The Albuquerque Area and New Mexico Like/Dislike Thread (Roswell: campers, military)

[malamute]

I don't think happiness always comes from within. Not everyone is supposed to live in just one place, that would be awful.

There are people more suited to California, and people more suited to the Midwest. Some people want to be near the ocean, they don't really belong in New Mexico. Some people crave big city life and they also aren't suited to New Mexico.

People who are suited to New Mexico have to like smaller cities, big open sky, lots of sunshine, a more arid climate, and tolerate some heat and some cold.

[reddesertfox]

Originally Posted by pinkkey

I moved here 8 years ago and disappointed that New Mexico isn't what i thought it was. I feel being an "outsider" that your not accepted. If you werent born here or have any connections you're pretty much screwed. Honestly i have met so many cold people here its sa

and,when you relocate,as I have done,you cannot expect the natives to say"Hey,drop everything,pinkkey is here,let's go bowling." Take your time,be a pet owner,go for walks if you are able..but be careful.Life is not a t.v. spot,O.K?
Most of New Mexico is charming,which ethnic group is the RACISM COMING FROM MY FRIEND?

[mistygrl092]

Originally Posted by josiesgardenescapes

I came on a bus got dumped in the middle of a quiet town at 2 in the morning I knew noone had no job I had rented a Studio apt for a month over the phone sight unseen and I have stayed for the last ten years grew a business (Josie's Garden Escapes) and a life here no regrets I heard said there are few "bad" places to live in New Mexico but I have never seen one, all places have merits and problems it takes work to make a strange town your home. Don't give up I won't

Wow, what guts. That and incredible luck and good fortune that you were right about the place.

[tecpatl]

Anyplace that sees a substantial influx of people from outside the area, as New Mexico has, is going to see a reaction, usually a negative one, from long-time residents. This is in part because of negative experiences (perceived or in reality) the locals have had with newish arrivals in a variety of ways, and also in part because of natural suspicions of strangers and newcomers.
Often new arrivals bring new ideas (frequently very good ideas) or exhibit behaviors that threaten, in some way, the long established order or way of doing things. It's easy to understand why people get that "what's wrong with the way things are?" feeling, though such feelings are often based in simple knee-jerk reactions to change. Change, to many people, implies criticism of what has gone on in the past...so they react defensively. Doesn't mean it's right...but that's what happens.
This is not limited in some way to New Mexico, it happens anywhere and everywhere there is an inflow of migrants. The exact same thing happens in my old hometown area in Michigan. A very beautiful and desireable area of relatively low population is discovered by folks who want to move in. They do, there is a reaction to it, some hiccups, but eventually everybody settles down and realize there are overwhelmingly good people on both sides, with the normal occurance of idiots also on both sides. Ultimately, the entire community benefits from the new energy, fresh perspective and talents of the newcomers...and everybody is better off. Even with that, some people will cling to resentment and bitterness, but they're their own punishment.
I suspect there is an additional facet to this phenomena in New Mexico, and that has to do with longstanding historic Hispanic/Anglo issues. This may amplify some of the perceptions and attitudes I refer to above, again, on both sides.

[licorne]

As one of those "multi-generational (family has roots in Rio Grande Valley all the way back to the 1820s)" spiteful New Mexicans, there are plenty of reasons as to why we hate newcomers. (Although... I no longer live in New Mexico, I visit yearly).

Frankly, New Mexico is always a bit depressing.

The problem is that the more and more people from out of state move in, they're essentially 'destroying' what New Mexico is about-- open unrestricted land. It's your money and your choices... and you're free to do whatever you want. But your actions do have repercussions.

Much of 'old' New Mexico is based on the Hacienda system (which is almost entirely a similar thing to many of the early missions). The hacienda [estate] is basically like a little kingdom where you have one predominate ruling household and generally supporting auxiliary households.

That is primarily the reason that when you see an old house in New Mexico... it is surrounded by 6, 7, 8 or 30 smaller houses literally feet away. It's a very quiet and nonchalant form of urbanism. Sometimes, these haciendas get so big they form small cities-- like Santa Fe or Mesilla.

However, this is a practice that no longer exists in New Mexico. Now, when most people move in, they buy a crappy plot of land on a hillside or mountain, string up a barbwire fence around their 1.5 acres, pump the wells dry trying to maintain 200 square feet of Bermuda grass and complain that none of their neighbors like them and the people at the cornerstore give them funny looks.

New Mexico is essentially a third-world country. Most New Mexicans accept this fact. The idea of a subtle lawlessness thrills us. The idea that you could be picked off by a cougar or bitten by a rattlesnake makes a walk around the block fun. And like any third world country, there are just towns, alleys and backroads you do not travel on. If you have to ask if that road is safe, it is not safe for you.

