Appreciating Where You Are

My family and I recently moved from Dallas, TX, to Albuquerque, NM, so I could take a job I'd been offered and had campaigned for for over a year.  I'm not complaining; it's the job I wanted with the boss I wanted, so it was worth the wait and effort.

So here we are in a city where neither of us has lived and where we know no one.  My first impression was crap, I made a big mistake.  My kid has to start at a new school, we have to find a house, my wife will be lonely, blah, blah, blah.

It turns out, I needn't have worried.

Albuquerque is a very, very underrated place to be, especially by those who live here.  It has an amazing climate (not dusty-dry desert like other parts of the Southwest), a vibrant cultural scene, easy to live with traffic, and lower cost of living.  Plus, everyone I've met is very friendly, once you meet them.  Maybe not so outgoing to complete strangers like in Texas, but sure nice enough once you acknowledge each other.

We just bought a house in a carefully selected neighborhood because, like any other city, where you live is everything.  Schools in APS are hit and miss; a little research goes a long way.  Some are dreadful and others are excellent.  Property values vary greatly too.  The south and west sides have some pretty bad schools but housing is cheap.  The northeast has great schools but houses are pricier.  If you're single, you should probably live near Nob Hill, an older but hipper area close to UNM and known for getting dicier as the sun gets lower.  Married with kids calls for either the Far Northeast Heights or out of Albuquerque altogether, in Rio Rancho.  Home prices there are bargain-basement because of the unknown future of Intel's plant, a major employer to the area.  Plus, getting from RR to ABQ is nightmarish during rush hour.  But if the commute doesn't bug you, I'd strongly recommend looking there.

So we bought a place in the Far Northeast Heights.  Lovely home, not too expensive, mainly because it was so out of date.  It needs everything.  So we're doing some things now and more when we again have money.  The views are great and the neighbors friendly and long-term; most have been there at least 20 years.  Says something for the area.

Anyway, as I was saying, Albuquerque-ians (sp?) under-rate their hometown.  I think it's because most have only lived here.  I'm not dog-cussing DFW (although traffic there ruins the whole experience); I'm just saying they should get out more.  This place is fantastic!

Mountains!  Right over there!  Can't miss 'em.  The Sandias and the Manzanos lie at the eastern edge of Albuquerque and are beautiful.  Dormant volcanoes lie to the west.  A river runs through it: the Rio Grande provides fishing and fun most of the year.  Any trip to ABQ must include a ride up the tramway to the crest.  Breathtaking and far more reminiscent of Colorado than stereotypes of New Mexico.  Bring your camera and appetite.  There's a fine restaurant up there.  Don't like trams?   Well, you can drive to the peak from the other side of the mountain.  It takes you to a spot a little to the north of the tram station but there's a little diner there as well as souvenirs and a great observation point and amazing trails

Corrales Winery looking east to the Sandias.

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There's kayaking on the river, hiking almost everywhere and hey, Santa Fe's only an hour away.  Heck, take the RailRunner!  For $9, you can ride the rails to Santa Fe and not worry about traffic or parking.

Don't miss Albuquerque.  It's an almost undiscovered gem.  And I think I love it.