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So What's So Great About Texas?
In reading BelgianBells' post below, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many Texas loyalists chime in 
I'm from Texas, and it's hard to explain my love for the state... And it can also be hard to defend, considering the stereotypes people have about the state internationally (and in the rest of the States). Probably because there's a lot of truth in those stereotypes!
Yes, Texans can be flashy, we love SUVs, there are a ton of conservative Bible-beaters, and our governor may be a bit touched...
But, we also have a very reasonable cost of living, delicious food, nice people, Southern charm, and NO STATE INCOME TAXES, yeehaw!
And aside from that, there's something abstract that I just can't place my finger on... The pride of being a Texan. The ability to answer "Texas" when asked where you're from - no matter where you happen to be in the world - and for people to have heard of the state.
So why do you love Texas? Haters are welcome too, but you've been warned
Bonus question: Assuming you're from Texas, when asked (abroad) where you're from, do you say Texas or the US? I always say Texas... Sometimes just for the reaction
ETA: This is NOT intended to pick on BelgianBells. I was just suprised to see all the Texas love and wanted to explore the issue further...
Re: So What's So Great About Texas?
I've only lived there till I was 6. So I have different memory of Texas and some of them had more to do with living on base.
I remember when my Dad would get home from work and my brother and I would struggle to take his big black Army boots off. I remember playing outside with friends and feeling safe. Trick or Treating at the General's quarters on the base. Hearing taps and the cannons.
I love the blue bonnets and I remember walking in fields of them. Hill country is also truly beautiful. I really hope I can take DH sometime.
We went back on a family vacation and I really enjoyed San Antonio.
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Besides this - it can't be explained, I don't know what that is, but yes, I'm so proud to be a Texan!
Born in Houston (and got out as fast as I could, sorry Houstonians - not a big fan of the city), but when my parents moved back to the US, we moved back to Austin and I fell in love with it. I feel like it is much different than any other city in Texas and I love it - The hills, the lake, the people, and so much to do!!
I especially like when you tell someone overseas you are from Texas and then find out they are as well, there is an immediate bond.
Bonus: I think I usually say US and then, Texas. But if the person who asks is already from the US, I just say Texas
It is kind of annoying when people find out I'm from TX and they're like "But you don't have an accent..." Not all people from Texas have accents!
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My family started migrating from MI to TX in the 70's, we moved there in the 80's and I love my Texas too. Its like loving Boston, its just a feeling.
I too HATE Houston, love Fort Worth area.
I can see why BBell would not be thrilled going this year. I was there this summer and the heat wave about killed me.
My favorite thing in the world is my aunt has 10 acres outside of FTW, we get together will some "hill billy" friends and play volleyball on a court we made outside of the horse corral (for real!) and play til' 2 in the morning sometimes.
But then I love going down to Sundance Square or the Stockyards or hit Fredericksburg/
I?m reading your responses and trying to understand my brother?s love of the state. He moved to Austin 15 years ago or so, and thinks Austin is pretty awesome. And his wife feels the state itself is so awesome that she never needs to leave it, much less move from it. And god forbid she venture out of the country to somewhere other than Mexico.
All I can say is, Texas is too damn hot for my taste, and I like it hot. But they do have good food. I?ll give you that one.
What's so great about Texas? EVERYTHING!
Not really, but I love Southern hospitality
My whole family is there except for H and W.
When asked I say I'm from Texas.
I have this problem too! I occasionally put on a really heavy TX accent just to amuse my ILs.
If asked, I often say I am from TX first. For the longest, the French people would respond by singing the themesong from Dallas whenever I told them I was from Dallas. Sadly, that show was popular for my mom's generation and I had no idea what they were doing lol
I cannot explain the pride that comes from being a Texan, native or adoptive. I don't like the politics, can't stand rednecks, don't like football or hot weather, and cannot stand the accent. I have a big long list of everything I don't like about TX and all the reasons I would probably never want to live there again, but somehow there is pride and loyalty to my home state. I guess it is like family, you can hate your sister and never want to see her again, but you love her inexplicably and would defend her to the ends of the earth (even if you pray for time to fly faster so that you can escape when you are visiting her). That is the best explanation I have for it.
Since you are welcoming haters, I think my main issue with Texas is that it's far from the oceans (close to the gulf on one border, though) and it takes so long to get out of the state. I'm from FL and the issue with having to drive forever to get out of Florida drove me crazy. I love the NE US because it's so easy to get to other big cities, the mountains, whatever.
I will say though that even though I've never been to Austin, I think I could live there. And as a whole, I'd agree that the food in Texas is awesome. People I've met from there have been nice and other than the inability to easily leave the state, I have no problem with it!
