Let’s get one thing clear: Texas isn’t just a state. It’s a personality. It’s a mindset.
And if you were born and raised here, you already know, there are parts of life that just make sense in Texas but might raise a few eyebrows elsewhere.
People who move here often need a minute (or a few years) to catch on to how things work.
The pace, the customs, even how we treat our weather, it all comes from growing up inside the Texas bubble.
And when you meet another native, there’s an instant, unspoken bond. You just get each other.
1. The Seasons Don’t Work the Way You Think
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There’s summer… and then there’s “hotter than hell and still climbing.”
Texas doesn’t really do four seasons. Sure, you’ll get some mild “cold fronts” in the Panhandle or Hill Country, and occasionally a dramatic snowstorm (lookin’ at you, 2021). But for most of the state? You’ve got:
- Summer: mid-April through mid-October
- Fake Fall: 2 weeks in November
- Second Summer: early December
- Flash Freeze: a couple of days in January
- Pollen Hell: springtime allergies with a vengeance
And you learn to live with it. You keep a jacket and flip-flops in your car year-round. And when someone says, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity,” you just smile and nod—because you’ve said it a thousand times yourself.
2. You Know the Correct Way to Order at Whataburger
It’s not just fast food. It’s culture. It’s comfort. It’s a late-night ritual after Friday night lights or an 11 p.m. pit stop during a road trip across the state.
And there is a correct way to order:
- Say what you want, including size: “Number 1, large.”
- Be ready to rattle off every topping change in one breath: “No onions, add jalapeños, sub mustard for ketchup.”
- Grab that spicy ketchup. You know the one.
- And always check the bag—always.
If you’re in the drive-thru and someone in the car starts asking, “What do they have again?”—you already know they’re not from around here.
3. Football Isn’t Just a Game – It’s a Religion
I grew up in the “Friday Night Lights” high school football culture of West Texas. Seemed dumb to me that so much cultural, social and institutional value was placed on high school football at the time. In hindsight, football was great prep for a career on the oil fields.
— InmanRoshi (@InmanRoshi) May 8, 2025
In Texas, high school football isn’t just a Friday night hobby. It’s a town-wide event. Even if you don’t follow sports, you probably know your local team’s record and what kind of offense they run.
College ball? Don’t even start unless you’re ready for a full-blown debate. Longhorns, Aggies, Red Raiders, Bears—everybody’s got loyalty, and it runs deep.
There are families in this state where grandma has a UT tattoo and the grandkids are already in maroon onesies before they can crawl.
And yes, we will judge you based on which team you root for, lovingly, of course.
4. You Give Directions Based on Landmarks That Don’t Exist Anymore
Ask a Texan how to get somewhere and you’ll hear things like:
- “It’s two blocks past the old Dairy Queen.”
- “Turn left where that Sonic used to be, next to the field where the carnival set up in ’98.”
- “You know where Bubba’s Tires burned down? Just before that.”
We do this because towns change, but our memory of them doesn’t.
Those markers are burned into our brains from years of pickups and parades and summer drives with the windows down.
If you’re not from here, it’s confusing. But if you are, it’s as natural as sweet tea at a cookout.
5. Barbecue Isn’t a Meal – It’s a Commitment
First, let’s get it straight: barbecue in Texas means smoked meat. If you’re talking about hot dogs and burgers on the grill, that’s a cookout. And if you say “BBQ sauce” as your first thought, you’re already missing the point.
Real Texas barbecue is about the smoke ring. The bark. The slow-cooked tenderness of brisket is so juicy you don’t even think about using a knife.
Here’s how you spot a native at a BBQ joint:
- They’ll judge a place by its brisket, not the sides.
- They probably have a smoker at home and can tell you exactly how long it takes to do a proper 225° cook.
- They know when it’s time to line up: early. Because once the meat runs out, that’s it.
Want a quick guide?
Meat
Native Texan Response
Brisket
“Let me see the bark first.”
Sausage
“Is it from Central Texas?”
Ribs
“Spare or baby back? Dry rub or sauced?”
Pulled Pork
“That’s more of a Carolina thing.”
6. You’ve Got a Love-Hate Relationship with I-35
Whether you’re in Austin, Dallas, or San Antonio, I-35 is the necessary evil of your daily life. It’s the vein that keeps everything moving—and also the source of 90% of your traffic rage.
You plan your day around it. You’ve memorized the bottlenecks. You’ve silently cursed out-of-state drivers who think merging is a suggestion.
And if someone asks, “How long does it take to get downtown?” your answer is always cautious: “Depends on traffic.”
Because, of course, it does.
7. You Speak Fluent “Texas”
It’s not just about accents. It’s word choice, tone, and timing. The way people from here talk is their own language.
Some examples:
- “Fixin’ to” = about to do something: “I’m fixin’ to leave.”
- “Might could” = possibility with a hint of doubt: “We might could go later.”
- “Bless your heart” = sometimes kind, sometimes savage. Context matters.
- “Y’all” = always plural. Never singular. Ever.
And yes, people can hear where you’re from. Even if you’ve moved away, you say one “y’all” in a group meeting, and someone will ask, “You from Texas?”
8. You Know That State Pride Isn’t a Joke
You’ll find the Texas flag on belt buckles, bathing suits, barns, trucks, and tattoos. It’s not performative—it’s genuinely how people feel.
There’s a reason we learned Texas history separately in school.
There’s a reason so many of us have a deep, almost personal connection to the Alamo (even if we haven’t been since fifth grade).
And there’s a reason why a Texan abroad will say they’re from Texas before they say the U.S.
It’s not arrogance. Its identity. Like it or not, being Texan means something here.
9. You Can Spot a Chain Restaurant a Mile Away – and Avoid It
Growing up in Texas means being blessed with some of the best local food scenes in the country. From small-town taco trucks to gas station kolaches, we know where the flavor lives—and it’s not in a national chain.
If you’re a native:
- You’ve had at least one life-changing breakfast taco at a place with a handwritten menu.
- You trust BBQ joints more if they only take cash.
- You judge a Tex-Mex place by its salsa and queso—within 60 seconds of sitting down.
The unwritten rule: if the building looks slightly sketchy but has a packed parking lot? That’s where the good stuff is.
10. You’re Always Prepared for the Wild
Nature in Texas doesn’t play. You’ve grown up around tornado drills, flash floods, and fire ants.
You’ve seen someone get knocked on their rear by a gust of West Texas wind, and you’ve sprinted to the car when the hail starts coming down like marbles from the sky.
And let’s talk creatures for a second:
- Snakes? Check.
- Scorpions? Yep.
- Wild hogs? Oh, definitely.
- Mosquitoes the size of a quarter? Every summer.
But it’s not just about survival—it’s how you talk about it. Storms aren’t just weather—they’re stories. Your cousin’s truck got flooded in ’07. Your neighbor’s shed got blown into a tree. Your dog chased a possum and got skunked.
Final Thoughts
Being from Texas isn’t about boots and BBQ, although yeah, those are great. It’s more about a shared way of looking at the world.
You grow up with a sense of scale, of pride, of resilience. And when you meet someone who gets that, who lives that, you don’t have to explain anything.
So, whether you’re reminiscing about Whataburger runs at midnight or still trying to figure out why there are so many pickup trucks in your apartment complex parking lot, one thing’s for sure:
Texas leaves its mark on you. And you carry it everywhere you go.