I spent three years in my twenties living in Midland, TX, working in the oil and gas industry. And, wow. To say I learned a lot would be an understatement. Working not only in a male-dominated industry, but living in the working mecca of that male-dominated industry is a rude wakeup call for any female at any stage of their career.
One aspect of Midland that has yet to make an appearance on the show is the term, ‘West Texas Single’.
For context, drilling and fracking is 24/7 work, so most field employees work 12 hour shifts for two weeks straight and then have two weeks off. Given the shiftwork and the danger of the field, most oil and gas jobs have competitive starting salaries. The combination of a higher salary and 2 weeks off every month is quite attractive for out-of-towners, resulting in a more transient population in Midland. Men travel from as far as Arizona and California to work in west Texas for two weeks each month before returning home to their respective state or town.
The term, ‘West Texas Single’ comes into play because unfortunately, it’s just far too easy to take off your ring for two weeks each month and see what the Midland dating scene has to offer.
Within my first month of living in Midland, I was warned to look out for ‘West Texas Single’ men. You would think the signs would be obvious - a ring tan on their left hand, only available to meet during their two work weeks, and having two phones. But unfortunately, they’re all too easy to hide and way too easily overlooked.
So if you’re single and dating in Midland/Odessa, good luck and stay smart. It may feel like you’re looking for a needle in the haystack, but there are some good cowboys in the mix!
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