Well, you ask me what I like about Texas

My boss is from Utah.  Recently, he was down going on some appointments with me, and in an effort to make chit chat while we drove around visiting clients, he asked "So, what's the best thing about living in Texas?"

Do you know what I said?

"Well, there's no income tax, so that's good."

What?!?  That's all I had?  It was so awkward for both of us.  One, I was embarrassed that was the best answer I could come up with to describe the state I love, and he was stumped on follow up questions.  I mean really?  How do you follow that?  

To his credit he did come up with one: "Oh, so yeah, that's good.  Um, do they make it up somewhere else?"  It was a very strange conversation.

The worst part is, that's NOT the best thing about living in Texas.  It's a good thing, but not the best.  There are so many good things I really can't name them all, and reading a list of what I like about Texas probably wouldn't be that entertaining, so I direct you to the classic Gary P. Nunn song "What I Like About Texas."  This version includes some great pictures to go along with the song- in particular I love the ladies holding "a cold Lone Star" in their hand at both 53 seconds and the lady with the cold Lone Star in her "hand" at about 1:38.

"What I Like About Texas" by Gary P. Nunn

Anyway, so now you know.

But, this really sparked an internal debate.  Why was that my answer?  Why did I struggle so much?  Sure, Texas has its downside and gets a bad rap.  I'm not going to get into the politics or the heat- arguably the two worst things about Texas- because overall, it's a great place to live.  My God, we're the state of Willie Nelson, Stevie Ray Vaughn...BBQ!

Maybe it wasn't Texas that had me stumped.  Maybe it was me.

We lived in Colorado for two years, and really loved it.  It's so beautiful, and we made some wonderful friends.  But, while we were away, all we could talk about was how great Texas is and how awesome it would be to move home.  Then we did, and now we talk about how great Colorado was.

Are we unsatisfied with the wonderful life we have?  Ungrateful?  Not happy to be back close to family?

I don't think so, at least I hope not.  I think it's kind of like going to summer camp or college though.  You leave and have an experience, and then come back and the world you knew looks a little different for the experiences you've had.  But, it makes that world better because you're back because you chose to be, not just because you were born there.  

So now I think, so what?  So I recognize the no income tax is fun.  That's what happens when you go away to summer camp or college, you grow up a little and start caring about taxes.