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I think that Beckiebee22 has the right to express her personal opinion about Farmington, unfortunately she touched sensibilities. She does'n like it and she is leaving, that's the right thing to do and good for her. I bet that there are other people that probably share her impressions but are afraid to admit it in public. On the other hand, I see a thread in this Forum very positive about Farmington, like many things in life it's a matter of personal opinion and individual taste, to each its own. Before I decided to move to Las Cruces, I accepted the shortcomings that I will have to face after having lived in wonderful Chicago for many decades. Everything in life is trade off and nothing comes close to "perfect". What I will lose in cultural life, I will gain in weather, slower pace, lighter traffic and beautiful landscapes. These are things that in the present stage of my life have become important to me, perhaps they wouldn't have attracted me when I was young and when my career was the most important thing in my life.
oh she does have every right to express her opinion and yes, she did pull a few chains. I think some of us simply are trying to explain, life is what you make of it and finding almost nothing positive about anything is a pretty bad way to look at things. I am a part time Travel agent. When I read or hear from clients that have nothing but bad to say about a trip they took, I know they could enjoy life better with an attitude adjustment pill. Most are spoiled and too self centered. On the other hard, when someone returns from a vacation saying they had a good or great time but wish this or that could have been different or better, I take their comments seriously.
I think that Beckiebee22 has the right to express her personal opinion about Farmington, unfortunately she touched sensibilities. She does'n like it and she is leaving, that's the right thing to do and good for her. I bet that there are other people that probably share her impressions but are afraid to admit it in public. On the other hand, I see a thread in this Forum very positive about Farmington, like many things in life it's a matter of personal opinion and individual taste, to each its own. Before I decided to move to Las Cruces, I accepted the shortcomings that I will have to face after having lived in wonderful Chicago for many decades. Everything in life is trade off and nothing comes close to "perfect". What I will lose in cultural life, I will gain in weather, slower pace, lighter traffic and beautiful landscapes. These are things that in the present stage of my life have become important to me, perhaps they wouldn't have attracted me when I was young and when my career was the most important thing in my life.
Here is the point that I think many folks in this post are missing -
I don't think that the original poster is necessarily incorrect to state her dislikes. As I have stated in some posts before this one, truly, I think I would really not want to live in Farmington too, and I otherwise really like NM (just like I wouldn't want to live in Clovis, Portales, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Raton, etc.) But it isn't because of "faults" of those areas...all that I listed, along with Farmington, just are what they are - they are small, tiny, towns in rural U.S.A.
That is what I think everyone is missing the point on here. If you are looking for L.A., Phoenix, or Chicago like culture, but decide to move to Springfield, Missouri, assuredly you are going to be readily disappointed!! If you are hoping for a high arts/"classic" scene like perhaps you'd find in Santa Fe, but then move to Shamrock, Texas (in the heart of Texas' panhandle), yes, you are going to be disappointed.
Furthermore...
If you are looking for lush, green lawns and big swaying oaks, nice lakes and even an ocean, etc., moving smack-dab into the Chihuahuan Desert is going to disappoint you. Or, for those who love the Denver Rocky Mountain landscape and lifestyle that chose to love to Witchita, Kansas...yep, you are going to be disappointed.
There are tangibles that can make experiences in cities better or worse as one lives there. For example, I am sure that those that moved to Phoenix in the '60s and liked the city the size it was then, are not thrilled with the huge growth, rise in crime, rise in pollution, and having 4-million neighbors now. Thus, that was something out of their control. Furthermore, general cultures/attitudes, etc., in places change over time, and surely if folks do not like general cultures/attitudes, etc., in a town, that can be something that could be changed in a different setting.
However, the original poster was really looking for things out of Farmington that just are not tangible. Farmington has a low, small population. That just is what it is, and like every other smaller town in rural America, it'll have many of the same conditions - for better or worse. Farmington is located in an arid area with little rain, no oceans nearby etc. That just isn't anything related to Farmington...if you are looking to live by an ocean ideally, surely moving to Farmington (or anywhere in NM) is going to be disappointing.
If you are looking for high culture/theater/arts, etc., yes, usually very small towns in rural U.S. are not going to be your cup of tea. There may be some unique exceptions here and there (Madrid, NM), however, for the most part, rural, small town U.S.A. just isn't going to be a large bastion of literature, education, arts, etc.
So I don't fault the original poster really heavily for disliking Farmington in relation to what her preferences are. But just realizing that Farmington is what it is in terms of population size, topography, geography, climate, etc., you just should avoid moving to a place like that unless those core items are things you think you'd enjoy and could live with. They are "fixed"...no matter how much one years for lush lawns and an ocean in Farmington (or Albuquerque, or Amarillo, or El Paso, or Tucson, the list can go on) it just won't happen.
Thanks EnjoyEP, once again you get it. I keep trying in vain to find the things I love (not the ocean of course...I'm not that stupid) in Farmington. I just needed it comfirmed to me that the things I am searching so hard for really don't exist here. This way I know for sure that I won't look back and think..."oh, I can't believe I didn't do that while I lived there!" If I realize I was right (which I now do) that there really isn't anything here for me to do except go to Durango (which I do plenty of that) and go to Mesa Verde (going this month) and visit ABQ when I can.
