Madgardener wrote:

I need to know what Albuquerque, New Mexico is like. Climate. Cost of
living. Cost of houses. Sizes of yards. Restrictions. Crime. What zone it's
considered. A good site that is idiot proof that might take me to these
questions. What groceries average. This is extremely important to me and
before ya'll tell me to go to a website. ..... the ones I've found are
extensive, it takes forever to download these sites of some of them (I have
dial up connection and I need a dead ringer site that would be simple with
answers to these questions) unless there is someone out there in the
newsgroup that can answer me because they live there.................
madgardener serious about these inquiries (don't ask, just help me, please)

Hi Mad - I'm in an area similar to yours (Central VA, zone 7). My
brother and cousin have both moved to Albuquerque recently, one for
school and the other for career reasons. They both liked it, were able
to find real estate cheaper than around here (but where isn't it cheaper
than Albemarle County!!!!), but they did find the landscape hard to get
used to. As you know, we have the Blue Ridge mountains and abundant
greenery, and it's a little dry and shrubby for their liking. But the
culture is great, the artists' communities are great, the skiing is
phenomenal, my cousin's kids love it, etc, etc etc. You will find it
quite different from Tennessee, though, so if you can't imagine living
anywhere else....

On the other hand, it would be another reason for me to get my *ss in
gear and get down to Albuquerque for a visit. g

Callen in VA