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Pros for Austin:

Four hour drive to the beach
The economy has held up well in Texas
No state income tax
Cost of living is reasonable
Good community here
Fairly central in the U.S. so getting elsewhere to visit isn't too bad.
Yes, the summers get hot and this one has been exceptionally so, but generally there is always a breeze in this area and the humidity isn't even close to what it is on the Gulf Coast.
Austin is the liberal center of Texas.

I've been to Boston; expensive and a long way to get to anywhere else.
I've never been to the PNW, but I'm not a fan of rain all the time, and again, long way to go to get to anywhere else.
I've been to Colorado; Not anywhere I would consider living. Fun to visit though.

I'm in Austin. I love it here. I'm dug in.

Glynn