Re: [CH] LAND OF ENCHANTMENT
Rael64 (z42dkm@yahoo.com)
Sun, 6 Nov 2005 10:12:03 -0800 (PST)
RE: New Mexico (and pretty much everywhere else.)
Working on papers and have mucho reading, so pardon
the grumbling...
but ya know, beauty is in the eye of the beholder
folks. I lived in ABQ, NM for almost 2 years. I
hated (HATED) it. Most aggressive and violent city
I've ever lived in. The weather, for one (me) who
likes to be out IN the weather daily, (not enveloped
in the protective, numbing cocoon of a car, mind you)
bicycling, hiking, etc., well, generally sucked. Oh,
there were picturesque days, sure, but most days were
a challenge in guessing the Weather for the Hour.
Always changing. Frequent winds, often gusting up
into the 50+mph range. Freak "monsoons" as they call
them (only lasting a month or so, I was
told...evidently some people consider a third of the
year to equal 1 month) during which winds and massive
lightening storms rule and deluges threaten (although
admittedly, the rain is more oft a threat); and damned
if it doesn't get cold there. COLD.
I actually feared that I would not make it out of that
state alive. Put it this way: if offered a million
bucks to move back to ABQ, NM and live there for a
year, I'd refuse, no hesitation. ABQ NM is my
definition of Hell.
(Couple damn good restaurants, btw., but only a few in
a city of 800,000. Sad, really.)
And remember, 9 out of 10 people in NM do not know how
to operate a motor vehicle (this is not including the
drunk drivers who, obviously, don't remember the
rules), understand the concept of a passing lane,
realize that it is illegal in most cities to make a
U-turn (in ABQ, you just u-turn anywhere, seriously),
and...
see how this goes? I hated NM (although down the
road, Truth or Consequences and Hatch were pretty cool
and far, far more laid back), but others love(d) ABQ
and Santa Fe. So, is it a question of someone being
right or wrong? No. Rather idiotic to think so.
So, if ya like NM, move there, baby. Lots of room for
you. Doubtful one can live in Santa Fe (half a mill
for a 1 bdrm adobe was the going price when I left),
and I really really recommend you do not live in ABQ
(and if you do, get maximum insurance on your car and
your life...and if you ride a bicycle, be damned sure
you carry a cell phone and bandages; they literally
aim for you on the streets).
And if you don't like NM, well, you do like I did and
move someplace else.
Trust me, you may not be able to drive down the street
and get an (outrageously overpriced) ristra or a
fistful of hatch chiles, but you know what? Order
online, baby...the trip to NM ain't worth it. You can
probably ask them to toss in a few postcards when you
order the chiles.
But, that's only my opinion. It's worth no more than
that ("that" = "shit"). Certainly not worth arguing
about...
Thus Endeth the Ranting Sermon. Back to my bread
baking, my black eyed peas and pork (tenderloin,
grilled with a chipotle rub), and Berkeley and Locke.
Peace, Hendrix, and Chiles.......
Don M.
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