The Albuquerque Area and New Mexico Like/Dislike Thread (Rio Rancho: job transfer, private school)

[abqcd]

Best:
1. Low traffic
2. Very close to outdoor activities
3. Low cost of living
4. Proximity to high desert and mountain living (your choice)
5. Many well paying government/quasi-government jobs available (for those with good education)
6. Low tax burden
7. Flavorful food (may not appeal to people who like bland food, e.g. from Northeast)
8. Great gun laws (still not as good as Texas, but close)
9. Reasonably close to many other great areas via Southwest flight (Denver, Southern California)
10. Good weather, plus seasons

Worst:
1. Poor educational system (could be major problem for those with kids)
2. Can be hard for two-earner households to both find great jobs
3. Smaller population means some services are absent
4. Homes in the nicer areas are overpriced and have little property in the city of Albuquerque.
5. Most of Albuquerque is a big, run down ghetto lined with thrift stores, payday loan places, pawn shops, strip joints and light industrial.

Verdict: In a nut shell, if you can get a high paying job or are retired, its a great place to be. Otherwise, you may have better luck in other states.

[rwjoyak]

Originally Posted by tommodonahue

some cons:
People from Albuquerque being unreasonably upset that someone says something bad about the city (usually in the realm of there is nothing to do here). Honestly, most of the 'rebuttles' of what to do here consist of the same things you can do in any city. The only exception is that there is 300+ days of sunlight here.

Don't disagree that there's some of this reaction here. As others have said in other threads, some of this is age related - there's definitely not as much to do for 20-30 somethings that are interested in going out alot. But if you are active on other C-D forums (I am) you'll see this forum isn't unique. People that post regularly on the forums are often proud of their places. And particularly if the poster arguing against the place knocks it without having been there much, or goes over the top in knocking it when the local residents know better, you're going to get a strong negative reaction in many forums.

I also think ABQ is a place that people mostly either really love or hate, with relatively few being in the middle. IMO this is one of the things that does make ABQ unique. It's not Anywhere, USA; it is one of the most foreign feeling cities in the country. If you got dropped in the middle of the city without knowing where you were, you would almost instantly know you were in a place with a different character than most places, which is not true in most other cities its size. People typically either really like that about here or it turns them off.

Originally Posted by tommodonahue

Honestly, most of the 'rebuttles' of what to do here consist of the same things you can do in any city.

Not sure how much time you have spent here, but I gotta disagree with you on this. I've lived in several places, ranging from AK to CA to KY to NM, plus I have spent time working in most states in the country. Very few places have the incredible hiking opportunities we have here nearly at our doorstep; there are not all that many where you can ski and play golf on the same day in the winter; and few have historical events, museums and other cultural resources in town and nearby from multiple historical eras (here in NM these include the pubelo, spanish colonial, santa fe trail, wild west and route 66 eras). It's also a fact that ABQ has a larger portion of their land area in parks than most other urban communities in the country, including the Rio Grande bosque, which I believe is the largest forest in the US. Yeah, it's not all in ABQ, but the bosque is an incredible resource that helps make the city feel unique.

Most of the above are outdoor activities, so if you're not into that, I maybe can see why you said what you did. But with 300+ days of sunlight you mentioned, why would you not want to be out and about?

Originally Posted by tommodonahue

Parts of I25 being 3 lanes only

This comment really puzzles me. Given ABQ's substantial lack of congestion compared to other cities its size and bigger, three lanes on I25 is more than enough to handle the traffic we have. Sure, you can get a little bit of congestion at rush hour, but IMO traffic here is way better than most other urban areas in the US (and I've had to drive in many of them). Three lanes is more than enough to handle the traffic we have almost all the time. The river crossings may be a different story, but the interstates are fine the way they are. And I think relatively few ABQeans would really want even wider monster freeways carving their way through the city. Adding more concrete here would be another step toward making us like other places. Not a good thing IMO.

Originally Posted by tommodonahue

i understand there is a zoo here, botanical gardens, cultural center.. but every city has these and it does not make ABQ unique. it's also unreasonable to think that anyone here goes to these places more than once or twice in their life.

