One Year Down: A Review of Texas

Well, it's been a little over one year since Matt and I moved out here to Texas. When I first got here, I wasn't as excited as I thought I'd be. Matt asked me to give it one year before I made any real opinions about it. We have reached the one year and I can officially say what I really think of Texas so I thought I would blog about it.

Ready?

Texas is not that bad. I have to say I like it a lot more now than I did a year ago. Here a few of my personal pros and cons.

Pro: The people here are so friendly! I mean genuinely friendly. I love that people still use "sir" and "ma'am" here. That is one thing that Matt and I probably picked up first, along with "y'all". At work we both noticed how quickly we started saying, "yes sir/ma'am" I still use it now even when I'm out shopping or on the phone. I really hope that continues to stick actually and I plan on teaching my kids to do the same. In both Fort Worth and now in Roanoke people are just so warm and inviting! We loved the people in our old ward and we are loving getting to know all of the people in our new ward! Matt and I both agree that the one really nice thing about living outside of Utah is that the church is a lot more close knit. Yes, in Utah there are LDS members everywhere, but outside of Utah, the members that are there are so much closer and the wards, in general, are a lot more united.

Pro: It is really green where we are! I love all the trees and green grass. I never thought Texas would be this green, but it's actually really pretty to drive by flat green pastures or see a thick wooded areas.

Pro: I can't talk about Texas without mentioning the food! Some of the best BBQ I've ever had as been here in Texas as well as steak! Texans know what they're doing with a slab of meat! Before I got pregnant I was starting to realize that I was going to have to make my workouts a little more hard core in order to keep my figure while enjoying all this awesome food!

Pro: Cost of living is really great here! We have driven around different neighborhoods and may have taken a flier or two of a house that was on the market just to see what houses around certain areas are going for. And we have been really surprised about how affordable it is to live here! We are always in awe of how big the houses are here and how many there are of them! But now we know, it's because it really is that affordable to have a larger than needed home. That's not to say that we are in the market or are going to be buying a mansion anytime soon (if we did we would also need to buy me some help to help me clean/maintain it) but at the same time, if we stayed here, buying a house wouldn't be too far away.

Now for a few cons.

Con: Weather. As much as people disagree with me, I don't think I will ever acclimate to the heat! I absolutely dislike the humidity. Walking outside and inhaling thick, muggy air, having my hair go completely flat and droopy and feeling wet all day is not and probably will never be my cup of tea. I love being outside! I hate that most of the days I have to be inside because it's too hot to take Kinley out in... even at 9:00 A.M.! And honestly, I really don't care to be out in the heat here much anyway. Enough of that. Bottom line: Humidity and Jamie are not friends. Also, (I thought I would never say this) I miss the snow. I miss having seasons. It's funny, when I lived in Utah I complained that it was too cold for too long. The winters last a little too long there, and now it seems like we have moved to a completely opposite climate. It's too hot here for too long! Hopefully Matt and I will settle somewhere with a happy medium.

Con: I know I said that I liked the scenery here for it's flat green pastures, but I miss the mountains so much! I think I took their majestic beauty for granted. I was so spoiled in Utah where I could drive through Logan Canyon, or gaze out at the beautiful Wellsville mountains. Even though I'm still pretty novice I loved hiking those mountains and looking down below into the valley. If we do decide to move, mountains are a must in our next location.

Wellsvilles

Con: As much as I am loving and getting acquainted with our neighbors and people in our "ward family" I really do miss our families. My parents like to remind me how far away I am as much as possible (as if I don't already know) and I understand why. They miss us and our new little addition. And I miss them and I miss Matt's family as well. I was really lucky because I grew up seeing my grandparents practically every day! I know most people aren't like that, and I would like Kinley and the rest of our children to know both sets of their grandparents as well as I knew and know mine. Those are memories I will always have and that I would never take back if I had the chance.

It looks like from my little list that I have more pros than I have cons. I will be honest and say that this wasn't the case a year ago. We still have so much more to explore in the lone star state and I'm excited to discover what else Texas is really all about. Yes, there are some things that I'm not so keen on about Texas as you have read, but I wouldn't change moving here. It's been a fun adventure for Matt and I; and whether we settle here or not, Texas will always have a special place in our hearts. It's where Matt's first grown up job was, it's where we became so much closer, because really we are all we have out here and last but not least, it's where our beautifully sweet daughter was born. =)

If anyone who lives or has visited Texas has some insights as to places to see, things to do,

or places to eat, let me know! I'm always looking for new adventures and tasty bites!