outsiders in texas towns

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by cobolt

Thanks Cathy,

I have a job offer in San Antone, but I'm very hesitant to take it. I'm not a big city person. 1.5 million people is too much for me. I like cow towns. I'm thinking Ft Worth is as big as I would go, and even then, that's twisting my arm. Lubbock is the perfect size.

I couldn't live in San Antonio myself, though I do love the city for visiting. The traffic is horrible, and the summers are typically hot steambaths!

I wouldn't mind living in Lubbock again, but I would really miss the mountains. If I come back to Texas, it will most likely be the Ft Davis/Alpine/Marfa area.

Hang in there, OK? Hopefully you'll get back to Lubbock before long!

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

I couldn't live in San Antonio myself, though I do love the city for visiting. The traffic is horrible, and the summers are typically hot steambaths!

I wouldn't mind living in Lubbock again, but I would really miss the mountains. If I come back to Texas, it will most likely be the Ft Davis/Alpine/Marfa area.

Hang in there, OK? Hopefully you'll get back to Lubbock before long!

I agree. Same reason I didn't move back to Chicago---nice place to visit, don't want to live there. I love being able to drive out of town in a few minutes on a CR or FM and be out there. I like Ft Davis/Alpine/Marfa too, but jobs jobs....you know. THanks for all your kind words!

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by EasilyAmused

Yes, but we won't tolerate constant biotching about anything for too long without laying it on the line. Texas mentality is make do, get her done, make lemonade out of lemons, and can do spirit. Whining, and contending with people who think they are "special," really gets on our nerves.

what this actually means is -- forget where you are from. Once you are here, no one wants to hear about your life before you were here. It doesn't matter anymore and nobody cares or wants to hear about it. What matters is that you are in Texas, and you must like it at all times.

If you enjoy constantly kissing butt, you will like it. Also, if you don't mind leaving your identity back where you left it, come on in...

Oh, and I think 'get her done' means never working a full 8 hour day.

All that said. I live in New Braunfels. People would never realize I'm not from here unless we had a conversation, or if they happened to notice my license plates that I have refused to change, and smartly so...

New Braunfels is fine. There are lots of nice things to see in the area. But I think the tubing thing would be way more awesome if it wasn't so unGodly crowded here in the summertime. Lots of drinking/party mentality.

I've enjoyed it, for the most part. I've definitley had enough of their superiority complex, though and am ready to move on. I'm sure there are lots of nice people here but I miss the identity I had to leave at the door to please someone else....admittedly, I work a class A jerk, well a couple....and I'm sure these people have colored my opinions of everything.

But, the post I quoted is exatly the type of thing they would say.

Not to mention the guy I dated that consistently told me the worst thing about me was that i was a yankee....after awhile I just thought he was stupid, and annoying.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by rgb123

what this actually means is -- forget where you are from. Once you are here, no one wants to hear about your life before you were here. It doesn't matter anymore and nobody cares or wants to hear about it. What matters is that you are in Texas, and you must like it at all times.

If you enjoy constantly kissing butt, you will like it. Also, if you don't mind leaving your identity back where you left it, come on in...

Oh, and I think 'get her done' means never working a full 8 hour day.

All that said. I live in New Braunfels. People would never realize I'm not from here unless we had a conversation, or if they happened to notice my license plates that I have refused to change, and smartly so...

New Braunfels is fine. There are lots of nice things to see in the area. But I think the tubing thing would be way more awesome if it wasn't so unGodly crowded here in the summertime. Lots of drinking/party mentality.

I've enjoyed it, for the most part. I've definitley had enough of their superiority complex, though and am ready to move on. I'm sure there are lots of nice people here but I miss the identity I had to leave at the door to please someone else....admittedly, I work a class A jerk, well a couple....and I'm sure these people have colored my opinions of everything.

But, the post I quoted is exatly the type of thing they would say.

Not to mention the guy I dated that consistently told me the worst thing about me was that i was a yankee....after awhile I just thought he was stupid, and annoying.

Sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder. I was never called a Yankee and never had problems making friends in Texas. But I didn't walk into the state, criticizing Texans and their ways, not being open to new experiences, and thinking everyone who didn't see life the way I did wasn't "progressive" or was a "redneck." Texans are a live and let live people and a self reliant people, unlike the nanny state I currently live in (WA) where everyone is oh so "smart" and "progressive" and if you don't see things their way, they berate and marginalize you, and call you stupid. The greatest thing about Texas is its spirit, and it's a spirit of independence, and live free, whatever that is you choose. So many people think Seattle is "progressive and moving forward and diverse." Those are code words for good and somehow people who love God and country or their state are "rednecks" and backwards-code word for "bad". I'll tell you what, if it were all to go down tomorrow, I'd rather be in Texas than anywhere else. I love how proud Texans are of their state. YOu don't get that anywhere else. If you had problems, it has more to do with you and less to do with Texas and Texans.

[rgb123]

actually, I left Illinois because I wanted to. I came with a completley open mind and I fit in just fine.

But the attitudes here and the ignorance I have encountered could quite possibly turn me into a liberal democrat, just to spite them.

[hound 109]

rgb, i read your post (& you were merely offering your perspective & your experience). YOU have lived in small town texas (& so have I). You didn't trash NB....in fact you said you actually liked the town. (as do I).

What's interesting is that most (if not all) of the posters who essentially say "Come on down.....you'll get along fine.".....are probably living in urban or (more likely) Suburban areas of the state where there are folks from all over moving in. Of course they're welcomed.....for the most part they represent the majority in the area that they live.

But anyone who doesn't think that there are cliques in a small town where families have lived for 4-5 generations......have never lived in small towns.

I'm a Texan & thankfully didn't have b*tthead boyfriend/girlfriend issues to contend with.... but was aware of the difference between being a newcomer vrs. being part of the multi-generational establishment in a small town. It wasn't overt....& small town Texas is still way more friendly (for the most part) then urban Texas.....but it was there (& you know & I know that we both experienced it to some degree). Ironically, I intend to move back to a small town...for me the pros outweight the cons. But to those who don't think there are cons....they just haven't lived there.

This board is dominated by (for the most part) newcomers &/or Suburbanites who often marginalize dissenting opinion (even if it's more informed).... don't sweat it.

Good luck RGB....& happy trails.


Question....did the OP ever move to a small town in Texas? Would love to hear his/her experience.

[Reivax]

Originally Posted by cobolt

I love how proud Texans are of their state. YOu don't get that anywhere else.

This is one of the things I love most since moving to Texas 2 years ago.

[kelly katsus]

Welcome to Texas! We all came from somewhere, so it doesn't really matter to most people. I think it's ususally a problem with personalities and not the location of birth. I sure wouldn't worry about coming to Texas. If someone does judge you from being from somewhere else, they are not worthy to be your friend and move on. There are judgemental people all over the world.

Good luck to you and may you be blessed with your move. Kelly