Hmmm...I've been here less than 3 years and have already visited the botanical gardens five times. I guess I must be an unreasonable guy. Funny thing is, I know a number of other people that have also visited multiple times during the same period - I guess ABQ may just be filled with unreasonable people.

The purpose of my sarcasm isn't to ding you unnecessarily but rather point out what may seem unreasonable to you definitely isn't to others.

Originally Posted by tommodonahue

hot air balloon ride, day trips around state, again.. not unique to albuquerque and can be done anywhere.

Maybe you're just not into historical and scenic stuff. But having spent time across the country, I can tell you that there's a whole lot more day trips, involving significantly more variety, than are available in other regions of the US. Sure, you can take a day's drive anywhere, but places like Santa Fe, Valles Caldera, Bandelier, El Malpais, El Morro, Chaco Canyon, Salinas Pueblo ruins, Very Large Array, Acoma, Tent Rocks, White Sands,.... are not located everywhere. Even the Grand Canyon is a day trip from here.

Originally Posted by tommodonahue

Point is, yes there is lots to do here; mostly on par with big cities.

It's interesting that you compare ABQ to big cities elsewhere, because ABQ isn't what I would consider a big city. Based on 2011 population rankings, it's 32nd on the list (List of United States cities by population - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). One of the things that many of us love about the place is that, while there are as many things to do here as in a much larger city, it doesn't feel like a big city and you don't have the problems here that many big cities do (e.g., traffic congestion, air pollution, etc.).

[ABQConvict]

Originally Posted by tommodonahue

-i understand there is a zoo here, botanical gardens, cultural center.. but every city has these and it does not make ABQ unique. it's also unreasonable to think that anyone here goes to these places more than once or twice in their life.

I actually have a Biopark membership and visit Botanical gardens in nearly every city worldwide that I travel to. Then again, I must be some easily pleased weirdo.

[td333]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

I actually have a Biopark membership and visit Botanical gardens in nearly every city worldwide that I travel to. Then again, I must be some easily pleased weirdo.

Ok, I said 'unreasonable that anyone'... which I should have said, "unreasonable that most".

Although, here it is.. the typical Albuquerque response to criticism; putting words into the critics mouth. Can you please tell me where I said "easily pleased weirdo"? You thinking I "implied" doesn't count, by the way.

Secondly, I visit the botanical gardens as a date-option often.

Third, I am considering the younger 16-30 population in Albuquerque...today's iphone/xbox/facebook generation is unlikely to visit the botanical gardens at all or more than once.

[td333]

Originally Posted by rwjoyak

You're going to get a strong negative reaction in many forums.

Fair point.

I also think ABQ is a place that people mostly either really love or hate, with relatively few being in the middle.

I'll be one of those "in the middle" type people.

Not sure how much time you have spent here, but I gotta disagree with you on this. I've lived in several places, ranging from AK to CA to KY to NM, plus I have spent time working in most states in the country. Very few places have the incredible hiking opportunities we have here nearly at our doorstep; there are not all that many where you can ski and play golf on the same day in the winter; and few have historical events, museums and other cultural resources in town and nearby from multiple historical eras (here in NM these include the pubelo, spanish colonial, santa fe trail, wild west and route 66 eras). It's also a fact that ABQ has a larger portion of their land area in parks than most other urban communities in the country, including the Rio Grande bosque, which I believe is the largest forest in the US. Yeah, it's not all in ABQ, but the bosque is an incredible resource that helps make the city feel unique.

Most of the above are outdoor activities, so if you're not into that, I maybe can see why you said what you did. But with 300+ days of sunlight you mentioned, why would you not want to be out and about?

Suppose I should have been more specific, talking about most 16-30 year olds. Most of these people are not into the outdoors. I love the outdoors, history, museums etc.. but the southwest culture does not attract me at all.. as hard as I try. Then again, I was spoiled being in Europe over four years. Starting in middle school I was already more interested in Europe than American history.

Golf is extremely expensive by the way.

This comment really puzzles me. Given ABQ's substantial lack of congestion compared to other cities its size and bigger, three lanes on I25 is more than enough to handle the traffic we have. Sure, you can get a little bit of congestion at rush hour, but IMO traffic here is way better than most other urban areas in the US (and I've had to drive in many of them). Three lanes is more than enough to handle the traffic we have almost all the time. The river crossings may be a different story, but the interstates are fine the way they are. And I think relatively few ABQeans would really want even wider monster freeways carving their way through the city. Adding more concrete here would be another step toward making us like other places. Not a good thing IMO.

