Hello SW SLers! My company is offering me a bonus to relocate from Seattle to one of your fine cities of Albuquerque NM or Chandler AZ (Salt Lake City was also offered...no thank you) and I'm considering the offer. Can local SLers give me some info on what life is like in these two cities? I'm concerned about weather, crime rate, traffic laws/requirements, diversity, red state/blue state, cost of living, and general things to do (ex. Seattle specializes in hiking/camping/fishing/boating/having trees not cactuses)

I'm still kind of on the fence about the move, so honest opinions please!

 

Wow. Have you tried Wiki and Google? Most people that live in either place are going to tell you it's a great place to be.

Politically: AZ is Red and NM tends to lean Blue. Albuquerque has the Sandia mountains jumping up out of the ground but Arizona is the most diverse state, in terms of geography, in the USA.

The Scion community in the Valley (which Chandler is part of) is one of the best/strongest anywhere.

NM has Hatch green chili.

Hopefully some of the people closer to your age will share what life is like in both places.

 

I live in AZ, I love it here. I was from OR and was so tired of the rain and all that. The laws here are pretty lax really. The only thing you have to worry about here really is the window tint laws. LOL.. Crime is about the same as any where else. Just different types.

 

I have been to both places and it seems Chandler is a better bet. I have stayed for awhile in both places and it just seems that Chandler is better as far as cleanliness and crime. I don't know the pros and cons of really living in these places, but I think Chandler has more opportunities and a little more exciting night life.

 

My cousin has a home in Seattle and Tuscon. The thing
she likes most is when she leaves her Tuscon home there
is no farry schedule to deal with. She just didn't understand
the word "HOT" comes in stages.

NM is cooler if that matters, and you can still get snow.
AZ will be dry.... Chandler is part of the Phoenix area so
you will be dealing with BIG CITY traffic & crime but everything
is pretty close -"FREEWAY CLOSE" Or 1hr flight to LA
or Las Vegas and two hour drive to the pines.

Monsoon season some REALLY BIG Dust and Thunderstorms
can come by. But that normally happens in the evening for a
few hours each night during July and Aug. Our winters are really
pretty nice. It can get down below freezing but you have Jan/Feb
being the coldest. Were Seattle has a DRY Rain...you will get wet
here when it rains, comes down in buckets.

Can not speak for NM, but if you like car meets, AZ has lot's
to offer. Check out Scion Apocalypse.com

 

(Sounds like somebody doesn't want to share their chili!)

 

I personally have lived in the Phoenix area all my life. I love it hear. The great part about the valley is that you drive for two hours and the climate changes drastically. The big thing you have to look out for is the 100+ degree temps starting as early as March. The only plus to that is you can drive 2 hrs and find a place cool. But you can put cloths on, but you can only take so much off. I have scarred yes, scarred a bunch of people taking cloths off. lol

 

No no no...I will share all the hatch chile that I can because I prefer home grown and home roasted in the back yard. My pops has a GREEN chile THUMB. Spoiled...

 

Hatch chili is the bomb...we pick-up a batch of roasted chili every year to freeze.
Ever in Espanola check out "City of Gold Casino" they have the best green chili
buffet at an affordable price. (That's if you skip the slots) LOL

To late this year...but next year maybe all those chili lovers out there could plan
a road trip to New Mexico during Chili Festival time. I am sure there are a few
great places to show/meet.

 

We could actually setup something here in Las Cruces for the Whole Enchilada Festival. Its where they make the world's biggest enchilada every year. Pretty cool deal.

Steve

 

I just relo'd from Chi-waukee to Chandler AZ... I've been here about 4 months so far... its hot. There's plenty to do here: bars/clubs, outdoor/recreation, dining......theres def. something for everyone.

I can't speak for NM, but AZ is pretty clean too.

AZ's Not much for mass transit or cabs... & the drivers are idiots. I've never seen so many ppl give up the right of way!

 

Hey Steve...are you putting together a combo for us next year?
The Whole Enchilada, Green Chili @ Roswell Invasion

 

Could look into it...Timing is all an issue. We do always have a chile cheese festival around the normal time in Roswell. Or could hit up a two destination event--Las Cruces or even Hatch(25 minutes from LC) and Roswell...Or a mountain escape to Ruidoso? 3-stop?

Hmmm...we'll see

 

That would be awesome, our trips to Invasion
has taken us threw both Las Cruces and Ruidoso.
Great places to visit, would love to take time to see
either place a little bet longer then a pit stop.

Just set the date for INVASION and invite the community
to a chili cook off at the event and let those who pre-reg for
the car show be the judges for the cook-off.

You know SA will be there and Oldskool may even cook up
a pot of green chili.

 

It's that or get hit by them!!!! --- Welcome to Az.

 

I work in Chandler. The area seems to be pretty decent but there are also some not so great parts also. Arizona in general seems to have a pretty bad crime rate. I would leave if I could. But not sure if NM is much better. Why did you say no to SLC may I ask?