Are New Mexicans friendly? (Las Cruces, Santa Fe: buy, school districts, landlord)

[Livin'inRio]

Originally Posted by lukeache

I was wondering if people especially from out of state find New Mexicans generally speaking to be friendly people? I lived in Albuquerque for some time and I have always found most New Mexicans to be quite nice, I would say maybe more laid-back than super nice but still nice. Last time I was in Espanola, I just found most people to be very nice, even though I hear so many negative things about Espanola. Can anybody describe good or maybe not so good experiences dealing with New Mexicans especially in the smaller towns? Thanks!

I lived in Northern New Mexico for over 20 years and found the people to be pretty friendly, of course there were some that weren't friendly at all. But for the most part, most people I encounter were usually very friendly and helpful.

I moved to Rio Rancho 3 1/2 years ago and I can honestly say that the people in this city can be rather rude and unfriendly. There are a few that are friendly however, but for the most part you will not find many who are. I have lived in the same neighborhood for the 3 1/2 years and as of yet only know the names of 2 families in my neighborhood. Some of the residents in the neighborhood wave when passing by, but most do not. When out in public most people tend to look at you awakward, do not smile. I have smiled at people when passing them by in stores and streets and for the most part they will simply give dirty looks or just keep walking. Strange how people can be. No one is asking them to become their best friends or anything like that, just simply trying to be friendly, but I am sure other cities have the same problem. If you are looking for friendlier people then Albuquerque would be your best bet over Rio Rancho. Its sad to have to say this, but that's just the way the world is I guess.

[LLD]

but for the most part you will not find many who are.

my experience is exactly the opposite... I have lived in RR for a little over three years and have found most everyone to be friendly.

[desert sun]

I think Rio Rancho residents are somewhat friendly,I've never had a problem or came across a rude person here and Albuquerque people are just as friendly,I agree with the others that said people are more laid back ,I am one of them,I mind my business and keep to myself and if someone greets me I say hi,I am very respectful to others and you usually get that in return.

[iron man]

Gee, I always thought that "a friendly place is determined by the very first words out of your mouth", no matter where you go.

[cmogo]

New Mexicans are friendly. They are polite, helpful, and respectful. Do they go out of their way to be nauseatingly friendly? No, but they follow the Golden Rule- Treat others the way you want to be treated. Keep in mind that just because someone isn't friendly at a specific moment, doesn't make them an unfriendly person. Everyone has a rough day now and then no matter where one lives. We can't always be perky. BTW if you are looking for an overly friendly community, I know of one in North Texas.

[TaraMoon]

I have lived in large cities in California where you don't even know your neighbors and a small town in Wisconsin where everyone says hi to you and will stop to help you if your car gets stuck and it's 20 below zero. It would seem that the latter is preferable (and I guess it is), but the small town mentality also includes the spreading of vile rumors for sport and the ostracizing of anyone who isn't just like them. Yes, they still say "Hi" to people they ostracize. It's a small-town peculiarity.

I, too, am considering moving to New Mexico. I can empathize with the person who wonders whether New Mexicans are friendly, but I think the term means different things to different people. To me, friendly means people exchanging greetings with me, exchanges of small-talk in stores, new neighbors welcoming me to the neighborhood, being pretty sure someone will help me rather than rob me if my car breaks down, and neighbors offering to help hold the ladder if they see me climbing up on my roof to fix something. It goes without saying that friendly means a willingness to help in an emergency. An excess of "friendliness" is nosy neighbors and people trying to convert me to their religion.

So where, in New Mexico, might someone find a happy medium?

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by TaraMoon

To me, friendly means people exchanging greetings with me, exchanges of small-talk in stores, new neighbors welcoming me to the neighborhood, being pretty sure someone will help me rather than rob me if my car breaks down, and neighbors offering to help hold the ladder if they see me climbing up on my roof to fix something. It goes without saying that friendly means a willingness to help in an emergency. An excess of "friendliness" is nosy neighbors and people trying to convert me to their religion.

So where, in New Mexico, might someone find a happy medium?

