My wife and I talk about moving every now and then, but probably won't barring a job that I just can't refuse.

I really don't enjoy the heat that much and would prefer more wet weather, but I just can't find it in me to up and leave as much as I want to some days.

Well, I am not in WT any more as someone was willing to pay 60% more and now, 3-1/2 years later the company I used to work for is closing the plant I was at in Angelo.

With that noted, I am sure when it is time to retire WT and especially Angelo will become home or at least become a home base again.

I can tolerate the hot weather, but Mrs.EMc77 really hates it and she was born there! I imagine my bones will bake under the WT sun when I am gone.

Probaby be in the mountains in the summers, sweating in Kyle in the fall and be around Angelo, or even Kerrville the rest of the time.

It boils down to WT being home for 37 of my 53 years and having roots like a mesquite!

[This message has been edited by EMc77 (edited 6/2/2008 1:15p).]

As unbearable as the summer days might be, the fall evenings are spectacular. There are no better people anywhere on earth.

West Texas has a character and a charm that just draws me in. Can't really explain it. It's home.

One of my favorite musicians is a guy named Doug Smith out of Lubbock, he's an incredible pianiast. One time he was on Texas Country Reporter and Bob Phillips asked him what kept a guy with his kind of talent in West Texas. Doug said he enjoyed being able to look at the horizon and see 50 miles, and if he stood on a tuna can he could see 100 miles. Thats kinda how I feel. I grew up out here and love it. Never knew how much I loved it until I moved to Nacogdoches to start school at Stephen F Austin. That was the most misrable year of my life. I couldnt breathe and I sweated all the time because of that east Texas humidity. THAT is hot, this out here aint bad at all. I like being able to see an approaching T-storm when its still down in Tom Green county, at least 3 hours away. I didnt like t-storms sneaking up on me over those pine trees in east Texas.

I love every bit of Texas and the Navy took me all over the world, to some really incredible places. I'll take West Texas anyday...

I wish I could spend more time in WT now. Unfortunately, I will have to wait a number of years before I could realistically think about buying a residence out there. The summer hear aside, it is still a beautiful place to be, and the people are top-notch and friendly. It's where I was born and where I would like to spend part of my retirement.

I was born into the Air Force
lived all over, but ended up back here

other places do have some special allure,
like the mountains in Colorado, or Yosemite in California. and certainly, West Texas has somethings about it, that I wish I could do without. but overall, like Squid and others said above, its the lack of humidity, its the flat distance and beautiful sunsets, mostly, it is the people and it is my roots.

if you haven't read AC Green's A Personal Country" you should put that on your list of things to do.

I too lived in other places, including South Dakota. As soon as we had a chance to move back we jumped on it. I have been back for a year now. All of my family and many of my friends are in San Angelo, so it has been a great move for us. The bank showed 107 on the sign Saturday, but the heat is really not that bad...

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but the heat is really not that bad...

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Riiiiiiiiiiiight.......

Even though you feel like you're in an oven most of the time it's really not bad. It's a dry heat. Growing up there and now living in the crappy humidity of Houston, I appreciate/miss that dry heat. I remember playing football in the front yard in 115 degree heat a few times as a kid. Pretty much retarded.

Well I grew up in the swampy rice-land of Katy, Texas. I am used to being able to see for miles across flat roads and fields. (Even Katy can't say that anymore.)

Anyway we high-tailed it to Albuquerque, New Mexico from Houston in 1989 and have only crept back as far as Midland, Texas. We loved NM when we arrived there and hated it 3 years later when we moved to Midland. Practically kissed the ground when we cross the Texas State border. I don't think I could never leave Texas again.

The Dry heat that we (me included) complain about in West Texas is the same thing that keeps me from having the same CHRONIC BRONCHITIS I had growing up in a swamp. Almost a life-changing thing for me. I have traveled around and know places I love to visit. I also know those same places I would NEVER live! What Midland, Texas doesn't have I can get to in a few hours, and I know when I come home I can afford to live here forever.

