The Top 10 Reasons to Live in West Texas

West Texans are a strong, determined, don't take any guff kind of people. They live by the motto "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Yet when a need arises, they always show their generous, loving nature in a huge West Texas way.

Per capita, West Texas has more places to eat than just about anyplace outside New York City and Dallas. Awesome BBQ, burgers, home cooking, you would expect.  But did you know you can get world class sushi, Indian, Ethiopian and Middle Eastern fare as well?  And if you want sassy, Lubbock also has excellent cuisine for the discerning palettes as well as many healthy, organic food choices and restaurants.

In my travels, I haven't run across too many other places that offer the space we still have available in West Texas. Glorious! We aren't jammed up or crammed in here and we like it that way.

No explanation needed. In it's full, broad, big sky splendor, West Texas sunrises and sunsets bring an awe-inspiring start and finish to our days.

I can't properly relate how much I appreciate our farmers and everyone working in the agricultural industry in West Texas. I not only appreciate the hard -- and I mean hard -- work, but also what it brings to our local economy in a local, national and global market. Plus, I love driving or walking past a cotton or maize field (or any other field for that matter) and seeing it grow and produce its yield.

West Texas boasts many local artists, singers, song writers and musicians who have gone on to perform and excel on a national and/or worldwide stage.  Buddy Holly is just the tip of the iceberg. There's also a whole new generation of mega-talented artists making their start in Lubbock and West Texas, playing live at assorted venues, locally.

Compared even to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, Lubbock and West Texas still have one of the best cost of living environments around. Don't even get me started on the comparison to living in California, Colorado or New York to name a few.

We all know that no matter where you live, peer pressure, the media and technology will have an effect on our kids and their decisions, but it does seem like Lubbock and West Texas still have a handle on teaching our kids values, respect, a good work ethic, integrity and character. This goes from the parents to the teachers and beyond.

Yes, we may have the occasional haboob and we won't go into the drought thing, but, compared to earthquakes, mudslides, erupting volcanoes, hurricanes, etc., we fare alright.

And it's true what they say: if you don't like the weather in West Texas, wait a minute.

According to a recent Forbes article, Lubbock has earned a high ranking on Forbes’ list of 19 cities where it’s easier to leave your mark. And if that doesn't make you want to live in West Texas, nothing will!