Houston Vs. Dallas

Sharing my commentary on Dallas vs Houston. An excerpt from a conversation with a coworker from my company’s Atlanta office. Conclusion after I saw a bloody fist fight between two semi-sober men at the Bush Intercontinental airport passenger pick up zone, December 2019 – one wearing a Dallas Cowboy’s hat, and the other a Houston Astro’s hoodie. Dallas and Houston have this supposed rivalry, but one that is immaterial in the greater scheme of things.

Dallas and its petty bourgeoisie reputation: Dallas is a fine place to live. Make no mistake. Not very outdoorsy but they make do with what they have (churches, shopping malls, and sports teams). The “prissy” attitude is a direct result of the city trying to reinvent itself after November 1963. Bad thing to be known for. What to do to fix that reputation? Be known for something else. How about big hats, big cars, and big houses? Oh and you'll need big outsize personalities to go with. I see the charm, not for me but I am fine with it. Also some old money from cattle and railroad barons helps.

I believe the city is nicely summed up in the book Liar’s Poker: "Don’t find yourself trading equities in Dallas." – slang for an unwanted and lackluster job at a Wall Street trading firm. On a sort of related note: I enjoyed living in Fort Worth much more than living in Dallas. Fort Worth is actually full of big hats and cattle baron families.

Houston: Named after a drunken Texian general turned first president of the American state’s short history as its own nation. The city’s location was chosen after the people of Texas finally learned that hurricanes are bad. The lesson: large cities need to be more inland along the gulf coast (New Orleans made their bed already and chose to sleep in it. That city is at least perched at the mouth of our country’s largest river). Houston was the third attempt after Galveston and Indianola were both physically leveled by respective high wind storm events (and in one case, removed from the map entirely). Galveston was at least rebuilt, but never the same. Houston is built on top of a swamp. A city unanimously known for its s**t weather. Dallas has rivers and Houston has bayous.

Houston and Dallas are like siblings proud for reinventing themselves. One figuratively and the other physically – both from material moments in history. Each city is nice enough if you like urban sprawl. Both saw their expansion and massive growth after the inventions of air-conditioning and automobiles. Cheapish housing aplenty – something I was aware of but took for granted before moving away. And lots of job opportunities as plenty of companies are based there, and have relocated there. Likely for the same reason the initial settlers ventured out – land is abundant and therefore cheap. Both cities are filled with “Texas types” – personal freedom and liberty and private property above all else except for the religious majority. For many it’s all about God, guns, and land. A generalization of course, but fitting nonetheless. I've lived in both so I feel comfortable saying this. Enjoyed my time at each but I'd only go back for one thing – family. Certainly not a new/different job at my current employer.

Thoughts?