Considering Relocation from Ontario Canada to New Mexico for work, What should I know? (1 Viewer)

philhut

philhut

Flush
Joined
Nov 14, 2020
Messages
2,248
Reaction score
2,648
Location
York Region Ontario Canada
I am considering a big move, potentially selling my home and transferring to work in healthcare in the USA. I was in contact with a recruiter from New Mexico.

perks I see so far are:
-Cost of living dramatically cheaper re tax rate and cost of housing, I could sell my house and buy a better house mortgage free there.
- scenic areas near Albuquerque
- option to bring a grandparent for my daughter as I am a single parent and they have a good pension so would not be a tax burden
- relocation and signing bonuses

Negatives:
- I know nothing about desert living or much about New Mexico except from what I have seen on TV or Movies.
- I own firearms here and would have to sell/transfer most of everything, and could not own anything down there for year until such time as I obtained a green card. as I understand person on a Visa are not allowed ownership in New Mexico?
- I would in the next 3 months have to pack up and renovate and sell my house
- relocation very far from what was home.

What else should I know or consider about this area? Is there much of a poker scene? are folks friendly? is it a safe area to live? What would you recommend I look into for schools?
 
Quicksilver-75 said:
Too funny. We're looking for a house in Florida. Good luck!
Click to expand...
I have been looking for work there too, so far New Mexico has followed up with me first. I have Disney points so thought being within state and more local would be a good start. Still going to a wild hippy town in the wild west could be just up my alley.
 
For what it's worth, I know several people who live in Albuquerque. None of them are from there originally, but moved there for work. They all really like it. They like the balance of having an affordable cost of living in a nice area, plus its still a large metro area with all of the amenities and offerings you could want. I even applied to a job there, but ended up accepting a position closer to my family.
 
It might be a desert but it is a cold desert. Doesn’t matter to a Canuck but it is not Vegas or Arizona By along shot. I would consider it but NM is so far from everywhere else I want to go except AZ
 
I was born and raised in Albuquerque and moved away about 23 years ago. Still have family in New Mexico and love visiting as it truly is a beautiful state. I may retire there in a couple years as the cost of living is very attractive. With that being said Albuquerque can be a violent city but probably the same in any city that size. The food there is terrific and I usually spend my time in the north part of the state. Santa Fe, Taos, Red River and Angle Fire some of my favorite spots.
 
Another thing, love the high desert and the 4 distinct seasons with 300 days of sunshine a year. Cool place
 
Kingrich33 said:
I was born and raised in Albuquerque and moved away about 23 years ago. Still have family in New Mexico and love visiting as it truly is a beautiful state. I may retire there in a couple years as the cost of living is very attractive. With that being said Albuquerque can be a violent city but probably the same in any city that size. The food there is terrific and I usually spend my time in the north part of the state. Santa Fe, Taos, Red River and Angle Fire some of my favorite spots.
Click to expand...
This sums it up perfectly imo.

I love Las Cruces as well, but it's been a few years since I've lived there so I'm not sure what it's like these days
 
I am not from Albuquerque but my dads family is so I’ve been there a considerable amount of time and lived there for a couple summers in college to work. The folks above give a solid description.

For schooling there are solid public and very solid private school options depending on area. And that’s what I would focus on as folks have mentioned violence you need to be mindful of where you live as some parts are no bueno as they would say there.

Healthcare is a desperate need generally for New Mexico which can be a very good thing for anyone wanting to work in the field. It can also be overwhelming so make sure you check out the facility you work at and that your description works for you. Albuquerque generally has the best facilities in the state and is home to the largest health system in New Mexico.

There are a few tribal casinos in the area that have poker rooms but I don’t know generally the poker scene.
 
I appreciate all the responses.... I am leaning towards jumping in head first as always, Just a huge amount of hustle I will have to do in the next couple of months.

Is it reasonable in New Mexico to bring my side by side ATV so I can go out ripping in the fields/hills.....are there fields like that in a reasonable distance?
I have also seen many small properties under 5acres with small fenced off paddocks and horses. I have a long history riding showjumpers and some years with thoroughbreds as well, It would be a laugh to have a small paddock and literally hack out into the hills in my off days.... do folk in the outskirts of town have the luxury of using horseback transit rather than a motor?
 
Last edited:
https://www.traillink.com/cityactivity/albuquerque-nm-atv-trails/

There are lots of atv Ohv and places to ride mountain bikes around Albuquerque. I’m not as familiar with the horse scene or if you could ride one into town. That’s more Toas/Ranchos de Taos or smaller towns in northern Mexico. But as far as having property on the outskirts with horses that exists for sure!
 
philhut said:
I appreciate all the responses.... I am leaning towards jumping in head first as always, Just a huge amount of hustle I will have to do in the next couple of months.

