The Albuquerque Area and New Mexico Like/Dislike Thread (Rio Rancho: mover, retirement)

[joqua]

Originally Posted by nativetexasgal

Why do people in New Mexico not like Texans?

By the way, I'm a Texan asking this question.

Call it human nature - as good an explanation as any.

I don't know of anyone who doesn't like your money! MOST of the homes in my locale are owned by Texas residents, so it's a matter of Texans thinking they "own the town" whenever they come here. As a native Texan myself, even I find myself at times cursing someone bearing TX license plates. When I had Texas plates on my vehicle I was prone to be the other way around!

[Fran66]

As for schools -- recently I met a middle-aged woman who was born and raised in ABQ and who received her education here, up through college and teacher certification. But when she got married and started having children, she moved to CO, because of the lack of adequate education here in NM, and she says she and her husband and children have never been happier in the 12 years they've been in Denver. Although she has family and friends here, who she and her family visit a few times a year, she said, and I quote, "I would never, ever live in NM again." And I'm moving to Denver as soon as I can. Moving to NM/ABQ was one of the three biggest mistakes I ever made in my life. There is nothing here, except nice weather and a lot of crime. Good luck. Prepare to be bored for the rest of your life. Unless your life consists of eating and/or getting drunk. (Oh yes, I forgot about the drivers -- driving here is a constant death wish.)

[aries63]

Originally Posted by nativetexasgal

Why do people in New Mexico not like Texans?

By the way, I'm a Texan asking this question.

I had a friend from Texas who explained to me that many Texans hold onto the historical idea that most of New Mexico belongs to Texas. He said the notion is commonplace among Texans that at least part of New Mexico is rightfully "theirs". I'm not sure how true this is today. See this map of the historic Republic of Texas from Wikipedia:



It is also sometimes true that Texans have not respected the local customs and traditions of New Mexico. Of course many Texans are perfectly respectful but the reputation sometimes is the opposite.

[aries63]

Originally Posted by alloo66

I'm moving from NM in about two weeks, not because of the people whom I've fund very genuine and friendly. I'm moving for family reasons. To me it takes about two years to break into a new place. It's up to you to reach out and become a part of the community. NM is a minority majority state sometimes that threatens people who are not used to that. I can see all perspectives expressed here. Most of it is human nature.

Why do people dislike CA or TX? Probably because they're islands onto themselves and are confident that they're the center of the universe.

Personally, I'm going to miss NM and hope to come back one day to live. Sometimes we bring our biases from where ever we move from? That shapes our perspectives, but might not be a reality where we relocated to. I'm moving back to HI to help take care my dad. I'm going to miss NM a lot. I have made lots of friends and have never regretted moving here.

I do wish NM had more issues to cover in the media besides crime, but I guess not enough goes on here to fill the airspace. TV contributes to NM image issue. I've lived in ABQ and Farmington and visited lots of places throughout the state. Embraced the locals, even though I may not agree with them always. Everyone has a perspective and it's ok to be different.

Good luck where ever you live. Make the best of it.

Sorry you have to go, but glad you got a chance to check it out here, I enjoyed your input and perspectives in this forum. Come back and visit the NM forum even after you move away... keep a foot in the door!

Best to you and your dad. Aloha!

[Fran66]

PS: I forgot to mention -- the first year will be great. Like being on a long vacation. You won't be very aware of the bad things about ABQ until the end of your first year. So RENT the first year -- or two.

[alloo66]

It's funny that TX has the only accurate history of the American West. No mention is made of the NM version of history in TX or the fact that NM has its own capital miles away from TX. Or California being a separate Mexican State. TX is just larger than life in the eyes of Texans. Same goes for Californians and New Yorkers. Our three poles of culture in the US. Why doesn't Texas claim Mexico while its at it?

[nonexpat]

Originally Posted by nativetexasgal

Why do people in New Mexico not like Texans?

By the way, I'm a Texan asking this question.

I just moved from Texas to New Mexico. I lived in Plano and Austin for about 11 years total. I'm from Wisconsin originally, and my theory is that much like Wisconsinites dislike people from Illinois--especially Chicagoans, New Mexicans don't like Texans.

Both Wisconsin and NM natives are not as wealthy as most big city Texans and Chicagoans. They see these people come and use their beautiful states as their playground, buying houses and driving the price of real estate up. They see these people with the fancy cars and snooty ways looking down on the "hicks" they see as the locals. Texans even more than Chicagoans think their state is the best in the world and tend to brag a lot.

With all that being said, I'm sure most people from New Mexico or from Wisconsin for that matter are friendly to their out-of-state brethren until they feel those people being rude or disrespectful. In fact, I have seen many happy marriages between cheeseheads and flatlanders.

[rwjoyak]

Why is it when someone posts that they are moving to ABQ some folks feel the need to tell them what a huge mistake they're making or how X place is so much better, rather than responding to the specific questions the OP is asking....?

Every place I've lived across the country has been different, with different folks, but I've enjoyed them all in different ways. I also recognize that others have different viewpoints, interests, and likes and dislikes. My reality is not their reality. I would never try to force my viewpoint of a place on someone else.

It's great to share opinions. But when the OP asks what's been going on here since 2007 and what areas here are good or bad, telling them to be prepared to be bored for the rest of their life is not helpful or responsive to their questions and is frankly pretty arrogant. It's as if you're saying to them that they are stupid to be moving here and you know much more than them what is best for them. Which you don't.

[aries63]

Good grief. If anyone is bored here, the problem is with them, not the place. I can't keep up with everything I want to do. After 22 years here I'm still discovering new things I want to do, and have dozens of things I enjoy doing and places I like visiting over and over again. I can't imagine what it's like to be bored. That is so sad.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by alloo66

It's funny that TX has the only accurate history of the American West.

I seriously doubt that past history of borders enters anyone's mind when they are considering their reasons for disliking one another. It's much more likely to have something to do with general resentment toward outsiders, wherever they come from (IMHO). Furthermore, I seriously doubt that many people even know their history well enough for borders to figure in the equation.