Clovis vs Portales (Roswell, Ruidoso, Taos: hotel, public schools, university)

[New West 2020]

Originally Posted by Shelsi

Ok as someone who arrived here several months ago from D.C (which I admit we all hated) you really need to be prepared for the culture shock and the lack of things to do or places to shop. Compared to D.C there is nothing to do here especially if you have kids. However on the upswing the COL is boat loads cheaper here. We bought a new construction house in NE Clovis. The same house would have cost at least $600K in Northern VA.

Someone tried to warn me about the lack of amenities here but I'd lived in small towns before so I thought I knew what I was getting into. This place is like no place I've ever lived before. It's pretty closed minded, esp compared to a place like D.C, and the only place to shop is Walmart. The BX on base is being renovated but it's really small as is the commissary. This is supposed to be a kid friendly place yet there are no classes through parks and rec, there aren't really any kid group type things, and there's not even an ice cream place except for DQ. Oh and no kid's clothing stores, shoe stores, or toy stores except in Walmart.

Shelsi, Yes we know about culture shock. We do most of our big shopping uin Lubbock, hit a restaurant or a concert or a game and go for the day or spend the night. Remember from Portales is 30 minutes faster to Lubbock on Highway 202 and you do not need to drive through Texico.

We did find a bunch of gifty and women's clothing stores in downtown Portales, but nobody advertises very well. For example, both Valley Furniture and Radio Shack in Portales sell appliances@?!, there is a really nice toy section and cute kids clothes plus western jewelry and cheap blue jeans at Creightons Feed Store across from Cattle Barron (where you can also buy pet carriers and food), and ENMU has a free concert every month but does not advertise (you have to have a brochure or log on). Shoe shines? RG Western Wear next to Vine's Italian in downtown Portales. TJ Maxx style household decor? Noplace Else on Main Street in Portales. Gourmet kitchen gadgets are at True Value Hardware - you get the drill.....

[New West 2020]

The new Vine's Italian Restaurant in downtown Portales finally ROCKS! They are really getting the food down. Can't wait until they have wine, which they say will be soon. Also note that the Dawg Houze Pub just got a real disco setup with digital lights and trance music on a big new dance floor. Makes Kelly's in Clovis look like a scene from Deliverance.

[Fickle]

Just tried out Vines tonight. It was alright. I did not like the speg. w/ meatball. Something just tasted alittle odd.

No worries tho! I will be going back to give it another chance

[Debbiefos]

Originally Posted by Shelsi

Yes we live right next to the base housing in NE Clovis, where all the new construction is. I feel safe here, everyone is pretty friendly. If you have kids in elementary school it's an easy walk to school and back every day. Mesa is supposed to be the best school here but we haven't been happy with it and will be pulling our son out come Christmas. We're just going to home school him until we move again in a few years.

Be careful in that housing not to leave any items outside for too long or definitely not overnight. My son's brand new scooter was taken right off of our porch. That can happen anywhere, I know. Just be aware that our street has had issues, we back up right on the new construction.

[Shelsi]

Originally Posted by Debbiefos

Be careful in that housing not to leave any items outside for too long or definitely not overnight. My son's brand new scooter was taken right off of our porch. That can happen anywhere, I know. Just be aware that our street has had issues, we back up right on the new construction.

Yeah my husband's car keeps getting egged which is a pain in the butt. Other than that though we haven't had any issues.

[Fickle]

We live in 801 and havent had any issues with anything being stolen. We have left powerwheels and all sorts of stuff outside.... however our home isnt backed up next to Norris.

Mesa is not the best school ever... its the best out of the schools in the area. I think that when the military sends a family to a state that isnt in the top half (25 and down) in the rankings for education.. then we should get extra money to send our kids to private schools.

[Shelsi]

Originally Posted by Fickle

We live in 801 and havent had any issues with anything being stolen. We have left powerwheels and all sorts of stuff outside.... however our home isnt backed up next to Norris.

Mesa is not the best school ever... its the best out of the schools in the area. I think that when the military sends a family to a state that isnt in the top half (25 and down) in the rankings for education.. then we should get extra money to send our kids to private schools.

Not that that would help much around here. We don't exactly have a plethora of choices of private schools.

[New West 2020]

Your scooter will not disappear in Portales unless the wind is over 50 mph, then the neighbor will bring it back in the morning. But if you leave more than three items out in Portales on a Friday night you will have 20 people standing in front of your house at 6 AM on a saturday waiting for a yard sale.

[clairz]

Originally Posted by New West 2020

Your scooter will not disappear in Portales unless the wind is over 50 mph, then the neighbor will bring it back in the morning. But if you leave more than three items out in Portales on a Friday night you will have 20 people standing in front of your house at 6 AM on a saturday waiting for a yard sale.

New West, you may have summed up the whole discussion with this post! I wonder if it is as funny to people who haven't lived in either town? Clovis sure did leave its mark on me...

~clairz

[Debbiefos]

I think it's only really bad in the summer when the school's are out, boredom hits. It happened at our last base too!