What do you love/hate about New Mexico? (Albuquerque, Las Cruces: mortgage, attorney)

[dancind]

I've lived in Albuquerque since 1970, currently in the foothills of the Sandias. In that time, it has doubled in size. We are looking to relocate, but have no idea where we will go. Here are my pros and cons.

For us, the good:
1) Beautiful skies, beautiful scenery, beautiful weather. No hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes. We do get some bad thunderstorms and a bit of snow that rarely sticks for longer than two hours. The air is clean and so is the water.
2) Yes, the food. And the selection of grocery stores and restaurants. We recently got a Trader Joes!
3) I had to retire a couple of years ago due to health issues, my income is now supplemented by dealing in vintage clothing and textiles. They are found here in wonderful condition, low humidity has preserved them.
4) If you can avoid rush hour, traffic is not bad. The recent installation of cameras at traffic lights has really helped safety around here too.
5) The schools are hit and miss, but the State has a good Charter school program. My daughter is able to attend a small Performing Arts high school that suits her needs very well.
6) Reasonable housing, insurance, taxes. We have been considering a move to FL and it makes me appreciate what we have here.

The Cons, for us:
1) NM is #48 on the list of the safest states to live in for 2006, only better than NV and LA. We have had a big increase in car theft and home invasion the last couple of years, so I'm pretty sure this is mostly Alb.
2) Higher education is lacking, there are no top 100 schools in NM. The lottery scholarship program is helpful, but it is only for NM schools.
3) I am over 50, and the dryness here has become a big problem for me. Not only does my skin constantly suffer, but my eyes hurt nearly all the time.
4) And the corker: the altitude here is the same as Denver. I have learned that I have a congenital heart condition that means I suffer from bouts of tachycardia at this altitude. When I am at sea level, I feel great. The altitude becomes a problem for many people as they get older.

So, that's a limited perspective. Allergies used to be a reason to move here, but now they are as bad as anywhere else. And water is going to be a major problem in coming years. I wish I knew the perfect place for us to live! My daughter would like to graduate from her high school (two years), and my husband is running the family business, so it will be a while before we can move. Hope I can last!

[Grantite]

Originally Posted by Towanda

What an unfortunate slam to conservatives, of which I am one.

If it is any consolation, I blamed conservativism when I got here, but have come to realize the NM has it's own brand of backward liberalism. I mean I usually call myself liberal, but after seeing how the democrats use liberalism and the democratic stands here, I went running to a friends business and announced that I am rapidly becoming a Republican.

It is the poor education, the expection of "the feds will fix it," more and more federal and other grants that don't get spent, or are administered by people who never had a chance to learn that they actually can improve their communities by having standards and holding people, even the kids, responsible that have turned me into a raving Libertarian overnight.

Ok, I have been a Libertarian before.

groaning in grants

[CannonballRun]

Loves:

nature and natural landscapes
mountainbiking
friendly people
open space
warm weather
laid back attitudes
architecture
night skies
quiet
lack of infrastructure, rural feel
mountains
adventure
central/south american feeling

hates:

stupid crime statistics that show how dangerous the state is
belonging to the US
the explosive sprawl
newbies try to develope and change NM to be more like their previous states
the new santa fe attitude and ostentatious homes
haggling over prices for goods and services
gangs
big city feel creeping into Albuquerque
cookie cutter homes
subdivisions
border patrol check points

[Music Junkie]

Originally Posted by newmex

DarkFoxFlerb!! The lack of pretension in NM is a blessing.

I agree but of course Nm has lots of pretension. Just look at Santa Fe and huge parts of ABQ and Rio Rancho. Even Las Cruces is getting in on the prententious acting along with Silver City. Parts of NM have no pretentions but the major cities certainly do have pretentions up the wazoo.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by CannonballRun

hates:

stupid crime statistics that show how dangerous the state is
belonging to the US
the explosive sprawl
newbies try to develope and change NM to be more like their previous states
the new santa fe attitude and ostentatious homes
haggling over prices for goods and services
gangs
big city feel creeping into Albuquerque
cookie cutter homes
subdivisions
border patrol check points

What the?!?!?!

