The REAL Differences Between Texas and California

A great deal has been published recently about the business environment the Golden State of California offers vs. the "streets are paved with gold" Texas affords. Texas Governor Abbott has amassed more frequent flier miles traveling to California to poach our businesses than former California Governor Brown has traveling to the moon! The coup de grace? Toyota relocating to Plano, Texas from Torrance, California - along with 4000 good paying jobs. Therefore - I thought it was time to list the REAL differences between Texas and California. Indulge me and I will highlight the differences.

In addition to being on the McKinney, Texas Economic Development team’s speed dial - I actually was born in Texas - spent my formative years in a neighboring state - right across the state line in Texarkana - and still have family and friends there I visit quite frequently. ALL of this qualifies me as some sort of a Texas expert!

We can wax philosophically about taxes, cost of living, regulation, incentives, quality of life, taxes (yep mentioned it twice), etc. But no one writes about the REAL differences between the two states.

OK, here is what you paid for:

In Texas people ride bulls, in California we catch waves.

Texas has three types of venomous snakes, California has the Real Housewives of OC.

In Texas “y’all” addresses one or more, In California it’s “like totally”.

In Texas fish is deep fried prior to consumption, in California we eat sushi.

In Texas the energy trade is the "awl bidness", in California it is the petro-chemical industry - and generally conducted on shore.

In Texas an RSVP means you show up unless mortally wounded, in California an RSVP suggests you'll be there absent a better invitation.

"America's Team" resides in Texas, in California - well never mind. 

In Texas college football they gig 'em and hook 'em, in California everyone gets a trophy.

In Texas they won’t trust you unless they trusted your grandpa, what matters in California is the size of grandpa’s trust.

In Texas the tallest mountain is bio-degradable, in California we make snow.

Texas has WhataBurger, California has In N Out - I know, I know, Texas has 'em too - but its a SoCal tradition

Texas adds cheese to refried beans and it’s Tex Mex, California adds avocado and it’s extra

Texas has Allen's (no relation) boots, California has Rainbows

Texas has humidity, heat, cold, bugs, hurricanes, wind sheer, tornadoes, sleet, snow, thunder, lightening, and floods, California has the marine layer

In Texas you're welcomed with a "howdy" and left with a "y'all come back now, ya hear!" In California - all greetings include “dude!”

If you ask directions in Texas, you get something like - "well, you know where old Mr. Oliver used to live? Well, when you get to his house - I never met the Yankees that moved in ten years ago, from California, I believe - you turn left and go to the vacant Piggly Wiggly - or was it an A&P? - and then I think its right" - In California it’s "take the 405 to the 710 to the 10 toward the city and off at Melrose - no wait, take the 5 and off at Valencia and then all the way on Melrose. 

So if you’re moving to Texas, remember to ask SIRI for directions or you may end up in Hollywood.

Allen C. Buchanan, SIOR, is a principal with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services in Orange. He can be reached at [email protected] or 714.564.7104. His website is allencbuchanan.com.