101+ Reasons That I Miss Albuquerque (Santa Fe, Rio Rancho: job openings, neighborhood, tornadoes)

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

That is very kind, lobo, and extremely lofty (although heartily undeserved) praise!! I re-read some of my writings, and my work needs re-editing big-time!! (Admittedly, a few of these were written over one - okay, two - cold Isotopes Slammin' Ambers that I had smuggled up to MKE!!)...

Have you tried the Alien Amber (I think it's brewed out of Roswell)? I had that for the first time at the Range Cafe last weekend...let's just say that combined with their burger, it was pretty, pretty good.

Originally Posted by nmnita

vegaspilgrim, glad to see you posting here again.
NIta

Shhhh.... still officially in "self-exile" from the forum. Hopefully this time around I can kick my city-data addiction, keep it to no more than one post a day.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Have you tried the Alien Amber (I think it's brewed out of Roswell)? I had that for the first time at the Range Cafe last weekend...let's just say that combined with their burger, it was pretty, pretty good.

Oh yes, know the Alien Amber quite well. In fact, I would always buy that primarily for out-of-towners, as they got a real kick obviously with the Roswell / New Mexico alien connotation. And the kicker is - that beer - and that whole brewery in Carrizozo - is delicious!

[abqsunset]

EP WOW! great post,

I too moved away for family reasons. I lived there for 5 years from 2001-2006. Born and raised in San Antonio and came back to be closer to family (so overrated!!!). I also am regretting that decision three years ago. We also are planning our escape back to gorgeous ABQ. Will be hoping to move back soon if things fall into place (selling our house, finding jobs.) San Antonio is 100+ for at least 60% of the time from June-September and the Mosquitoes just won't quick

[abqsunset]

True story...when I first moved back to San Antonio in 2006 from ABQ went to a local watering hole and actually asked if they had "Amber Alien Ale" the waitress just looked at me perplexed...I was just so use to getting this at Kelly's. Can't wait to get back...

Weather update: Yesterday in San Antonio 103, today 103, Wed forecast 101, Thursday 105...HELP!!!!

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by abqsunset

EP WOW! great post,

Hey, thanks sunset. I re-read alot of my babblings in this thread, and wow, I could've used some editing like new Albuquerqueans could use some chapstick! But I do appreciate the kind words.

Indeed, your situation does sound VERY similar to mine! Except you went to a place of miserable summers and I to a place of miserable winters. Actually, San Antonio would be much higher on my list than where I am now (Milwaukee), but admittedly, I can see the drawbacks you are saddled with, especially in comparison to ABQ!

Originally Posted by abqsunset

I too moved away for family reasons. ... Born and raised in San Antonio and came back to be closer to family (so overrated!!!). I also am regretting that decision three years ago.

Amen to all of this sunset. You are right where I am in all of this. I love my family and certainly its been "nice" to see them more often, but you are right - so overrated.

I think the especially hard thing about it is that when I was considering "moving back" in 06, 07, etc., for family reasons, I would talk to people and hell, even posted a few questions along these lines on this forum, and was shocked how many (very wise in retrospect) people were preaching to young buck EnjoyEP that you "cannot go home again" and that it would "never be the same"...and sure enough, they were dead-on right.

I think my wife appreciates being back by family more than I do (although *I* was the foolish impetus behind us moving back here, not her in the least), but to me, its really got no impact on life - the positives are actually nullified by the negatives.

My biggest thing I have come to realize:

So many folks that live somewhere "to be close to family" are essentially living in the place of the country that was CHOSEN FOR THEM - just because they don't think of this, or they don't think of this in this way, essentially, it is what it is for many - because their family has chosen to live there (sometimes a decision made well over a century ago), the need for them to live near family ensures that the decision was made FOR THEM on where to live.

Transversely, when my wife and I chose ABQ - and loved living there - WE chose ABQ as our ideal spot. We weren't shackled by the decisions of others, we chose our best spot, and it totally worked for us. Isn't that a huge (THE huge) difference? I just can't get over that. Its why probably after a month of living here - if that - I realized what a mistake it was for me and my personality to be back here and not in the Duke City.

Originally Posted by abqsunset

We also are planning our escape back to gorgeous ABQ. Will be hoping to move back soon if things fall into place (selling our house, finding jobs.)

You are in the exact same spot as me.

If I were granted an acceptable job offer and a house buyer tomorrow, well, then I would be renting my U-Haul tomorrow. Nothing left to consider in my boat.

Of course, if you find the trick for that job thing / house thing...please pass along the magic to me!!

