There's plenty to do in ABQ
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10/10/2009
I have lived in Albuquerque for a year now. I was a transplant from Portland, Oregon. The sun seems to shine nearly every day here. In a year I can count on one hand the number of full-day overcast days. Storms here are dramatic and magical; usually welcome. The local food here is excellent, but it is difficult ot find decent Asian food. What they call "authentic" here is a New Mexico version of Thai and Viet Namese.
The roads here are the best I've seen; built over the flattest part of the state,well maintained, great visibility. Given there is virtually no inclement weather here, it's hard for me to understand why there are so many horrific traffic accidents. Every state says they have the worst drivers, but after living in Indiana, California, Alaska and Oregon, I'd say New Mexico definitely has THE worst drivers. They claim they are tough on drunk drivers here, but you keep hearing stories of people getting over 10 DUIs. How is that even possible?
The scenery, weather, cultural mix and general friendliness of the people couldn't be any better here, but I think many of Albuquerque's problems(corrupt politics, high drop-out rate, higher crime) are directly due to the low quality public schools. When the gov't says they are cutting the school budget, people come out to protest the cutting of the sports programs. To hell with their children's ability to write or speak.
Many of the businesses are corrupt here as well, yet very friendly to you while screwing you over. You have to be a very conscious consumer, and do some investigation before making potentially regrettable purchases. Don't let that scare you though, just be wise. Desperation is rarely a choice, and some of these little places are just barely staying afloat.
Within 15 minutes of downtown ABQ is an extensive trail system in the Sandia Mountains, and skiing in the winter is an hour drive tops. If you have kiddos, there are tons of festivals, museums, and outdoor rec opportunities. The cost of living is very reasonable, and some types of technical/professional jobs are still in demand, although non-skilled labor jobs get gobbled up pretty quick.
Lou | Albuquerque, NM