KnowYard Community

$387 for 1600 sqft sounds high even for summer. What rate are you paying per kWh? Anything over 14 cents and you need to shop around when your contract is up.

The worst drivers are always the ones on whatever highway I'm currently on. This is a universal law.

Church and mutual friends are how most people here meet. I know that's not helpful if you're not religious but that's honestly the reality.

Nobody in this state understands the zipper merge. Two lanes go to one and everyone treats it like a personal insult.

Through friends or through hobbies. Join a sports league, a gym, a climbing wall, something. The apps are a wasteland everywhere, not just here.

Check your insulation. Seriously. Had an energy audit done and found out my attic insulation was garbage. Got it blown in for $1,200 and my summer bills dropped about $80/month.

Did the Texas BBQ trail — hit 5 different BBQ spots across the state in 3 days. Gained 8 pounds. No regrets.

The fish photo thing is real and I will never understand it. What message is that sending? "I have patience and access to a lake"?

My barber recommended a BBQ spot that's been open since 1991. Went there. No signage. Just a smoker and some picnic tables. Best ribs I've had in this state.

Chorizo and egg with a little bit of potato mixed in. Squeeze of lime. That's the one.

Old school Tex-Mex places are the best example of this. The ones where the enchilada plate is $9.99 and it comes with rice beans and chips. No substitutions. Perfection.

Find a place that makes their tortillas in house. That's the only criteria that matters. Everything else follows.

I moved here from California and I think Whataburger is great but the cult following is disproportionate to the food. It's an A- burger with an S tier fanbase.

Port Aransas for a cheap beach trip. Not the prettiest beach in the world but the vibe is chill, the fishing is good, and hotels are way cheaper than Galveston.

If the spot doesn't have a line of construction workers at 6am it's probably not that good. That's my filter.

Community health centers (FQHCs) take everyone regardless of insurance and usually have shorter wait times. Google "community health center near me." They're federally funded and underutilized.

Bacon egg and cheese on flour with green salsa. That's the order. Every time. Don't overthink it.

Keep a cooler in your trunk in summer. Cold water, some snacks. If you break down on a Texas highway in July, help might take 30-45 minutes. You want water available.

Hill Country in the spring is unbeatable. Fredericksburg for wineries, Enchanted Rock for hiking, and the wildflowers on the roadside are insane in April.

Hail. Nobody told me about the hail. First spring here my car got destroyed. Get comprehensive insurance immediately.

Nostalgia is literally part of food culture. You're not making the point you think you're making. Also the spicy ketchup is elite.

How genuinely friendly people are. I was suspicious at first. Turns out people just wave and hold doors open here. It's not weird, it's normal.

Parking strategy: find shade, even if it means walking farther. A shaded parking spot saves you 20 degrees of interior temp compared to full sun.

The healthcare shortage in Texas is real. We have fewer doctors per capita than most states. It's not you — the system is genuinely overwhelmed.

Marfa is one of the weirdest towns in America in the best way. Art installations in the middle of nowhere, the Marfa lights, Prada Marfa. Combine it with Big Bend for a full trip.