The Greney family has called Friendswood, just south of Houston, home since 2009.

“We have found great neighbors here,” says Ken Greney, who moved from Michigan for a job in industrial sales.

“And warm weather is one of the top reasons I took the job."

An excellent school district awaited the Greneys, whose children, ages 7 and 8, took to their new schools right away.

Attractions in Texas

The Greneys enjoy visiting family in Dallas and making trips to Galveston, and are looking forward to experiencing the state’s world-class theme parks, water parks, cultural attractions and historic sites.

“The kids love Galveston,” Greney says. “They took to the beach immediately. It’s so easy to hop in the car and park on the sea wall.”

Texas is brimming with outdoor adventures, boasting more than 600 miles of coastline, 19 wildlife refuges, 13 national parks and 123 state parks, 900 golf courses and abundant natural areas.

“We’ve got the Alamo, the George Bush library, and we’re looking forward to ball games. We’ve already discovered the Houston theater district,” Greney says. “We took the kids to see a Broadway play.”

Diversity of People, Cultures in Texas

When he’s not playing tennis, Paul Fabrizio is a professor of political science and the interim vice president for academic affairs at Abilene’s McMurry University. Fabrizio and his wife, a physician’s assistant, have two children in middle school.

“The people here are very down to earth and friendly,” Fabrizio says. “People are simply nice. There is also a spirit of independence here. People are both sensitive to others in need and respectful of each others’ privacy. I have not found that combination in other places I have lived.”

Texas offers tremendous diversity, Fabrizio says.

“We’ve been to the beach in South Padre Island, the mountains of Alpine and the plains of Abilene. You can head west for a desert experience or east for forests and lakes.” he says. “And of course, if you like football, this is the place.”

That would be at all levels, from the Dallas Cowboys to a wealth of top-level collegiate programs and, of course, the brand played on Friday nights at high schools across the state.

Arts and Culture Opportunities

Texas offers a rich and varied cultural experience from its largest urban centers to its smaller cities and rural communities.

In Dallas, the AT&T Performing Arts Center opened in fall 2009, a $354 million premier performance venue that includes new facilities for opera, classical music, theater and dance, as well as a park and outdoor performance area.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History draws more than 1 million visitors a year.

The museum, housed in an $80 million facility that opened in November 2009, includes the Cattle Raisers Museum, dozens of interactive exhibits, a planetarium, Omni IMAX Theater and a children’s museum. The museum’s Innovation Studios are five glass-walled studios in nearly 6,000 square feet of space dedicated to provides opportunities for nurturing imagination, curiosity and creativity.

Living, Housing in Texas

With a low cost of living and affordable housing, Texas has become a draw for retirees, aided in part by the state’s Go Texan and Texas Main Street programs.

Go Texan certifies retirement communities based on a rigorous application process and retiree desirability assessment.

The Texas Main Street program helps cities with historic downtown and neigh­borhood commercial district revitalization.

From cosmopolitan cities to the vibrant town squares of smaller communities to the wide open rural spaces, Texas offers variety and a quality of life that is only matched by its many advantages as a place to do business.

“Economically, Texas is simply a great choice. We wanted to move to a place where there are opportunities for our kids when they are grown,” Greney says. “Overall, it’s been a wonderful experience.”