Not what you think
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4/24/2016
I have to admit. After searching through rentals in Clovis as well as Portales, we decided that Portales was a bit more organized and prettier in comparison.
Now after living here I can say that this place is absolutely the pits. While ascetically more sound, it is of my opinion there is absolutely nothing charming, cost effective, or endearing to living here or anywhere within the area.
Here are my points as to why:
Properties: Unless you enjoy living in a run down ramshackled abode (can you call them that), trailer, stinky 1960 wall to wall carpeted( yeah the kitchen and bathroom too) home you will pay out the nose for it. In a typical town or City you are likely to find price point to match every income, but here. Fat Chance. A $800 per month rental means college kids, roommate living arangements etc are going to be what has come before. Owners of the properties don't want to fix them up, so get ready for 1960/70's shag carpet in avocado greens, chocolate browns, harvest gold wall to wall carpet that has not been treated, cleaned, sanitized since it was put in. You may also find in this price point residences that smell of urine with staining to match. Below $800 expect to find holes in walls, questionable leaks, flies, unsound flooring, and the possibility of fire due to lax building codes.
Above $900 you will find the typical build in 1980's home with again questionable code issues, but they are less likely as they are newer (ha).
Building codes are not a big deal here, and there isn't so much as an enforcement team so if you want to save a few bucks, build your own abode, a tiny house, use a rail car, or shipping container to live in. Its much cheaper, and way safer.
Gas prices: UGH. I have been here a year. Yet strangely though gas prices rise and fall with the markets, they don't here. They have remained the same since we arrived. Which brings me to, if you want to do anything you must have a car, and you must drive. You must love to drive because if you don't you will be stuck here and you don't want that. Because of the need to drive at minimum 2 hours away you spend a lot of money on wear and tear on your car, and a ton on gas.
Water: You must purchase city water but also drinking water. That is a big expense. You wouldn't cook with the stuff and bathing in it could get you some bacterial infection that you will have to pay out of pocket to see a doctor. Also the surrounding area has run out of most of its ground water, so the town will dry up soon.
Amazon.com will become your best shopping option and that costs money too because of shipping. You can't get much here, and if you do think long term storage. Things you find here including foods are meant to have a long, long shelf-life.
Quality of life:
If you enjoy being beat to death by wind, drinking questionable water, going to the store only to find them closed after 6PM , and resturants closing earlier than the norm, then this place is for you.
No activities to really do here. You can choose to go to two bars that are in the town but they close pretty early. There is always walmart or the dollar store to saunter around but thats just about it. You can catch a play at the high school or teeny tiny university.
Coffee: There is no coffee. They have brown water that is flavored with sugar and cream if you put it in, but most of your coffee options are so far from actual coffee you may just give up and do without.
Do you love cow poop dust? Yeah its everywhere, in your hair, in your home, in your car.
Flies. You must love them and have a very close relationship with them. So close you want to share the most intimate of tasks with them because they are so prolific you can't even open a door without 10 or more coming into the house or car.
If choice was an option I would steer clear of this place. The roads are used as waste water ditches. There are more potholes than people, the cost of living is not what is indicated in this article because they are not using the above factors.
Do you have an out of state plate? Expect to be pulled over regularly just to see what your doing in the area.
Expect to pay more rent, expect to get attitude from locals, and expect to get out of this area of NM at your earliest opportunity.
Clovis is worse, and I will give you that, but this place..
Jean | Portales, NM