Wait. You live in El Paso, and air-conditioning is considered an extravagance?

Not sure about El Paso - but here in NM the norm is swamp coolers - not refrigerated air, I'd never heard of a swamp cooler until I moved here, but they work!

They were common on tall buildings, in the northeast, until a few years ago. But wasted water and legionnaires disease became a concern.

What, swamp coolers, or Texans?

New Mexicans. :p

Yep. We had a swamp cooler (basically a cage fan with a constantly wet filter to knock off ten or fifteen degrees) running constantly in the hot months. It used a lot of water, sometimes the fill valve would get stuck and it would rain indoors, it was noisy and only cooled our hallway, walls and doors blocked the air otherwise. Of course, if we could actually open any windows, I might have been able to set up a cross-breeze and possibly be cooler but I like this answer better.

If you look around, most houses within my view have these "coolers" on the roof (ugly too), very few have what Texians refer to as Refrigerated air, and what everyone else calls air conditioning. You have to cover it up in winter too, or else there will be a drain on your heat. But a good breeze will tear the cover off and send you chasing it down the street.

been there, done that!


Hey - New mexicans don't carry legionnaires disease...


we got hanta virus!;)

Some type of a/c is a necessity here, either swamp coolers or refrigerated air. I have refrigerated air, but swamp coolers work just fine most of the time and run cheaper.

You couldn't PAY me a million bucks to live east of the Rockies. I consider myself a Western Girl. Born in Calif, lived in the Pacific Northwest, the InterMountain West, and the Southwest. I've visited back east, and didn't like it much. It's very different in outlook, culture, and climate, and I don't blame Brian's wife for not wanting to move out there. I suppose it's what you were raised with.

We really liked Seattle. We'd probably still be out there if we hadn't had kids.

Born in PA
Lived in the Pac NW and VA
had never been to the Southwest but I love it!

You both can have it. Deserts are not meant for human habitation and you'll never convince an Eastern city boy otherwise. I know some lovely towns outside Philly that don't cost nearly as much as New York City, strongly resemble the Country and yet are only twenty minutes to an hour away from what I consider to be civilization.

Here, if I can't find it in town, I have to pack an overnight bag and make an ATM withdrawal to get it. I have been through genuine ghost towns not far from here.

I'm pretty leery of the desert thing as well.

NEPA is right lousy with Texans right now. There was one in my field when I got home from work tonight.

Just talk to it in a soothing voice. Whatever you do, don't frighten it. Its OK to call la migra, because they no longer euthanize those caught up in their claws. Instead they will foster the migrant until they can find living situations back in Mexico.

BTW, here in the forlorn corners, it gets plenty hot for me - 90F on most summer days. All I can afford is a little room conditioner, but it helps.

Should you look it in its eye?

I just have to point out that this is the first and last time that I will see anything outside of PA or TX referred to as BFE. This earns points.

I'm always happy to see NM peeps on here, but you guys make me so homesick. Just send me red and green chiles, OK?

Just let me know when you need a fix Blue - I'd be happy to send a NM care package - I have a hard time living without green! :)

Sure. I wouldn't mind!