Oh yeah...scorpions and snakes. Always empty your shoes each morning when in Texas. A scorpion in the toe of your boot may get you going better than a cup of coffee, but it's not as enjoyable. So always check your shoes, even in seemingly sealed environments.

Sounds like you've been around, Sage. Good for you. Sounds like you've been around Texas, too, so I'm sure you're up to speed on the geographical diversity. That's what seems to surprise people most when they visit TX. The flat, dusty panhandle to the bayou-like pine and swamps of east TX. Gulf coast ocean and desert mountains and hills and grassland prairies. A real diversity. Modern cities, too, which surprises a lot of people. Lots of water, too.