ABQ or Tacoma (comparison, places, population, life)

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by dpgtfc

I would love some opinions

Go to Tacoma...



Rich

[dpgtfc]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

Go to Tacoma...

Ok, You convinced me with your eloquent list of pros and cons.

[WasSoggyInSeattle]

Just moved to ABQ from the Seattle area in Sept 2008. Yep, can't beat the seafood or the scenery. Cost of living is out of control there - probably better in Tacoma than Seattle but still outrageous. $61K isn't going to get you a lot up there... Outdoor activities - yep lots of that too - but you better enjoy doing it in the rain and with 3.5 million of your closest buddies; unless you drive for 2-3+ hours to get to Western Washington, the dry side. We were there for 15 years and honestly the weather didn't bother us for about the first 12... then it got old!!! Unless you enjoy camping/cooking/eating/hiking/mowing etc in the rain (an all day drizzle, not the come-in-rain-hard-for-an-hour-and-leave kind of rain) you won't get to truly appreciate all that the PNW has to offer except for about 2 months a year and then, again, there are 3.5 million (plus the tourists) that are trying to enjoy those sunny spots too. Water activities - one word (ok, two) FREAKIN' COLD!!! You'll have to invest in a wet and/or dry suit if you plan on enjoying the vast amounts of water in the Sea-Tac area. Except for MAYBE in August... I'm not kidding, everyone that water skies has wet/dry suits. Water temp is around 50-60 degrees, colder in the Sound. Some of the shallower lakes get a bit warmer but not alot. 15 years there and I got wet once... well Lake Stevens north of Seattle isn't too bad in August. Don't get me wrong. My husband & I LOVED the PNW. The seafood is amazing, scenery is the most beautiful I've seen even in the rain. But it is seriously grey, cold, wet and expensive up there. We moved to get closer to family and to see some sunshine & warmer weather. I think there is just as much outdoor activities to do here in the ABQ area as there are in the PNW -- hiking, biking, skiing, water skiing (just a few hours drive south and you won't have to wear a wet suit to enjoy it), camping, rock climbing, off-roading, etc. Everything you can do in the PNW you can do within minutes of ABQ (other than the water skiing maybe) and you get to do it all in the sunshine!!!! You have to do what is best for you and your wife and your future. I absolutely do not regret our 15 years spent in PNW, we saw & did a lot but I am so very, very happy to be here, out of seemingly never-ending damp, cold weather. I wouldn't base my decision on volcanoes/earthquakes though (but don't move to the town of Orting!!!) but that's just me. If you are in IT you will probably find more opps for jobs there though... something to consider. Good luck on your decision.

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by dpgtfc

Ok, You convinced me with your eloquent list of pros and cons.

I wasn't trying to convince you. You asked for an opinion, I gave you my opinion. You have to make your own decision. I'm not going to waste my time listing pro's and con's. I could care less where you go....



Rich

[dpgtfc]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

I wasn't trying to convince you. You asked for an opinion, I gave you my opinion. You have to make your own decision. I'm not going to waste my time listing pro's and con's. I could care less where you go....



Rich

I didn't want opinions, I wanted pros and cons. If you can't bother doing that you don't have to post. This isn't a poll.

Simply saying "Go to Tacoma" does nothing to convince me nor my wife and contributes nothing.

I do want to thank those that have actually given good reasons to stay in ABQ. Don't think I am ignoring them. Their posts are swaying my decision. Yours.. not so much.

[hopeful transplant]

I'm hoping that sometimes things written on this forum 'get lost in the translation' and are meant differently than how we read them.

[jghoo]

I moved from Tacoma a little over a year ago. I moved specifically for the weather. If you decide to move here do it for the weather. the things that WasSoggyInSeattle said are true to a T. Culturally The Seattle area is so much more evolved. The sun, laid back southwest feel and outdoor lifestyle one can live here are the only things keeping me here after a yr. Housing here is very affordable. Groceries are very expensive compared to the Puget Sound. I feel eating out here is a little over priced given the local fare. Santa Fe is only 45 minutes from ABQ. There is a very small middle class in ABQ.
Tacoma is the bastard stepchild to Seattle. If you like sailing you will love Tacoma. Vancouver BC is 3 hrs +- away. Portland, or is 2.5hrs away. Both Portland and Seattle are great restaurant cities.