[WLUTZ]

I was wondering about that myself.......

What the hell does that mean??

[Billygoat the Kid]

New Mexico does indeed seem to have a love/hate relationship with me. I was born and raised in Albuquerque, and moved back here from the L.A. area in 2003. I have also been to Denver, Phoenix, Miami, Las Vegas, Seattle and a few other American cities. Both have their positives and negatives.

However, there are things I love and things I absolutely HATE about NM. Here they are:

Things I Love About NM

1. Natural beauty. Like others before, geographically NM is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The vastness, the colors, the solitude and the way man is in touch with nature is found here like no other place on earth. CA and CO are on par with NM in this category, except in pure solitude where NM wins hands down.

2. The People. How can you not love New Mexicans? They are, for the most part, friendly and down to earth. Very spiritual, very open and hospitable. My family is all here too.

3. The food. Only in New Mexico can you get a blue corn green chile chicken enchilada for $7.50 that is to die for. Not even in L.A. can you find this kind of unique and delicious food.

4. Community. I grew up with the sense of a small town community. You can find it everywhere in NM. No one needs the fortune or 15 minutes of fame for them to do something good for the community. Just take a look at the Martinez family from the Trumbull neighborhood who appeared on "Extreme Makeover". We truly have a community like that.



Things I Hate About New Mexico

1. The culture. Yes, you read that right. The culture here sucks. Nowhere in the world have I ever met such mean, jealous, disgusting, uneducated dreks of society than in NM. Although the good outweigh the bad, this state is full of jerks. You have a nice house? We'll will burn it down? You have a nice car? We'll scratch it up. You make good money? We'll steal it. You are happy? We'll make sure you're miserable. You are good looking? We'll beat you up. Seems like every time I go out someone wants to either, a.) insult me b.) fight me, c.) shoot me, d.) all of the above. No where else, including gang ridden L.A. have I ever encountered such a bunch of disrespectful, self-hating lowlifes. From Española, to snooty Santa Fe, to redneck Valencia County to my own hometown of Albuquerque. WHAT IS IT WITH YOU PEOPLE??? Most of you are great, down home folks. But a great part of you are just jerks. Grow up and leave me alone for crying out loud. You want something, go and get it your damn self.

*Side note: As an example, I was going to a store in Alb. the other day to pick up a film and some milk. I walked into the the men's room and accidentally bumped into another dude. I said, "sorry". He said, "no problem." Then walked by and said, "Stupid **** maricón". Real class act there, buddy.

2. Gangs. They are everywhere. Whether you are hardcore or just some douchebag wannabe, you will find a little gangbanger in every corner of this state. You will see little vato Charlie in his $1,000 car with the financed rims that would have bought the high school dropout 2 years at CNM. Again, not even when I lived in L.A. did I experience a saturation of gang culture. It's a joke and it makes me sick. Instead of being nice and acting 'proper', they just wander around aimlessly looking for a fight. What a waste of air these subhumans are.

4. No Infrastructure/Attractions. Where are the concert halls (no, Tingley & Journal Pavilion do not count [Paulo Soleri DOES]), museums, pro sports teams, big parks, public transit system, corporate headquarters and police forces that all other cities have? Oh, that's right. They are in OTHER CITIES!!! Why we cannot retain Microsoft, lure a pro sports franchise and bring in NASCAR is beyond me. That's why we suffer financially. Which brings me to...

5. No money. Seriously, other than Mississippi, where in the U.S. can you find such a poverty stricken state? In NM, we have the labs, bases and school systems. That's it! Where are all the promised industries that we are supposed to get like the big boy cities? Intel will be moving to Vietnam, we almost lost Kirtland (which would have brought the state to 3rd world status immediately), and they pay teachers yearly the equivalent of a porn star's daily salary. All of this is related to...

