Town of Belen (Santa Fe, Los Lunas, Rio Communities: transplants, rent, crime)

[sundance35]

My husband is working in the town of Belen for the next month. He bought a closed grocery store and he's liquidating the equipment. This is a great way to meet people in the area. People that are stopping in the store are very friendly . He said the children aren't what we're used to here. They seem to be very respectful. A man in the store saw my husband limping today and he is going to take a walking stick in for my husband tomorrow. I thought that was so nice. Very thoughtful. Rich said he was amazed at how nice the people are that are coming in.

Rich rode around the farming community in Belen and he said it's just beautiful. We've never been down that way before but he said we defnately have to go back.

I'm tired of rude people who let the door hit you instead of holding it for the next person. I want to make sure we move to a friendly area. That's a must!!

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by sundance35

My husband is working in the town of Belen for the next month. He bought a closed grocery store and he's liquidating the equipment. This is a great way to meet people in the area. People that are stopping in the store are very friendly . He said the children aren't what we're used to here. They seem to be very respectful. A man in the store saw my husband limping today and he is going to take a walking stick in for my husband tomorrow. I thought that was so nice. Very thoughtful. Rich said he was amazed at how nice the people are that are coming in.

Rich rode around the farming community in Belen and he said it's just beautiful. We've never been down that way before but he said we defnately have to go back.

I'm tired of rude people who let the door hit you instead of holding it for the next person. I want to make sure we move to a friendly area. That's a must!!

wow, it sounds like he brought the old Furrs store on River Road, am I right? What is he going to do with it, turn it into a store or what and will you be living there permenently? I am a little confused when you say, he will be working on it for a month or so.

If you are moving to Belen, please rent or buy in either Rio communities or Las Marevilles. Both areas are very friendly. I hate to say this, but the town of Belen itself isn't always that accepting of people from other parts.

Yes, much of the area is very pretty, it isn't filled with trees etc but has lots of charm. You will never see sunsets and sun rises like you will see in that part of NM.

Please enjoy your new life and if you want any more info PM me. We lived there 7 years, left last year.

Nita

[sundance35]

Hi Nita,

He will be working in Belen until the equipment is liquidated. Yes, it is the Furr's store. He didn't buy the building, he bought all of the equipment in the store.

I'm reading between the lines here. The fact that you left that area tells me
quite a bit. We live in TN right now and the people were very friendly UNTIL we moved here. They're still fighting the war here. I didn't appreciate being referred to as a "yankee" when we moved in. We lived here for 5 years before my next door neighbor actually talked to me and that's exactally what I want to AVOID when we move this time.

We're hoping to move out to NM in the early spring. Not sure yet which area. After our move here we're a little gun shy. We've been coming out to NM for the past 20 years. We both love NM. It's so beautiful.

I'm so glad I found this site. I think it will be really helpful in making a decision
as to which area will work for us. Thanks for your reply. I will PM you, if you don't mind.

Sandy

Originally Posted by nmnita

wow, it sounds like he brought the old Furrs store on River Road, am I right? What is he going to do with it, turn it into a store or what and will you be living there permenently? I am a little confused when you say, he will be working on it for a month or so.

If you are moving to Belen, please rent or buy in either Rio communities or Las Marevilles. Both areas are very friendly. I hate to say this, but the town of Belen itself isn't always that accepting of people from other parts.

Yes, much of the area is very pretty, it isn't filled with trees etc but has lots of charm. You will never see sunsets and sun rises like you will see in that part of NM.

Please enjoy your new life and if you want any more info PM me. We lived there 7 years, left last year.

Nita

[Santa Fe]

From what I read Belen is about to take off on exponential growth with a development that is scheduled to have 35,000 residents and a solar manufacturing plant. Whatever Belen is like now, it is certainly going to change.

There will obviously be a lot of newcomers.

[AlisonL]

Originally Posted by sundance35

I didn't appreciate being referred to as a "yankee" when we moved in.

My neighbor in Northern Meadows always called me "the Yankee". LOL, it didn't bother me as I knew he was joking.

Where we live now, we're surrounded by Yankees. Connecticut transplants on one side and NY on the other. I can think of alot worse things to be called than a yankee.

[sundance35]

I guess that's the difference Alison. Your neighbor was joking...mine wasn't.

Originally Posted by AlisonL

My neighbor in Northern Meadows always called me "the Yankee". LOL, it didn't bother me as I knew he was joking.

Where we live now, we're surrounded by Yankees. Connecticut transplants on one side and NY on the other. I can think of alot worse things to be called than a yankee.

[jaxart]

Originally Posted by Santa Fe

From what I read Belen is about to take off on exponential growth ...

It's already grown tremendously in the past couple of decades. Now thought of as a bedroom community to Albq. and with the advent of the commuter rail it's destined to keep growing.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by jaxart

It's already grown tremendously in the past couple of decades. Now thought of as a bedroom community to Albq. and with the advent of the commuter rail it's destined to keep growing.

The commuter train was the best thing that ever happened to Belen in my opinion, but as for growing? Yes, it will, with leaps and bounds, I really do not see that happening. Heck the county can't even agree on whether to build a hospital and if they do, where? They still have no decent restaurants, very little shopping and the downtown area, though charming in some ways has too many vacant buildings. Los Lunas, on the other hand is taking off. They have had an opportunity to annex Rio Communities which would help, but the city doesn't want anything to do with the area across the river. Of course it will eventually grow, but I don't think you will see much change in the next 5 years or so. We lived there 7 years, waiting for the change. many of the pople who live in Belen have been there for generations and they will tell you, they do not want to see the town change.

The reference to the 3500 homes, that has been in the making for a few years now, with not much happening at this time.

[Radicat]

People usually see it as a good thing for a community to be destined for rapid growth. I no longer see it as a positive for myself. When I came to Florida about thirty years ago, I settled in a nice, quiet, and small town on the west coast. The town began to boom and everything changed. So, I moved to a larger town where things are a little more stable. Now, when I go back to that once small town, I hardly recognize it. You can't safely walk the streets anymore. You have to pay a fee just to see the beach and then only for a limited time. Rapid growth means rapid change. I don't need that.

So, I'm glad to learn of these blossoming metropolises, so I can avoid them. To each his own.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Radicat

People usually see it as a good thing for a community to be destined for rapid growth. I no longer see it as a positive for myself. When I came to Florida about thirty years ago, I settled in a nice, quiet, and small town on the west coast. The town began to boom and everything changed. So, I moved to a larger town where things are a little more stable. Now, when I go back to that once small town, I hardly recognize it. You can't safely walk the streets anymore. You have to pay a fee just to see the beach and then only for a limited time. Rapid growth means rapid change. I don't need that.

So, I'm glad to learn of these blossoming metropolises, so I can avoid them. To each his own.

I think many of us feel the way you do within reason. Too rapid growth can lead to conjestion as well as other problems, too numerous to mention right now, but when growth is almost stopped and crime is on the rise, those cities need to take a serious look as to where they are heading.

Nita