After that, as energy growth slows, it will all depend on the health of the national economy and that, in turn, will largely depend upon the fate of the housing market.

The Houston economy has not been booming. It's been growing, but gradually.

A huge section of the U.S. economy is down. It's as complicated as the rescue efforts in New Orleans; it's all these different pieces. You have to get electricity restored, find out where your employees are; it's almost a mind-boggling exercise.

But the more interesting question is not how many are going to stay here, but who's going to stay.

The professional, the high-skilled person is going to find it easiest to be able to find work in Houston.

I think businesses are going to open up jobs they may not have otherwise done.