Moving to El Paso: East or West side? (Austin, Denton: how much, new home)

[Xpat]

Hi everyone,
We've looked through many of your previous postings and found lots of valuable info but not sure how much of it is applicable to our situation:

We're thinking of moving back to El Paso after living there nearly 18 years ago and wanted to pick your brains on the perrenial question: east or west, and which neighborhood?

Our situation: married couple, no kids. Not big drinkers but like to have a good time, vegetarians, enjoy the great outdoors, yoga, climbing, skiing, one musician looking for small venues to play, one a physical therapist looking for a good job, not big shoppers, prefer to be close to cultural events, interesting and diverse people, and good ethnic restaurants.

Thanks!

XP

[Muhnay]

Well after reading your post, it sounds nothing like El Paso, and you would be miserable here. Thats just based off what you had to say in your post.

I would like to know why you exclude North East El Paso from your options? If its been 18 years since you last seen this area, your in for a shock. NE El Paso has some very nice new homes in good areas, you would be closer to US 54 ( the road that goes to Ski Apache ) Not many Vegan shopping here, Heck I don't know of any specialty shops that would cater to your Vegetarian life style... but I guess it can be done.. just not as easy as other metro areas.

When you say ethnic, you mean Mexican food? Plenty of that here, if your looking for a more exotic type, good luck. Diverse people.. nope don't have that either.. mainly Hispanic. Interesting humm in what way? Like the naked guy in ABQ NM, who has a cable access show, and drinks his own pee?

I am not trying to discourage you.. but I don't think El Paso meets your criteria in your post. If you come back, Welcome back.. if you move on to something else Good Luck.

[Phixius]

While I agree with a lot of points Muhnay made, though I sort of assume with Xpat already lived here for some point, he/she may already has a general idea of what to anticipate. I would assume for their own nostalgic reasons, much like how I am seeking to leave EP being someone raised with much greener landscape and large bodies of water.

From what Xpat described, the westside immediately comes to mind. I currently reside in the developing far eastside but am always traveling to the westside to meet friends and find something to do. It almost reminds me of Austin, there are a number of good restaurants and of course you have that college town atmosphere around Mesa Street. Not to mention it's just more aesthetically appealing to see the Franklin mountains in close range and the feeling of being well established, whereas the eastside is relatively flat and may not have much that would appeal to your interests. If El Paso is where you'd like be, best of luck with your relocation plans.

[malamute]

Well -- XPat -- what do you remember of El Paso from 18 years ago? El Paso has become considerably less diverse and less great outdoors in 18 years. Most Mexican restaurants use lard so they don't work for true vegetarians.

[mistabinks]

For the reasons you mentioned, I would say the west side is for you. There are so many great events going on downtown, at UTEP, and is southern New Mexico, that I think the west side would work slightly better.

I recently made a new friend through a co worker and I was surprised to learn about all the camping and fishing that is readily available around the El Paso area. There are quite a few more gyms now here and most offer yoga classes.

Also, for smaller clubs and places to play, I think the west side also works because of all the bars and clubs there in a concentrated area.

I don't think El Paso is more diverse or less diverse than it was 18 years ago. The big difference is that instead of someone being 100% white or 100% Hispanic, everyone is half this and half that. I think El Paso is far more progressive in that aspect than the rest of the country.

[Muhnay]

Originally Posted by mistabinks

I don't think El Paso is more diverse or less diverse than it was 18 years ago. The big difference is that instead of someone being 100% white or 100% Hispanic, everyone is half this and half that. I think El Paso is far more progressive in that aspect than the rest of the country.

I just wanted to say that I disagree with this statement.

Again I am not trying to discourage you.. But memories of EL Paso 18 years ago, will be miss leading in what El Paso is today. Also with so many military coming here.. El Paso will be having some major growing pains.. and competition will be fierce here for a few years job wise, even more so with the economy. But like I aid before.. if you decide to come back to El Paso.. Welcome back.. if not, then good luck where ever you end up.

[Xpat]

Thanks for all of the input so far. We were already thinking about the west side but wanted to give the east side a fair chance (if we come to El Paso). We're both from AZ/NM so we actually feel more at home in desert environments

We remember are lots of nice unpretentious people, good live music, skiing in Cloudroft, climbing and hiking in the Organ mountains, Franklins, Hueco Tanks, Guadelupe NP, 10K races, UTEP basketball, Florida cafe in Juraez, Aceitunas, lots of great Mexican, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, and Thai food, the cool places near UTEP, low prices, and a laid back way of life. Is it so different now?

As for the vegetarian thing - if there are grocery stores with half-decent produce sections, we'll be fine. Albertson's usually has everything we need.

We heard the Army is sending thousands more people to Fort Bliss but this should help the local economy grow and create more jobs.

[WildWestDude]

more info on westside:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/el-pa...2-79912-2.html


I think it is just easier for newcomers to adjust in the westside.

[ocean2026]

Xpat I moved away for 22 years and will eventually live back in El Paso part-time -the rest on the ocean i Rockport. I think Mistabanks has it right. There is less animosity if any between ethnicities here than in the other parts of Texas I have lived. That included the Valley (worst), Denton, Cuero, and Hereford. In El Paso I believe people except for the most racist don't even think about what percentage white or hispanic one is. People do vote along ethnic lines somewhat but thats true everywhere.

The west side has a vegetarian buffet which has non veg dishes but I love it - Its near sun bowl on Mesa.

When I move back it will probalby be Sunset Heights or West-Central - they are my favorite areas.

I chaired El Paso's Federally funded Community Development committee for 5 year in the 80's and got to know the town well.

Asarco if it opens again would be a westside negative- I along with 24 neighborhood groups etc won a trial over pollution against them in the 1980- they had a real attitude in court - especially as the trial dragged on and the media lost interest. They really looked down their noses at the people who had to breathe their garbage.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by Xpat

Thanks for all of the input so far. We were already thinking about the west side but wanted to give the east side a fair chance (if we come to El Paso). We're both from AZ/NM so we actually feel more at home in desert environments

We remember are lots of nice unpretentious people, good live music, skiing in Cloudroft, climbing and hiking in the Organ mountains, Franklins, Hueco Tanks, Guadelupe NP, 10K races, UTEP basketball, Florida cafe in Juraez, Aceitunas, lots of great Mexican, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, and Thai food, the cool places near UTEP, low prices, and a laid back way of life. Is it so different now?

As for the vegetarian thing - if there are grocery stores with half-decent produce sections, we'll be fine. Albertson's usually has everything we need.

We heard the Army is sending thousands more people to Fort Bliss but this should help the local economy grow and create more jobs.

It's too bad that Cloudcroft rarely has a good ski season, despite its elevation, and pretty much the same goes for Ski Apache. They both had good seasons in 2006, but in most years, conditions can be pretty poor.

We used to ski Ruidoso in the late 1970s, early 80s. They had much better and more frequent snow then than they do these days. I guess it's because they are both so far south.

I hope this season is good, but....with lift tickets in the $50 range at Ski Apache, it's not really worth going unless conditions are just really good. A season pass is a good bargain if there are enough decent skiable days to make it worthwhile.

It's been one of my biggest disappointments for this area (Alamogordo). Otherwise, it's just a really great place.