We had a GREAT weekend in Socorro! (home, neighborhood)

[InTheDesert]

I have had full hummingbird action for two weeks now! They showed up earlier this year and now I feel bad because I am moving here in a month and feel like I should wean them but I think I'll leave one of the feeders and hopefully the people moving in will take care of them....ha, maybe I can pack them up and bring them with to San Antonio...LOL. If I fill the feeders in the morning they come drink out of them while I am hanging them back up, brave little guys. I need to stand there on the bench and try to get some better photos.

The San Antonio house is actually down the main street, so a bit closer to the Owl actually. I'm beyond excited about the house, we are in our 20's so figure we've got our whole lives to fix the place up. San Antonio is such a peaceful spot, I can't wait to be there, maybe we'll rent some of the rooms out during birding season to help pay for renovations

Check out my hummers....

[catman]

What neat little birds! I can see why you hate to leave them behind.

I'm also very happy to find that "full hummingbird action" and "hummers" were double-entendre free. Sorry, couldn't resist.

[GregW]

That is a darn fast lens on the camera to stop the Hummingbirds' wings. Enjoy your new digs and a very neat little town.

[GregW]

Bringing this post foward

[GregW]

Thought I would update on the further adventures of the GregW clan. The late summer/fall and winter trips have been postponed due to my SO going to class for HR Block tax people. Doing taxes will also kill the spring trip as well.

FWIW back here in New Hampshire the early summer was cool and very wet followed by three weeks of hot and muggy 90 deg plus weather. Today it is back in the 70's and very dry after a substantial rain.

In the meantime we have been checking out various local museums. There is a site called America's Stonehenge in nearby Salem, NH. This is a collection of man modified natural caves created by glacially moved rocks and man built partial stone walls. There are several astronomically significant alignments created by some “standing stones” apparently placed to align with summer and winter sunrise etc. Quite fascinating but I kept feeling that someone was laughing at us for the entire stay.

So it looks like we will continue to save up vacation time for another trip. Someday in Socorro.

[TKO]

Those small towns are unincorporated parts of Socorro County. They don't have much if any service provided and they're full of people that like to live that way. It's kinda foreign to us city slickers but they'd be surprised to hear their communities described as sad, that's the way those folks choose to live. The ones that don't move away. Most of rural New Mexico is very similar and you'll find the people, at least IMO, to be very easy going and friendly even though their not wrapped up in material things and don't have much money.

I work with a guy from upstate NY and he said almost the same thing about San Miguel and La Mesa here in Dona Ana county and I know the people (most of them) who live in those unincorporated communities would be very surprised to hear that.

[catman]

Towanda: Thanks for the great review of Socorro. It seems to be calling me. I can hardly wait to come look it over, but it looks like it'll be next year, unfortunately.

What kind of music was being played at the Stage Door?

[Towanda]

The music they were playing was mostly country, I think, which means I don't remember the names because I don't know country music well.

The only song I remember them singing was "Standing on Shaky Ground" by Delbert McClinton; the reason I remember them singing that is because I am a big fan of his.

The very neat thing about the music that night is that they had musician friends come up and perform with them, and they particularly invited up anyone in the crowd who wanted to get up and sing. That was very cool.

So -- Catman -- does Socorro seem like it might be the place for you?

[catman]

I think I would like it there, but I doubt that I could make a living playing music there. It's one thing to sit in, and fun, but the pay stinks. I could play in Albuquerque from there, though, at least occasionally. I'm mor of a classic rock/jazz musician, although I like some country too.

Otherwise, it sounds great, although the summers are a bit toasty...but the low humidity would make it more tolerable than Fort Worth, where I am now.

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by catman

... the summers are a bit toasty ...

Don't you already live in Forth Worth?

As I check today, it's 83 in Socorro and over 90 there.

Average high for Jul/Aug is 94/91 and 95/95.
That doesn't look like much, but the average low is 60/59 and <ick> 75/74.

From an on-the-ground perspective, the air spends around
10 hours above 80 degrees in Socorro and about 3 hours above 90 degrees.
In Fort Worth its
18 hours above 80 degrees in Socorro and about 6 hours above 90 degrees.

Now that's some perspective on comfort for ya.