Old Salt @ 36,

But remember, I’m a native Californian – meaning I’m spoiled with the California weather. Texas is grand and large, but it ain’t Southern California.

I understand. Since I teach 3 months a year at Stanford, I can appreciate the feeling.

But then I figure my ancestors left some of the most beautiful places in the world (Bavaria, Ireland, Italy) and ended up here, best as I can tell driven by a desire to be free to live the life God desired that they lead. Somehow, that freedom – or some small kernel of it – has been preserved here.

Not to say this is the only place in the world, or the US. The world is filled with interesting places and great people. But having lived across the pond and across the Pacific, as well as other places around the state, I always have felt drawn back here. A lot of that draw is family, of course, but there’s something else as well. Particularly to Houston, which has a culture unlike anywhere else I’ve even been. For a city of 4 million to be so open to outsiders is a truly remarkable thing. At the core, the lack of centralized planning (i.e. zoning) probably has something to do with it. But it’s still the people. The beautiful scenery you can visit; the people are harder to move. Kind of counter-intuitive, but true.

Anyway, I’m sure you’ll thrive wherever you end up. Take a look at Houston, though. We’ve been built by people like you. And it’s got a lot more going on than meets the eye of the traveler who drops in for a meeting or a convention.

Plus, while the weather stinks for 4 months a year, that will probably drop to 1 month during the coming global cooling. .

Cheers,
L3