What it's really like to live in Albuquerque
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8/28/2015
As a life-long (50 something) resident (left a few of times for college and adventure), an educated, law-abiding, non-drug using female, (oh and being caucasian), this is the most unfriendly, oppressive, expensive, uneducated, filthy, hostile, low-life friendly place I have ever had the displeasure of experiencing. I grew up here in the 70's and 80's and it was OK - just OK. We moved here from Ohio and my older siblings, who had experienced living elsewhere, begged my parents to go back. They stayed for the climate. Coming from Ohio, this must have seemed like a lovely climate. Living here is a whole different story. If you are an avid hiker and biker, then this is a good place for that because the number of days all year, where one can have outdoor activities, is great. If you want to do other things such as walk around and experience a real downtown, experience a culture other than low-rider hispanic trash, shop and dine at local Mom-and-Pop stores (everything is huge box stores and huge chains), attend festivals, art shows, museums, art galleries, etc., etc., then this is NOT the place for you. There is one culture here and that is the hispanic culture. If you are white - you are treated with hostility. That was even the case growing up here. The dream job doesn't exist here, and the low-paying crap you will have to settle for will be given to a hispanic relative of the business owner. That's the reality. Housing is ridiculously expensive. Yes, it may seem cheap if you are moving here from NYC, Los Angeles, Seattle, or some other metropolitan place, but housing is NOT commensurate with the low wages. You can get a trashed-out fixer for about $200k that will need another $50k just to make it habitable. Schools are second to last in the nation. So, that said, if you are moving here with a family and education is important, choose anywhere else but Mississippi! I am about to graduate with my degree this coming spring, and we can't leave fast enough. I came back here and stayed because my family is here, but now not even that is enough. I want my son to have something to do to keep him away from the rampant drug and gang culture. My son is intelligent and the kids at his school pick on him relentlessly because he is smart and loves to read and travel. There are a couple of private schools here that have ok ratings, but the tuition is around $26k per year. If you are a physician or independently wealthy, that might be a good option, but for the other 99.9% - well, you guess. Don't move here! Don't retire here! Don't raise kids here! Don't come here thinking you can change things because the hispanics don't want change and you will get chased out. Don't come here thinking you will love the sunshine because you will curse it after a short time. It is not just HOT but you are at 5200 feet in elevation so it is the most intense heat you can ever feel. The winters are dry and cold. It rarely snows here (don't believe the 26" of snowfall) - it hasn't snowed that much in Albuquerque that much since I have lived here. Perhaps in the mountains East of the city, but not in Albuquerque. It is violent and filthy and people have no respect for property or each other. New beautification projects that have been placed around the city get covered with graffiti within 24 hours or destroyed. You cannot walk downtown unless you are a gun or knife-wielding gang member (or a drunk that doesn't know any better). So there it is, from someone who knows. I have been here over 50 years. Just sayin...........
Ok, now in all fairness, let me tell a few things that I love about Albuquerque and New Mexico. I DO love the fall. It is gorgeous here with the fall colors and the smell of roasting chile. Jemez, Santa Fe, Taos, Ruidoso, and a select few other places, are absolutely lovely to visit just about any time of year. The sunsets are the most spectacular I have ever seen. The turquoise jewelry is to die for. I'm really struggling to find anything else worth mentioning.
Juniper | Albuquerque, NM