cold. But when the temperatures rise in Austin, it doesn’t just get hot, it gets really hot. In 2012 the city broke a record for having the most consecutive days with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (it was 69 in total). So don’t be surprised if your social life becomes virtually non-existent in summer because of how reluctant you are to part from your new best friend, the air-con. But there are ways to cool down when it all gets too much, like…

…Barton Springs

In the middle of Zilker Park you’ll find Barton Springs; the closest thing in Austin to a beach. It actually isn’t anything like a beach, it’s a naturally fed swimming hole that the masses flock to when the heat gets too much so expect to see crowds of topless ruddy men and women cooling down in the height of summer. The problem is, as with many communal swimming areas that aren’t as big as the ocean, you probably won’t actually want to go swimming in it due to the various kinds of ‘pollution’ you may find in the water.

A spot of blue in a sea of red

Forget what you think you know about Texas, Austin may be the state capital but it certainly doesn’t reflect the political and social ideals upheld by the rest of the state. Austin is the only predominantly Democrat region within Texas and its liberal ideals are reflected in the lifestyle you can enjoy there. It is easy, however, to forget that Austin is still under the thumb of Texan law, which heavily promotes the use of guns and the death penalty and fought hard against gay marriage. So if you want to live a liberal life without worrying about being pulled up by the law, then maybe head to Massachusetts instead…

You can find out more about moving to and living in the USA by checking out our country guide.

Image: Things to do in Austin Texas: Watch the sunrise. Check. by Jeffrey W. Spencer. CC 2.0