need info on Mew Mexico

[tdaniels]

I am entertaining a job position in Albuquerque NM and know absolutely nothing about the area. I figured some STers may know a little something about it to share with me other than it is hotter than hell!

[Bravo]

Have you ever been to Albuquerque? It is a beautiful area and elevated - downtown elevation is about the same as Denver: 5000+ feet. Therefore there is really not a lot of hot weather...

I have a good friend who lives in the Sandia mountains about 15 miles east of town at an elevation of approximately 6500 feet. Just a beautiful area of rugged terrain.

If you like to ski, there is a ski area just a few minutes away and Santa Fe is only about hour's drive north through a beautiful valley. There is a solid ski area in Santa Fe and just 45 minutes north of that is Taos - a superb, heavily black ski area that will challenge the best skiiers.

With all of the elevation, I think you would find moderate temps year round and low/moderate humidity...

New Mexico is not a wealthy state and there are a lot of Native Americans there that have low levels of income and education. I don't know how that would affect you one way or the other. I don't know if you have any children who would need public schools or not either...

[tdaniels]

Never been there. I have no kids yet, so I'm not too concerned about public schools. I plan on using this position as a stepping stone more than a permanant stay. Hopefully I would only be there for a couple of years and then relocate. I cant ski for crap. I just as well not even have the skis on as I just roll down the hill most of the time anyway. How is the cost of living?

[Bravo]

The cost of living is low...and I think you will have a good time there. Go take a visit...I think you will like it quite a bit..but remember it will have a rustic quality to it..

From a demographic standpoint, it is going to be much different from Iowa...there are so many Latinos and Native Americans there. I lived in San Antonio for awhile and learned to really enjoy their culture and food...

And I think you will find the beauty of the area to be very nice compared to the Mid-west. The winters will be milder despite the higher altitude.

[token_hottie]

If you like Mexican Food, you're in luck. New Mexico has the finest Mexican cuisine in the southwest. You should brush up on your Spanish before you go too.

[Davebud]

I made the mistake of not getting involved in astronomy until I moved to Washington state, New Mexico is absoulutely awesome for dark skies with good seeing. Only real problem I have with it though is that the trade off is getting used to the color brown, this is one of the 2 greenest states I have ever lived in, the other being Maine. I do not miss the summer browns of CO, and NM is a lot like CO.

PS Virginia was another decently green state.

[longiron]

I was born in Farmington which is about 150 miles north west from there but have been many times. It is a great place , but like any place it has its down side. I would go back in a minuet if not for my kids. There is also some great golf courses in the area.

[VtDivot]

Originally Posted by tdaniels

Never been there. I have no kids yet, so I'm not too concerned about public schools. I plan on using this position as a stepping stone more than a permanant stay. Hopefully I would only be there for a couple of years and then relocate. I cant ski for crap. I just as well not even have the skis on as I just roll down the hill most of the time anyway. How is the cost of living?

I said the same things before leaving Canada to move to VT LOL. We've been here for 5 years now and have no plans on leaving.

Also - we had a child here and we ski now also

Kinda like a parallel universe LOL