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Location: northern Vermont - previously NM, WA, & MA
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Wow, interesting to see my posts from early 2011 after my first trip out here. I've changed my mind on a lot of things that I had previously posted on. I've grown to like Phoenix, and outgrow ABQ after a 3 year stint here. One thing hasn't changed, I love the desert just as much if not more now, than I did after my first trip out here in March 2011. I guess that's why I was so enamored with ABQ, all about the desert.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cityKing
Albuquerque is a midwest city in the desert, their is no jobs and no opportunity there.
I wouldn't call it a Midwest city, it's more of a frontier kind of city and for that it has more Western traits and doesn't really look like any cities found in states like Missouri, Indiana, or Wisconsin. Perhaps a bit like Oklahoma City meets Fresno in the high desert, or something to that effect.
As to the jobs part, yes mostly true I don't see a lot of growth happening here anytime soon. They need to fix the state of education in New Mexico before any meaningful or robust economic activity lands here. But for me, the irony is I've gone further in my career and I earn more money here than I ever did in Boston. Funny that, anomaly.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cityKing
If you chose Albuquerque it's all because A.) You're a midwesterner or B.) Can't Afford Vegas..
A) Actually I'm a New Englander that found the climate and a job prospect very appealing here, along with the cost of living. I'm not in it for the long haul, but it was a good run.
B) Well I managed Boston and Seattle, so I can certainly afford Las Vegas. I just couldn't ever fathom living in Las Vegas, it's too....well....Vegas!
Last edited by Champ le monstre du lac; 11-05-2014 at 09:03 PM..
Albuquerque is a midwest city in the desert, their is no jobs and no opportunity there.
Vegas is close to Lake Tahoe, AZ. So Cal and has year round warm weather.
If you chose Albuquerque it's all because A.) You're a midwesterner or B.) Can't Afford Vegas.
What on Earth are you talking about? Albuquerque a "Midwest city"? Vegas close to Lake Tahoe? I've seen a LOT of geographically challenged posts in these forums before, but this one goes into the hall of fame (or shame).
Reno is close to Lake Tahoe. Vegas is 445 miles, or over 7 hours by car from Lake Tahoe. Does that really seem "close" to you?
Vegas is close to Lake Mead. Big whoop.
And ABQ a "Midwest" city? I won't even stoop to explain that one.
And Vegas gets pretty chilly in the winter, so forget the "year-round warmth" bit.
I have lived in Vegas before. Four years... and no thanks. I'd take ABQ in a heartbeat over Vegas. Even if I was a billionaire.
What on Earth are you talking about? Albuquerque a "Midwest city"?
When I say midwest city, I am referring to slower / more conservative style city.
Albuquerque has it's own culture and own style, but it's not nearly as progressive as east/west coast style cities.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobloblawslawblog
Vegas close to Lake Tahoe? I've seen a LOT of geographically challenged posts in these forums before, but this one goes into the hall of fame (or shame).
Reno is close to Lake Tahoe. Vegas is 445 miles, or over 7 hours by car from Lake Tahoe. Does that really seem "close" to you?
Vegas is close to Lake Mead. Big whoop.
Close to you and close to me are two different things. Close to me is driving distance, 7 hours is drivable.
Also if you take a plane (which is totally optionial) it cut's down time considerably
The fact that you are in "driving distance" to these surrounding locations is great.
What is Albuquerque close to again? Other than Santa Fe and Taos ?... Wait..No where...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobloblawslawblog
And ABQ a "Midwest" city? I won't even stoop to explain that one.
When I say midwest city, I am referring to slower / more conservative style city.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobloblawslawblog
And Vegas gets pretty chilly in the winter, so forget the "year-round warmth" bit.
Give me Vegas winter over Albuquerque winter anyday.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobloblawslawblog
I have lived in Vegas before. Four years... and no thanks. I'd take ABQ in a heartbeat over Vegas. Even if I was a billionaire.
If you chose Albuquerque it's all because A.) You're a midwesterner or B.) Can't Afford Vegas.
The Real Reality.
1.) Vegas has everything Albuquerque has and more.
