I totally understand about how bad this State has gone downhill. Been here over 35 years now and "unrecognizable" is an apt description. I am also looking at other places for around retirement. I do have some excellent neighbors and my son is just down the road, so it will have to wait.
About the seat leather, we can still try to get them done. Just have to have a nice day to do them, and we usually have some good days in spring. Keep it in mind!
I can say TX is a retiree friendly State. There's no State income tax and your get a break on property tax after age 65. It's gotten pretty pricey around the major cities, but you can still find comparively reasonable priced homes within an hour or so drive from DFW and I presume it is the same with Houston. Not so with Austin. Compared to the rest of TX prices are high in and all around there. The Hill Country around Austin is beautiful, but the beauty comes with a premium on real estate. Also, being the State Capital with plenty of politicians, lobbyists and bureaucrats living there, the political climate is atypical compared to most of the rest of the state. If you like a politically charged environment Austin is the place to live. If you're tired of politics, almost anyplace else in TX is good.
Having said all this, we moved from N. TX to the MS gulf coast a little over a year ago and love it down here. Overall, the cost of living is less, the people are genuine and friendly, apart from the occasional hurricane the weather is fantastic year round, the food is great, and every October they hold a week long car enthusiast event called "Cruizin' the Coast; during which thousands of hotrod and classic cars lovers gather to show off their cars, swap stories and participate in cruise events from Bay St. Louis to Pascagoula and all points between." It's eye candy overload and car talk on steroids!