Isn't it likely that being in Texas makes it look (even) better?
Haven't been there but have heard it's an "oasis" of another stripe. But being the capitol, that's where, say, Rick Perry & George Bush hung out/pontificated - so maybe puzzling, too.
Austin is definitely an oasis, but you still can't escape the fact that you're in Texas. UT was playing Texas Tech on Thursday night. TT is in Lubbock, according to my niece, the most exciting thing there is watching the tumbleweeds. And their motto is "Guns Up!" Sweet. A bunch of their fans at the game, I don't know how many were carrying....