Thread: Moving to the US from Ireland (Destination: Albuquerque, NM)

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Now if you were really smart you would go to Colorado or maybe Texas or Arizona. In the summer your gonna die of the heat and in the winter freeze your butt off. The schools here are terrible and the University system is second rate and N.M is one of the poorest and most backwards states in the country. Why you can't even find a decent restaurant here and we have no professional sports teams and no theater. Also folks here can't drive to save their lives. A little rain or snow and the place turns into a demolition derby on the streets. Then there's the Bears and Mountain Lions who come down from the Mountain and wander the streets looking to devour anyone they can get their claws on and the wild coyotes who eat your dogs and cats. I won't even go into the mice who carry the Hantavirus and the killer lightening storms and the criminal population we have with some of the largest car theft stats in the country. We're also short water in these parts because those polecats in Texas stole it all.

Sounds like paradise. Don't have time to type up a lengthy reply--wind just blew my roof off again and I need to get a tarp up before the snow hits.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Now if you were really smart you would go to Colorado or maybe Texas or Arizona. In the summer your gonna die of the heat and in the winter freeze your butt off. The schools here are terrible and the University system is second rate and N.M is one of the poorest and most backwards states in the country. Why you can't even find a decent restaurant here and we have no professional sports teams and no theater. Also folks here can't drive to save their lives. A little rain or snow and the place turns into a demolition derby on the streets. Then there's the Bears and Mountain Lions who come down from the Mountain and wander the streets looking to devour anyone they can get their claws on and the wild coyotes who eat your dogs and cats. I won't even go into the mice who carry the Hantavirus and the killer lightening storms and the criminal population we have with some of the largest car theft stats in the country. We're also short water in these parts because those polecats in Texas stole it all.

So you see, you don't really want to come here after-all do you?

Hey! Don't send people to CO. We have our own problems with people that think 4x4 means "stops on ice faster and can drive 50mph in snow".

As I understand there is a lot of moisture in Ireland

There ain't any in NM. Be prepared for dry skin, dry nasal passages and such. Drink a lot (water-plus the a fore mentioned Bushmills ) moisturize a lot, use a saline nasal spray/rinse a lot.

But NM is pretty cool. Sante Fe- one of the coolest towns on the planet is an hour away. Skiing there as well. Taos about 2 hours and Angel Fire (my favorite ski place-very affordable.) 2-1/2 or so.

The enchanted state is no joke-There is something going on there that defies explanation. Once when touring an ancient pueblo I heard soft singing coming from an empty room. Like a mother singing to a child but in a language I didn't know. Disoriented me so much that I was sick for the next half hour-Believe it or not-real to me though.

Have been thinking about a small place in AF to set up a small forge in the summer. Too hot in Texas in the summer.


As in all places there are its challenges. A lot to discover in New Mexico though.
And the landscape is BIG. Coming from an island and the overall compactness of Europe, it may even feel intimidating a first. But if you can allow yourself to expand into it, it will be a grand feeling.

Good luck

You see I could have gone on but I didn't want to scare you.

We have that high altitude here so when you come you might get altitude sickness and have to leave anyway. Abq is at 5,000 ft and Santa Fe is at 7,000. We also have that nasty chupacabra monster to worry about and I here tell those space aliens who crashed in Roswell all those years ago, well their relations are coming to exact revenge on the New Mexicans for abusing them. Yes those winds in the summer are something we all fear. They blow everything from the desert and mountains into town and even if you never had allergies in your life I can guarantee in a couple years you will be miserable with them and if you have them now you will be dependent on inhalers to live. Also, folks love to drive intoxicated here. Just one Friday night outing and next stop is the morgue for you.

I'll stop here cause I don't want to really scare you with the serious stuff.

Originally Posted by Nix

Mad,

Al Gore invented this thing called the Interweb. If you have a computer and a modem, you can buy Proraso from reputable dealers who are willing to take your hard-earned money in dollars, euros, or pounds (I have a couple tubes in my cabinet from just such a transaction).

