do you regret moving to albuquerque? (Las Cruces, Santa Fe: home, job market, college)

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I am just curious:

To the posters here who cited that they miss having "so many things to do" in bigger cities that they cannot find to in ABQ, I would be curious if you could give examples of things besides major league sports that they could do in big cities that they couldn't do in ABQ.

I am not saying I agree or disagree, but am just legitimately curious.

I come from Boise, so this is about the same as far as things to do and hours. Really, more similar than different.

I think several folks were talking about the average biz hours in that comparison. Places like Chicago, NYC, and Vegas have services provided and stuff to do all night and all day. A nightshifter can run errands just about the same as a dayshifter. Obviously, however, that's not something that can change in ABQ or Boise. Businesses need the patronage to stay open for all hours.

It would be fun to live in a place that went all night, though. I'm still young and work long hours in the day. Come Sunday and Saturday (when I can get it off), I pretty much spend the whole day running errands that it would be nice to do during weeknights so I could enjoy my days off. And people who close on Sundays probably won't ever see my business, sometimes to my dismay. I had last Saturday off and finally made it to a gun and tackle shop I'd been checking out. I'm glad there's no waiting period, 'cause that would've been an obnoxious errand to fit in.

Of course, those who have read my other posts know I had some adjustment issues when moving here. I have adjusted, slowly but surely, and I must say the area has grown on me. Now I just miss my friends from Idaho, but otherwise can look at this area with the same affinity I felt for Idaho.

I was wrong to generalize that people aren't "friendly" here. I've started finding plenty of friendly folks. The aloof demeanors of some people around here actually do appeal to my interpersonally lazy side, especially as I've become more preoccupied myself. But that was a premature generalization. It turns out my naivety was causing me to misread people, as I'm kind of an indiscriminate blabber mouth in situations of mutual boredom. I've gotten used to knowing those that will probably be friendly and those that will just seem bothered or flustered.

Also, the traffic isn't bad compared to most cities even in this size range. I just had an awkward adjustment to the odd mix of aggressive and cautious drivers ... really, the extremes threw me at first, but I'm learning to make due. I just stroke my insurance card like rosary beads every time I get in my car. Benzodiazepines don't hurt, either. On my bike, I just try to imagine all the fun wheelchair accessories I could buy with my settlement. Then I'd be on wheels everywhere.

And seriously, what kind of subhuman imbeciles speed in parking lots??? Let's imagine a scale... one side: 3 seconds... other side: the life of an overly rambunctious child with a distracted parent... hey, distracted parenting may be wrong, but it happens all too often (no parent can plead not guilty) and devastates everyone involved (if the driver has a conscience, at least, which I can't help but doubt)!

[mattywo85]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I am just curious:

To the posters here who cited that they miss having "so many things to do" in bigger cities that they cannot find to in ABQ, I would be curious if you could give examples of things besides major league sports that they could do in big cities that they couldn't do in ABQ.

I am not saying I agree or disagree, but am just legitimately curious.

Well Chicago has world class museums, art, and an actual downtown. Not to mention a much larger job market.

[mortimer]

stingraynm wonders:

> ... what kind of subhuman imbeciles speed in parking lots???

(A) People with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement

(B) People with no empathy

(C) People who are always running late and don't mind making
___ other people pay for their inability to plan more effectively.

(D) Sociopaths in general

----------------------------------------------------

mattywo85

> ... Chicago ... a much larger job market. ...

That's effectively an illusion to some extent.

When my wife was laid off recently, she mourned the "superior"
job market in our former cities of residence - Bay Area & Phoenix.

Well sure, there are more jobs in Greater Chicago, but suppose you
had a 15-minute commute, previously (as she did).

Now, does Albuquerque have more jobs within 15 minutes of my
house or does Chicago?

Answer: It depends where you live. In The Loop, sure.

Now, say you live in Lincolnshire and lost a job there and then
you find a job in Tinley Park. I don't know Chicago traffic, but
distance-wise, that's like going from Bernalillo to Isleta or from
our house in Chandler to Scottsdale.

That's about 30 miles. In Albuquerque, it might take you from 30
minutes to an hour. From Chandler, it might be less than an hour
on a good day. Maybe in Chicago, that's a two-hour commute.

