Mixed Feelings -- Good and Bad
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9/23/2020
I lived in Midland for 10 years (about 20 years ago) and have returned for family reasons. Have noticed Midland has really grown and is sprawling out along I20 toward Colorado City. Lots of businesses. Lots of new developments. Lots of new apartment (big uns!) cropping up.
Also noticing an increase in the homeless. Don't recall seeing panhandlers on street corners before. The people NOW look less affluent--maybe it's the Covid and people are unemployed...
There are things I LIKE about Midland. 1) Great eateries! And since Midland didn't shut down, they all seem to be open. Check out Rosas. One of the best places for Mexican in town and still here--in fact they've expanded.
2) It's got a a heck of a lot of culture for such a small community. Like the new AAA baseball stadium and the entertainment center between here and Odessa. Both really new! Both really nice. I found thriving groups (writing, bridge) here as well.
3) It's pretty affluent in general, so a nice quality of people, though that seems to have gone down--maybe because of the oil bust--maybe because of the covid.
4) The airport is a BREEEEEZZZEE to fly out of compared to a major city airport. Dang!
5) You can attend the University of Texas in Odessa. Not the greatest university on the planet, but if you like smaller class sizes and more accessibility to professors, it's nice.
What I DO NOT LIKE about Midland?
1) It's hot and dry and some of the downright ugliest scenery you'll ever see. Brown desert, oil rigs, and hotter than blazes in the summer. But it is dry heat--so not as bad as Dallas in my opinion, where the humidity is like a wall.
2) There is NOTHING for about 4-5 hours in any direction. Go east to Dallas/Austin. Go north to Albuquerque or Colorado. Go south to the border. Which I guess is why the culture has popped up here. Midland is the hub for the west texas region.
In summation, I guess my favorites is the "small town" atmosphere with plenty of culture, including great eateries! What I like least is the climate and it's so far to anywhere else...
Noneof | Midland, TX