2.) Vegas has an excellent geographic location
3.) Vegas is a modern city with great outdoors, greater suburbs, even better weather
4.) Albuquerque is still stuck in the 1950's, while Vegas continues to grow.
5.) Vegas is more exciting than Albuquerque will ever be.
6.) Balloon fiesta gets old fast in Albuquerque
7.) Better to have lake mead than no lake at all.
8.) Vegas has better casinos
9.) Vegas has world class shopping.
10.) Nevada has no state income tax
11.) Opportunities continue to struggle in Albuquerque, not in Vegas.
12.) Vegas is more of a city than Albuquerque will ever be.
If you chose Albuquerque it's all because A.) You're a midwesterner or B.) Can't Afford Vegas.
The Real Reality.
1.) Vegas has everything Albuquerque has and more.
2.) Vegas has an excellent geographic location
3.) Vegas is a modern city with great outdoors, greater suburbs, even better weather
4.) Albuquerque is still stuck in the 1950's, while Vegas continues to grow.
5.) Vegas is more exciting than Albuquerque will ever be.
6.) Balloon fiesta gets old fast in Albuquerque
7.) Better to have lake mead than no lake at all.
8.) Vegas has better casinos
9.) Vegas has world class shopping.
10.) Nevada has no state income tax
11.) Opportunities continue to struggle in Albuquerque, not in Vegas.
12.) Vegas is more of a city than Albuquerque will ever be.
Nuff Said
The "real reality"? No. Your opinion. Here's mine, point for point:
1. Everything except mild, pleasant summer weather. Vegas summers are only barely less brutal than Phoenix summers. I'd much rather deal with the colder winter in ABQ over those brutal, miserable blast furnace Vegas summers.
2. Subjective. ABQ is in a good enough location. Close to Santa Fe, close to some great ski resorts. Vegas' location doesn't exactly blow ABQ out of the water as far as location goes. Plus, the Chihuahuan desert around ABQ is more attractive than the ugly, barren Mojave desert where Las Vegas is located. "Excellent"? I dunno.
3. Vegas is tacky-modern, and that's putting it kindly. At least ABQ has a sense of authentic Southwestern culture. I can't stand cookie-cutter stucco suburbia. ABQ has that as well, but not to the extremes that Vegas does. And better weather? Sure, if you actually enjoy 110 degree weather for months on end.
4. Stuck in the 50's? You're really reaching there. ABQ may not be on the cutting edge of things, but that's actually kind of refreshing compared to Vegas' wacked-out American dream gone berserk vibe.
5. Meh. Exciting if you're a drunk, horny frat boy maybe. Vegas is great for a lost weekend, but the novelty wears off and it gets old quick.
6. Who cares about the balloons? That's not the end-all, be-all to ABQ.
7. Yeah, it's just amazing to have a crowded, half dried-up lake nearby. Lake Mead WAS a nice lake 20+ years ago. It's just kind of depressing now.
8. I hate casinos, and I'm not the only one.
9. If "world class shopping" was something I needed to do on a daily basis, then that would be great.
10. Nope, but you make up for that by having to pay out of your nose for the highest energy rates in the nation, and some of the highest water rates. I really don't miss those outrageous utility bills.
11. Oh please. Vegas may be doing better than they were a few years ago, but it still has a high unemployment rate. I doubt ABQ is much worse, if even worse at all.
12. Now that really made me laugh. Vegas is just a giant amusement park surrounded by suburbs. There is no urban core in Vegas. Even Phoenix is more urban. Even Tucson. The fake NYC skyline at the New York New York casino is about as close to a "real city" as Vegas gets. Give me a break. ABQ is less than half the size of Vegas, so it's silly even trying to make that kind of comparison anyway.
Bottom line: Vegas was designed specifically for tourism. Great place to blow some money and party for the weekend, and then go home. Actually living there really sucks.
The "real reality"? No. Your opinion. Here's mine, point for point:
1. Everything except mild, pleasant summer weather. Vegas summers are only barely less brutal than Phoenix summers. I'd much rather deal with the colder winter in ABQ over those brutal, miserable blast furnace Vegas summers.
