Brooklyn Out West (Albuquerque: new home, public schools, living)
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I currently live in the Cobble Hill region of Brooklyn and work in NYC. I really love the size of Brooklyn and the ease of getting to a big metropolitan like NYC. However, I am finding the fast paced crass city a little too intense. Plus, the weather, though better than upstate New York, where I'm from, is nothing to write home about. We still get snow, clouds, and extra humidity.
I am interested in a similar area like Brooklyn (in terms of size, food, proximity to a major city), with a little more relaxed environment. I could use a yard though! Also, I went better weather. I am not opposed to all four seasons, but I want the winters milder and less humidity. Plus, I need sun. The east coast is only sunny 30% of the time, so I am thinking out west.
The only city in the West that feels even remotely like NYC or Brooklyn is San Francisco. Or maybe Seattle to a lesser extent. Albuquerque is nothing like what you're looking for.
Hmmmm your main problem with Albuquerque (and most of rest of the west) is that, you say you like Brooklyn and its proximity to NYC (isn't Brooklyn part of NYC?) - there just isn't that kind of population or density out here. Brooklyn has more people in it than the entire state of New Mexico. There are only a few cities in west - that aren't on the coast - that have a population near or more than Brooklyn, and they aren't close to major cities, they are the major population center for 100s and 100s of miles.
For example, the Albuquerque Metro area contains four counties, each probably somewhere about 1,000 square miles in size (so 3x as big as all of NYC each) and it has less than a million people in it. It would also take 6 - 8 hours to get to an area that has more than a million people in it.
Albuquerque is laid back, we are spread out no density, heavy Spanish/Mexican influence on culture, food, architecture, identity. Dry, high elevation... Not sure what else to tell you. I don't want to say you wouldn't be interested in it, but I can't see how Albuquerque is at all comparable to the Brooklyn/NYC area in any way (humans live here?) or how you would enjoy Albuquerque if you are looking for an environment that is at all similar.
For what it sounds like you are looking for, I think your best bet is California, Dallas, or Houston.
ok so size may not be a problem. I am from upstate New York. I like Brooklyn because it is chill but still has the city vibe - good food, intelligent (ish) people, and culture. However, New York is not for me in that people aren't friendly, they're rude, and cold. I love SF, but I don't think I can swing living there financially. Plus, I have only been there for a few days at a time, and am not sure if the weather is sunny enough.
Last edited by Firefly680; 08-18-2010 at 03:42 PM..
Albuquerque is hotter and dryer than Brooklyn. Our altitude is about 5,000 feet above sea level. Brooklyn ground is close to sea level. This is a desert, a large state (5th largest land wise) with fewer people than Brooklyn. New Mexico is a poor state. The cost of living here is less than where you are at. But jobs tend to pay less also.
So, do you have a job lined up out here? Have you ever been to this area? You really should visit to see the area, you might like it or you might not...
what about culture? do you think Albuquerque is good for older 20s/younger 30s starting a family? or is it more a retirement place? how liberal to conservative would you rank it?
Firefly, I came here from Brooklyn Hts (33yrs) and chose ABQ and knew it was NOT Brooklyn. For positive reasons I chose here as my new home, not as an escape from Brooklyn, because Brooklyn was in many respects a great place to live, especially Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill.
You can never compare any city in the U.S. to New York and its cultural riches, but if you look enough you will find much of what you may actually need and afford here in the ABQ/Santa FE orbit.
what about culture? do you think Albuquerque is good for older 20s/younger 30s starting a family? or is it more a retirement place? how liberal to conservative would you rank it?
culture is sparse. i'd say it leans slightly liberal. public schools are pretty bad overall. so raising a family here might be a little sketchy.
nowhere in the city really has a city vibe. the closest is knob hill and that even feels a little sleepy. good food is hard to come by. the best restaurants are maybe a B.
if you can't afford san francisco, i'm guessing other coastal cities are out. phoenix or las vegas might have more of what you're looking for. but they're also not very similar to new york.
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