Texas: It ain’t that bad

I just got back from a short business trip to Houston, and I have to say that Texas just ain’t that bad.

It’s not that I haven’t been to the state before; I’ve camped in the Big Bend National Park, visited friends in El Paso, and worked in Amarillo, Austin, and Dallas. But this trip was pleasant, despite incredibly hot and humid weather.

I was teaching a class at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, which is part of the huge Texas Medical Center campus. How huge is it? Well, the Cancer Center alone has over 17,000 employees, and it is just one of the many hospitals and medical facilities in the area.

Despite the fact that Hurricane Ike had done a number on the Houston metro area last September, there was very little damage to be seen. The people I ran into during my four-day stint were all very pleasant, and the 103°F heat with 90+% humidity didn’t seem to faze anyone. There are lots of nice trees and gardens near the downtown and medical center areas, and I also had some of the best food I’ve ever had on a business trip.

So why am I going on about Texas? If things keep going the way they are, the Texans might be the first to secede from the USA. Considering my political leanings these days, moving to The Republic of Texas might be the best way to stay free. I’d prefer to live in my home state, but there’s a lot to be said for a state that has already passed a resolution expressing its sovereignty.