Single girl in Albuquerque? (crime, townhomes, university)

[Megad00dle]

Hi everyone, I am 22 and will be graduating from college in August 2007. I really want to move to a new city. I am from West Palm Beach, FL but currently live in Tallahassee, FL. I have been researching different cities and am very interested in Albuquerque. The weather sounds wonderful, I am used to the heat but I want desperately to get away from the humidity! Plus it doesnt seem to get too cold there. Is it very family oriented or are there many singles/young professionals?? Hows the nightlife scene? Im not going to know anyone so I need to move somewhere that I can meet people my age... Thanks for any advice!

Megan

[councilor j]

I moved here almost 2 years ago and I love it here,I think its the perfect sized city,Its almost like a smaller town but a city.You can meet new people at clubs or anywhere really,plus you get to enjoy all 4 seasons here.

[LLD]

The weather is wonderful. And I think if you are young and single, then it's an okay place. Most of the nightlife is geared towards college age and 20-somethings. I also think Albuquerque is geared lots towards families and that is nice for families too.

A place is what you make of it, generally speaking. Lots of positives in Albuquerque, but it has its drawbacks too like any other place. Read through various threads to get an idea of things.

I will say I'm amazed at the variety of perspctives I've seen posted here and in other forums about other places. Sometimes the views are 180 degrees oppositve of each other. Everyone has their own experiences. It does seem that those people that don't like a place are particularly vocal in their condemnation. I'd say you have to take these forums with a grain of salt also.

Before moving any place, just check things out as much as possble, make a few visits, look at the factors that are important to you then go for it. Nothing says you have to stay if you don't like it. Life is short and I say carpe diem.

[Zoidberg]

With regard to the cold, Albuquerque's weather and temperature ranges are surprisingly similar to Atlanta's, which is only up the road from Tallahassee.

Differences from the Tallahassee I remember visiting:
*Bigger city feel. UNM (26000 students and growing) feels significantly more urban than Florida State & A&M.

*Less middle class. Albuquerque doesn't have as much low-skill manufacturing as other cities its size. That is to say, people here earn very decent livings or very marginal livings. On the whole, I'd say they're just as friendly than typical southerners.

*Homes. Almost every house in NM is single-story, ranch style. Some roofs are flat, some are pitched. (As compared to two-story, pitched roof for almost every home in Tallahassee).

*When it's wet. That part of the country tends to have pretty wet winters and comparatively dry summers, whereas most of NM's rain comes in the late summertime.

Enjoy your time here!

[LLD]

Every single home or majority are one-story? I have to totally disagree -- tons of 2 story homes all over Albuquerque, but definitely more one story/ranch homes here than in other places where space is a factor. Usually when things are spread out, you'll see many more 1 stories and where space is a premium, people build up -- which is why there are so many 3 story townhomes on the East Coast or in big cities etc.

[LLD]

p.s. temps may be somewhat similar to Atlanta - but the humidity is vastly different. Hardly any here and tons in Atlant at various times of the year.

One thing very hard on me here is the dryness -- it can affect your hair and skin significantly. (I think I mentioned this somewhere else.) For many people it takes about 18 months to adjust to the dryness. For me I haven't adjusted after two years. I have very sensitive skin and slather the moisturizer constantly in the shower and with lotions afterwards etc and my hair is much straighter and flatter here than in a more humid climate. When I go to Houston or Atlanta or the East Coast or Mexico -- my hair sprngs back to its soft wave and gets much fuller.

Not that hair and skin should be a big factor ;-), but just letting you know that for many people, there is an adjustment time.

[Megad00dle]

Yeah I am actually thrilled to not have any humidy. Id rather put on lots of lotion every night then deal with this wet, muggy air. My hair always looks a wreck and you cant ever enjoy a meal outside without feeling sticky and disgusting! My parents actually live about an hour away from Atlanta, and I'm from West Palm Beach, FL....So basically all 3 cities Ive lived in are humid and Im sick of it! Ive just heard so many conflicting things about Alb, like the crime, homeless people everywhere (I read that somewhere on here). I just want a place that isnt too big and crowded (like NYC) but still has that big city feel without the hassle. Plus I need to have people my age around (single young professionals).

[LLD]

Oh I know what you mean about the humidity. I'll never move back to Houston because of the hot muggy miserabl climate but I'd prefer a bit of moisture rather than going from one extreme to another.

And yes there are hugely conflicting comments across various forums about every city and every state -- something I was referencing earlier. In my opinion, Albuqueurque does not have a bit city feel at all and won't for about 15 or 20 years.

The crime here is an issue but you just need to be aware of it. I live in the far north in the suburbs and feel very safe. I work at the university and there are some rather questionable areas around it -- but that is the case with any university in a more urban area. You just have to be aware of things and pay attention to your surroundings.

Drunk driving is also a big issue in this state more so than other places. But I don't think the crime and the DWI's are enough to keep people from moving here and they aren't. Albuquerque is getting lots of people from all over the US because of relatively low housing costs and the climate. It's all a balance in what you are looking for. And there are lots of positives in Albuquerque too -- weather and natural surrounding beauty and the Native American and Hispanic cultural influences in the architecture and the food et . The high desert has its own unique beauty and spirituality.