6. A corrupt government. Yep, that good 'ol boy Spanish caste system of NM sure has helped us out a lot for the last 300 years, hasn't it? I mean, when the mayor of Albuquerque, Marty Chavez, is a corrupt thug who got the courts to throw out the state constitution so he can get elected for as many terms as he wants... and when the most powerful state senator, Manny Aragon, who was there for 3 decades, is tied to the Mexican mob and ripped off millions in tax dollars... and countless other idiots in the caste system (Chavez's wife is an Aragon) go on with impunity for decades, what did you expect? Justice? HA! This is the 2nd most politically corrupt state in the union. And they just keep on getting elected.

7. The 'school' system. When you have one of the highest dropout rates in the country along with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates, things just don't seem to look up here in NM. These are the future leaders of NM here, folks.


All in all, the bad are outweighing the good for me right now. I am seriously contemplating a move to San Diego, where I can get a decent house at a decent price (prices are coming down), live near a beach, be surrounded by friendly people and gorgeous women, and have a decent job that pays a good salary. I've lived in NM for over 5 years now and I think I am at the end of my rope here. About the only thing that is keeping me here is my family. Jobs don't pay well here and things just don't get done.

I love NM and all, but I think it's time for me to move on.

[desert sun]

Originally Posted by Billygoat the Kid

New Mexico does indeed seem to have a love/hate relationship with me. I was born and raised in Albuquerque, and moved back here from the L.A. area in 2003. I have also been to Denver, Phoenix, Miami, Las Vegas, Seattle and a few other American cities. Both have their positives and negatives.

However, there are things I love and things I absolutely HATE about NM. Here they are:

Things I Love About NM

1. Natural beauty. Like others before, geographically NM is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The vastness, the colors, the solitude and the way man is in touch with nature is found here like no other place on earth. CA and CO are on par with NM in this category, except in pure solitude where NM wins hands down.

2. The People. How can you not love New Mexicans? They are, for the most part, friendly and down to earth. Very spiritual, very open and hospitable. My family is all here too.

3. The food. Only in New Mexico can you get a blue corn green chile chicken enchilada for $7.50 that is to die for. Not even in L.A. can you find this kind of unique and delicious food.

4. Community. I grew up with the sense of a small town community. You can find it everywhere in NM. No one needs the fortune or 15 minutes of fame for them to do something good for the community. Just take a look at the Martinez family from the Trumbull neighborhood who appeared on "Extreme Makeover". We truly have a community like that.



Things I Hate About New Mexico

1. The culture. Yes, you read that right. The culture here sucks. Nowhere in the world have I ever met such mean, jealous, disgusting, uneducated dreks of society than in NM. Although the good outweigh the bad, this state is full of jerks. You have a nice house? We'll will burn it down? You have a nice car? We'll scratch it up. You make good money? We'll steal it. You are happy? We'll make sure you're miserable. You are good looking? We'll beat you up. Seems like every time I go out someone wants to either, a.) insult me b.) fight me, c.) shoot me, d.) all of the above. No where else, including gang ridden L.A. have I ever encountered such a bunch of disrespectful, self-hating lowlifes. From Española, to snooty Santa Fe, to redneck Valencia County to my own hometown of Albuquerque. WHAT IS IT WITH YOU PEOPLE??? Most of you are great, down home folks. But a great part of you are just jerks. Grow up and leave me alone for crying out loud. You want something, go and get it your damn self.

*Side note: As an example, I was going to a store in Alb. the other day to pick up a film and some milk. I walked into the the men's room and accidentally bumped into another dude. I said, "sorry". He said, "no problem." Then walked by and said, "Stupid **** maricón". Real class act there, buddy.

