moving to Hobbs from UK (Roswell, Carlsbad: credit, gated, apartment complex)

[lesleyw]

Hi there was recommended this site by a friend so here goes. I a moving from a big city in the Uk to Hobbs NM next year with my husband and son (6) can anyone tell me what to expect? I have been told so much that I cannot believe its true (mostly bad) I have been told that I will be targeted, robbed and ostracised by the people. I find it very hard to believe. Can someone put me straight?

Thanks

[BrianH]

Hey Lesley, youll find that there are allot of negative people towards New Mexico. I moved here (not Hobbs) from Ireland give years ago and love it.

[6/3]

Originally Posted by lesleyw

Hi there was recommended this site by a friend so here goes. I a moving from a big city in the Uk to Hobbs NM next year with my husband and son (6) can anyone tell me what to expect? I have been told so much that I cannot believe its true (mostly bad) I have been told that I will be targeted, robbed and ostracised by the people. I find it very hard to believe. Can someone put me straight?

Thanks

Hi Lesley......Crime can happen anywhere here in NM or any of the 50 States infact i feel very confident that you will not be Targeted because your from the U.K. I have no idea why someone would say something like that but please do not believe that.

Hobbs is the oil capital in New Mexico as oil at 100 dollars at barrel so its booming in that whole Eastern NM and West Texas region.

Its population is close to 40,000 and from what i hear they are building new housing and retail establishments like crazy as the oil is driving money and people into the area.

Again relax about being targeted as i've never heard about that before.....

6/3

[lesleyw]

ahh thank you I think some people are just trying to worry me! Thanks for giving me some piece of mind. Crime I am use to (I come from Liverpool) but I can now relax and enjoy the experience. Again thank you both

[Goodpasture]

I lived in Hobbs for several years a couple of decades ago. It is a VERY pleasant town. But expect some differences from where you are now. First of all, it is in the middle of the largest forest in North America......unfortunately the trees are Mesquite and are about 5' tall. It is 70 miles or so to the nearest running water (the Pecos River in Carlsbad) except for a small lake between Hobbs and Lovington. There is very little rain in the area, and you should expect over 350 days of sun a year. Although Hobbs has very little rain, it is in a large flood plain.....the town was built in a slight depression on the caprock and when it rains, there is no where for the water to go. It will snow perhaps half an inch every winter. When you get half an inch of snow the schools will shut down and businesses will not open. It will get cold in the winter and hot in the summer. It will be windy most the time. The city water tastes bad (VERY hard water) so plan on getting an RO system or buying water from the stores. Hobbs schools are pretty good, there was (is?) a Junior College north of town as well as an accredited private college (at least there used to be). As I recall it offered degrees in nursing, teaching, and business. The people are VERY friendly and you will find people speak politely and men will hold doors open and no one ever meets a stranger. When oil is hot, Hobbs is booming. When oil fails (like it did in the 80's when I left) Hobbs becomes a ghost town. I recall a bumper sticker from 1985 that said "Last one in Hobbs, turn off the lights."

For big city attributes (and there really aren't any big cities out there) you have the Midland/Odessa area to the south, Lubbock to the north east, Roswell to the north west, and nothing to the north. 20 miles south of Carlsbad (the next town over to the west....and that is 70 miles away) are Carlsbad Caverns. West of Roswell (two hours NW of Hobbs) is Ruidosa where there are mountains, snow skiing, horse racing, camping and fishing. In the Ruidosa area you will find Capitan Mountain, home of Smoky the Bear, the town of Lincoln where Billy the Kid made his name, and the Inn of the Mountain Gods, a casino and hotel destination resort run by the Mescalero Apache.

Coming from the UK, you are going to be shocked by the distances in that part of the country. You will get used to it. Driving 90 miles (one way) for lunch will become normal for you.

I like that country. I would consider moving back (I currently live in Oklahoma). You will NEVER see prettier sunsets and sunrises. You will find friends you never knew you had. You will be overwhelmed with friendliness. If you like sky diving, hot air balloons, or gliders, you will want to retire there.

[BrianH]

Your wheels on your car will be safe in Hobbs lesley! :P

[lesleyw]

angels! thank you SO Much!!! Ahhhh Brian the reputation for car wheels is world renound then??? Thank you so much for this information I am sitting here smiling (and laughings at Brian's comments) I am really getting excited now - husband doesnt know where this new enthusiasm has come from - my secret!!!! Obviously I have been seriously mislead, thanks.

[BrianH]

Let us know how you get on when youre here.

[KWeiss]

I manage two apartment complexes in Hobbs, so my comments may appear to be a sales pitch. But as someone previously mentioned, there is a "boom" going on and rental property does not require much selling at this time.

We moved to Hobbs in 1994. All three of my daughters were born here and the people are friendly and children are treated like a treasure by this community. Yes it is boring and not very cultured, but if you are grown up and your priorities have shifted to your kids, then it is not so bad.

I don't love this place...don't get me wrong. I had to obtain my Master's degree online because the local college is private and out of my price range. But thanks to you people moving in, we are getting better wine selections and the only thing holding back better restaurants and retail is the lack of workers. (alot of people are on methamphetamines...this is another true rumor) Then the cost of living perpetuates this cycle by edging out those who work for $6 per hour or whatever. In addition to managing apartments I teach at the Junior College and this is a state of the art facility as far as community colleges.

My husband is a cop so I will give you the skinny on crime here. It is bad...don't let anyone tell you any different. However, we are in a kind of a time warp in that much of the crime is segregated by geography. Check with a local before you rent or buy...and not someone like me who has something to gain. (but you will be in the safest complex and most desirable school district if you move in with me Summerwind Terrace Townhomes - Main)

Snobbery will get you unfriendly treatment...without a doubt. However, if you have an open mind, it does not matter from what country you hail or what color skin you have. They do prefer protestant Bible thumpers here, but it really is not that extreme. Even people who don't go to church are not ostracized. I think the other forums about Hobbs include those imported people who are hangin with the wrong Hobbsans.

[all2humanuk]

Coming from the UK myself if there's one thing I could mention it'd be say goodbye to green say hola to brown. That was the thing that took some adjusting to. The surroundings in New Mexico are beautiful but very alien to a Brit and you will probably feel a million miles from home for a while. I used to drive down to Stahmann Farms (Pecan Groves near LC) just to see green trees.

I don't know Hobbs all that well but in IMO New Mexico is a fantastic place so give it some time and I'm sure you'll come to love your new home.