The Big D

I have been in the DFW area for 3/4 of a year now and I am still not sure what to think about it. I have had lots of ups and downs here....but those aren't what I really want to talk about. I want to take an objective look at the DFW area.

First of all, who puts two large cities so close together (Dallas and Fort Worth). I do, however, like the different feels that I can get from driving 15 minutes east or west from my apartment (I live in a great area right between the two). Dallas feels like a mega city. When I say mega city I mean something like a New York City, Los Angeles or Chicago. I am reminded every time I drive downtown that I am in a huge city. It has a real skyline and everything goes along with it. Ft. Worth is still a very large city, but has the same feel as someplace like Wichita or Tulsa. I have really enjoyed spending some time down there recently. In Ft. Worth everything just feels more like home (I am not really sure which home I am referring too……. maybe Stillwater). Everybody is nice and willing to help, plus as you get into the city you see lots of recreation fields and churches. Once you get within about 20 minutes of downtown Dallas you only see cement and commercialized areas. Very different feel.

I do enjoy being able to look up in the sky at night being able to see 5-7 planes lined up to land, at the same time I wish I could see the stars every once in a while. It is cool that I am within' miles of the Cowboy's Stadium, The Ballpark at Arlington and Six Flags......not to mention every main stream artist on this half of the globe. I feel like I live in the place where many people want to vacation. I do have a Six Flags Season pass, but I have only been in the park once.....waited in line for 3 hours………. Not for a ride, but to get this stupid pass. One of the biggest waste of $50. Thanks Lauren.

I do miss the feel where everybody in the same area goes to the same church, school, and grocery store. I happened to run into a co-worker downtown a couple of weeks ago and was so excited because I haven't run into anybody I know here randomly since I moved here. Seems like that was a way of life in the good ol’ days.

I am relatively torn on the aspect of traffic. First and foremost, I hate the amount of traffic everywhere at any unpredictable time (I got in a traffic jam at about 10 pm near my apartment on a week night). I do like how you can go anywhere and stay on highways the whole time.

Also in Dallas you can find any store or restaurant you want. For another negative, I have had tons of friends from high school and college say they live down here. I get excited until I ask where they live......they usually say some arbitrary town that is nearly an hour and a half away from where I am. It shouldn’t be in the same town if it is over about 15 minutes.

All in all, I think Lauren and I are going to have a great time in the DFW area.....still not sure exactly which part we will end up in, but it will be great.