Well, I know that getting a permanent visa does involve either marriage or residency. Most international companies have at least one office in Texas, be it Austin, Houston or Dallas (personally, I'd prefer it to be in Houston just because I'm closer to it), but Austin is the more liberal place. Of course, cost of living is higher in Austin. Hell, it's high in all the big cities, but Austin and Dallas are the worst.

I am still thinking about Fedcon. One of the deciding factors would be if there was someone to go with (I can go to cons with just me, but it's infinitely more fun with more than just me). You would have to keep in mind that while it is in the warmer month, July and especially August are our worst. But if you waited to actually move down here until October or later, you'd have time to acclimate while we through the cooler months.