2. Subjective. ABQ is in a good enough location. Close to Santa Fe, close to some great ski resorts. Vegas' location doesn't exactly blow ABQ out of the water as far as location goes. Plus, the Chihuahuan desert around ABQ is more attractive than the ugly, barren Mojave desert where Las Vegas is located. "Excellent"? I dunno.
3. Vegas is tacky-modern, and that's putting it kindly. At least ABQ has a sense of authentic Southwestern culture. I can't stand cookie-cutter stucco suburbia. ABQ has that as well, but not to the extremes that Vegas does. And better weather? Sure, if you actually enjoy 110 degree weather for months on end.
4. Stuck in the 50's? You're really reaching there. ABQ may not be on the cutting edge of things, but that's actually kind of refreshing compared to Vegas' wacked-out American dream gone berserk vibe.
5. Meh. Exciting if you're a drunk, horny frat boy maybe. Vegas is great for a lost weekend, but the novelty wears off and it gets old quick.
6. Who cares about the balloons? That's not the end-all, be-all to ABQ.
7. Yeah, it's just amazing to have a crowded, half dried-up lake nearby. Lake Mead WAS a nice lake 20+ years ago. It's just kind of depressing now.
8. I hate casinos, and I'm not the only one.
9. If "world class shopping" was something I needed to do on a daily basis, then that would be great.
10. Nope, but you make up for that by having to pay out of your nose for the highest energy rates in the nation, and some of the highest water rates. I really don't miss those outrageous utility bills.
11. Oh please. Vegas may be doing better than they were a few years ago, but it still has a high unemployment rate. I doubt ABQ is much worse, if even worse at all.
12. Now that really made me laugh. Vegas is just a giant amusement park surrounded by suburbs. There is no urban core in Vegas. Even Phoenix is more urban. Even Tucson. The fake NYC skyline at the New York New York casino is about as close to a "real city" as Vegas gets. Give me a break. ABQ is less than half the size of Vegas, so it's silly even trying to make that kind of comparison anyway.
Bottom line: Vegas was designed specifically for tourism. Great place to blow some money and party for the weekend, and then go home. Actually living there really sucks.
Nuff said?
I'm still not convinced that Albuquerque is a better overall city than Vegas. Let's be honest here, Vegas has EVERYTHING (literally) Albuquerque has (that includes New Mexican restaurants) other than balloon fiesta. Vegas attracts people from all over the world. Outside the strip there is tons to do too, it's not just about "the strip". Let's be honest here, Albuquerque is still stuck in the 50's , there is nothing exciting about the town other than A.) Lobo Basketball B.) Balloon Fiesta C.) Casinos D.) Tramway. Yeah sure it has the "sandias" and mild year round weather, but that's where it all ends. You mention Vegas doesn't have an urban core / downtown? Ever heard of Fremont? As far as unemployment goes, Vegas has some of the lowest unemployment in the nation. What opportunities are their in Albucrackee? Call centers? Wal-Mart? Go to dead end CNM / UNM ? Albuquerque isn't all that great, most people in New Mexico have a "Land of Manana" attitude that don't get anything done. Lots of people also have an entitlement mindset in New Mexico. The cultural stuff is nice, but lets focus a little more on progressing shall we? How about actually having a "urban core"? Have you been to Albucrackees downtown? You also mention Vegas's stucco, what's so different about Albuquerque? Neighborhoods are also a hell of a lot safer in Vegas too. Have you not seen the houses in Albuquerque with bars all over their window? You can't even feel safe even in the North East Heights ( the best part of the city) without your car getting broken into. I've lived in Albuquerque and Vegas, for me I'll take : More exciting, progressive city, that is safe, and well kept, good geographic location, with burning hot summers over : backwards, unsafe, remote area with freezing cold winters anyday.
