I grew up in a very conservative town in a “purple state,” and when people asked me about my political leanings, I said, “a bit left of Democrat.” I was quite happily a liberal hippie chick, and I worked at a school where one of the teachers actually wore a “moveon.org” t-shirt to work.
While we were collecting waste vegetable oil for our “greasel” Mercedes, washing cloth diapers, and observing “buy nothing day” instead of black Friday, we would fantasize about moving to California. In 2008, we decided we would move there in 5 years.
5 years later, on August 1, 2013, we did, indeed move across the country. We packed all of our possessions in our Volvo station wagon and arrived in the place I now love to call “home.” But we must have taken a wrong turn, because that place is…..wait….where?
I loved Texas the day we arrived, and I’ve only grown to love it more over the past 9 years. Even in the current political climate, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
Here are the reasons why I love living in Texas–specifically in the Houston/Galveston area:
1. The Kindest People in the World Live in Texas.
While Texas is a very large state, and Houston is a very large city, overall, people here are unbelievably nice and social. It is a much more polite culture than the midwest U.S., but there is also a kindness that runs a lot deeper. Friends are fiercely loyal and infinitely forgiving. And if somebody is going through a hard time, everybody rallies.
2. People are Extremely Generous.
If you are here long enough, someone WILL pay for your coffee at Starbuck’s. When I was on medical leave and didn’t have a paycheck, we had help with everything imaginable. Iliana’s school donated enough gifts for her to have a mountain under the tree, and a church provided us with a turkey for Thanksgiving. If someone is short on money in the grocery line, someone will cover it. Generosity and paying it forward are simply a way of life here.
3. This Area is Very Diverse
Houston is the most diverse city in the U.S. And while people in Michigan usually only socialized with those of a similar race or ethnicity, in Houston, everyone hangs out with everyone. Our first friends in Texas were a group of Mexican-Americans in a branch of the Moped Army. When we first moved down here, Iliana made some new imaginary friends, and they all had different skin colors. If you live here long enough, you will have friends who are a different race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and political affiliation than you.
4. The Food Here is Very, Very, Very Good!
My first day at my new job down here, they provided us with breakfast tacos. I had not been aware that tacos can be eaten at every meal, and the tacos here are nothing like the creamy, cheesy tacos we had up north. I have also discovered kolaches, pho, a million varieties of sushi, tamales, ceviche, street corn, Indian food, cajun food, and every type of fusion you could imagine! Food here is simple, spicy, and flavorful.
5. Every Kind of Weekend Getaway is 30 Minutes Away.
Where we live, it’s easy to book an air BNB or campsite for a day off. We are 30-45 minutes from the beach or the Strand in Galveston, the Bolivar Peninsula (beach camping), downtown Houston, the Montrose neighborhood, or Brazos Bend state park in the woods. And if we want to stay home, we can sail on the bay or anchor out at Redfish Island.
6. There are a Lot of Options with Schools Here.
I stop short of saying that I like teaching better in Texas, because that is not entirely true. I like that Texas does not have the top-to-bottom list that did more harm than good in Michigan, and I like that test scores are not as large a percentage of teacher evaluations here. Charter schools are also non-profit in Texas, which has reduced corruption. However, Texas does not really have teacher unions–the bad situation I was in back in 2017-18 would not have happened in Michigan. Michigan also has school of choice statewide, which is very nice. So at my former job, teaching in Texas was worse, but my current position as special education department lead for a small charter school is much better than any job I had in Michigan. Autism and dyslexia interventions are also much better in Texas.
7. There are a Lot of Jobs Here.
I stayed in my job in Michigan for 10 years. It wasn’t a perfect fit for me, but it had a paycheck. I would never, never have imagined quitting a job without having something else lined up. Such is the thinking in the rust belt. Here, I left an unpleasant job with nothing lined up, had an income as soon as I was ready, and found my current job very quickly.
8. It is Easy to Find Your Tribe Here.
Houston is the fourth largest city in the US. No matter what you are into, you will be able to find your tribe. We immediately felt at home the first time we walked a marina, and now the vast majority of my friends are people I have met in yoga class. We had a hard time finding friends in Michigan, and the friends we did have, lived about an hour away.
9. There are Advantages to NOT Being in an Echo Chamber.
So what about politics and religion? I’ve learned that, first, it is possible to have close friendships with people, without ever discussing these subjects. I have also had close friendships with people who have different views. This has helped us to better understand each other, and to be skeptical of the “news” we have read or heard.
Yesterday was my Tex-a-Versary–we have now lived in Texas for nine years! I still think moving here was one of the smartest things we have ever done, and I have definitely grown from my time here.
Happily Loco 