I am located in the East Texas piney woods. I'm about 2 hours north of Houston, TX and about 45 minutes from the western Louisiana border. Most people think Texas is a flat desert with tumbleweeds everywhere. Not so, there is a variety of terrain here. The southeast side where I am is thick with timber and the logging industry is what keeps people employed in these parts. I've been to the city of Austin several times but I don't know much about the surrounding area. I hear the Hill Country is awesome. I will warn you when it gets hot it gets HOT. Really its not that bad though. I went to live in WI for 6 years and at first it was great having the change of climate, the snow at Christmas but stunt driving got old quick and doing the penguin walk -- not my style. So I'm back in Texas. Anyway good luck to you and your wife. I've heard things are gonna pick back up and hopefully you will be able to find work here. Let us know how things work out for ya. Good luck!