I will say I kind of agree on the people not wanting to leave the state. My mom and MIL pretty much think we live in never never land and have no desire to leave the US. Me and DH are so shocked not one person plans to visit us. My mother will just to see my son, my aunts would love to come but can't afford it.
But I will say my friends in MI are the same way. They couldn't believe I left MI for TX (hum, better weather, I tripled my salary, low cost of living, nice people) and every one is shocked we would leave TX for the NL.
I know it was a generalization. Like everything, its who you know and talk to. A lot of my younger friends travel a lot and many live abroad. But my family and their circle (and DH's), "want" to go places but just don't. Texas is big state, I'm sure we can find a mix of both.
Aside from layovers I've never been to Texas but I do love it because...
...COWBOYS are from Texas (not the team, I'm talking the red blooded men in Stetson hats, boots, tight jeans, with a slow drawl and know how to ride)
...romance novels (mostly trashy and fueling my love for the aforementioned cowboys) are often set in Texas
...country music
...Texas hold 'em poker
Now I want to plan a trip to Texas--anyone want to set me up to visit a friend/fun family member? Preferably a single man who wears cowboy boots?
We were co workers before we "hooked up". When I told people we were together a few of the ladies would come and say to me "oh, your man has the sexiest voice" LOL I admit..he does
I'm in awe of you right now. So jealous! I want a man who can sing like Josh Turner--mmm!
I don't chime in much, but I must on this one. I am from TX and when asked, I say I am from TX. Everyone know's where it is and has something to say about it. And no other state is like this. Even in the US when I was living in Los Angeles for awhile when you ask people where they are from they say the city - Chicago, for example. Only ppl from TX claim the state as a whole (generalization obviously).
Why do I love TX? The state offers it all - we have beach (sure Galveston isn't the best, but Corpus will do and South Padre is the best if you are a college student!), we have hill country, we have desert, we have wine country, we have an amazing music scene (Austin), a big city with the quaintest down home feel with a river right through it (San Antonio), big BIG industry (Houston & DFW), we have rodeo, we have TEX MEX, I can keep going...
So do any of you dread hearing the words "Only two things come out of Texas....." when you tell people where you're from?
I'm from Georgia so I get a lot of crap about Deliverance being set AND filmed there. Although I always tell people where I'm from, I do get a little tired of hearing the imitated banjos LOL
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SC, please post more. That was like music to my ears.
and pokepoke, I've NEVER heard that before. Seriously. What are the two things?!
I don't know the "two things" either. ?!
I have never lived in TX, but my parents are Texan and all my extended family lives there. I'll be honest? I don't get it. I'm not a hater, but whatever bug it is hasn't bitten me. It's a really big state with lots of stuff, but eh. *shrug* It probably doesn't help that most of my family is right in the heart of oil refinery country, and it quite literally stinks and makes me ill whenever we visit. But I have been other places in TX too.
My parents have a TX wall in their house. Since they don't live there anymore, I guess they felt the need to put a little TX wherever they are. The wall is covered with all kinds of Texas-shaped paraphernalia, bumper stickers, cross-stitched maps, and whatnots. My mother could be a walking billboard for TX with all the T-shirts, jewelry, and anything else she can find with anything TX-related on it. She also spends a non-ignorable amount of our Skype time teaching my girls what the TX flag looks like and how to sing "Deep in the Heart of Texas." It just seems a bit excessive to me.
2 things - steers and queers... I didn't make it up, just letting you all know since you asked. Pls don't flame me!
Emily a little more just for you since it's Thanksgiving - we have southern hospitality at it's finest. No where else in the world will you go will complete strangers look you in the eye while passing on the street and say hello. We have college football, we have every major sports team, We have diversity - the University of Houston is the second most ethnically diverse university in the country! We have Six Flags. And don't forget tubing down the Comal or Guadalupe. You want to water skiing - we got some lakes. Cook off anyone? lol okay I'll stop.
A quote from Full Metal Jacket
"Only two things come out of Texas....Steer and Queers....and I DON'T see no horns boy!"
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I must admit, I do not understand the appeal of Texas at all. I have some great friends from Texas, who always talk about how great it is, how they cannot wait to go back, etc.
The weather is terrible (yes I know there are lots of different areas with different weather) and oh my god, the fashion is awful. But TexMex is good (although I prefer the Omaha steak to the Texas steak).
My husband is Texan and so so proud of that fact. I love him but the 'Texans are best' attitude gets old.
In all honesty i don't get it - i really don't like it and its the one place in the US I would never want to live.
The people are nice and so welcoming but some people - (and i only say some as obviously i havent met all of Texas :P ) of their outdated attitudes and narrow mindedness makes me want to scream.
Ive only been to my husbands hometown and Dallas and so I can't say thats the case of all of Texas just the places ive been.