Don't Mess With Taxes

Here in Texas, we might talk a bit more slowly than our Northern neighbors, but when all's drawled and done, we don't have time to wait.

My fellow Austinites and I know what we want and we want it now! Similar antsy attitudes were found in Houston and Dallas.

That's the assessment of Guideline Inc., a research company that examined exactly where Americans are least likely to wait. The study was commissioned by eBay. The online auctioneer wanted to find out which areas might be prime locations for its eBay Express subsidiary, launched in April to cater to convenience-seeking buyers who want to buy immediately rather than wait for the Internet auctions to play out.

Of the 20 U.S. cities studied, Austin topped the impatience meter.

Helping the Lone Star State capital take the hurry-up title were the number of services designed to help Austin residents save time. The study looked at the prevalence of convenience stores, "in and out" gyms, online accessibility of city government services, quick stop copy shops and oil change garages, one-hour cleaners and photo developers, overnight delivery centers, speed dating services and Wi-Fi hot spots.

Austin narrowly beat out the other fast-paced cities, thanks in large part to the highest per capita "in and out" gyms, quick-copy centers and quick-change oil services. The city ranked second in the number of Wi-Fi hot spots and convenience stores.

Guideline researchers cited the growth of the technology industry in Austin, as well as the city's role as the seat of state government as possible reasons for Austin's many time-saving conveniences. Even our controversial toll road played a part in the analysis. eBay noted that the fact that State Highway 130 will only accept electronic payments indicates that for Austin drivers, "paying cash apparently takes too long."

According to Guideline, the five most impatient cities are:

1. Austin
2. Indianapolis
3. Houston
4. San Francisco
5. Dallas (tied with Baltimore and Jacksonville)

What about those presumably frenetic cities full of high-powered Type A deal makers? Not so, says the study.

Los Angeles and all its "lets do lunch" meetings came in 17th and New York movers and shakers could only climb to number 19.