Reviews & Comments
Albuquerque, NM
3 years later -
7/4/2010I have lived in the East Mountains of Albuquerque for 3 years now. Pros: climate is good, plenty of sunshine, little snow (high desert type of climate), beautiful landscapes, plenty to do outdoors, and other fun stuff. Housing is still reasonable. Albuquerque still has a small town feel to it, and does not have the issues many metro areas have (yet). Cons: government is corrupt yet they keep electing people who have committed fraud and/or who are unethical; crime is rampant, DWI ratio is one of the highest in the country and gangs are everywhere; offenders get away with a slap on the wrist, the justice system here is a joke; it is not what you know, it is who you know if you want a job; people are clickish here and do not let outsiders in, if you are not a native or local, forget about fitting in. (I have been called names because of my national origin). Jobs pay next to nothing, and a significant portion of the population would much rather be on welfare than work. Like a previous poster indicated, there is no motivation to better oneself, and why should they. The system here is designed to let them live on the back of taxpayers. Although I have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the land and the wildlife, I cannot wait to leave.
Denver, CO
Climate and pros and cons -
7/4/2010Lived in Denver and truly enjoyed people. For a large metro area, I was very (and pleasantly) surprised by how friendly, courteous, and helpful locals were. There are plenty of green spaces around town, parks where you can bicycle, walk, swim, picnic, fish, and I have eaten at some of the best and most exotic restaurants there (ex: Nepalese). There is plenty to do for everyone's taste, especially if you are an outdoors person. The best second hand stores are in Denver. I bought some incredible, designer clothing for next to nothing. I did not like the weather however. It has more cloudy than sunny days, and lots of rain, hail and snow. Since I am a desert rat, it depressed me after a while and I left. But if the weather does not bother you, it is a great place to live. Its share of crime and problems is no better or worse than other major cities throughout the country.
Denver, CO
Pros and Cons of Denver -
5/6/2010I lived in Denver, CO twice, and here are the pros and cons I can share with you:
Pros: Denverites are helpful, kind, and friendly. When my husband and I moved into our new home in a Lakewood neighborhood, neighbors poured out of their homes to help us unload the truck and we were finished in 2 hours, thanks to their kindness. I once was stuck in the snow and a motorist stopped to help me. You do not see this much friendliness in large cities anymore. Denverites are better (and more courteous) drivers than other large cities I have lived in. Denver has some great restaurants with ethnic cuisine from around the world, and there are green spaces (parks) everywhere, where you and your family can picnic, jog, fish, swim, etc...The Denver downtown library is one of the best libraries I have ever visited in the country. There is plenty to do, you are only a 20-30 minutes drive away if you want to get into nature, which I enjoyed.
Cons: The Chamber of Commerce and Visitors' Guides are lying about the 300 days of sunshine per year. The winters resemble those in the mid-west (minus the humidity) extremely cold and snow, snow, and more snow till you get sick of it. Summers can get hot, but there is plenty of rain mostly in the afternoons. The cloudiest, grayest summer I have spent anywhere was in Denver. I became depressed as I barely saw the sun. I have a Phd and despite 7 months of intense job searching, was unable to find employment. I agree with another poster here that plenty of educated job seekers have problems finding work in Denver, I was one of them.
If the climate does not bother you, it really is not a bad place to live. I felt welcome there, people were awesome. Just could not take the weather, and moved further South.
Albuquerque, NM
re: Cost of housing to high????? - 4/18/2007 -
1/15/2008Not true! Housing here is more expensive than in AZ (except Flagstaff).
Albuquerque, NM
re: Where to look for Jobs - 11/4/2007 -
1/15/2008Eastside is correct (NE). And frankly, having lived here for 7 months (it took me 5 months to find work here when I relocated from another state)and now helping others find work, I can tell you there are a lot more educated people looking for work then they are openings. In fact, quite a few UNM graduates move out of state because they cannot find work here. Great city to retire, lousy place to work.
Denver, CO
Current Job Market -
1/15/2008I used to live in Denver in 2001 and loved it. Currently living in Albuquerque, and while I enjoy it as well, the salaries here are ridiculously low as compared to the cost of living (especially housing). Thinking of going back to CO but reading various posts here makes me hesitate, including one that said that many, highly educated people compete for few positions and remain unemployed for a long time. And how does one find work (NON entry level) in Denver? The Denver Post does not have classifieds for jobs as many other papers throughout the country do (including the Albuquerque Journal). I am a 51 year old boomer, would that be a problem in a city full of younger workers?
Any feedback and suggestions are welcome and appreciated.