Joie de Vivre Magazine: Living in the USA: Texas is Fascinating: Agree or Disagree

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Living in the USA: Texas is Fascinating: Agree or Disagree

Texas is Fascinating: Agree or Disagree

Vacation, Watch a Movie or Read About It.

For those of you who don't know this, when people joke about everything in Texas being big, they're joking and they're telling you the truth. Grew up in South Florida but developed a fascination with the 28^th state admitted to the Union when I watched the movie “Giant” starring Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. So at the first opportunity, accepted a job transfer and relocated my family to Houston. We only lived there for a year (1987) but it was fun and very economical!

Also lived in El Paso for about two and a half years during the latter half of the 90s. Cheap to live, but right on the border and lots of problems with gangs in the schools. U. S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement definitely had their work cut out for them. Apologies if ELP residents are offended. Not trying to bad-mouth it, but that is how it was when I lived there. Would be awesome if a current resident(s) could share a better report. Visited San Antonio and Dallas/Fort Worth; for business travel and for personal reasons. Been through a few other cities such as Abilene and Midland, on my way to somewhere else. They were very nice places. Former First Lady Laura Bush is from Midland. The city gets two thumbs up from me just for that fact. I have a lot of respect and admiration for Mrs. Bush. The most recent news about Midland is that folks are moving there because of job opportunities.

Currently reside in Austin, Texas and living in the state's capital is marvelous; family-friendly and business-friendly. Plus Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey both have homes here. "Alright! Alright! Alright!" Direct quote from Mr. McConaughey's acceptance speech at the 2014 Oscars ceremony. He won Best Actor. It's my exact description of daily life in Austin, Texas. So if anybody asks me "What is the best U.S. city?", Austin, Texas is at the top of my list.

Many cities in Texas have a flavorful or interesting history. Did you know that the City of Grapevine, Texas was the last stop for the infamous criminal duo, Bonnie and Clyde? If you wanted to take a vacation and decided to rent an RV and tour the entire state, you would probably have no regrets. Indeed if you ever wondered how James Michener could write an epic saga about Texas, when your vacation was over, you would have no more questions.