Tell me about Socorro. (Albuquerque, Las Cruces: house, employment, university)

[GregW]

Seems to be a number of 'tell me about..." threads so I though I'd add Socorro to the list. We visited a couple of years ago during a recon trip around southwest NM. We were favorably impresed by the city and would appreciate what other people think of the area. Thank you in advance.

[mortimer]

It seems to me that if you liked the area then that should be about 90% of what you need to make a decision.

I would guess that the area is big enough to support you in your plan for semi-retirement.

The weather is pretty middle-of-the-road New Mexico. The scenery is pretty and even dramatic at some angles.

You haven't mentioned much about liking the outdoors, but access is good there.

If you need some 'big-city' stuff, you can make the journey to Albuquerque every couple of weeks or so.

I, personally would live there. I tried to one time by applying for a job at the observatory.

I wonder how many in this forum would live there - given the right circumstances like a good job. There are lots who live in the 'big' places like Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces. However, you could walk across Socorro E-W in a half hour and N-S in less than an hour.

[catman]

I would. I like the area, and it would be nice to be within 75 miles or so of the big city.

[DOUBLE H]

I would, as well. If I wasn't all but sold on the southeastern part of the state, Socorro would be very attractive. Making a living is a consideration; getting a job at the observatory I'm sure pays well, but what about the rest of the employment situation?

[GregW]

I have been city, office and house bound for too long due to the nature of my profession as an environmental scientist. I intend to do a lot more walking, investigating, rockhounding, geology, prospecting and/or anything else that gets me outside after I retire. I am certain a jeep or steet/dirt bike are in the future.

[mortimer]

GregW fully informed:

> ... I intend to do a lot more walking, investigating, rockhounding,
> geology, prospecting and/or anything else that gets me outside ...

OK. I'm clear now. All this time, I thought you just wanted a lot of space between you and neighbors.

DOUBLE H suggested:

> ... observatory I'm sure pays well ...

I assume the opposite, but that is just two guesses out there in the vacuum of space.

Others:

Would you live in Socorrow? (That should have been the title.) What might attract you there?

[soco_warrior]

hey, mortimer u spelled socorro wrong smart guy

[br7or13]

Crusing down I-25, if you blink, you'll miss it.

[GregW]

When I was in the college of advanced flint chipping in the Neolithic, I would spend hours in the technical library studying all manner of subjects. NMT in Socorro is one of the main reasons I think I would enjoy living there.

So Just how cold are the winters? Is the city water available and drinkable? Is the hospital capable of taking care of the lesser problems of the elderly? Can I get a decent green chile cheeseburger without driving to Manny’s in San Antonio? Is there an astronomy club? Do folks grow their own vegatables?

[Zoidberg]

A good rule of thumb for Socorro's temperatures: Albuquerque, plus one degree F.

Not always the case but startlingly accurate.

City water source just got moved, because the old stuff didn't meet new arsenic standards. Not to say it was unsafe (it was natural spring water), just less safe than it could have been.

Seemed like a pretty good hospital for that town. It's just that it's a bit far out on 60.

I'm sure decent GC cheeseburgers are to be found all over. Even McD's and Sonic will sell you those.

There's not only an astronomy club at the university but they have their own observatory (Etscorn observatory west of the golf course).

Folks growing their own vegetables? Umm... is there any place on Earth they don't do that? If you want to get real serious you can get a place a few miles out of town (Lemitar, Luis Lopez) and do that over several acres.