Don’t mess with Texas. They all have guns and they like them a lot. You won’t have to look to far to even find a barbecue grill or smoker actually shaped like a gun. Seriously.
Hospitality is a major theme in the Lone Star state. Doors are opened for women left and right, no matter the age. If you see a pickup truck driving by, just wave. Why? Because that driver is probably going to wave at you anyway. Embrace the hospitality and be proactive.
People in Texas love buying everything all together. Don’t be surprised if you find a store where you can fill the tank of your pickup truck, buy a Winchester and a six-pack all in one shot.
Snow is about as alien to Texans as, well, actual aliens. So the people make do with what they have!
Before the state was annexed by the federal government, Texas was actually a republic. The state actually had its own President. It’s true. Why do you think Texas’ own state flag is the only state flag that allowed to be as high as the American flag? Like I said, don’t mess with Texas.
It gets hot enough in Texas that you’ll need to wear cut-offs sometimes, but you won’t be alone. Just take a look around. Even grandparents do it. Just don’t dare walk out the door without your cowboy boots.
Ice cream comes in some pretty out-of-this-world flavors. Texas, though, takes the cake for probably the “hardest” flavor imaginable. And yes, you can get a little tipsy on this stuff. Vehicles tend to be pretty gigantic here in Texas. Even the tires are massive. They’d have to be if many cowgirls can bring their ponies without having to use a trailer at the back!
You might wonder if Texans even know what a green bean is. Onions? Celery? Scallions? Whatever. When you go to a restaurant, expect to see a LOT of beef.
It’s a capital offense in Texas to cook your chili with kidney beans. Plain and simple. Don’t do it. True Texas chili is made up of spicy meat and thick chili sauce, just the way cowboys like it.
It’s actually pretty smart advice. Texas is by far the state with the most residents serving in the military – that’s Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines. You’ll notice it pretty quick.
Many out-of-staters would freak at the sight of these red bandits, but not Texans. They’ll take advantage of the enormous populations to scare the living daylights out of anyone attempting to trespass. They might even leave a warning sign, in fact.
Ever since “Urban Cowboy” and Billy Ray Cyrus broke his achy breaky heart with country fans, western line dancing has been a staple in Texas. Learn how to do it. Believe me, you’ll make friends real fast!
Don’t be surprised if deer hunters in Texas start praying on the first day of open season. It’s pretty much a religion.
Just because you have one doesn’t mean you’re automatically that one friend who helps everyone move stuff. Nothing has to be picked up. These trucks are simply great for driving, and Texans know it.
Fuzzy dice and family sticker decals? Please. Texans go all out with their vehicular decorations. Since they love riding on livestock and horseback, the same “look” definitely goes for their Cadillacs. So go nuts.
Texans love to bring their cows and horses with them just about everywhere—to the supermarket or even the local high school baseball game. Naturally, not everyone is thrilled about it. This happens so much that many places will actually put up signs to remind residents to leave their buddies at home.
One of the big exceptions, however, are fast-food joints, which for the most part, don’t have a problem with customers ordering fries on horseback. Hey, if the horse is behaving it’s business as usual. You’ve got to love Texas.
The debate over the danger of guns might still be raging on, but everyone’s pretty much in agreement about tornadoes. Get this: The state holds the record for most tornadoes on average per year. Take that, Kansas. The count’s at 137. A very distant second place is Florida with only 52.
It’s no surprise that cook-offs are common in Texas, but quite possibly the most infamous in Amarillo, is all about “calf fries.” If you know what it is, then ‘nuff said. If you don’t, go look it up. You’ll need to know so you don’t look so surprised when someone puts one on your plate.
In an 80-acre pasture at the Sems Ranch in Clyde, a place you’ve probably never heard of, the famous Coronado was reputed to have buried $60,000,000 in plundered gold. Yup, that’s no typo. No one has ever found it, so get out there—you just might be the first.
So you thought Texas were only obsessed with cows? For shame. They also love to mess around with rattlesnakes. True story. The Rattlesnake Round-Up in Sweetwater is a doozy. Imagine the stadium filled with the sound of rattlers. Sounds awesome, right?
One step, and you conjure up a dust storm. It’s remarkable. Texans never really seem to care, because there’s no way to avoid it. You could drive at five miles an hour and your tires will still turn to sand. It’s just time to adapt.
Texans might seem like tough folk to you, but the fact is this: They love to shop. Particularly when it involves wearing or buying cowboy boots. They love a good bargain, and who can beat Wal-Mart when it comes to great prices? No one. So get used to it, because Wal-Mart is your new amusement park.
One of the greatest prides and joys of Texas (besides Houston and NASA, of course) is the Alamo. The brave Texas defenders’ act of valor was pivotal in the fight against the Mexican army, which eventually ended the revolution for good. And no one will ever forget it—or ever let you forget it. What do you love about living in Texas? Tell us in the comments below!