True, I suppose ABQ shouldn't try to take into consideration those three lanes just for rush hour. It is very annoying that for no reason at all, going southbound, at 1630, people near the bend at San Mateo slow for no reason (long run on sentence). People are just terrible drivers here...especially around the silver/coal/lead/gold area, when people confuse intersections... either they stop for no stop sign or run a stop sign. Bikers also don't use proper lane control/signalling etc and think they can ride freely through the road (again, run on sentence and I was spoiled in Europe with good biking laws..and sensible bikers).

Hmmm...I've been here less than 3 years and have already visited the botanical gardens five times. I guess I must be an unreasonable guy. Funny thing is, I know a number of other people that have also visited multiple times during the same period - I guess ABQ may just be filled with unreasonable people.

The purpose of my sarcasm isn't to ding you unnecessarily but rather point out what may seem unreasonable to you definitely isn't to others.

Yeah, should have been specific on stating that I meant 'for most'.

Maybe you're just not into historical and scenic stuff. But having spent time across the country, I can tell you that there's a whole lot more day trips, involving significantly more variety, than are available in other regions of the US. Sure, you can take a day's drive anywhere, but places like Santa Fe, Valles Caldera, Bandelier, El Malpais, El Morro, Chaco Canyon, Salinas Pueblo ruins, Very Large Array, Acoma, Tent Rocks, White Sands,.... are not located everywhere. Even the Grand Canyon is a day trip from here.

I am, but just not the southwest. I've visited a lot of places around here (arizona, colorado and texas included)... but to me, the southwest history does not attract my attention at all.

It's interesting that you compare ABQ to big cities elsewhere, because ABQ isn't what I would consider a big city.

I was only comparing ABQ to big cities because ABQ has most things big cities have, except on a smaller scale (much smaller).

[NMHacker]

Originally Posted by abqcd

Worst:
1. Poor educational system (could be major problem for those with kids)

Yes the educational system here could be better. But the part in parenthesis is a little issue with me. The education system anywhere is driven by the parents and the kids. It is what the kids/parents put into it is what they get out. This past year I know several parents with kids that attended public school here that have gone onto some very good schools. I mean like Rice, Cornell, Cal Tech and others. And that is just my limited experience this past year.

Verdict: In a nut shell, if you can get a high paying job or are retired, its a great place to be. Otherwise, you may have better luck in other states.

What do you consider 'High Paying'? Because I know several people that don't have 'High Paying' jobs but are doing pretty good here because of the lower cost of living.

[agarcia45]

Well, I used to live in Albuquerque. Believe me, there are alot of places better than there. I'm on the east coast now., Virginia Beach to be exact. Much better, the people dont all think they are MMA fighters and they have common sense. Somthing that is seriously lacking in Albuquerque. Most of my family still live there, I dont even care to visit. And I had a well paying job while I was there. So if you are thinking about relocating back there, you should slap yourself into reality thats the craziest thing I ever heard of. Let the nutty crazies stay in ABQ and think they are in GOD'S COUNTRY, us that have gotten out know the real truth.

[N8!]

Ah, New Mexico... its hold is strong judging the fact that you visit this forum though you don't live here anymore.

[mattywo85]

Originally Posted by agarcia45

Well, I used to live in Albuquerque. Believe me, there are alot of places better than there. I'm on the east coast now., Virginia Beach to be exact. Much better, the people dont all think they are MMA fighters and they have common sense. Somthing that is seriously lacking in Albuquerque. Most of my family still live there, I dont even care to visit. And I had a well paying job while I was there. So if you are thinking about relocating back there, you should slap yourself into reality thats the craziest thing I ever heard of. Let the nutty crazies stay in ABQ and think they are in GOD'S COUNTRY, us that have gotten out know the real truth.

You lost me at MMA fighters

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by mattywo85

You lost me at MMA fighters

Albuquerque is claimed by some to becoming a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) hub. It is claimed to be a training ground for some 60 professional MMA fighters.