The Truth About Daily Life in Texas

Having lived in the great state of Texas for over five years now, I've learned a lot about this place. When I first moved here, I had some reservations based on different things I had learned from TV or other media. There are myths built up around all things Texan to the outside world, some of which is perpetuated on purpose by Texans for fun and profit.

So take it from an outsider who's been here awhile now...don't believe everything you hear about Texas...but don't disbelieve everything either. Here's the truths and the myths for what they really are.

Texas is full of cowboys, trucks, sports and country music.

Truth - PART MYTH, PART FACT

There is a lot of that macho vibe out here, and there's no avoiding it. Used car salesmen dress up like cowboys to sell trucks on TV. I live just down the street from a popular rodeo site, where cowboys on horseback ride up and down the local roads to exercise the horses. Country music stars sell out the American Airlines Center in Dallas, and other large and small arenas. The kids in public school get a day out of school in order to attend the Texas State Fair, where they can snack on fried peanut butter sandwiches or fried pickles or fried Snickers bars. They do love the fried food here, which could be at least a contributing factor to the high rates of obesity here in Texas.

On the other hand, it is a myth that there's macho and nothing else. Most of my friends are not very macho or into sports, although you do get an occasional "yee-haw" out of them. I think the "yee-haw" thing is in the water, though. My kids never yelled "yee-haw" until we crossed the border into Texas, and now they do it all the time.

The population in the Dallas area has been growing in recent years, and there are a lot more people like me around, who are recent transplants, with their own varied interests. In the cities there are lots of different diversions that aren't cowboy-related if that isn't your thing. It sure isn't mine.

It's the Bible Belt. Texans are very religious people.

Truth - FACT