Is it reasonable in New Mexico to bring my side by side ATV so I can go out ripping in the fields/hills.....are there fields like that in a reasonable distance?
I have also seen many small properties under 5acres with small fenced off paddocks and horses. I have a long history riding showjumpers and some years with thoroughbreds as well, It would be a laugh to have a small paddock and literally hack out into the hills in my off days.... do folk in the outskirts of town have the luxury of using horseback transit rather than a motor?
Click to expand...
Yes to all of that
 
QQ: if you have medical licenses/medical qualification in CAN to they transfer to the USA when you move? Asking for someone who is NOT me at all.
 
JustDave said:
QQ: if you have medical licenses/medical qualification in CAN to they transfer to the USA when you move? Asking for someone who is NOT me at all.
Click to expand...
I live in Ontario and a Registered Nurse Licensed with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) here. Each province/state has its own specific licensing requirements. For myself I graduated prior to something call NCLEX which is the new graduation exam format. Essentially went from paper to computer. I need to get permission from the CNO to be allowed to write the NCLEX and of course they stall..... The recruiter I spoke with told me she had a contact in the governors office which would be able to get me permission to write the NCLEX from the state of New Mexico as a bypass and thus be able to speed the process. So yes your credentials in Canada can be used in other nations that recognize them....
 
I used to travel a lot in the usa for work. Usually staying for a week or two. I must say NM is one of the best place I stayed and where I would consider living. Food, coffee, beer is top notch. People are nice.This is based on a week visit 'living' there... but I have a good souvenir.
 
Spent my first six years in Santa Fe so I can't contribute any 'real-time' knowledge, but northern New Mexico is always a favorite place to visit.

Being NM-adjacent in AZ, here's a handful of generalizations from "being next-door" but also traveling in and through NM. The southern and especially southeastern half of the state is very rural, primarily farming and ranching with politics to match. Northern half is a bit less rural with two of the three "major" metropolitan areas being there. ABQ is about a million people including the surrounding areas, being similar to Tucson in population. Trying my best to recall southern Ontario from my time there two decades ago, think 2x London in size, but less Canadian. :ROFL: :ROFLMAO:

It's all "higher" altitude, with the lowest point being 900m altitude (2800 ft. for the benefit of the non-Canadians), and all uphill from there. Northern half of the state is on the Colorado Plateau, so higher altitude by default. Definitely a desert as a whole, but a very different desert than here in southern AZ, or even northern AZ. The "all four seasons" comment from @Kingrich33 is absolutely correct, but winters will be balmy in comparison to what you are used to.

Lots of good comments here, but I'm surprised nobody mentioned the 'official' state question, "red or green?" *












* This, of course, refers to the chile you want with your meal. New Mexico is famous for their chiles, particularly the ones grown in the Hatch area in the southern part of the state. Great on eggs at breakfast, amazing on steak at dinner, as part of a bowl of posole and of course every variation of enchiladas imaginable. Damn... I'm hungry now. :oops: I recall a co-worker and longtime friend of my dad's in Santa Fe would ship us 50 pound bags of Hatch green chiles when they were in season after we moved away. After they are roasted they freeze well, but that much would only last us six months.

Oh, the correct answer is always "both".
 
A lot of on point information in this thread, so far. I’m not from ABQ, but my wife born and raised there, and her parents are still there. I also had a good friend that grew up there.
Be sure to find a good neighborhood in ABQ. As others have stated, some areas within the city are violent with high crime rates.
Also, you mentioned having your daughter with you. I would look into charter schools or private schools. NM often ranks 49th or 50th out of all the states in regards to public education. My wife and good friend both went through APS, and have very little good to say about it. If you have to put your daughter in a private school, obviously that affects your costs.
We usually visit 2-3 times a year. Really like the city, weather, the laid back vibe, and the food! Easily the best Mexican food available anywhere!
I’ve played in a lot of the casinos down there. The nicest one with the best poker room is the Sandia. The games were kinda soft, but I did notice the locals picking on/playing against those that weren’t from around there. That was pre-COVID, also. I know they had a lot of their casinos shut down during the pandemic, so I don’t know how the poker scene has bounced back there (Nevada lost roughly half of their rooms/tables during the pandemic). Finally, all of the casinos are on reservations, which have their own laws. The tribes have their own rules from casino to casino regarding things like alcohol consumption. Sandia used to only allow alcohol at the pool, golf course, and nightclub. Not on the casino floor or poker room, where other casinos allow drinking in the poker room.
Overall, we like it down there. We’re pretty committed to Denver. But with her family down there, if we had to move, NM would be very high on our list.
 
