Leaving on a Jet Plane (minus the part about the plane)

I’m moving.  Yes, “all my bags are packed and I’m ready to go,” well almost anyway.  I know this blog is a little late considering the fact that I’m leaving the state in just a few short weeks, but hey I’ve been busy.  As most of you know (or should know…really I mean come on, where are your priorities people?) I am moving to Tennessee at the end of June.  I only have 4 days left of work and by the 28^th I’ll be saying goodbye to New Mexico.  I have lived in this state my entire life.  Sad isn’t it?  But in honor of my move I have decided to make a pro/con list about New Mexico.  Things I love and will miss, and things I hate and hope to never have to deal with again.  Let’s get started shall we?

Pro: The food.  They put chile and salsa on everything here.  And I love it.  I don’t know what I’m going to do without things like tortillas and salsa.  I may starve.  And what’s it going to be like going to a restaurant where they don’t ask you “red or green”?

Con: The weather.  No rain, no snow, just the stupid wind.

Pro: The White Sands.  Come on, it’s cool (depending on when you go, because it can be hot).  Question: how much fun is it to slide down a hill of white sand on the lid of trash can?  Answer: a lot.

Con: No water.  I know it’s a desert but still.  No water equals nothing to look at but tumbleweeds and cactus.  Not real pretty when it’s the only thing you’ve ever had to look at.  I dream about going someplace green.

Pro: No humidity.  The only good thing about having no water is little or no humidity.  Of course where I’m moving there is a ton of humidity so that’s something to look forward to.

Con: “International shipping.”  If I had a nickel for every person who thinks New Mexico isn’t part of the U.S.  It is particularly annoying when you buy something online, only to have the seller claim that they don’t offer “international shipping.”

Pro: Christmas decorations.  I love that in New Mexico all you need is sand, paper bags, and candles and you have all the necessary ingredients for the perfect holiday decoration.  Ah luminarias, I will miss you.  And what about chile pepper wreaths hung everywhere?  How will I know it's Christmas if I don't see chile wreaths hung by the chimney with care?

Con: The dry heat.  Now I hate humidity but the dry heat isn’t much fun either.  The fact that my skin is always cracked or chapped or peeling is not something I will miss.  In fact even as I’m writing this my lip is cracked and bleeding from sitting in the sun yesterday.  Or how about the fact that the wiper blades on my car need replacing every few months, not from actual use mind you, but from the stupid sun beating down on them day after day.

Pro: Clean air.  New Mexico is one of the least polluted states in the U.S.  In fact New Mexico has consistently ranked high in the American Lung Association’s annual “Cleanest Cities Reports.”  Here are some links to articles on the subject if you’re interested: 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/11/air-pollution-us-cleanest-cities_n_854079.html#s269722&title=1_Cheyenne_WY and http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2012/real_estate/1204/gallery.cleanest-cities/index.html.

So there you have it; all the things I will miss about New Mexico when I’m gone and some things I’ll be so glad to be rid of.  Well I should go; I need to get back to packing and cleaning.  Ah the joys of moving.