Living in Plano, I sometimes think about this.

"Am I living in Plano, or am I living all over the DFW area?"

When I first moved to Texas, I thought it was just another city near Dallas. But after a few months, my perspective completely changed. Unlike Korea, where city boundaries are clearly defined, the cities here are so close together that while driving, you often find yourself wondering, "Wait, when did I cross into another city?"

Everyone knows that Plano is north of Dallas, but when you actually look at the surrounding cities, they are more closely connected than you might think.

First, just a little south is Richardson.

In fact, Richardson might be one of the cities that Plano residents visit most often. It is home to the Texas Instruments headquarters and has many telecommunications and semiconductor companies, making it a well-known tech city in Texas for a long time. During rush hour, there are a lot of cars commuting between Plano and Richardson.

To the west, you'll find Carrollton.

This city might be even more familiar to Koreans. With Korean markets, restaurants, hospitals, and various businesses clustered together, many Koreans living in Plano often go there for shopping. It's only a 15-20 minute drive, so the living areas overlap significantly.

Heading north, the atmosphere changes again.

Frisco is growing at an astonishing rate. It used to feel like just a new city, but now businesses are moving in, and shopping centers are expanding. It's also famous for being the home of the Dallas Cowboys' headquarters and training facility, 'The Star,' and has become a city where sports and business grow together with the relocation of the PGA of America headquarters.

Next to Frisco are Allen and McKinney.

Allen is a city that many people visit due to its large outlets and shopping facilities, while McKinney has a different vibe. It has a well-preserved historic district, making it a great place to grab a coffee or take a family stroll on the weekends. It's only a 20-30 minute drive from Plano, so it's not a burden for a light drive.

If you turn your gaze east, you'll find cities like Garland, Wylie, Murphy, and Sachse.

Garland is only about 13 miles from Plano, so many people commute there. A little further east is Rockwall, which is popular for its lake views and relaxed atmosphere around Lake Ray Hubbard.

And of course, the most frequented place is downtown Dallas.

It's about 20 miles from Plano to downtown Dallas. If traffic is smooth, it takes about 25-30 minutes to get there, but during rush hour, it can take close to an hour. Still, compared to other major cities in the U.S., it's a relatively short distance.

Going a bit further, you reach Fort Worth.

It takes about 45-50 minutes to drive to Fort Worth, which has a different atmosphere from Dallas. Known for its cowboy culture and remnants of the western frontier, it's a popular weekend getaway spot.

The airport accessibility is also quite good.

DFW International Airport is about 30 miles away, usually taking 30-40 minutes to reach. It's very convenient for frequent international travelers. For those who often use domestic flights, Dallas Love Field is also popular, and it takes about 25-30 minutes from Plano.

When you lay out the map like this, an interesting fact emerges.

Plano itself is not a massive city but is at the center connecting numerous cities.

It's not unusual for someone to work in Richardson, send their kids to school in Frisco, do their shopping in Carrollton, and spend weekends in McKinney. In fact, many residents have this lifestyle pattern.

So, I always tell newcomers to Plano.

When choosing a home, don't just look at Plano; consider a radius of 20-30 miles as well.

You need to think about where your job is, where your kids' schools are, where your favorite shopping malls are, and how long it takes to get to the airport. DFW is not a place where you live in just one city; it's a region where you can utilize multiple cities as one living area.

Ultimately, the biggest advantage of Plano is not that one city excels, but that it is centrally located among various cities like Dallas, Frisco, Richardson, Carrollton, Allen, and McKinney, all within about 30 minutes of each other. So, living here, I often feel that saying "I live in Plano" is less accurate than saying "I use the entire DFW area like my neighborhood."