[licorne]

That being said... people and things New Mexicans hate:


1) Faux Cowboys-- Cowboys only existed when fences did not exist. The cowboy, itself, is a Spanish tradition (vaquero). This makes it all the more humorous when you see rabid, immigration-hating, good ol' boy Republicans (a.k.a. Texans) playing dress up and trying to be an amateur farmer.

Good job, you look like a jerk. You spent $13,000 dollars (from your $80,000 a year military contracting job) to grow $4,000 of alfalfa.


2) The suburbanite-- I'm sorry your company relocated from Bloomingdale, Indinanoisohiosylvania. This is New Mexico. Please don't expect us to erect thirty Wal-Marts and 8 dozen gated communities. When you do that, it hurts everyone. We end up having to pay more taxes and Elephant Butte does not have any more water to fill up your pool with. Try to keep that cancerous growth delegated to Albuqurque.


3) The Horse Rider-- New Mexico is not a place for horses. It never was. You may love horses and you love the fact that New Mexico has dirt cheap land.

But, please, don't haul your horses all over the state so you can frolic around in a national forest on horseback. Not only are horses destructive to the very fragile ecosystems that barely hold on, your horses require way too much food and water than the state can put out.


4) The Santa Flake-- Don't get me wrong. We love Santa Fe. We mostly love when Santa Fe stays in Santa Fe and Taos. I'm sorry you're not rich or wealthy enough to move to New Mexico and join the ranks of the East Coast Elite in Santa Fe.

But, please, don't try to emulate that lifestyle in some place other than Santa Fe.


5) Hill Dwellers-- So, you hate everyone, everything and everywhere. You've decided that the perfect life is in the middle of nowhere, on a mountain... in New Mexico.

But, please, don't move into the hills. Us valley and mesa dwellers end up having to pay for your subsidized utilities. Your moving there destroys our leisure areas-- New Mexico is the Trespassing State. Be aware of that. We probably won't steal your cattle or shoot animals on your property... but we want to just hike through.

We live on the mesas and in the valley because we like to look up at the mountains. When you live on the mountain, all you look at is the valley. The valley is disgusting.

And most of the Hill Dwellers are jerks. That's why we hate you. You ruined our mountains.

[AlisonL]

Wow!

Tell us how you really feel.

[lone sailor]

Someone is jealous.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by tecpatl

Anyplace that sees a substantial influx of people from outside the area, as New Mexico has, is going to see a reaction, usually a negative one, from long-time residents. This is in part because of negative experiences (perceived or in reality) the locals have had with newish arrivals in a variety of ways, and also in part because of natural suspicions of strangers and newcomers.
Often new arrivals bring new ideas (frequently very good ideas) or exhibit behaviors that threaten, in some way, the long established order or way of doing things. It's easy to understand why people get that "what's wrong with the way things are?" feeling, though such feelings are often based in simple knee-jerk reactions to change. Change, to many people, implies criticism of what has gone on in the past...so they react defensively. Doesn't mean it's right...but that's what happens.
This is not limited in some way to New Mexico, it happens anywhere and everywhere there is an inflow of migrants. The exact same thing happens in my old hometown area in Michigan. A very beautiful and desireable area of relatively low population is discovered by folks who want to move in. They do, there is a reaction to it, some hiccups, but eventually everybody settles down and realize there are overwhelmingly good people on both sides, with the normal occurance of idiots also on both sides. Ultimately, the entire community benefits from the new energy, fresh perspective and talents of the newcomers...and everybody is better off. Even with that, some people will cling to resentment and bitterness, but they're their own punishment.
I suspect there is an additional facet to this phenomena in New Mexico, and that has to do with longstanding historic Hispanic/Anglo issues. This may amplify some of the perceptions and attitudes I refer to above, again, on both sides.

I disagree that these people have a knee-jerk reaction.

When thousands of outsiders start moving in, they do start making changes and destroying the way of life that existed before they came.

Thta's the irony - people from the city move out into the country for example, they think they want the more relaxed way of life but they want the big roads and the big malls because they don't really want to leave behind their comforts. Next thing they're complaining about the country smells, demanding neighbors get rid of cows and horses so they can have it like they had it in the city.

Like that part of Michigan, it was once little traffic, fresh air, a quaint small town place, small grocery stores and shops and tons of people from Detroit and Grand Rapids moved in, insisted on bringing their malls and traffic and urban sprawl.

As for New Mexico, the problem isn't with the long-time old group of "anglos" or "hispanics" there and don't forget that many of the "hispanics" are new arrivals too and adding to the traffic, pollution, government services, urban sprawl, they fill the malls and the Walmarts more than anyone.

[caydriver]

CAVA, you are so correct.