I went to college here and fell in love with SA, and my wife and I had always planned to get back. I have been back for about a year. Before this we lived close to you in Portland, OR for 4 years. I will say it is about as opposite as you can get from the Willamette Valley. As you can imagine politics are pretty conservative, gun laws are good.
We have no state income tax, but they get you on property taxes and sales taxes. I live in a high-tax area (I pay 3% versus about 1% in Oregon). Sales tax here I believe is 8.25%, but no tax on groceries or medicine. Property values will seem like a bargain coming from the West Coast. We afforded our big house in the best school district in the city with our profits from the sale of our Portland house. San Antonio has a distinct Latin feel. It is the 8th largest city in the US, but you wouldn't know it driving around town. Our population is 70% hispanic. We are on the southern edge of the hill country, and within a couple hours drive south of here you have some of the best deer hunting in the country. Other fishing/hunting opportunities abound nearby. Last weekend I was able to drive 15 miles from my house and pay $40 for an afternoon day dove hunting lease. I limited out and we had a lot of shooting, home before dark. There are plenty of shooting ranges nearby, including a trap and skeet range in the middle of town and a place west of town where you can rent Class 3 toys.
There are some nice areas close in like Alamo Heights, Monte Vista, King William. There are numerous affordable suburbs on the outlying areas, I like the areas north of town starting to get in the hill country like Stone Oak. Stay away from the South side.
PM me if you have more questions.
