Odessa, Texas is a surprisingly livable West Texas hub—affordable, energetic, and anchored by the Permian Basin economy—while offering a growing arts scene, live music, local restaurants and coffee shops, community events, and nearby outdoor space that keep multi-week assignments interesting rather than monotonous.
For more variety, nearby Midland is a short 20–30 minute drive and adds a regional airport, larger museums and cultural venues, and a bigger dining/nightlife scene for easy weekend escapes.