A Reply, Living in San Antonio

Today I received a message from Bob of the SQPN Family, who is thinking about retiring in San Antonio. He asked if I could give the top reasons to live in San Antonio as well as the low points, especially in regard to retirees.

Thanks for your compliments on the blog, Bob. If you couldn't tell already, I love San Antonio! Both my sets of grandparents live here, as well as most of my family, and our city has often been listed among the top places to retire, as you may well know. I'm happy to give you some points for consideration.

1. Safety & Security: San Antonio has always been a military town. We have several military bases- lots of military families living here. We have a very fine police force, and are also home to one of the FBI's field headquarters. Additionally, S.A. is one of the best cities in the world for medical care. Patients from around the globe are often flown in to our number of hospitals, research centers, and specialized practitioners.
2. Climate: We have a warm climate here – almost like Florida except less rain & no hurricanes, and in all my 21 years I’ve never experienced a tornado. We do get a fairly cold winter (Christmas isn’t 75 degrees) but nothing like New York, of course. By cold I mean 30’s to 50’s.
3. Recreation: I think it may be safe to say we have everything but snow sports in San Antonio. We do have top minor league hockey and baseball teams, major league men’s and women’s basketball. We regularly host college football and major golf tournaments. In addition to playing and attending sports events, you can find art, dance, theater, orchestra, opera, parks, concerts, shopping, historic places, and tons more to keep you busy, even on a tighter budget.
4. Catholic identity: San Antonio is, in my humble opinion, one of the best places for a Catholic to live. Our archbishop, Jose Gomez, came to us from Archbishop Chaput of Denver, and we were recently blessed with the youngest bishop in the U.S., Oscar Cantu – two outstanding shepherds. Besides all the things I mention in the CNMC Tourist about our Catholic history, we have parishes, convents, shrines and chapels in every corner of the city. Ministries and lay movements invigorate the faith lives of the thousands of Catholics and Christians in town.
5. Culture & People: My dad has a job that has sent him travelling all over the country, and he always reassures me that the people in San Antonio are by far the friendliest and most welcoming. I’ve always said we have the benefits of living in the seventh-largest city in the U.S. with the welcoming atmosphere of a small town. That is probably attributed to our Catholic history, the “hostess” warmth of Mexican culture, and the fact that San Antonians make up a beautiful melting pot of immigrant and native cultures.

Here are some related links I found that can elaborate more on our economic situation. The specifics are of course a bit outdated, but they're good for a general idea: U.S. News' Top Places to Retire & Yahoo! Finance's Places to Retire During Economic Downturn

What would I say are my least favorite things about living here?

1. Humidity: If you are one of those people who just can't stand humid heat, I'd advise you to take a visit here during the summer before you decide to move. We experience very little dry heat. My college buddies from out-of-town have demonstrated an ability to adjust, but some still complain about the humidity. For me, this isn't a huge issue. Stay inside when it's especially humid and wear appropriate clothing.
2. Allergies: Obviously, there's allergy medicine. But if you have respiratory problems and want to stay active outside year-round, I'd advise you to consider the wonderful array of allergens we have down here. Cedar and oak tree pollen as well as mold are the leading allergens here, and pollen gets heavy in the spring.
3. Growing Pains: San Antonio's strong points constantly attract new residents, and the city continues to deal with the effects of that. Traffic gets congested during the early morning, lunch and 5'o clock hours at major intersections and highways. Transportation construction projects can also affect traffic as the city builds to accomodate its growing population. I must tell you that most people who complain about San Antonio traffic are from S.A. or a smaller town, and haven't experienced traffic in cities like Atlanta or even Houston. I really don't think it's something to worry about - there are always ways to get around congested areas or avoid the highways.

I've heard other complaints about San Antonio that I think are overly political, unfounded and/or mean-spirited, so I find no reason to include them. I wish you the best in your search for a new home!