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I no longer live in New Mexico. I enjoyed living there, but many transplants did not. New Mexico is very isolated and it is hard to get of town and go any place else. Depending upon where you live, certain amenities aren't readily available. Where I lived, we had Wal-Mart and a couple of grocery stores, and not much else. There were a few shops downtown, but they didn't carry the selection that I had experienced elsewhere. If I needed new clothes, I ended up at Wal-Mart or a couple of other places. Many of us around town had the same exact clothes in a few different colors. I didn't mind because it was what I needed to do at the time. It's a big sacrifice for some.
When we lived there, my children were little and we were able to entertain ourselves within the hours we kept. The town rolled up at early hours and during certain days of the week, it was hard to find a restaurant. We did a lot of traveling and really got to enjoy New Mexico's beauty. Not everyone is able to entertain themselves like that. When I moved in, I lucked into a group of people like me who were new to the area and made quite a few friends. I also had a good relationship with some of the locals I met. Not everyone is so lucky.
Some of the bigger cities will have more amenities. I would do a lot of visiting and a lot of exploring before I made a commitment to move. I would make an effort to find out more about the locals.
Greetings! I grew up and currently reside in the NYC region. Right now I am currently obtaining my Doctorate of Physical Therapy. This summer I went to visit one of my good friends who lives in Phoenix. I also decided to visit Albuquerque and Santa Fe which I really enjoyed. Truth is I always wanted to move out west when I first visited California and Colorado a few years back. I fell in love with the climate, scenery, and array of outdoor activities. I feel like I will always be a New Yorker at heart, but yet I've grown tired of the congestion, crowds, living costs, lack of adequate nature and need a change.
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If you're considering New Mexico, then, you're considering Santa Fe, Albuquerque (which is a nicer town than it generally gets credit for) or Las Cruces. Farmington, Gallup, Roswell, and Alamogordo are not tolerable for someone who likes and appreciates what cities offer. I accepted a temporary contract position in Alamogordo, and I was so relieved when I received confirmation that I'd be relocated that I nearly cried. Unless you're from here or basically don't care where you live, it's nearly intolerable.
I'm not in the healthcare field, but speaking as a resident, yes southern NM especially is sorely in need of healthcare workers. Please move here! Both my son and my husband needed to see a specialist for sports injuries (on different occasions thankfully) and we had to go to El Paso or to Albuquerque - because there was just no one in this area that could do what they needed..
I would not recommend that anybody move to Alamogordo.
I live and work in Alamogordo and I don't mind living and working here. Right now it's about 67° outside and sunny. If I want a real city (Las Cruces or El Paso) I can drive the hour or hour and a half and shop, eat and play there. But Alamo isn't all that bad. What did you really dislike so badly, DenverHighlander? I mean, I know it ain't no Vail or Aspen or anything like that.
I live and work in Alamogordo and I don't mind living and working here. Right now it's about 67° outside and sunny. If I want a real city (Las Cruces or El Paso) I can drive the hour or hour and a half and shop, eat and play there. But Alamo isn't all that bad. What did you really dislike so badly, DenverHighlander? I mean, I know it ain't no Vail or Aspen or anything like that.
I wouldn't live in Vail or Aspen, either, but for different reasons. Albuquerque or even Santa Fe would have been fine.
Other than that...I disliked just about every aspect of the town that one could care to name. I enjoyed being close to the mountains and White Sands. The 60-90 minute drive to a real town would be a good start to the list, I suppose, but do you really want me to get into it? I'm used to a vibrant, interesting midsize city with tons of amenities and living in Alamo for a year was incredibly depressing and frustrating for me. The OP, if she's from NYC, would go out of her mind. I can get into it if you want, but...
No, I get you, DenverHighlander. It is very...umm...limited. Having said that, my wife and I lived in Willcox, AZ, which provided us with jobs at the little hospital there. We bought a house and lived there for 3 and 3/4 years. The reason I bring it up is because it is a dead-end town (of approx. 3,200 people) with nothing much going for it. But we lived there and went to Bisbee, Tombstone, Tucson, or wherever we chose. My job was 7 days on, then 7 days off. So I got a lot of time off when I was off of work.
Alamogordo is about 36,000 people and has a lot more going for it. We even like the small zoo there. Granted, it is dry, dusty and there are allergens working overtime there. One's allergies and asthma can take a beating, indeed. Another odd thing about Alamogordo is there is only two grocery stores available. Wal*Mart and Lowe's Grocery Store. My wife and I are highly suspicious of this fact. Someone's getting paid off somewhere. Or something. But 2 grocery stores for 36,000 people? Think about that for a second.
All in all I'm happy ta be here but I would not expect to still be here in 5 years. But who knows. I just might still be here and I might still like the place.
Little-known additional fact about Alamogordo: it is the city in America that has the most churches per capita. Google it and see if it is true. I can tell you that there is a church of any and pert-near every variety you've ever heard of. And then another type on the opposite corner. Snake oil preachers, or, opportunists a la religion? I can just tell you that I believe the factoid, the city is crawling with places of worship of many kinds.
Now that I have retired with an actual pension that is low for this area but would allow much more discretionary, travel mostly, spending in a lower cost area like Alamogordo, Tularosa or Socorro the itch to relocate is alive and well. Now I just have to convince my wife that it is a good idea. She is suffering from the shock of having me around way too much for comfort as well as income anxieties. Moving at this point would be too much for her anxiety system which is working overtime. I was ecstatic for the first month but have settled down to chores and a lot of motorcycle riding. The warmth has been holding in NH. Today it reached 70+ deg inland.
I worked in NYC for a few years and could not wait to leave because the city life never slowed down or was remotely quiet. I do not know about the OP's need for noise but I suggest she visit NM for a week or so and just experience the quiet of the White Sands or the road to Cloudcroft. Or just fly to Albuquerque and take the Tram to Sandia Peak then walk a half mile along a trail and sit and listen to the wind.
Good advice, GregW. I hear the White Sands are gorgeous being softly kissed by the moonlight! There is a picture up inside the halls of Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center that shows a hot air balloon drifting over the White Sands National Monument in the moonlight. It is truly gorgeous.
The OP, if she's from NYC, would go out of her mind. I can get into it if you want, but...
I think it may be helpful to the OP or anyone else who is in a similar situation. They often don't understand how different it is or really think about all the things they'd miss.
I've lived in big cities before... for over a decade. I'd do almost anything to not have to do it again.
But there is much more than just a "big city" vs "small town" difference. NM is generally poor and largely Hispanic... and it seems like a lot of the people moving here are retired. But it isn't one of the "hot" places to retire. And we don't have much industry that brings in high earning jobs. All this shapes the demographic of what people are here, and what they tend to do... and what services and entertainment are available. Santa Fe and parts of Albuquerque have some affluence... which results in more "going on"... but that is about it. In other places sparse services and entertainment are the rule.
I don't really care about those things though... much prefer the clear dry air and blue skies... the peace and the space.
Now I just have to convince my wife that it is a good idea.
Good luck.
But I don't think it sounds promising that you will ever convince her. Have you thought about shifting gears and just wandering out here on your own when the mood strikes? Fix up a truck+camper or van and park on BLM or NF land... wherever you like. Would cost you hardly anything.
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Both my son and my husband needed to see a specialist for sports injuries (on different occasions thankfully) and we had to go to El Paso or to Albuquerque - because there was just no one in this area that could do what they needed..