I am not a stuck up rich brat from California. Obviously this shows how little people know from first impressions. And, how quick to judge others people (myself included) are. I grew up in San Diego, not in La Jolla. My elementary school ALWAYS had graffeti on it from the Bloods and Crypts. No joke. I am not even close to being naive about sin. I know the evils that lurk in EVERY part of this country. I only pointed out porn and beer and drugs (knowing full well they exist everywhere) because it seems to be such a HUGE problem for such a TINY town. That's all. I would NEVER choose to live in Compton or the Bronx because of the same thing. It's problems vs. population. My point was, this town is far from my tastes but I believe I have given it a fair try. I did not come here determined to hate it. I was happy when we bought our double wide trailer, definitely not my idea for retirement but a good place to start out in life plus it was far better than the rentals we looked at! We've tried everything there is to do in this town and it has been one big let down after the other. So I do hate it now, yes. But that is because I have realized that there is nothing for me here. All I was saying is that I wish I hadn't learned the hard way that Farmington isn't for me. My husband hates it here too, but this is where he has to go to school. We do wish that we had moved to Durango and dealt with the hour commute. We know that NOW, but didn't before. We also hated the Phoenix heat, so we picked here. Now we have learned the hard way that that would have been better too. But, living in Phoenix we wouldn't have known that this was worse and would have thought PHX is worst place on earth. I guess this was just a lesson we needed to learn. Of course, there will be disappointments in our new city, but compared to here they will now be easier to deal with. The pros in a new city outway the cons of this one. And, of course my husband knows I'm picking the next city. He gave me a list of major cities we could be sent to, and I've researched them all and picked the top 3 that seem to be the best for us. Yep, I'm young. But you live and you learn. And hopefully I have finally learned what is really important to me.
PS, I used to want to be a farmers wife in Idaho...good thing some sense was knocked into me when I dated one and then later found my husband. EVERYONE is naive to some extent, but esp. when we are young. Hopefully reality sets in before we really do something stupid.
Thanks EnjoyEP, once again you get it. I keep trying in vain to find the things I love (not the ocean of course...I'm not that stupid) in Farmington. I just needed it comfirmed to me that the things I am searching so hard for really don't exist here. This way I know for sure that I won't look back and think..."oh, I can't believe I didn't do that while I lived there!" If I realize I was right (which I now do) that there really isn't anything here for me to do except go to Durango (which I do plenty of that) and go to Mesa Verde (going this month) and visit ABQ when I can.
I am not a stuck up rich brat from California. Obviously this shows how little people know from first impressions. And, how quick to judge others people (myself included) are. I grew up in San Diego, not in La Jolla. My elementary school ALWAYS had graffeti on it from the Bloods and Crypts. No joke. I am not even close to being naive about sin. I know the evils that lurk in EVERY part of this country. I only pointed out porn and beer and drugs (knowing full well they exist everywhere) because it seems to be such a HUGE problem for such a TINY town. That's all. I would NEVER choose to live in Compton or the Bronx because of the same thing. It's problems vs. population. My point was, this town is far from my tastes but I believe I have given it a fair try. I did not come here determined to hate it. I was happy when we bought our double wide trailer, definitely not my idea for retirement but a good place to start out in life plus it was far better than the rentals we looked at! We've tried everything there is to do in this town and it has been one big let down after the other. So I do hate it now, yes. But that is because I have realized that there is nothing for me here. All I was saying is that I wish I hadn't learned the hard way that Farmington isn't for me. My husband hates it here too, but this is where he has to go to school. We do wish that we had moved to Durango and dealt with the hour commute. We know that NOW, but didn't before. We also hated the Phoenix heat, so we picked here. Now we have learned the hard way that that would have been better too. But, living in Phoenix we wouldn't have known that this was worse and would have thought PHX is worst place on earth. I guess this was just a lesson we needed to learn. Of course, there will be disappointments in our new city, but compared to here they will now be easier to deal with. The pros in a new city outway the cons of this one. And, of course my husband knows I'm picking the next city. He gave me a list of major cities we could be sent to, and I've researched them all and picked the top 3 that seem to be the best for us. Yep, I'm young. But you live and you learn. And hopefully I have finally learned what is really important to me.
PS, I used to want to be a farmers wife in Idaho...good thing some sense was knocked into me when I dated one and then later found my husband. EVERYONE is naive to some extent, but esp. when we are young. Hopefully reality sets in before we really do something stupid.
And what 3 cities have you picked? i still think you are going to be surprised at what living in the east can be like? Believe me, I have lived in many placing including the east. BTW, I am not a true lover on NM, but I do think you have gotten over dramatic about Farmington. Of living in a mobile home isn't always the best thing, especially for a very young couple. For some it is wonderful. NMNita
I have traveled through New Mexico many times (every chance I get) and it is where I plan to retire. "Land of Enchantment" yes indeed!! It is the "light" in New Mexico, somehow different in the high desert air, the air itself. Every area of the state is enchanted.
g2prairie: I agree with you. I've been enchanted by NM since the early 1960s and plan to move there. I haven't been to the NW and SW corners of the state yet, but I've seen the rest. What you said sounds a lot like what Georgia O'Keefe said!
beckybee22 is entitled to her opinions. Never having been to Farmington, I have no valid opinion of it. I am sure that there are places even in NM that I wouldn't want to live, such as the bad parts of Albuquerque. But most of it is splendid.
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New Mexico: Love at First Sight
