It depends on what you mean by livable. I got my masters from TAMU, and its a good education. However, it's a super small town with a small town mentality, there isn't much to do if you do not want to drink with the undergrads on Northgate, and some of the rumors about this place are true if you are any type of minority. But it is a cheap place to live.
Pretty much everyone in my department has tattoos. In fact, we all go to the same guy, faculty and grad students alike. We might be a strange department though. One of the professors has a huge tattoo of Dante on his forearm.
I'd like to blog. I have time on my hands, and a mind of metal, gears, and wit. This is my second year to apply, this year for American Studies, last year for MFA's.