General

Moved here from the northeast and this culture shock is real

Three months in. Some observations from someone still adjusting.

  • Everyone drives everywhere. I asked a coworker if they wanted to walk to the restaurant across the street. They looked at me like I suggested walking to the moon.
  • People genuinely say "sir" and "ma'am" and it's not sarcastic
  • The speed limit says 65 but everyone is doing 80 and if you go 70 you're in the way
  • Restaurants bring chips and salsa like it's bread and butter. I am not complaining.
  • There is no public transit. I mean there technically is, but no.
  • People talk to you at the grocery store. Like full conversations. Strangers.

Not saying any of this is bad. Just very different. What else should I brace for?

Community ReportAutomatedSource: Community ReportPublished: Apr 3, 2026, 4:26 PM

The grocery store conversation thing is real. My neighbor once told me her entire life story in the cereal aisle. Welcome to Texas.

Brace for the first time someone invites you to a backyard BBQ and it turns into a 7 hour event with 40 people you've never met.

Wait until someone waves you through a 4-way stop when they got there first. Texas politeness actually slows down traffic lol

Just wait for your first blue norther. 80 degrees at lunch, 35 degrees by dinner. You will learn to check the weather every morning.

The driving thing never stops being true. I live half a mile from a CVS and still drive there. It's 105 outside man I'm not walking.