Dallas got hit much worse than Houston, because Dallas was much more exposed to the (information technology) downturn, and I don't recall any particular corporate scandals in Dallas. The scandal for Dallas was the high-tech bubble.

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.