Houston is a place to work. Some people actually claim to like it there. I have no idea why. I think maybe they are just trying to rationalize the things they can’t change.
We live outside of Houston - far enough that we rarely even go into the city for anything. I have no desire to anyway - we have shopping and places to eat - newer, cleaner, but even we are being overrun by illegals. The only thing I can say for the area is that it is pretty - the heat/humidity allows for beautiful landscaping and I do enjoy the trees and flowers/plants everywhere.