Reviews & Comments
Albuquerque, NM
re: Should we cancel our trip? - 4/1/2013 -
4/30/2013Hi Sperling. My husband and I are moving to Albuquerque in the next month. I was born and raised in Denver. He's from Texas but has gone to school and lived in DC the last twelve years. We have both traveled the world and are very excited to move to New Mexico. Currently we live in a ritzy suburb in Denver and are unhappy just because we don't value the lifestyle here. I've visited New Mexico five times and am in love with the people and the state. I am very outgoing and have met so many interesting people. At least a dozen people have given me their contact information and offered to assist me with help finding housing, schools, play groups for my kids, etc... I've talked to multiple people born and raised in Albuquerque and they love it! I spoke with a couple living in Santa Fe, originally from Albuquerque and now that they are having a child they plan on moving back. No, it is not fast paced like the East Coast but people who live here seem truly happy. One thing I noticed immediately was how people take pride in their work. Wether it's a cab driver, a gas station attendant, grocery store clerk, everyone seemed quick to help and genuinely happy with what they were doing. Twice now flying back to Denver, I've had the privilege of sitting next to physicists who told me why they love New Mexico and about the people who live there. Value lies within culture and family, not material things which I find refreshing. While crime is an issue it is more gang violence or violence between people who know one another. As one physicist said "some of the youth may be a threat to their rivals, they're still afraid of their mothers and respect their grandmothers. Recently, while exploring I decided to use the public transit system, one thing I love about the East Coast. I ended up taking the wrong bus, it was getting dark and it seemed very apparent I did not belong in that area. Bravely I asked a group of young men how to get back to my hotel and though they looked a bit rough on the outside they were very polite, and helped me get back. Not once did I feel any sort of threat and got the feeling that they were being polite because that was how they were raised. The cost of living is much less and to us that means a much smaller mortgage payment and more opportunities to continue traveling. I have never posted on one of these sites but felt compelled after reading so many negative comments like you have. Some people will be miserable no matter where they are. When I came to visit I felt like this was a place I could live happily and though it's not perfect I would like to be apart of the community that makes New Mexico a friendly culturally rich state! The best of luck to you on your search.
Denver, CO
Forever optimist -
4/30/2013After traveling the world I would have to say anyplace can be great if you make it so. I am always open to meeting new people and trying new things. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Denver so any negative opinions I have are related to "suburbia life" and now that I'm older I am not a fan of the soccer mom mentality that seems to be corrupting our youth and our originality. I have met some amazing people here; natives and transplants. There is a lot that the city has to offer and numerous outdoor activities. I am moving, shortly and my advice to anyone moving to Denver, or anyplace else is to own where you live, be proud, if you see a problem, don't complain but work to fix it. So many posts I have read make such broad generalizations. No one will ever be perfect but anyplace can be better if you make it so. If you are reading this with plans to move to Denver then visit, talk to people. Don't base a decision on posts created by random people whom you have never met and may have nothing in common with.