I'm still not convinced that Albuquerque is a better overall city than Vegas. Let's be honest here, Vegas has EVERYTHING (literally) Albuquerque has (that includes New Mexican restaurants) other than balloon fiesta. Vegas attracts people from all over the world. Outside the strip there is tons to do too, it's not just about "the strip". Let's be honest here, Albuquerque is still stuck in the 50's , there is nothing exciting about the town other than A.) Lobo Basketball B.) Balloon Fiesta C.) Casinos D.) Tramway. Yeah sure it has the "sandias" and mild year round weather, but that's where it all ends. You mention Vegas doesn't have an urban core / downtown? Ever heard of Fremont? As far as unemployment goes, Vegas has some of the lowest unemployment in the nation. What opportunities are their in Albucrackee? Call centers? Wal-Mart? Go to dead end CNM / UNM ? Albuquerque isn't all that great, most people in New Mexico have a "Land of Manana" attitude that don't get anything done. Lots of people also have an entitlement mindset in New Mexico. The cultural stuff is nice, but lets focus a little more on progressing shall we? How about actually having a "urban core"? Have you been to Albucrackees downtown? You also mention Vegas's stucco, what's so different about Albuquerque? Neighborhoods are also a hell of a lot safer in Vegas too. Have you not seen the houses in Albuquerque with bars all over their window? You can't even feel safe even in the North East Heights ( the best part of the city) without your car getting broken into. I've lived in Albuquerque and Vegas, for me I'll take : More exciting, progressive city, that is safe, and well kept, good geographic location, with burning hot summers over : backwards, unsafe, remote area with freezing cold winters anyday.
"Ever hear of Fremont?" That was priceless. Yeah. Fremont is a real Manhattan.
And Vegas was one of the first cities to make feeding homeless people illegal. Real "progressive".
Too much b.s. to address here. Not even worth the time or effort.
Dreaming is free. Have your dreams.
Last edited by Bobloblawslawblog; 11-07-2014 at 06:57 PM..
If you chose Albuquerque it's all because A.) You're a midwesterner or B.) Can't Afford Vegas.
I'm definitely not a midwesterner. I'm neither from the midwest, nor do I have what I perceive as midwestern values or a personality that reflects midwestern culture.
In the first year I moved to Albuquerque, when I was looking for work (having moved without a job in place), I had an interview lined up in Las Vegas, but ended up not going. It wasn't because I was afraid I couldn't afford Las Vegas--and I still had enough money to fly to Vegas for an interview, so it wasn't that either. In fact, at that pointed of time I was in desperate need of a job, and a decent paying job in Las Vegas would have been easier to live on than no job on Albuquerque would have been once my money ran it, which was going to happen within half a year or less. Now, I've never been to Vegas, so maybe if I visited I would end up feeling differently. But I was not interested in going some place hotter than Albuquerque. Also, for me the entertainment options in the casinos (some of which do appeal to me--where else would I get to see Sabah Fakhri?) in Las Vegas are useless, since I absolutely have to avoid cigarette smoke due to chronic sinus problems. Aside from that, Vegas represents some of the worst aspects of our society, in its very inception. In my mind it's an artificial construct of developers' imaginations, with organized crime as too much of a part of its growth and essence. Albuquerque seems more like a city which has organic roots in the advantages of its particular high desert, Rio Grande blessed location. Of course, it's anything but organic at this point.
The midwestern transplants I know do seem to fit in quite well in Albuquerque. I think the emphasis they place on "nice" sociability fits in with small town New Mexican values (that definitely make their presence felt in Albuquerque as well). My east coast (Philadelphia) fast talking but more guarded edge doesn't always blend in so well here in Albuquerque. I bore easily with most small talk, and I've also become a pretty private person. Those are personality traits, but they are traits more easily accommodated in a large east coast city. I guess you could say Albuquerque is too friendly for me, which wouldn't be a negative for most sane people. (I do appreciate the fact that along with the "over-friendliness" comes less free-floating hostility than I experienced in Philadelphia. It could very well be worth the trade-off.)
Also, I will admit, I wouldn't mind if Albuquerque would have a little bit more Vegas in it, in the form of more restaurants that don't close by 9PM. (I work a swing shift, so this has special importance to me.)
As far as unemployment goes, Vegas has some of the lowest unemployment in the nation.
lol
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