Lubbock’s Newest Residents

After months of planning and waiting, I couldn’t believe the time has finally come! We packed our entire life up into a U-Haul and drove across the country to start our life in Lubbock. Nineteen hours might sound like a crazy amount of time, but it began to fly by as we road tripped through the desert. 

As I watched the mountains disappear in the rear view mirror, I welcomed the charming flatland into my heart. One of the things I will miss most about Utah is the gorgeous mountain landscape, but there is a unique beauty I have found in the flatness here. Being able to see for miles has impacted me in more ways than just my sense of direction.

Packing
When June rolled around, the time finally came to start packing! I would recommend starting early. If you are about to move and are looking for free boxes, we found great ones at a local charity shop as well as on Facebook Marketplace. Local grocery stores will also have extra boxes. Make sure to ask for the ones used to carry eggs – they have handles and will make your life so much easier!

When filling up boxes, we found it best to use our blankets and towels to separate the breakables. We also had collected some newspaper to wrap our glassware in. Labeling the boxes was a convenient hack for when unpacking came around. Doing one room at a time kept us organized and less overwhelmed. After hours of packing it was all ready to be put into the trailer! This was like playing real-life jenga. Once this was done, we were off!

Moving
Whether you have a 20-hour or a 20-minute drive, it can be stressful to transfer your belongings. It can be less so if you make sure to keep them secured and packed tight. But your personal possessions aren’t the only precious cargo! If you have a longer drive, make sure you have the road-tripping essentials to keep you awake, alert and entertained. Podcasts and audio books were our best friends. It was also important for us to make stops when needed. If you are on your way across the country, check where the gas stations are and how long you may be without one to ensure there will be no complications.

Settling In
We finally arrived! I have never been more excited to start a new adventure and being in Lubbock has proven all of the positives we have heard to be true. We quickly jumped into what the city has to offer. Thanks to Visit Lubbock we were able to celebrate the Fourth of July in “Hub City” style, become acquainted with Lubbock’s Arts District at the First Friday Art Trail, and enjoy the rightfully-hyped Texas barbecue at the most popular sites.

Monday morning rolled around and so did my first day of work in the office! I heard about the short commute times and I was still impressed! I cannot speak highly enough of the infrastructure design in Lubbock. Loop 289 and the Marsha Sharp Freeway provide a short commute no matter where I am headed. Being able to get anywhere in the city within 16 minutes provides a convenience I cannot compare.

Big-city resources with a small-town feel is the perfect description of the “Hub City.” It didn’t take long for us to find a grocery store that we loved due to help from locals. Lubbock has shown us true southern hospitality, especially when working with the city to set up utilities and with AT&T or Sudden Link for internet. We have not found a shortage here in any area!

As we have been settling in, I know I can say for both myself and my husband that we have quickly found our fit in Lubbock. The low cost of living, dining, arts and entertainment and the general goodness found in everyone here has us hooked! 

“I’m one of those people who came to Texas Tech and didn’t leave, and I didn’t want to leave. Because Lubbock is that city where you can raise your family.”

Latrelle Joy
Lubbock Councilwoman