Leaving New Mexico but for where?

**Weasel Mender** · 2nd April 07, 08:42 AM

In a family meeting yesterday we decided that it is time to seriously consider leaving NM. Don't get me wrong, it is a beautiful state but it has problems. We are at the top of most of the bad lists, and at the bottom of most of the good lists. With the diverse geographical representation of this group it seems a good place to start. We are looking for nice weather, no 5 months of 100+ in the summer, no 5 months of -0s in the winter. Good schools for the grandkids, decent real estate prices and values acceptably low crime, and good job oppertunities. I am a highly qualified celular phone system technician , my wife is a project manager in the construction industry. Any suggestions or information will be appreciated

Weasel

**escherblacksmith** · 2nd April 07, 09:11 AM

5 whole months?

Then Minnesota is a perfect choice!

we seldom get to 100. And we only have a maximum of 1 or 2 months below 0.

granted, we often get to upper 80's and 90's with high humidity, and the below zero can get down to -30. ;-)}

**The Supreme Canuck** · 2nd April 07, 09:29 AM

Vancouver. Just voted the third best city in the world, apparently. Nice and warm in the winter, not too hot in the summer, and close to the water. Big city, so there should be a good number of jobs available.

**katmills2005** · 2nd April 07, 10:06 AM

I was born in Ohio, Lived in Fla and South Ga for most of my life. I now live in the upstate of South Carolina. We have a change of season, The weather will get above 100 from time to time but not often. Winters are mild, usually one or two snow falls a year and the snow melts by the next day. I'm close to the mountains and a few hours drive from the beach. Real estate is affordable. The job market is better than other parts of the country. The schools could be better, but there is a huge focus on improving the quality and it seems to be working.

**Colin** · 2nd April 07, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by The Supreme Canuck

Vancouver. Just voted the third best city in the world, apparently. Nice and warm in the winter, not too hot in the summer, and close to the water. Big city, so there should be a good number of jobs available.

True, but our real estate market is insane right now and has been for a couple of years. It has almost reached the point where a working class family can not afford to get into the housing market.

This has also been the weirest winter I have seen in the 13 years I have lived here. Heck, I had snow on the ground this morning. The summers now have at least 2-4 weeks of 30+ degree days, and the while the winters are still mild, this last one we had to endure several hurricane force windstorms, record setting rainfall and snow fall, and it still isn't over.

There are jobs available, but the political climate of BC, Vancouver city particularly is now focused on the Olympics in 2010 and very little else. If you are in construction, or have a trade, than you can right your own path in BC right now and trades are in huge demand.

I love living in BC, but it is certainly not as perfect as some of these surveys would have you believe.

**Dreadbelly** · 2nd April 07, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by katmills2005

I was born in Ohio, Lived in Fla and South Ga for most of my life. I now live in the upstate of South Carolina. We have a change of season, The weather will get above 100 from time to time but not often. Winters are mild, usually one or two snow falls a year and the snow melts by the next day. I'm close to the mountains and a few hours drive from the beach. Real estate is affordable. The job market is better than other parts of the country. The schools could be better, but there is a huge focus on improving the quality and it seems to be working.

I'll second most of this.

Greenville is lovely. But the real feel temps downtown can climb in to the 120s in the summer. And the humidity sucks eggs.

I like it here. Really. I love my front yard.

As for education... That leaves a lot to be desired, but there are some good resources in the area to help your kids away from the public schools.

In fact, I'll be more than happy to help tutor some kids. I am not a math person, but the other stuff, reading, English, social studies, stuff that does not involve math, I can be most helpful.

**katmills2005** · 2nd April 07, 10:19 AM

Greenville is lovely. But the real feel temps downtown can climb in to the 120s in the summer. And the humidity sucks eggs.

Thats because you live in the concrete jungle. I'm out in the country away from all that. When I go downtown in the summer, its usually in the evening when its much cooler.

**Dreadbelly** · 2nd April 07, 10:28 AM

When the sun is reflecting off of all those mirrored skyscrapers, the traffic is backed up for miles, all those cars and trucks spewing heat, the hot blacktop radiating heat, the humidity is at 100%... Oh man. It is like standing in a microwave.

Honestly. I don't know how I survived that before kilts. Seriously. But even a kilt feels kinda miserable at the 125 to 130 (or worse) mark. I hate to say it, but there is a WORLD of difference between 100 and 110, and doubly so between 110 and 120. At the 120 real feel mark, you can actually feel your shoes sinking in to the blacktop like mud. Flipflops will actually melt and come off of your feet in chunks.

**ckelly327** · 2nd April 07, 11:54 AM

If it weren't for family locally I would move back to the Carolinas right away. I spent 3 years in NC and loved the weather and the mild change of seasons. Education is always a concern in the south but the suburban schools around Raleigh generally had good reviews and the job market was thriving 10 years ago ( no idea about now). Less than 2 hours to the beaches or the mountains and lots of golfing. A good size city for cultural stuff and right in the loop of NC State, UNC and Duke if the kids are college bound. Definitely investigate North Carolina.

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 2nd April 07, 12:12 PM

I'll put in a plug for the Tampa Bay area. Beautiful weather most of the year. Summers can get hot, but we rarely get over 90. Although coming from NM, the humidity anywhere in the southeast might be a bit of a transition.

Job market is good, unemployment below the national average, housing prices decent, not sky rocketed like some places, good education, no state income tax (immediate take home pay increase), and a number of telecoms in the area. Also, housing construction has slowed down hear as elsewhere, but commercial seems to be doing well.