Albuquerque in 2006!!

Tonchi · 02-03-2006, 04:04 PM

I moved to Albuquerque shortly after I got out of college and it was the happiest time of my life. IBM transferred me there at my request because they needed to cut back in Washington DC, and when I drove over the Tijeras pass in late March and saw all that brown stretched out in front of me it was such a culture shock that I almost wanted to turn back. Within a few months, I never wanted to live anywhere else. The area is desolate by Eastern or Pacific standards, but the sere beauty really grows on you. It's dry, but you will learn to love it because you don't feel as uncomfortable when it's hot. The wind blows a lot during some times of the year, it takes getting used to. Several mountain ranges outside the city are a spectacular view, and a ski resort is only a tram ride away from tennis courts in the valley, so you can sunbathe and ski in the same day. There are thousands of totally unique places to visit within a day's drive, and the roads range from first-class to non-existent so it depends on your sense of adventure how far you will go. Myself, I went everywhere and saw as much as possible, but of course I love Indians and archaeology and horses. Prices are very reasonable, but unfortunately wages are pegged proportionally lower. In fact, the only criticism I would have of Albuquerque and New Mexico in general is that the low average income with the resulting low tax ingress has led to dangerously poor prison facilities and other social services and I doubt they will fix that anytime soon although bringing in large employers like Intel will help. I love the Southwest/modern architecture. Big variety of housing and lots of huge apartment complexes with great ammenities. Excellent restaurants, and two black families who used to compete for the best barbeque in the state. The University of New Mexico is attractive and reputable (in my field anyway, which wasn't Computer Science) and has an excellent basketball team (which may be on suspension right now, however, but isn't everybody?) The bar scene is fantastic and there is plenty of singles social life. There actually is an intelligencia, you will have to dig but it is there, and the folks in the sciences (my boyfriend worked for E.G.& G.) are everywhere to stimulate conversation. All in all, I wish I had never left. I think you will love it there, unless you are transferring from Seattle. Those people never seem to adapt.

FallenFairy · 02-06-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonchi

I moved to Albuquerque shortly after I got out of college and it was the happiest time of my life. IBM transferred me there at my request because they needed to cut back in Washington DC.

And that says it all - I work in DC right now - and am transferring to a job at Intel in Albuquerque! LOL - what a small world.
I am really loooking forward to it - but I know it will be a challenge at the start. I was in the Pacific NW for so long that Virginia seemed like a forgien land for the first year... (Big V can relate? - nothing beats the Puget Sound).

Thanks for the great pics everyone and the wonderful info Tonchi!

02-03-2006, 04:04 PM	#1
Tonchi Victim of gravity Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hiding in plain sight Posts: 1,412	I moved to Albuquerque shortly after I got out of college and it was the happiest time of my life. IBM transferred me there at my request because they needed to cut back in Washington DC, and when I drove over the Tijeras pass in late March and saw all that brown stretched out in front of me it was such a culture shock that I almost wanted to turn back. Within a few months, I never wanted to live anywhere else. The area is desolate by Eastern or Pacific standards, but the sere beauty really grows on you. It's dry, but you will learn to love it because you don't feel as uncomfortable when it's hot. The wind blows a lot during some times of the year, it takes getting used to. Several mountain ranges outside the city are a spectacular view, and a ski resort is only a tram ride away from tennis courts in the valley, so you can sunbathe and ski in the same day. There are thousands of totally unique places to visit within a day's drive, and the roads range from first-class to non-existent so it depends on your sense of adventure how far you will go. Myself, I went everywhere and saw as much as possible, but of course I love Indians and archaeology and horses. Prices are very reasonable, but unfortunately wages are pegged proportionally lower. In fact, the only criticism I would have of Albuquerque and New Mexico in general is that the low average income with the resulting low tax ingress has led to dangerously poor prison facilities and other social services and I doubt they will fix that anytime soon although bringing in large employers like Intel will help. I love the Southwest/modern architecture. Big variety of housing and lots of huge apartment complexes with great ammenities. Excellent restaurants, and two black families who used to compete for the best barbeque in the state. The University of New Mexico is attractive and reputable (in my field anyway, which wasn't Computer Science) and has an excellent basketball team (which may be on suspension right now, however, but isn't everybody?) The bar scene is fantastic and there is plenty of singles social life. There actually is an intelligencia, you will have to dig but it is there, and the folks in the sciences (my boyfriend worked for E.G.& G.) are everywhere to stimulate conversation. All in all, I wish I had never left. I think you will love it there, unless you are transferring from Seattle. Those people never seem to adapt. __________________ Everything you've ever heard about Fresno is true.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)