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Life is what you make of it. I love living life in Abq. It has the perfect mix for enjoying a quality, safe, affordable life with easy access to the great outdoor adventures, other cities, healthy activities, the arts, different cultures, foods, religion, outstanding weather, architecture, history, investing, and so much more. If you take care of your business...it'll take care of you.
Thanks everyone, for all the info. Santa Fe, in your opinion is Pojoaque Valley a welcoming community to outsiders? Based on this forum, Pojoaque seems like a place that offers a good balance between affordability, safety and tolerance- is this an accurate description? Also, pojoaque seems pretty close to Espanola, a town which has some fascinating history. Some on this forum seem to believe that Espanola is an unwelcoming place to newcomers, particularly Anglos- Would this be a place to avoid? It seems convenient for shopping and visiting if living in Pojoaque.
Thanks everyone, for all the info. Santa Fe, in your opinion is Pojoaque Valley a welcoming community to outsiders? Based on this forum, Pojoaque seems like a place that offers a good balance between affordability, safety and tolerance- is this an accurate description? Also, pojoaque seems pretty close to Espanola, a town which has some fascinating history. Some on this forum seem to believe that Espanola is an unwelcoming place to newcomers, particularly Anglos- Would this be a place to avoid? It seems convenient for shopping and visiting if living in Pojoaque.
Pojoaque Valley:
I would say it is welcoming to outsiders except that many people have lived here all their lives and have plenty of family and long-term friends around. So they will be friendly but not necessarily want to become a close friend. Our closest friends are a relatively new couple like us and another couple that have lived here 30 years but were not born here.
Incidentally, a problem for some is that in many places the housing tends to be mixed. A nice home or even an estate might be next door to a lot with a decrepit trailer or two. However there are areas where the housing is consistent. Generally and on very rough average the housing is best to the east in the traditional area of Nambe and in some portions of Pojoaque east of 84/285, then declines heading west through the rest of Pojoaque, Jacona, Jaconita, El Rancho.
Espanola
What aspect of the history are you interested in? I have visited Bond House a few times -- but you can do only that so often.
Yes, Espanola is convenient and I do a fair amount of shopping and eating there. Primarily my shopping there is at Loews, Walgreens and Walmart rather than any sort of local shop. The Espanola farmers' market is reasonable in season and IMO offers considerable more reasonable prices than Santa Fe or Pojoaque. For groceries we have started going to the Smith's in either White Rock or Los Alamos.
There a number of local owned restaurants up there in Espanola where we eat. However, I have gotten increasingly leery of going up there Friday or Saturday night to dine -- just because almost every time I'd go past a serious arrest -- a large vehicle stopped with a several guys being handcuffed and frisked by police from three or four cars. We are not talking speeding tickets here.
A lot of people up there are perfectly welcoming to Anglos and I (an obvious Anglo) went door to door canvassing in the last election with no problems and I know that Anglos live up there.
Whether you would want to live up there with the crime and drugs and alcoholism is another question however. I used to think all that was exaggerated and maybe motivated by prejudice. Now I am not so sure. There are least four Espanola policemen currently under investigation for felonies.
I don't mean to offend anyone, but you sort of get the feeling that government has broken down up there. I went once to report a stolen cell phone and it took four hours. I got sent back and forth between two different buildings like a yo-yo. Canvassing, you can go looking for say 113 Smith Street and find three of them -- two on one side of the street and one on the other.
thanks for the information, Sante fe. When I come for a visit I will be sure to check out Pojoaque. As for Espanola, It seems like an ok place to go for stores, but not to live in. I only mention the history because their town website advertises Espanola as this great historical place steeped in tradition. I will be going to NM in April and will check out Rio Rancho, Pojoaque, Los Alamos, and Alamogordo in the south. i will let you all know my impressions. Thanks for all your help!
thanks for the information, Sante fe. When I come for a visit I will be sure to check out Pojoaque. As for Espanola, It seems like an ok place to go for stores, but not to live in. I only mention the history because their town website advertises Espanola as this great historical place steeped in tradition. I will be going to NM in April and will check out Rio Rancho, Pojoaque, Los Alamos, and Alamogordo in the south. i will let you all know my impressions. Thanks for all your help!
Good luck and do remember to let us know how it comes out.
Have lived here for 40 years and I like Las Cruces. It has a university and cultural events. I think the crime is less than you will find in other cities of similar size. Weather is good and so are the school systems. Good luck in your research! But, Las Cruces would be my choice.
thanks for the information, Sante fe. When I come for a visit I will be sure to check out Pojoaque. As for Espanola, It seems like an ok place to go for stores, but not to live in. I only mention the history because their town website advertises Espanola as this great historical place steeped in tradition. I will be going to NM in April and will check out Rio Rancho, Pojoaque, Los Alamos, and Alamogordo in the south. i will let you all know my impressions. Thanks for all your help!
If you have time consider checking out Albuquerque. We moved there from a small midwestern community and the people are very friendly and helpful. It really does not feel like a large city.
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