Well you can find that anywhere in NM as i really beleive most places are friendly as it's a very laidback state. Although i personally find those in the Eastern part of the state to be very helping in as you ask for people to help out in a broken down vehicle or having a fundraiser for someone who lost their employment do to layoff or illness etc....

Best wishes on your search.....6/3

[catman]

6'3" : Which locations in eastern NM are you speaking of, or is it just in general?

My impression is that there are friendle and unfriendly people everywhere.

[6 FOOT 3]

Originally Posted by catman

6'3" : Which locations in eastern NM are you speaking of, or is it just in general?

My impression is that there are friendle and unfriendly people everywhere.

Of course there's friendly and unfriendly people but certain places especially the small towns in my experience the ''Folk'' are just real friendly and down to earth. Places like Mayhill, Weed, Sacramento, Timberon, Capitan also Lake Arthur, Hagerman, Dexter also Melrose, Texico, Portales and Estancia, Moriarity and Springer, Roy, Tucumcari, Clovis and Alamogordo are some of the towns in the eastern part that i'm more familiar with that have that Y'all accent and if your vehicle breaks down someone will stop and assist or have a fundraiser if you lose your job so you can pay your bills etc...type of mentality.

[Brantacanadensis]

Originally Posted by KimK

Why do you wonder? I find this type of questioning perplexing. You do not live in New Mexico. You yourself report having had dealings with friendly people. If I tell you that I just met a real nice New Mexican who recently opened a gas station in Orogrande, New Mexico, what does that mean to you? She is friendly. My real estate agent in Magdalena, New Mexico has always been friendly to me. The guy who delivers propane to my house which is not in any town in New Mexico is friendly. I don't mean to be flip or sarcastic but what is it you really want to know and why do you want to know it? Isn't there friendly and non-friendly people everywhere in the world? And, doesn't their being friendly have a lot to do with my attitude?

I'd like to shed some light on this perplexing entry. LukAche lives in the Twin Cities area, as do I. (I started looking at this New Mexico site since I am interested in relocating to Santa Fe.) I don't know this Luk person, but I am curious if he is not from Minnesota. Minnesota has a notorious reputation for not being a friendly place (read our ongoing blogs in the Minneapolis section.) If Luk is thinking of getting out, perhaps he is afraid he may encounter the same kind on unfriendliness elsewhere. Frankly, I am pretty open to other areas. I'm a native Easterner (Delaware) and never wonder if people are friendly, or this or that, in another state. Minnesotans, by nature it seems, are afraid to try something new, some other place to visit, because to them "there is no place like home and it is the best state in the nation." I've heard many say, "oh, we're tired of the weather here, but what happens if we move and don't like it there?" This is usually said in a very whiny, sing songy voice, indigenous to the area. Minnesotans are afraid of new people, new places. They cringe when having to interact with "outsiders" in the Twin Cities now, putting up their imaginary walls during conversation. When I first arrived here, 13 long years ago, with a slightly southern accent and darker skin due to my Italian ethnicity, well then, I knew what it felt like to be Black, Hispanic, or Native American. Maybe, Luk was also wondering if the friendliness of people in the Santa Fe area, or New Mexico area, extends beyond the workplace or other places where you interact with people. In other words, do you form relationships beyond the office cube, beyond your neighborhood? Are you invited into a home to get to know someone, over for a meal to get to know a neighbor or co-worker? Are you able to become part of someone's social network or group, that was formed some years ago, allowing room for new members into your life and group, perhaps to form lifelong relationships? That is not the case in Minneapolis and its environs. People here have their friends from middle school (the saying goes) and their family members. They are set for life with relationships. They don't need to make new friends, and maintain those relationships for the rest of their lives. People from Minnesota think they're the nicest people around (they call it Minnesota Nice; it has been noted by "outsiders" as Minnesota Ice, and we're not referring to the weather here). But, they are standoffish (see recent Minneapolis posts) and will talk to you, while holding their front door, through the crack. Perhaps this Luk person wants to know if the friendship is genuinely friendly, or of a very passive-aggressive nature, as in the Twin Cities. Frankly, I would like to know, too.