I put one of my pictures in a personal "motivational" poster:

I almost, just almost, shed a tear to your ode to Midland there LoudestWhoop. Well said.

Midland is the cradle of civilization. I don't understand why more people don't know this.

I was born in Abilene, and raised in Midland.

When I left to go to Aggieland I said I was never coming back. I hated the wind and the dust of west Texas a lot. However after graduating I came back to Midland, to work in guess where...the oilfield.

While there are many things I still don't like about west texas there are some things that can't be beat anywhere...

1) Best Sunsets I have ever seen.
2) Although this one is rare, the way it smells after it rains
3) Football on Friday nights, from 6-man to 5A best played football in the state!

Gig Em

Been doing some work in the Panhandle west of Lubbock, it is so nice to deal with people that are down to earth, honest and friendly again. Been working in New Orleans for several months and there is no comparison people wise. (There are many good folk in NOLA, but for the most part many are just users).
It is a shame most of the smaller towns of West Texas are dying out. Even the Dairy Queens are closing it seems.

You tards better be right! I'll be moving there in August.

Eff that. West Texas is the armpit of Texas, and NOTHING will bring me back. You can have your dust storms, and no rain!

[This message has been edited by AggieBarstool (edited 6/30/2008 8:36a).]

Lubbutt is the armpit of Texas. Don't over generalize the whole region for one city's lack of any redeeming qualities. Get it straight barTool, and keep your negativity on the Aggieland board.

Why did you even click on this board if you hate WT so much?

I don't know. Maybe he was bored and just ventured over here.

I have worked all across the eastern part of the nation and West Texas still has the friendliest folks around. The closest I met are the farming areas around Indianapolis. I accused them of being Texan, they were so friendly. ( They even beat a lot of east Texas for friendly.)
For those that don't understand, the West Texas land and enviornment IS tough and many times just plain miserable. But the drought's, the wind, the mud rains, the dust storms, and just plain hot days have molded a people that can deal with much more than those in the green belt areas of the country. I can't say that I have enjoyed all of the above, but I like what it has produced. Where else is a rain a time of celebration and a beer? or 2, or 3?

I lived in Lubbock since I was 5 and after graduating from Tech in December I moved to Houston (long story and it probably won't have the happy ending I was hoping for). Either way, I always wanted to get out, get to a bigger city, make money have a life outside of West Texas. I've been in Houston for half a year and all I can think about is summer nights in West Texas. I was bored as hell there, but I've never felt so comfortable. Life is slow, but that is how I like it. I like how it's not crampt, no traffic and not a lot of action. I don't know if I could ever move back (won't make the money I would like to, most of my friends are living there now but will more than likely be gone by the end of the year), but I sure as hell want to get closer and go there any weekend I can.

Lubbock, and West Texas in general, have the nicest and most polite people I have ever met.

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As unbearable as the summer days might be, the fall evenings are spectacular. There are no better people anywhere on earth.

West Texas has a character and a charm that just draws me in. Can't really explain it. It's home.

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This is pretty nostalgic. Grew up in Angelo. Friday nite football, mexican food, friendly folks, open land for miles. I was fortunate.

I grew up in Big Lake. Only WT people know where that is. After spending 7 years in other parts of the state (A&M and then law school) I returned to WT, even though I promised myself I never would. I live in Sweetwater now. I really love WT. It does have some drawbacks, like the wind and dust and too many Tceh people. But the people (yes, even some of the Red Raiders) are wonderful. And the sunsets are the best.

My Dad, many uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews are TTech grads and are typical friendly West Texans, except at Christmas when they gang up on the Aggies in the family.

Not here yet, but I am starting a job which will have me running around the Odessa Midland area, see yall out there

"Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm."
-Abraham Lincoln

It's a good place to raise a family.

