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Not necessarily specific to Albuquerque, but kind of...
I have noticed in the time that I have lived here that things are just so much different from back East... I lazily sat at a green light for a while, and no one honked behind me... much less, no one really honks at you in general out here.
No one feels the need to be dressed up in business attire on a daily basis, with all the designer labels.
People are generally happy with smaller-establishment restaurants and shopping.
I find life here much more similar to the Midwest, but comparing this all to back East where I came from, I can't believe how differently people "live", what gets them excited, what bugs them, what you can and can't do without, etc.
What do you think defines the personality of a region? What is it about Albuquerque or New Mexico that "allows" a more laid-back attitude? Is this a good or bad thing (or neither)? Why do people back East "tend" to be more high-strung and go-getter types? Why do you "need" certain things in part of a country and not another?
Just curious what you all think. My mind works in strange ways sometimes.
As for the OP, these are things my husband and I have talked about at times. We don't have any answers other than we like the more laid back areas of the country. My husband said where he is from, everyone lays on the horn the moment the light turns green . He also really likes that he never ever has to wear a tie to work here, but in the NE he would have to every day. There must be some anthropologist out there who has some answers to the regional differences!
I have noticed in the time that I have lived here that things are just so much different from back East... I lazily sat at a green light for a while, and no one honked behind me... much less, no one really honks at you in general out here.
Albuquerqueans are passive-aggressive, they may not be honking but they are sitting there, fingering their concealed carrys. ;-)
Quote:
Originally Posted by crackiswhack
People are generally happy with smaller-establishment restaurants and shopping.
This I must disagree with (or at least I must disagree with generalizing "Back East" in this regard). Although Albuquerque does have a lot of local restaurants and a few local retail places, compared to my area "Back East" there are national chains up the ying yang out here. A lot more than there were 20 years ago.
While hiking back down the mountain yesterday a thought came to me. I have been here for almost one month, and very little has gone right, but every time I pack up and hit the trails a sudden tranquility comes over me, a happyness.
The ocean has a captivating and powerful energy. It can go from calm and serene to violent and deadly in a short period of time. The ocean waters are constantly changing (temperature, tides, winds, ect.). Creatures that live in the tidal zone are constantly holding on for dear life as the next noreaster could be the one to drag them out to sea.
On the other hand the mountains have a majesty about them, a peace, calm, and an almost elderly wisdom about them. They radiate an energy full of serenity and relaxation. They are old and although worn down over the thousands of years for our lifetime they will change very little. They stand there as giants harboring a wide arrange of lifeforms.
I have never in my whole life living within walking reach to the ocean felt the tranquility I have while on a mountain.
Boston, a harbor city is a dog eat dog world. Every thing is a fight, a fight to get onto the T in the AM, everyone needs to be somewhere and get something done. If you are not the assertive one you are going to get trampled. They ebb and flow like the ocean tides between friendly and confrentational. Who knows when you are going to get eaten alive? Life can change as quick as the ocean and today might be your last so you need to GO fast and live hard and accomplish everything you can before the figurative "tide" comes and takes you out with it.
Here I see people that are more friendly, they know that unless its doomsday there is almost always going to be a tomarrow (and if you die well then you don't have to worry about it all now do you?). Like the mountain they do not move fast, there is no rush. The mountain (or city) isn't going to eat you alive, you can relax, you can sit back and look around, you can enjoy your life because each day gets closer to your last and unlike the mountain you won't last forever.
My take, as the "crunchy granola energy work girl" is that maybe these cities and the citizens in them take their energy from the natural energies surounding them.
Last edited by DrinkMagaritas; 09-30-2010 at 09:13 PM..
Reason: had to add something.
Thanks for that answer, DrinkMagaritas! It put a smile on my face-- I'm glad you have tapped into that tranquil mountain energy so soon after arriving here. Mountains also attract storms.... you may not have seen that yet.
While hiking back down the mountain yesterday a thought came to me. I have been here for almost one month, and very little has gone right, but every time I pack up and hit the trails a sudden tranquility comes over me, a happyness.
The ocean has a captivating and powerful energy. It can go from calm and serene to violent and deadly in a short period of time. The ocean waters are constantly changing (temperature, tides, winds, ect.). Creatures that live in the tidal zone are constantly holding on for dear life as the next noreaster could be the one to drag them out to sea.
On the other hand the mountains have a majesty about them, a peace, calm, and an almost elderly wisdom about them. They radiate an energy full of serenity and relaxation. They are old and although worn down over the thousands of years for our lifetime they will change very little. They stand there as giants harboring a wide arrange of lifeforms.
I have never in my whole life living within walking reach to the ocean felt the tranquility I have while on a mountain.
Boston, a harbor city is a dog eat dog world. Every thing is a fight, a fight to get onto the T in the AM, everyone needs to be somewhere and get something done. If you are not the assertive one you are going to get trampled. They ebb and flow like the ocean tides between friendly and confrentational. Who knows when you are going to get eaten alive? Life can change as quick as the ocean and today might be your last so you need to GO fast and live hard and accomplish everything you can before the figurative "tide" comes and takes you out with it.
Here I see people that are more friendly, they know that unless its doomsday there is almost always going to be a tomarrow (and if you die well then you don't have to worry about it all now do you?). Like the mountain they do not move fast, there is no rush. The mountain (or city) isn't going to eat you alive, you can relax, you can sit back and look around, you can enjoy your life because each day gets closer to your last and unlike the mountain you won't last forever.
My take, as the "crunchy granola energy work girl" is that maybe these cities and the citizens in them take their energy from the natural energies surounding them.
Although Albuquerque does have a lot of local restaurants and a few local retail places, compared to my area "Back East" there are national chains up the ying yang out here. A lot more than there were 20 years ago.
I think what I meant more was the fact that Albuquerque DOES have all these national chains and not the hoity-toity expensive joints (big-ticket steakhouses, for example). People here seem to be okay, for the most part, with familiar, national stuff as opposed to being uber-particular about their food - does that make sense?
As I read these responses (great mountain/ocean analogy, by the way!), I am wondering if it is more a city/suburb/country thing rather than anything specific to East Coast or Southwest.
What do you think defines the personality of a region? What is it about Albuquerque or New Mexico that "allows" a more laid-back attitude? Is this a good or bad thing (or neither)? Why do people back East "tend" to be more high-strung and go-getter types? Why do you "need" certain things in part of a country and not another? Just curious what you all think. My mind works in strange ways sometimes.
IMHO..... it may be that it is not so crowded out here. We have alot of sun and not much humidity (maybe a comfort level). Love sitting out in the cool evenings looking at the stars.
Every region of the US has its own weather patterns, population#s and cultures. I like New Mexico alot though I'm ready to leave Eastern NM.
My take, as the "crunchy granola energy work girl" is that maybe these cities and the citizens in them take their energy from the natural energies surounding them.
Most Excellent Margaritas...... that feels very right.
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. He also really likes that he never ever has to wear a tie to work here, but in the NE he would have to every day. There must be some anthropologist out there who has some answers to the regional differences!
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