Also if it matters you may wish to compare stats such as literacy, poverty, teen pregnancy, drunk driving, gang population, and well you know all the ugly truth type stats as all of these can impact perceived if not actual quality of life

There is no such thing as New Mexican cuisine, there is only Mexican food with green chile dumped on top.


This is just a rambling, however there may be a tidbit somewhere.


Best wishes

[loborick]

Originally Posted by jghoo

I moved from Tacoma a little over a year ago. I moved specifically for the weather. If you decide to move here do it for the weather. the things that WasSoggyInSeattle said are true to a T. Culturally The Seattle area is so much more evolved. The sun, laid back southwest feel and outdoor lifestyle one can live here are the only things keeping me here after a yr. Housing here is very affordable. Groceries are very expensive compared to the Puget Sound. I feel eating out here is a little over priced given the local fare. Santa Fe is only 45 minutes from ABQ. There is a very small middle class in ABQ.
Tacoma is the bastard stepchild to Seattle. If you like sailing you will love Tacoma. Vancouver BC is 3 hrs +- away. Portland, or is 2.5hrs away. Both Portland and Seattle are great restaurant cities.

Also if it matters you may wish to compare stats such as literacy, poverty, teen pregnancy, drunk driving, gang population, and well you know all the ugly truth type stats as all of these can impact perceived if not actual quality of life

There is no such thing as New Mexican cuisine, there is only Mexican food with green chile dumped on top.


This is just a rambling, however there may be a tidbit somewhere.


Best wishes

You've lived here for a year and don't know the difference between Mexican and New Mexican food? Your posts do nothing but knock Albuquerque. If you don't like it there, why live there? And if you don't appreciate New Mexican food, don't say anything about it.

[jghoo]

Originally Posted by loborick

You've lived here for a year and don't know the difference between Mexican and New Mexican food? Your posts do nothing but knock Albuquerque. If you don't like it there, why live there? And if you don't appreciate New Mexican food, don't say anything about it.

There are people who have been here 20yrs and cant tell anyappreciable difference between mexican and new mexican food. Yea ok frito pie yup thats in gourmet mag every other month isnt it. Every place has good and bad. the inability to recognize this fact is ignorant at best. Kinda like "yea I know my dog farts all the time but i love him anyway" Here however its sc**w you my dog dont stink it must be you". The shouts are always the same texas hillbilly mentality "if you dont like it leave", never acknowledging that some of the complaints might be true. Much like the rabid sports fan that continues to blindly brag up a team that hasnt had a winning season in 20+yrs.


For the record I wouldn't be the 1st person to be confused by the vague difference between mexican and "new mexican "cuisine".



PS I'm illiterate so don't bother dogging out on my poor punctuation and or spelling, this being the Pinnacle or "triple dog dare" of forum put-downs.





Cheers

[observe]

Originally Posted by jghoo

I moved from Tacoma a little over a year ago. I moved specifically for the weather. If you decide to move here do it for the weather. the things that WasSoggyInSeattle said are true to a T. Culturally The Seattle area is so much more evolved. The sun, laid back southwest feel and outdoor lifestyle one can live here are the only things keeping me here after a yr. Housing here is very affordable. Groceries are very expensive compared to the Puget Sound. I feel eating out here is a little over priced given the local fare. Santa Fe is only 45 minutes from ABQ. There is a very small middle class in ABQ.
Tacoma is the bastard stepchild to Seattle. If you like sailing you will love Tacoma. Vancouver BC is 3 hrs +- away. Portland, or is 2.5hrs away. Both Portland and Seattle are great restaurant cities.

Also if it matters you may wish to compare stats such as literacy, poverty, teen pregnancy, drunk driving, gang population, and well you know all the ugly truth type stats as all of these can impact perceived if not actual quality of life

There is no such thing as New Mexican cuisine, there is only Mexican food with green chile dumped on top.


This is just a rambling, however there may be a tidbit somewhere.


Best wishes

What the!!! The literacy, poverty, teen pregnancy and military population that have to live off of food stamps because of the cost of living in Tacoma!
is all true.........That is what you meant right?

I see your culinary expertise is lacking when it comes to telling the difference between New Mexican Cuisine & Mexican Cuisine..........as they are very different if you take the time to pay attention to your plate & taste buds!!!

Also may I add thet the PNW has one of the HIGHEST suicide rates in the Nation!