I wouldn't consider a job way on the West Mesa (like Eclipse Aviation)
without moving. Back in Chandler, anything in downtown Phoenix or
Scottsdale or further was out of the question. From where I lived in
the Bay Area, I wouldn't cross a bridge for any money. I might have
moved, but Albuquerque's 20-minute commute range isn't any smaller
than any other place's in general.

[Nedely]

Originally Posted by stingraynm

And seriously, what kind of subhuman imbeciles speed in parking lots??? Let's imagine a scale... one side: 3 seconds... other side: the life of an overly rambunctious child with a distracted parent... hey, distracted parenting may be wrong, but it happens all too often (no parent can plead not guilty) and devastates everyone involved (if the driver has a conscience, at least, which I can't help but doubt)!

In the state of NM, there is no law regarding how slow or fast someone can drive around in a parking lot. In most states, there is a law that usually caps parking lot speeds at 5 mph. No such thing here. Backwards if you ask me.

[abqsunport]

Also, there may be twice the amount of jobs in a city like Chicago but 5X times the applicants for the jobs. Its all relative.

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by mortimer

stingraynm wonders:

> ... what kind of subhuman imbeciles speed in parking lots???

(A) People with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement

(B) People with no empathy

(C) People who are always running late and don't mind making
___ other people pay for their inability to plan more effectively.

(D) Sociopaths in general

LOL. Yeah, I guess I don't get it because there's not much to get. I suppose it's like asking what kind of subhuman imbeciles murder people for their ideology or pollute water for profits. You can contemplate discussion and compromise all you want, but once you start talking face-to-face, it turns out that their stupidity and ego-centricism are rampant beyond consolation. Those types of people are just out there for whatever god-awful reasons, on both a small scale and a large scale. The best any of us can do is get in their way when we cross paths.

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by Nedely

In the state of NM, there is no law regarding how slow or fast someone can drive around in a parking lot. In most states, there is a law that usually caps parking lot speeds at 5 mph. No such thing here. Backwards if you ask me.

Yeah, I'd hope the police have the sensibility to stop people who are driving ridiculously for what is obviously no good reason, but the way the police drive in my apt. parking lot, I don't know about that...

[tripleplay54]

The best thing Albuquerque has going for it is the weather. We have a mild climate for all seasons when compared to most other areas. One reason the DWI rate is so bad is the fact that we are one of the poorest states. Very little money is available to help with the root of the problem of drinking, which is rehabilitation. The population base we have in NM contributes to the problem of recurring alcoholism and the 2 major interstates contribute to the drug problems. Other areas are going to have their problems also, but as I said in the beginning, the weather is great. All other aspects need alot of work to bring this city out of the dark ages.

[Sanariot]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

I am just curious:

To the posters here who cited that they miss having "so many things to do" in bigger cities that they cannot find to in ABQ, I would be curious if you could give examples of things besides major league sports that they could do in big cities that they couldn't do in ABQ.

I am not saying I agree or disagree, but am just legitimately curious.

I find the film choices here to be fairly limited. Also the nightlife here doesn't suit me. It's hard to explain, but it just seems a little "small town" to me.

Probably what I miss most of all though (besides major league sports), are concerts. There are very few national acts that come through here (and the ones that do usually are mediocre has-beens that I probably wouldn't have bothered seeing even when they were in their prime).

[stingraynm]

Originally Posted by Sanariot

There are very few national acts that come through here (and the ones that do usually are mediocre has-beens that I probably wouldn't have bothered seeing even when they were in their prime).

I second that. I'm always getting e-mail offers for coveted tours, only to find out they are in the Phoenix area and then in Texas. They must use I-40 to get their tour buses from one state to the other, so why can't we get them here? We're not like a massive metro area, I understand; but I got better concerts in Boise, ID than I do in Albuquerque, and Boise was out of the way for a lot of tours.

Can anyone on this forum explain why we can't bring any tours that fit a demographic outside of angry kids with no taste and older folks with a preference for ethnic tradition? And then all the big comedy tours go to Mescalero of all places. How can they attract those shows while Albuquerque can not?

So far, the highlight for me since I moved here in March was Crosby, Stills, and Nash at the Sandia Casino (kudos). Many might call those guys "old has-beens", but many of us also grew up learning guitar to a few of their tunes. Also, I got to see a band that my parents saw at Woodstock, and that's a pretty cool - and rare - opportunity.