I also love the fact that you can smell the rain coming, even though it seldom actually arrives.

Cowtown,
You may want to pay attention to the sagebrush blooming also.

Also wait until there is a monster day-long north wind - afterward when you drive along east-west highways the tumbleweed will create a WALL against north side the barbed wire fences.

Hell, I grew up out here. We'll put our wind up against anybody's.

I grew up in the ricefields of Katy, Texas, the first time I saw the tumbleweed walls I was stunned!

The sunrises aren't all that bad, either.

Some of you should rise and shine a little earlier so you can see one sometime.

I grew up in Andrews went to A&M then to Midland and lived there until '95 then bought some country in Glasscock Co. just east of Garden City and lived there until 07. I recently moved to Burnet. It's closer to B/CS and football games and our kids in school but, I miss West Texas every day. When your born there, and spend close to half a century there it's in your blood.

I personally have always deemed all the land west of the colorado river in Texas as West Texas. I have traveled the state and the country for that matter extensively. To me that particular region generally is made up of the kind of people, the terrain, climate and history that best fits my definition of West Texas. The sunrises & sunsets are the best because of the aura West Texas landscapes and sky provide.

My fondest memories are early mornings over the past decade at Wind Sites I have built. I have watched the sun come up in remote West Texas regions and watched it go down each and every evening the past 20 yrs. I grew up working in the oil fields for my dad in Andrews and the surrounding counties so it seems I have always been out in it from can to can't in that West Texas weather. Sunshine and wind or damned cold and wind or just wind and dust. It's been the constant of my life, it's as much a part of me as my heart beat.

When these hillbilly's around here in Burnet say things like "West Texas? damn it's ugly out there; I bet you're glad you finally got out of there!" I just smile and say I lived out there for almost 50 years thats my home so be careful how you speak of my home! besides, I think its pretty out there with alot less people and the few they have are alot better quality then what can be found around here or anywhere else in the world for that matter. I know that for a fact because I've seen them all. West Texas is where they'll bury me.

I still do alot of business in West Texas and usually get out there for a week every month. I will always look forward to those West Texas fixes. I thank the good Lord every time I cross over to the west side of the Colorado!

Ya'll take care of the home place for me would ya?

Moved out to WT the summer after we graduated A&M, one week after our wedding. we were 8 hrs away from everything we had ever known, and were on our own adventure.

It took a while for me to get settled in & call WT home. Once i got over being homesick, i really fell in love with the place. Here are some reasons why:

the people, Big Bend National Park, Guadalupe National Park, Balmorhea, Sandhills, Sunsets, driving 50 miles and never passing through a town, there weren't any "Jones" to keep up with, WT takes you as you are, working/walking in the evening and never sweating, the people, the food, small town schools, football, being 8 hrs closer to skiing, the people, the rugged/tough landscape that can withstand anything mother nature has in store, the history of the west, the unique people who still today live the lives of characters Elmer Kelton books, the cost of living.... and the list can go on and on.

Since moving back east a year ago, we hear lots of "I bet you left as fast as you could..." I just smile & tell them I can't wait to get back.

God Bless God's Country.

I grew up in Abilene. I never saw a wind turbine until after I graduated and moved back to hometown. I ended up working for the wind farms as a field biologist of all things. I enjoy doing the work! I get paid well for it.. However,... I dont know anyone anymore... I just work and go home... I think im gonna go to the fair tonight and try to meet some aggies at the French Fry booth... hmm... hope to have fun..

I grew up in Abilene as well. Since I graduated from A&M I have lived in Lafayette, LA, only make it back to that part of the world during Christmas. But, during the late summer months and into the fall I really get the homesick feel, especially in the evenings. There's nothing in the world like a West Texas sunset during those times of the year, that and high school football are just a couple of the things I miss the most.

Of course, the people from west Texas are one of a kind. There are friendly people just about everywhere you go, but it's just not the same. I assume everyone on here understands that...