2. Gangs. They are everywhere. Whether you are hardcore or just some douchebag wannabe, you will find a little gangbanger in every corner of this state. You will see little vato Charlie in his $1,000 car with the financed rims that would have bought the high school dropout 2 years at CNM. Again, not even when I lived in L.A. did I experience a saturation of gang culture. It's a joke and it makes me sick. Instead of being nice and acting 'proper', they just wander around aimlessly looking for a fight. What a waste of air these subhumans are.

4. No Infrastructure/Attractions. Where are the concert halls (no, Tingley & Journal Pavilion do not count [Paulo Soleri DOES]), museums, pro sports teams, big parks, public transit system, corporate headquarters and police forces that all other cities have? Oh, that's right. They are in OTHER CITIES!!! Why we cannot retain Microsoft, lure a pro sports franchise and bring in NASCAR is beyond me. That's why we suffer financially. Which brings me to...

5. No money. Seriously, other than Mississippi, where in the U.S. can you find such a poverty stricken state? In NM, we have the labs, bases and school systems. That's it! Where are all the promised industries that we are supposed to get like the big boy cities? Intel will be moving to Vietnam, we almost lost Kirtland (which would have brought the state to 3rd world status immediately), and they pay teachers yearly the equivalent of a porn star's daily salary. All of this is related to...

6. A corrupt government. Yep, that good 'ol boy Spanish caste system of NM sure has helped us out a lot for the last 300 years, hasn't it? I mean, when the mayor of Albuquerque, Marty Chavez, is a corrupt thug who got the courts to throw out the state constitution so he can get elected for as many terms as he wants... and when the most powerful state senator, Manny Aragon, who was there for 3 decades, is tied to the Mexican mob and ripped off millions in tax dollars... and countless other idiots in the caste system (Chavez's wife is an Aragon) go on with impunity for decades, what did you expect? Justice? HA! This is the 2nd most politically corrupt state in the union. And they just keep on getting elected.

7. The 'school' system. When you have one of the highest dropout rates in the country along with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates, things just don't seem to look up here in NM. These are the future leaders of NM here, folks.


All in all, the bad are outweighing the good for me right now. I am seriously contemplating a move to San Diego, where I can get a decent house at a decent price (prices are coming down), live near a beach, be surrounded by friendly people and gorgeous women, and have a decent job that pays a good salary. I've lived in NM for over 5 years now and I think I am at the end of my rope here. About the only thing that is keeping me here is my family. Jobs don't pay well here and things just don't get done.

I love NM and all, but I think it's time for me to move on.

Good post, I agree with almost all of it and I pretty much feel the same way you do.Im a lifelong NM resident and I pretty much have an idea of how the state is from one corner to the other,I know others may not agree and think you are bashing but sometimes you gotta get what frustrates you off your chest.I love NM and I think it would be hard for me to leave this state but I do enjoy living here.

I know Cali pays better than NM but with the cost of living I dont think it even balances out, or does it.

[GregW]

The culture sounds pretty much like New Hampshire but the names are different. There are good people and useless people everywhere so where you are probably won't make a difference. How you react to them will.

FWIW - most of the things that really irritate are poverty related and sound like the North Country of NH. This area has lost almost all of its manufacturing industry and is barely surviving on tourism and moderately wealthy retirees and second homebuyers. It is, like much of New Mexico “a bring your own job or at least income” area.

[Towanda]

Well, I'm confused.

How do you reconcile #2 on your "love" list with #1 on your "hate" list?

You either think the New Mexican people are friendly, down to earth, very spiritual, very open and hospitable.....or you think New Mexicans are mean, jealous, disgusting, uneducated dreks of society and the state is full of jerks.

You say the good outweighs the bad, but you still seem to be talking in a lot of generalities..New Mexican people are good people but on the other hand are jerks. I hope you don't live your daily life trying to place everyone you encounter into one box or another.

I think it's time for me to move on.

Based on your post, I would have to agree. I hope you find the place you are looking for.