I used to think the message in Dallas was "get rich". The city had almost no flavor to it and seemed all about the money. Having leaved here for a few years, I think the message is "work together". The economy is amazing and the opportunities here seem to encourage cooperation
Also Dallas resident. I would agree that "work together" is a message here, but would add to it, "work together, play together". Dallas is all about the social life. Not in the way LA is with "A-list" or "who you know", but simply just doing things with friends. All the time.
I'd also say the message to me is "work hard, play hard, and keep a work life balance". People in Dallas get shit done, but they aren't going to work for more than 40-50 hours/week. I'd say another 10-20 hours per week is spent on hobbies, with friends or not, then the rest of ones' free time is social. Whether it be family or friends or both. Perhaps that is why people usually say "people are so nice here".
When people visiting ask me what I do on the weekends here in Dallas, my response is, patio drinking with friends or traveling. Dallas, being centrally located and having two major airports, is a great place to be able to take off for the weekend for a fairly low price anywhere in the country. For as much as I'd be paying for rent in NYC, I can pay for a mortgage and travel to a different city almost every weekend. Although I usually average twice a month. And the friends you spend time with while you are in Dallas are very open to traveling with you as well.
I've now traveled to almost every major city in the U.S. in two years time, some cities multiple times, and I think for somebody in their mid-20's to mid-30's, this is a great place to be. During this time in ones career, you can get industry experience in a field and then go start your start up or just move up once you know a thing or two.
Detroit, I have no idea. A message of "it gets better?". Most residents right now are either those who were affected by the riots and carry a deep seated fear and hatred of the city, people who grew up in the city during the recession and have basically hit rock bottom multiple times, immigrants who moved to neighboring cities and have started a slight culture there, or idealistic youngsters that think they can change things.
I fit into the last category and I have no idea what this area wants out of you.
I live in the burbs, but whenever I'm down in Detroit, what I really get is something like "get out more" or "try something new". This could just be my age talking, I'm in my 20s and that's a calling I think people in general get around this time, but I honestly do feel like Detroit encourages me to step out of my comfort zone.