Darnit all, but I *do* have a rather great job up here in the Milwaukee area, so while I will accept a pay cut to get back to ABQ, I do have a wife and kids to support and a mortgage to pay, and I am along in my professional track, so I just need to find a decent job, and open jobs in ABQ in this economy aren't just exactly bouncing out to me right now. Being so far out-of-town doesn't help the cause either.

And the house thing too kicks dirt on the grave, as this surely isn't exactly the thrilling time to have a depressed real estate market. Surely, this would be a big help for buying in ABQ, however, the problem is trying to do the selling here too. I just am not in a financial position where I can take a loss to sell my house, or, pay two mortgages (or a rent and a mortgage). So I would have to sell - at a modest profit - which is possible / doable, but not something that could happen within a week (like my first house in MKE sold in to move to ABQ).

Then...trying to *time* a house sale to coincide with a job offer...that is especially tricky.

Ugh, ugh ugh.

Originally Posted by abqsunset

San Antonio is 100+ for at least 60% of the time from June-September and the Mosquitoes just won't quick

Well, Milwaukee's summer temps are - despite the chilly-for-summer days which are miserable - far, far more palatable than you are having to endure currently, so I don't have that problem.

However, we garnered 100 inches of official snowfall last winter and 75 inches of official snowfall this winter, so for those scoring at home, that's 175 inches of snow the last two winters. So your suffering is now, mine is in my rear-view mirror, but with the foreshadowing looming soon enough again!

Oh, and we have those damned mosquitoes up the wazoo here, too, so I am right with you on that front (finally in the time of the year where it is so nice here to be outside, and we can't often enjoy it due to those blasted mosquitoes).

Originally Posted by abqsunset

True story...when I first moved back to San Antonio in 2006 from ABQ went to a local watering hole and actually asked if they had "Amber Alien Ale" the waitress just looked at me perplexed...

I like AAA, however, when I get back in October, I would like to smuggle like 20 cases of Isotopes Slammin' Amber back to MKE with me on the plane, I miss that stuff so much.

Of course, I am pledging to refuse to re-board a returning plane to MKE anyway (just plan to sell burritos out of a cart and live in the bosque) so maybe I won't have that problem.

Originally Posted by abqsunset

Weather update: Yesterday in San Antonio 103, today 103, Wed forecast 101, Thursday 105...HELP!!!!

That's not fun. ABQ's in the 90s 3 of the next 4 days for highs, too, so not exactly cool, however, the great thing is that ABQ's lows fall into the 60s or low 70s all of those days, so you get those great evenings / early AMs; plus of course, such low humidities!!


Good the heck luck to you sunset in getting back to ABQ! Sincerely, I will be rooting that you get back ASAP, being in essentially your same position. I would bet good money that you'll make it back far, far before me, as I am kind of dispirited at my chances, however, if that is the case, I will need to live vicariously through your exploits on the CD Forum!!

[EnjoyEP]

Sunset, I just had to comment one more item on a post I quoted from a different thread that is more appropriate here! -

Originally Posted by abqsunset

Let me tell you moving somewhere so you can have family help is so overrated. I want the summer of 2006 back to make better choices.

Are you sure that you are a real person living in San Antonio, and not just a figment of my imagination where I am now so deranged by living through 2 winters in Milwaukee that I am quoting myself??? Holy smokes man, I have made these exact comments a legion of times myself!

Also, that "summer of 2006" quote made me just heave out my Coke over my PC screen in laughter!!! So true, so true (for me, its summer 07, but same bottom line)...

Originally Posted by abqsunset

They say we all learn from our mistakes and am getting a PHD on this mistake let me tell you.

I am going to be blatantly ripping off this quote in my talks with my own friends / family up here!! Good stuff!!

Originally Posted by abqsunset

My wife and I ( Mid -thirties) are in the process of looking for jobs in ABQ and getting the house ready to sell. .

Again, you are pretty much my alter-ego to the south.

Good the heck luck to you and your wife. You guys deserve the Duke City!!

[thirdtimesacharm]

Las Vegas Drunk said, "I did not hate the city, but I cannot fathom how anyone would say the winter is nice."

Las Vegas Drunk, I think your name says it all! I don't know about the drunk part, lol. But being in Vegas, ABQ has to seem like Antarctica I really like the winters here and think they are relatively mild compared to most places. I just spent a winter in Austin and it was as hot as ABQ in the summer, no thanks!!!!

