On Being Texan

I was driving home from a long road trip I had been away for a week and on the road for about 15 hours. I hit the Texas state border and thought I don't think I have ever been so happy to see Texas. I felt like I was nearly home, gasp could this mean I am becoming Texan ?

I had to start laughing, when I visited Charleston SC for the first time I took the carriage tour of the city. I highly recommend it the drivers are hilarious and full of history. Our driver told us that in order to be called a Charlestonian your family had to be there for 3 generations. This is the historical/political views of the "locals". There are exceptions, if your family was there and left but came back that counts, and if your family was a founding family no matter where you roam you are still a Charlestonian. I especially found this fun because I have family, a direct line of family that came and owned land and plantations in North Carolina and they owned it as part of the original colonies and then later in statehood..... would this make me a Southerner? I have a lot of Southern blood but I fancy myself a Yankee. Of course I was born in Wyoming which was just neutral territory for so long that I like that idea that I belong to the wilder more neutral part of our country.

So I wonder how long does one have to live in Texas to be a Texan ? I own a house here, I have a drivers license here, I have lived here for a year now, am I a Texan ?

I love Texas because Texans are independent, free thinking and trust me if any state in the union could become it's own country Texas could. I have lived in Texas before in the north for a short time and now here in the south. I love that Texans aren't afraid to tell it like it is, or tell you exactly what they think. That said they also don't push that on you they prefer you to want to follow from example not by brute force. While they are strong & outspoken they also are subtle and charming and want you to know they believe there is enough space for everyone to have their own opinions even if they aren't the same. Trust me in this state there is a wild spectrum of ideas from conservative to liberal and everything in between. I like the good manners and strong work ethics, I can see why many Midwesterners have come here we share a lot.

I love Texas history, this state has seen so much and is like a wise old guardian, they will share the whole story with you and give advice but still understand if you follow your own path. My Uncle has taught history here and I love history and knew a fair amount but I will say since I have been here immersed in the history..... perhaps steeped is a better word it is amazing. Really there is exciting stuff in the history and Texas has ties throughout our nations history that would shock and amaze you. They are strong politically but not in your face it is more subtle strength and rich in stories. this state has a lot of diversity and they have to find a way to make it work to survive. Many states could learn a lot from the history here. I LOVE that Texas was it's own country at one time it makes me smile, sure they are proud to be American but they are Texans first. I am a big advocate for state rights and Texas wasn't afraid to say they had rights. Even now they use, sell, produce Texas products before looking elsewhere. If we all had more state pride and tried to use, sell, produce more our whole country might be stronger.

Don't get me wrong Texas isn't perfect and there are strange things here. there are disagreeable thoughts ideas and laws. There are some people who could live up to the southern stereotypes.

So as I was driving across my corner of Texas to home I had all of these rambling thoughts about the place I live right now. I almost had a fear that Sam would like it so much he would want to retire here or because of T's needs we would be here for so long we would have to retire here. I thought Whoa am I ready to be a Texan ? I better learn to love Texas if that were the case. Could I ?

While I was happy to see Texas and I love the concept of Texas I'm not sure if by definition I am really a Texan or that I could be a Texan forever. But I was happy to see Texas