pokerplayingpisces said:
A lot of on point information in this thread, so far. I’m not from ABQ, but my wife born and raised there, and her parents are still there. I also had a good friend that grew up there.
Be sure to find a good neighborhood in ABQ. As others have stated, some areas within the city are violent with high crime rates.
Also, you mentioned having your daughter with you. I would look into charter schools or private schools. NM often ranks 49th or 50th out of all the states in regards to public education. My wife and good friend both went through APS, and have very little good to say about it. If you have to put your daughter in a private school, obviously that affects your costs.
We usually visit 2-3 times a year. Really like the city, weather, the laid back vibe, and the food! Easily the best Mexican food available anywhere!
I’ve played in a lot of the casinos down there. The nicest one with the best poker room is the Sandia. The games were kinda soft, but I did notice the locals picking on/playing against those that weren’t from around there. That was pre-COVID, also. I know they had a lot of their casinos shut down during the pandemic, so I don’t know how the poker scene has bounced back there (Nevada lost roughly half of their rooms/tables during the pandemic). Finally, all of the casinos are on reservations, which have their own laws. The tribes have their own rules from casino to casino regarding things like alcohol consumption. Sandia used to only allow alcohol at the pool, golf course, and nightclub. Not on the casino floor or poker room, where other casinos allow drinking in the poker room.
Overall, we like it down there. We’re pretty committed to Denver. But with her family down there, if we had to move, NM would be very high on our list.
Click to expand...
Interesting, if this pans out I will be spending a good year or two in culture shock lol....sounds good though.

I agree with the charter school idea, my daughter has ADHS so will definitely be looking into a school more tailored to her needs. Hopefully I can find a home with a decent commute within range of such a place.

In Canada I don't believe they serve alcohol on the floor either or at least they didn't the last I was in a real casino a few years back. I remember thinking it a luxury to be served a "free" hot chocolate that cost me a couple chips in tip at Casino Rama in Orillia Ontario. I worked with First Nations in Ontario, though the people are different and the distances vast but the dry vs wet reserve concept is very familiar to me. I have an interview later this week then will know about more about the next steps
 
pokerplayingpisces said:
A lot of on point information in this thread, so far. I’m not from ABQ, but my wife born and raised there, and her parents are still there. I also had a good friend that grew up there.
Be sure to find a good neighborhood in ABQ. As others have stated, some areas within the city are violent with high crime rates.
Also, you mentioned having your daughter with you. I would look into charter schools or private schools. NM often ranks 49th or 50th out of all the states in regards to public education. My wife and good friend both went through APS, and have very little good to say about it. If you have to put your daughter in a private school, obviously that affects your costs.
We usually visit 2-3 times a year. Really like the city, weather, the laid back vibe, and the food! Easily the best Mexican food available anywhere!
I’ve played in a lot of the casinos down there. The nicest one with the best poker room is the Sandia. The games were kinda soft, but I did notice the locals picking on/playing against those that weren’t from around there. That was pre-COVID, also. I know they had a lot of their casinos shut down during the pandemic, so I don’t know how the poker scene has bounced back there (Nevada lost roughly half of their rooms/tables during the pandemic). Finally, all of the casinos are on reservations, which have their own laws. The tribes have their own rules from casino to casino regarding things like alcohol consumption. Sandia used to only allow alcohol at the pool, golf course, and nightclub. Not on the casino floor or poker room, where other casinos allow drinking in the poker room.
Overall, we like it down there. We’re pretty committed to Denver. But with her family down there, if we had to move, NM would be very high on our list.
Click to expand...
This is all good but I’m having trouble with the Mexican Food comment. The very best Mexican food is in Tucson/Phx…but NM grows the best chili! So NM is for real. Worst Mexican food in the states is easily California followed by Texas.
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account and join our community. It's easy!

Register

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Similar threads

D
Rebalancing investments - when, how, should I even bother?
Replies
1
Views
141
Frogzilla
Frogzilla
D
Hello From Ontario Canada.
Replies
14
Views
191
4SUMERZ
4SUMERZ
JCPug
Need advice from any experienced chip buyer
2
Replies
36
Views
556
HauntedHawk
HauntedHawk
MrMuffin
I just bought some Chips I don't really know
Replies
13
Views
775
philhut
philhut
krafticus
Krafticus on the West Coast - what should I not miss?
Replies
27
Views
842
detroitdad
detroitdad
Back
Top Bottom