Moving to Houston, figured a sports blog is the best place to go for advice

But when i stayed in houston i was living in sugarland which is way too far were you will be working.

Then there are tons of choices, some near that have access to the gulf minor bodies, Say Clear Lake. There are some that are buried in trees, like The Woodlands, or Kingwood(Both have great golf) TW has a budding pedestrian area, but can be a bit pricey. Old Spanish Trail is a good area for close to downtown, and other areas like Rice Village, or Reliant.

I would get an apartment for like 3 months and so some exploring until you find a good deal. See what you like around the area.

so if you wanted to get one and didn’t want to pay full price, now is the time to do it. i also recommend letting us know what your budget is (unless its too personal) to help you out with areas to live at and eat at.

•is the traffic really that much worse than other places, like atlanta?
Probably. Beltway 8 (tolled) and 610 (aka "the loop) are our version of a parking lot during rush hour. However, if you’re a NASCAR fan, Beltway 8 turns into a track on the weekends. Get EZ Tag so you don’t have to stop, keep striving for the track record.
•is the toll road worth it if i will be driving from downtown to north of town daily?
Toll roads are almost always worth it. Houston is so freaking big and spread out that everyone drives, but not everyone wants to (can) pay toll.
•where are the best places to meet people?
Depends on your interests. It’s only cold here like 6 or 7 days a year, so we have a very active outdoor scene. “Outdoors scene” ranges from hunting/fishing, to sports, to working out, to gardening, etc. We also have a plethora of restaurants any just about any food category you can imagine. I think I’ve been to at least 100 bars in and around the area. There’s lots to do, and a lot of people at those places.
•how do I not look like an outsider?
Almost everyone is not from here. I think I’m 1 of like 12 that are actually native. Be friendly, say hello, smile at everyone. No one likes an asshole.

You will hang yourself if you live in the woodlands or a suburb. Trust me.

I’ve been a realtor here for 6 years and was born and raised here.

I can find you something nice in town, and you will be much happier.

Get at me on twitter @therealallenou and we can exchange emails. I can def help you out

Being a Georgia Bulldog, is there any way you can arrange a meeting for my father with Uga? He LOVES that dog.

I kid of course. But to add to what everyone here’s already said:

1. is the traffic really that much worse than other places, like atlanta?
Unfortunately, yes. But… if you get a place in the city, driving out for work and back in to come home isn’t as bad as vice-versa. If you settle in TW, you should be fine too. The really bad spots are on the mainlanes as you approach the loop and get closer to downtown during rush hour. And yes, avoid the loop at ALL costs.

2. is the toll road worth it if i will be driving from downtown to north of town daily?
Absolutely. Everyone else has already mentioned EZTag, so you know what to do.

3.where are the best places to meet people?
A few here touched on the active lifestyle here, and it’s true. All of our major parks have popular biking and jogging trails, and two of my best friends met new people by joining a kickball league. Softball applies here, too.

If you’re into the nightlife, Washington and Midtown are real popular among the well-to-do singles. I personally am worn out on both (noisy & crowded doesn’t do it for me), but everyone is different and should try it before they knock it. If you’re looking for a more laid-back nightlife though, Rice Village is worth a try. Can’t tell you much about TW, though; I guess we’ll have to trust Allen’s point of view.

Also, when you have a Saturday morning free that you’re willing to not sleep in, go check out St. Arnold’s Brewery just north of downtown. Very popular activity, cost-effective, and damn good beer to boot.

4. how do I not look like an outsider?
Just be yourself, and be friendly. Everything else will take care of itself.

which is kinda like the Heights, only more gay and artsy. It varies from rough to rich, so you could probably find your economic settling point in there somewhere.

It’s very close-in, so if your job is in mid-town it’s perfect. It’s loaded with clubs, restaurants and bars, so there are lots of social opportunities.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

From Houston but live in Georgia. The “feeder” is your friend as a newbie living in Houston. Atlanta freeways suck. If you miss your exit, you have to drive 5+ miles to get off on the next exit and you might not find your way back to the freeway to turn around. Houston’s freeways are much easier to navigate. These guys are giving you great advice. By the way….the weather is exactly the same in Atl. and Hou. during the summer. Little colder a little longer in Atl than Hou. in the winter.

I’m not sure how much of the Texans you followed this season, but the “next man up” theme was nearly every game as we suffered losses to injured stars on the team. It was indeed a special season that has us all finally past the suicide watch of the last decade. The future is very bright, and if you want a glimpse of what to prepare for as a Texan fan…(turn the sound up)

This inspirational video will give you a view of the spirit of the coaches, players and fans of the Texans “next man up” attitude:

“Why not TJ?” Make no mistake, Schaub is our starting QB and team leader so there is not a QB controversy, but this was inspirational and really says a lot about the people we have here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZuY8Kn4HvQ

If you are not aware of why we love Andre Johnson so much, this will get you up to speed:

NFL TOP 100: (at #7) Andre Johnson:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mzToSf84YI

Vandermeer; "Go ahead and get it, you’re the best wide receiver in the league. Nobody was gonna get that ball away from #80!"

If you want to see how absolutely intense our defense can be, and Brian Cushing in particular, check this out:

CUSHING: NFL SOUND FX:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTNc-CNZ9zc&feature=related

Colt McCoy; "Yall make a run!"