As for Whisky, Bushmills (and Jameson) are sold by the case here. We can even purchase good whisky like Ardbeg and Lagavullin. I can't speak to the quality of the sherries available here, but then, does that really matter?

Even as a northern rube, I have had occasion to visit Albuquerque. While it is not my favorite city in the U.S.A., it ain't bad, and has good access to some great country. New Mexico is a fabulous state. I never tire of the mountains there. I've spent more time in Taos and Santa Fe, and can easily see settling in one of those towns. Frankly I'm a bit confused by the negativity being expressed toward the "Land of Enchantment" and suspect a ruse. Just between you and me, I constantly tell people horror stories about Wyoming...just to deter them from visiting or moving here. I suspect the same is going on here. (Part of the reason I'm so willing to talk up New Mexico is because I don't want you moving here. Sorry, nothing personal.)

Slainte,

N

Thanks for all the replies

@Nix thanks for the slap I was being a little lazy. but then I have a lot to do before the shipping company get here.

I'm sort of astonished by the negative reponses but I guess this is normal, I'd discourage anyone from moving to Dublin - but if you did you'd probably love it.

In the summer your gonna die of the heat and in the winter freeze your butt off.

Err, oddly a summer peak average of 90°F doesn't worry me (hotter in Spain last year on holiday), neither does an average low of 23°F (we hit 3°F here in Dublin last year)

Bears seem to be a problem all over, can't speak about mountain cats. @thebigspendur I'm wondering why you stay

Thanks all

Just bring all your fav tea,you can get everything else for alot less money than Dublin. A tub of Proaso will cost 8.99 US cheap enough!! And Welcome aboard,and brush up on your Spanish,this is America !!!

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Just bring all your fav tea,you can get everything else ...

Tea! Great point. It can be hard to find good tea in the states. Sometimes you can find a specialty shop that sells good teas. For daily use I order tea from Murchies. Start every day off with a pot of Irish Breakfast brewed from their loose tea. I have no idea if it has anything to do with Ireland, but it's a great first cuppa.

Post removed by edit.

I think I reacted a little too strongly to negative comments that were probably meant to be humorous.

My apologies.

Originally Posted by MadsL

Thanks for all the replies

@Nix thanks for the slap I was being a little lazy. but then I have a lot to do before the shipping company get here.

I'm sort of astonished by the negative reponses but I guess this is normal, I'd discourage anyone from moving to Dublin - but if you did you'd probably love it.




Err, oddly a summer peak average of 90°F doesn't worry me (hotter in Spain last year on holiday), neither does an average low of 23°F (we hit 3°F here in Dublin last year)

Bears seem to be a problem all over, can't speak about mountain cats. @thebigspendur I'm wondering why you stay

Thanks all

I wish I could move from this place but it's such an impoverished state real estate is so low I couldn't afford to move anywhere if I was able to sell my house. Also in late June through July it's 100F every day sometimes higher and winter here is really at night. It's routinely in the low 20s and teens at night in January.

I hope you realize we're all pulling your chain here. It's really a wonderful place you'll love it.

Originally Posted by MadsL

In the next couple of months I'm relocating to NM. Any ideas on what 'consumables' I should stock up on before travelling Stateside. What would you pick?

New Mexico is beautiful.... brown and very dry compared to Ireland.
There is a reason it is the Land of Enchantment.

A puck of a good shave soap lasts months.
If you have a favorite bring two. In the
states the post office and united parcel service
deliver to any valid address so other stuff
is just a click away.

You are also in good company.

Dry is important for a new comer and visitor to keep in mind.
I found that a quick hot shower in the AM and PM would keep
my nose from drying out if I shut the door an let some steam
collect. On hot days I finished with straight cold water.
Drink a lot of water, not too much alcohol and you will be fine.
After a while you will know what works for you.

It is "big" country.... I love it..