[MariahViva]

Hi EnjoyEP,
I am heading to Albuquerque in 10 days for an interview at Presbyterian Hospital and a tour. I'm wondering where you and your family lived when you were there? Do you have any recommendations regarding the best areas to search for residence......my husband and I are 56, our children are grown and will not accompany us. Most likely, we will purchase (eventually) a single family single floor home. Any other advice?
Thank you.

[desert sun]

Originally Posted by thirdtimesacharm

Las Vegas Drunk said, "I did not hate the city, but I cannot fathom how anyone would say the winter is nice."

Las Vegas Drunk, I think your name says it all! I don't know about the drunk part, lol. But being in Vegas, ABQ has to seem like Antarctica I really like the winters here and think they are relatively mild compared to most places. I just spent a winter in Austin and it was as hot as ABQ in the summer, no thanks!!!!

so its in the high 90's in the winter in Austin?

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by MariahViva

I'm wondering where you and your family lived when you were there? Do you have any recommendations regarding the best areas to search for residence......my husband and I are 56, our children are grown and will not accompany us. Most likely, we will purchase (eventually) a single family single floor home. Any other advice?
Thank you.

Originally Posted by MariahViva

Hi EnjoyEP,
I am heading to Albuquerque in 10 days for an interview at Presbyterian Hospital and a tour.

Wow! Congrats!! I really hope the interview / tour goes well! I know that in my first job in ABQ (around 03 - 06) I worked quite a bit with hospitals / skilled nursing facilities, etc., and was always impressed by Pres. Their main facility near Downtown recently underwent quite extensive renovations which I am sure you will see, which I am sure are quite nice.

Gee, it seems folks are popping out of the woodwork on this forum nearly daily having interviews in Albuquerque!! You fortunate folks! If only some of that magic elixer could spill over professionally unto yours truly! However, MariahViva, if it can't be me, let me assure you that I am excited for your potentially great oportunity!

Originally Posted by MariahViva

I'm wondering where you and your family lived when you were there?

We lived in the Northeast Heights (some would term it more the "Far Notheast Heights", although my portions teetered on being not-Far, just standard Northeast Heights).

When we first moved to ABQ, not knowing the area well (and prior to having children), we rented an apartment for 6 months on Eubank Blvd, near the cross-intersection of Academy. We could not have been any more pleased with the area.

Then, we purchased a house very nearby. Our home was an older (30+ years old), renovated single-story adobe - not much more than 1200 or 1300 square feet. It was in between the square of the north-south roads of Wyoming NE and Pennsylvania NE and the east-west roads of Montgomery Blvd. NE and Osuna Rd. NE.

Overall, we resided in this area of the Northeast Heights of ABQ for 4+ years, and frankly, could not have been much more pleased. We loved the area.

That area was about a 15-minute (maybe 20 with some traffic) commute to the main near-Downtown Pres location.

Originally Posted by MariahViva

Do you have any recommendations regarding the best areas to search for residence......my husband and I are 56, our children are grown and will not accompany us.

Broad generalizations up the wazoo, here, however, here would be my instant gut reaction:

#1: Northeast Heights (zips especially of 87111 and/or 87122; also portions of 87112 and 87109)

#2: North Valley (near Rio Grande Blvd. or Alameda or Los Ranchos de Albuquerque; areas can be quite pricey though - look in zip 87113)

#3: Rio Rancho, Corrales, or far Northwest ABQ:

RR and Corrales are two prominent suburbs, and both are overall quiet, relatively safe, and growing (and a quick, short, painless commute into ABQ). RR is much more "urban" and growing, while Corrales is much more rural, yet both are similar in some of their key core nice attributes.

Far NW ABQ isn't a burb of course, but it has a lot more in common with Rio Rancho than most of ABQ. Look for zips such as 87124 and/or 87120 and/or 87114.

However....these are just broad generalizations. I ranked the NE before the NW simply because of commute times / driving distances, etc., to near-Downtown in a commuter.

Anyway, overall, here is how I broke down ABQ recently:

Albuquerque recommended zip codes:

NORTHEAST

87109 - Portions...generally more northern and/OR eastern (generally north of Montgomery and/or, east of Louisiana)

87111 -

87112 - Portions...generally more northern and eastern

87122 - (Pricey)


NORTH VALLEY

87107 - Northern areas most desirable, especially near Rio Grande Blvd.

