Don't believe the biased generalizations people gi
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7/20/2015
I have lived here 25+ years. I have been in ONE auto accident (minor). I have been robbed ZERO times. I have been assaulted ZERO times. My home has NEVER been broken into. My car has been broken into ONCE (at a storage facility that I no longer use). I have NEVER experienced bad police interactions (I've only been pulled over twice in my life). The list goes on.
Now let me be straight: This city isn't perfect. We do have a high drunk driving rate. Our education is pretty low. We do have a bad job market. Violent crime and drug use, while high compared to many cities, from what I have personally experienced, is mainly concentrated in certain parts of town. I would stray away from moving to anywhere south of I-40 pretty much, and most places in the river valley. Stay out of those places after dark. It's that easy. Try the E, NE, N, NW, W parts of town if you're looking for a nice place to live.
The weather here, aside from the windy spring season, is some of the best you could ask for. In winter, it gets no colder than 25 on average. Summer, no hotter than 100, and NO HUMIDITY! Fall is absolutely gorgeous and my favorite time of year. Spring, while the temperature is moderate, can get windy, sometimes really windy, and stay that way for a day or two. Otherwise, we've been getting a fair share of rain as of late. Thunderstorms, the occasional flash flood, and forest fires (at least the smoke) are about the worst natural disasters we have to deal with out here. Hate earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, hurricanes, catastrophic floods? They pretty much don't exist here. Like sunny days? We get more than Florida. Like snow? We get a decent amount every year.
And then there's the scenery. Whether you're on the east side or west, chances are you've got a killer view of the vistas in and around our city. The Sandia's majesty are there to greet you every sunrise, while our humble volcano on the west side gives a serene backdrop to our epic sunsets. Like hiking, bicycling, and/or running? Albuquerque has been highly ranked on multiple lists for those recreational activities. Like the outdoors in general? There are mountains in every direction, most are a 1/2 to one hour drive from your front door. Hate traffic? We have one of the best commutes in the country.
Like history? We have some of the oldest archaeological and historic sites of any place in the USA. Our culture here is wide and varied, with mostly ethnic Hispanic, Native American, and Southern U.S. influences. Like Mexican food? Try native New Mexican food, it's some of the best food in the world as far as I'm concerned. These are just some of my favorite things about this place.
Personally, I wouldn't move here on a whim. This city isn't for everyone. Try it out on vacation at least once, though. Come during the International Balloon Fiesta. Come during the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow. Or just come visit whenever you can and ride the worlds longest tram, take a Breaking Bad tour around the city, try the local foods, fares, or some of our famous micro-breweries, or take a train ride to Santa Fe on the Rail Runner. You might be more impressed by this place than you think. And if you don't like it while on vacation, you'll know it's not the place for you. I know some will agree, but many others will fall in love with this city and this state, and hopefully come to stay. It has sure made an impression on me, and I hope I never have to leave.
Jay | Albuquerque, NM