Moving to New Mexico......help me please

[wantalife]

My wife and I are from the heart of Cajun Country...LAfayette La. We are thinking about moving to ALB. At 60 years young, we are thinking the less humidity and clean air will be better for us than this mold and mildew place. I have been reading every thing I can find about ALB and New Mexico. I am concerned about the crime, I looked up stats etc. Most people on here that talk about crime is from 4 to 7 years ago. ( this post included) Also, most of the crime stat tables I have found thus far, are not that up to date. Also, it looks like ABQ ( in particular) has really been taking a bite out of crime so to speak. Maybe some of you more in the know could post some links or give us an update on crime. At 60, we don't need to be worrying about that.

Poncho, thanks for that video. ALB had my heart the second the flutiest started in the beginning!

What about the water? Do the authorities think there will be enough?

Thank you
David & Carol

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by wantalife

My wife and I are from the heart of Cajun Country...LAfayette La.

.......

Thank you
David & Carol

The crime rate is pretty much about the same, there are more current stats, crime has gone down a bit, then it might rise. Crime from 2010 is on this page: http://www.city-data.com/city/Albuqu...ew-Mexico.html

My long time advice has been; don't deal in drugs, don't walk down dark alleys and don't stare at people. I've added, pay attention to your surroundings, but some people never get it...

You want more up to date? Go Here: ABQJournal Online » Crime Map

Yes, we have less humidity here than in beautiful Louisiana! I ate a lot of Cajun Food during my four months at Fort Polk.

We have water, not enough to have lush lawns, well, if you don't mind big water bills...

Can you come out for a visit? If so, please do...

[GregW]

FWIW - Louisiana is a swamp. New Mexico is petty much a desert. I suggest a moderately long visit between late Spring and early Fall to appreciate the difference. Buy a Benchmark maps "New Mexico Road and Recreation Atlas." it has lots of information about the state as well as excellent maps.

[mmmike065]

My wife and I have decided on Artesia, coming from Florida. It seems like the oasis of the desert. However, the housing is ridiculous in the way of affordable housing or rentals. Any ideas from folks in the area?

[N8!]

Originally Posted by wantalife

My wife and I are from the heart of Cajun Country...LAfayette La. We are thinking about moving to ALB. At 60 years young, we are thinking the less humidity and clean air will be better for us than this mold and mildew place. I have been reading every thing I can find about ALB and New Mexico. I am concerned about the crime, I looked up stats etc. Most people on here that talk about crime is from 4 to 7 years ago. ( this post included) Also, most of the crime stat tables I have found thus far, are not that up to date. Also, it looks like ABQ ( in particular) has really been taking a bite out of crime so to speak. Maybe some of you more in the know could post some links or give us an update on crime. At 60, we don't need to be worrying about that.

Poncho, thanks for that video. ALB had my heart the second the flutiest started in the beginning!

What about the water? Do the authorities think there will be enough?

Thank you
David & Carol

Don't be skeerd, come out for a visit.

I lived in Shreveport for 20+ yrs before moving back to NM and I don't miss La a bit (except easy access to fresh mudbugs).

[jaffeyjoe]

Originally Posted by mmmike065

My wife and I have decided on Artesia, coming from Florida. It seems like the oasis of the desert. However, the housing is ridiculous in the way of affordable housing or rentals. Any ideas from folks in the area?

Hello there....the town is very small....i grew up about an hr from there....its an oil town with the refinery on the edge of town but you can smell it everywhere....its prides itself on high school football....like the whole town goes to support the team....the town practically shuts down.....

[loborick]

There is a billboard when driving into town that says "The Sweet Smell of Success"...it isn't a joke. The town stinks from the oil refineries. There is absolutely nothing to do there. It is ugly and depressing.

[ognend]

Originally Posted by wantalife

My wife and I are from the heart of Cajun Country...LAfayette La. We are thinking about moving to ALB. At 60 years young, we are thinking the less humidity and clean air will be better for us than this mold and mildew place. I have been reading every thing I can find about ALB and New Mexico. I am concerned about the crime, I looked up stats etc. Most people on here that talk about crime is from 4 to 7 years ago. ( this post included) Also, most of the crime stat tables I have found thus far, are not that up to date. Also, it looks like ABQ ( in particular) has really been taking a bite out of crime so to speak. Maybe some of you more in the know could post some links or give us an update on crime. At 60, we don't need to be worrying about that.

Poncho, thanks for that video. ALB had my heart the second the flutiest started in the beginning!

What about the water? Do the authorities think there will be enough?

Thank you
David & Carol

Crime is a problem in NM (if crime matters to you, it does to me), all over the place, small town or large. I am still trying to understand how a town of 10-15,000 (or even of 3-4,000) can have a crime rate almost twice the national average and what the causes for that are...

I like ABQ, it is a nice sized city, not too big, not too small and pretty laid back.

As for the water, it is a complex question. If you were buying rural I think it would be even more complicated since you are dealing with individual wells.

Here is a recent illustration of what kind of water related stuff is going on around the state: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/loc...permit-request

My $.02
OD

[deboneair]

Lack of education.
Lack of employment opportunities.
Alcohol and drug use.
Teenage Pregnancy.

ALL of these problems are rampant in many, if not most, New Mexican communities.
Sad to say, the above problems often go hand-in-hand with criminal behavior.