87113


NORTHWEST

87114

87120 - Northern 1/3 or so of this zip


SOUTEAST

87123 - Predominantly in the "Four Hills" neighborhood, although this is pricey, as well as most all areas on Tramway Blvd. or east

RIO RANCHO (suburb on far North West)

87124


UNM / NOB HILL area

87108


DOWNTOWN

87102 - There are some very nice residential areas (perhaps a bit too pricey though) off of Downtown near the river

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In terms of quadrants:

Northeast:

Probably my personal favorite in the quadrants I mentioned. Older and more established in general than the Northwest, and thus more retail, restaurants, established infrastructure, etc. You will get many decades-old well established residential areas, as well as still some newer areas on the northern and eastern edges.

IN GENERAL, this is a pricier area in the quadrants I mentioned. However, it all depends on the size / age of home, type of neighborhood, etc. I owned a modest sized (1200 square foot) 35 year old (but remodled) home - 4 bed rooms (fairly small BRs!), in an older neighborhood square in the heart of the NE Heights and I was WELL within your price range. You can find houses like this. And the house I owned actually had a large grass yard in the back (rock / xeriscape in the front) which is more possible in the older developments than in newer ones (which use lawn much less).

But indeed, compared to what you'd get on the Northwest, you'll be paying more $ per square foot.

For all of these things though, who knows? The way the real estate market is still currently, steals / deals can always be found.

The Northeast is to me semi-"suburban" in feel, yet fairly urban still. A wide blend of people - long-time New Mexicans (including native ABQeans), cops, retired military, empty nesters, renters, young families with kids, affluent sorts, working professionals, elderly, families with high school aged kids, some working class / blue collar families, etc.

The Northwest tends to feel a bit more "new suburbia" with tons of fairly new (or recent) development - both in terms of retail, as well as residential homes and neighborhoods. If you are looking for "bang for you buck" per square foot in a newer home, this is the place to look. For many, it lacks the "authenticity" or "real Albuquerque vibe" that other areas of the town have - and I don't necessarily disagree (I prefer the NE in a perfect world) - however, I likely would buy here due to all of the younger families that reside here. It has its pluses and minuses - big pluses are the home sizes / ages for their dollar. Minuses involve less established infrastructure (eg: more traffic) and maybe less of an authentic "feel".

Rio Rancho is a popular, rapidly growing suburb on ABQ's northwest side, and if you'd consider ABQ's NW side, you probably should throw Rio Rancho in that mix, too, as RR is in feel largely an extension of ABQ's NW side.

The North Valley is one of the nicest parts of ABQ...by the Rio Grande. Hotter on summer days and cooler on winter nights due to being in the valley. More "green" than most of ABQ due to its proximity by the river. The nice areas of the Valley are some of the pricier areas, but if you can fit the area in your budget, say, Osuna Rd. or Rio Grande Blvd. in the Valley, it has its real pluses - one of which is being so central in the city to everything. It has a similar urban/suburban kind of mixed vibe that the Northeast Heights has.

The Nob Hill/UNM/Downtown areas I noted zip-wise are more what you'd associate with a more classically "walking friendly" or "younger" or more "hip" area of the city...definitely quite urban. This is the place you'll find more nightlife, more music, more revelry. Lots of authentic and unique shopping. There are some quite affluent areas in this area as well, typically more liberal-leaning folks. There are some beautiful green, wooded areas in these neighborhoods, too, that seem again somewhat unlike the remainder of the desert city. To me, this was a great place to visit (but preferred living in the NE Heights), but to others on the board they wouldn't live anywhere else if they had the choice.

Probably the areas you'd want to stay clear of as a newcomer coming in would be the 1. Southwest, 2. most of the Southeast (except for pockets that would include areas like the affluent Four Hills area in far Southeast ABQ - lots of trees and the like - and anything on Tramway Blvd. & east), and 3. some of the Northwest that is closer to I-40.

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I hope this helps you. If you have follow up questions, feel free to shoot. Partially it would be akin to where you'll be working, if you want more "city" or more "home with yard", etc.

Originally Posted by MariahViva

Any other advice?

Well, if you gave me more specifics, I could hopefully give better thoughts (I hate to call it advice, as I am certainly not smart enough to be advising anyone. I hope this helped though for now!).

I just encourage you to come to ABQ realizing that it is HIGH DESERT, and that it is more blue sky/orange sunet/cacti/fruit trees, etc., than you'll see "tons of lakes and rivers and greenery".

ABQ tends to be a polarizing place - folks (like me), either necessarily, or for some, just just miss "back home" with cold, lakes, rivers, greenery, etc.

I spectacularly love ABQ and can't wait to see it again, however, do not believe that EVERYONE feels the same way; some are turned off by the culture and landscape.