Why I Love New Mexico

Before I get into the meat of this post, let me dive a little into my history.

I was born in California in 1974. A few years later, we moved to Oregon. Then we moved to Florida, then back to California, then Las Vegas, Nevada, then BACK to California. All of this before I was 19.

(I wonder if that has anything to do with my wanderlust…)

Anyway, I got married in 1997 and my son was born the following year. About 8 years later, we moved to New Mexico, which, as it turns out, is the best decision I’ve ever made. (Although, that’s not really saying a lot: every decision I make is a bad decision…)

Now that I’ve been out here for nearly 15 years, I’ve come realize, there is so much about New Mexico that I love. These are the top reasons I love New Mexico.

• The Weather –
  Living in southern California for the better part of my life, there are two seasons: dry, sunny and warm, or rainy, overcast and warm. Leaves never change, it never snows, and it never dips below like 50 degrees at night. Of course, this is all unless you go up to Big Bear, two hours away from south Orange County (where we lived when we decided to move to New Mexico.)
  Here, we have four true seasons. We have warm (hot!) summers, chilly autumns, cold (and occasionally snowy) winters and nice, mild springs. Temperatures can regularly dip into the teens, or even single digits, in the dead of winter. Leaves change color and provide nice scenic drives even through town.
• The Culture –
  New Mexico is rich in historic Native American and Spanish culture, containing many pueblos very near the Albuquerque area, including Acoma, Jemez, Sandia and Santa Ana. You don’t have to leave town to see the influence the Native Americans have on the town though. Just walk through Old Town (for just their influence on the customs and architecture), or stroll the Petroglyphs to see actual remnants of the activities of ancient Natives.
• The Natural Beauty –
  Just taking a day trip up to Sandia Peak is a simple enough way to enjoy the natural surroundings so abundant in the Albuquerque area. It’s a stunning, but quick, hour-long drive at most to get to the top of the mountain, but you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the city below.
  If you’re adventurous enough (and have a capable enough vehicle,) you could take the back way through Placitas. It’s a bumpy ride to be sure, and is sometimes not traversable due to weather and resulting washouts, but it’s so worth it. If you think the drive up from I-40 is lovely, just wait until you try it from Hwy 550.
  And, I haven’t even mentioned the drives through the Jemez, which is only an hour away in the other direction…
• The FOOD! –
  My absolute favorite part about living in New Mexico is the food. Hands down, bar none, without hesitation.
  I mean, what’s New Mexico without green chile? Every year starting in mid-August, the air fills with the aroma of green chiles being roasted at nearby farms and grocery stores. It’s a marker of the upcoming fall season (and the beginning of my favorite time of year.) I try to make it a point to go in early to mid-September to get my annual sack of chiles from Wagner Farm in Corrales. Allowed to ripen, the chiles turn red and create a base for…
  Carne Adovada! Ooooooooh, I LOOOOOOOOVE me some Carne Adovada! That spicy, smoky, tender pork braised in red chile wrapped in a burrito and smothered in red chile sauce and topped with cheese? Yes please! I usually try to make carne adovada from scratch at least once a year.
  Then, there’s sopapillas. Oh, don’t even get me started on sopapillas! Soft, fried pillows of dough? Tear it apart and drizzle it with honey? Or stuff it with your favorite meat, like… carne adovada for a savory meal? (Oh my, I’m drooling over here…)

I can honestly and truly claim to be a New Mexican. This state is my home, and I wish I had the opportunity to spend more time here before 2006, but I’m glad I’m here now, and I plan on taking advantage of the time I have here.

Now, as Captain Jack Sparrow said, bring me that horizon…

-Phil