Of course, it is windy and dry. Of course, there will be no rain. Of course, there will be dust in the air. Lubbock rated number 6 on a list of worst places to live. Makes sense to me. There are pros to living in Lubbock, however, that, for me, offset the cons. If you don't like people very much and don't like to drive, and don't like to socialize, and you pretty much keep to yourself, Lubbock is not too offensive. No way to avoid the wind and dust.
UMC is a definite asset. Traffic tends to be light. I avoid the entertainment venues, the tech campus area, especially during football season, and it's wise to be hyper-alert driving. You for sure want to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Try to think like a cop. Being retired really helps a lot. You can be out and about while other people are working, avoiding traffic "rush hours", although the traffic is nothing compared to larger cities. Cost of living is reasonable, although quality of life is not going to be great. But that depends on what you are looking for. In my case quality of life is not an issue, since I don't give a shit for social activity. If you live in Lubbock I think it helps enormously if you are NOT a people person and want to live simply and quietly. The very best thing about Lubbock is that there is not more of it. And the worst thing about Lubbock is that it continues to grow.