What defines you as being a Texan or an Austinite (Houston: living in, beach)

[twesley4521]

I am very interested in finding out what everyone's definition of being a Texan is and what being an Austinite is.

I personaly was Born in Austin/Texas and have lived here about 26 years of my life out of 30 years. What about you?

Travis (Very Texas Name)

P.S.
I own 8 Texas Flags

[brattpowered]

I think it's just something you feel. I consider myself an Austinite, but may not be one forever. I will never be a Texan.

[TexasHorseLady]

I don't currently live in Austin, but did for 20-odd years, live in the country now but still consider myself an Austinite of some 39 years. And I gave birth to one, so that should count for something!

As for being a Texan, well, I was born and bred here, ancestors fought at San Jacinto, have deep deep roots here, have lived in several areas of the state. Gave birth to two (the one that wasn't born in Austin moved there when he was 2).

It's sort of a matter of, if no matter where you go, you feel like a Texan, then you are one, I think.

[centralaustinite]

Well, I remember years ago in the early 90s reading obits in the Statesman and having the realization that the best I could hope for would to be called "a long-time Austin resident." Never a "native Austinite." But things have changed quite a bit since then as so many newcomers have come in . . . I don't have any problem with calling myself an Austinite, I've lived here nearly 20 years, have two degrees from UT and have three native Texan, native Austinite children!!

But to really be a Texan and an Austinite, you have to be born here!

My spouse and I consider ourselves to be "Texan" in that we bleed burnt orange (and have taken the heat for it, word of advice: never wear burnt on Venice Beach in California) but we would always defer to "real Texans" folks like Texas Horse Lady with real roots here. We remain Yankees in some ways (and in the most important way, our ancestors fought for the Union in the Civil War)

But my kids . . . it must in the water here. They are complete Texan! They think that the Texas Capitol is the most beautiful building in the world and my daughter is convinced that sunsets in the rest of the world can't possibly be as beautiful as in Texas! They love learning about Texas history and completely identify as Texan.

And as Longhorns too, bless their hearts! They used to give us the "thumbs up" sign if something (like dinner) was good. But then they learned about "gig em" (neighbors and friends are Aggies) and now they rate experiences and meals as either "one Longhorn" or two and give us the Hook 'em Horns sign!

[samtex]

My uncle, who passed away in the 80's considered anyone living in panhandle "yankees". He spent most of his life in Brownsville BTW.

My view is that a native Austinite is one who was born here and never left. I know a few of those folks.

My view of a Texan is that if you think you are, yr1.

I think of myself as a central Texan as I was born in Temple and grew up in Luling and now live between both towns.

When we moved to Austin, our city council's ambition was to keep Austin a in friendly small town atmosphere...a no growth policy..and that is, in my opinion why we have a traffic congestion problem today.

Look at San Antonio and compare it with Austin. What is the difference?
If you have not noticed the network of freeways in San Antonio and the network of toll roads here, you ignored the obvious!

We do not need more growth in Austin, we need more freeways..Lights on 360 are a joke. Anyone notice any traffic lights on 410? and other loops?
Before encouraging business in Austin, let's do something about traffic!

Then let Austin be another Dallas if you like. Preferably let it be another San Antonio. We need loops around Austin with no traffic signals!
Look at Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth! Each city has one or more loops around city with alternative routes...that may have traffic signals.

Can we please do this without Spain building toll roads?
Where are our engineers and entrepreneurs. What does Spain have that we do not have in the good ole USA.
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Originally Posted by centralaustinite

Well, I remember years ago in the early 90s reading obits in the Statesman and having the realization that the best I could hope for would to be called "a long-time Austin resident." Never a "native Austinite." But things have changed quite a bit since then as so many newcomers have come in . . . I don't have any problem with calling myself an Austinite, I've lived here nearly 20 years, have two degrees from UT and have three native Texan, native Austinite children!!

But to really be a Texan and an Austinite, you have to be born here!

My spouse and I consider ourselves to be "Texan" in that we bleed burnt orange (and have taken the heat for it, word of advice: never wear burnt on Venice Beach in California) but we would always defer to "real Texans" folks like Texas Horse Lady with real roots here. We remain Yankees in some ways (and in the most important way, our ancestors fought for the Union in the Civil War)

But my kids . . . it must in the water here. They are complete Texan! They think that the Texas Capitol is the most beautiful building in the world and my daughter is convinced that sunsets in the rest of the world can't possibly be as beautiful as in Texas! They love learning about Texas history and completely identify as Texan.

And as Longhorns too, bless their hearts! They used to give us the "thumbs up" sign if something (like dinner) was good. But then they learned about "gig em" (neighbors and friends are Aggies) and now they rate experiences and meals as either "one Longhorn" or two and give us the Hook 'em Horns sign!