Yup, sounds like you fit right in in Texas. Glad you found your people.

We moved from Texas to Seattle about 5 years ago (god, it’s really been that long). After 15 years living in Texas and fighting the schools, the government, and the weather (our house flooded twice, including one that was a near total loss), Seattle felt like heaven. Still does.

My kids were in middle school and had survivors guilt about leaving, like we were letting everyone in Texas down by not staying and fighting. I had to explain that Texas passed a law to allow people to sue us (I volunteered at an abortion charity) and we gotta go.

My rep in Congress now is the leader of the progressive caucus. It’s so weird to not be trying to chip away at the political situation and instead have someone that represents my beliefs.