NEW MEXICO VS COLORADO
I am a New Mexico native who has also spent 20+ years living in Colorado. Today, I move back-and-forth between the two States with ease as I maintain a home in each. As such, I believe I am uniquely suited to this Public Service Announcement:
5 THINGS COLORADOANS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT NEW MEXICO
New Mexico is a true melting pot with its own unique history.
Many of today’s Native American pueblos have been occupied for centuries if not a millennium and are thought to be originally populated by the Anasazi following the collapse of their society nearly a 1000 years ago. Native New Mexican hispanics trace their origins to the post-Conquistador settlers who began arriving in the mid to late 1500s. New Mexico’s capital city, Santa Fe, was founded well before the pilgrims stepped off of the Mayflower. Anglo Americans did not begin arriving in New Mexico until the 1800s after the territory had already been apart of New Spain for 100s of years!
Chile goes on everything.
Full stop. Oh, and there’s no such thing as good chile or salsa from Colorado – sorry Pueblo! If you happen to visit me in Colorado, you’ll experience nothing but imported chile and salsa. Oh, and the proper spelling is Chile – chili is that TexMex stuff.
The drivers are horrific.
From swerving across multiple lanes of traffic to make a last-second highway exit to the near the constant running of red lights, this place is dangerous to drive! I advise those uninitiated to always check to make sure there is no oncoming traffic before entering an intersection at a new green light and to never, ever, under any circumstance, gun-it when the light turns yellow. Oh, and speaking of bad driving…
it gets worse when it snows.
I get it – it doesn’t snow here that much so you don’t get many reps…but turning your hazard lights on and slowing down to 25 on the highway at the first sign of snow is not the answer. Do that in Colorado and you’re liable to get plowed into!
New Mexico sunsets are unparalleled.
I don’t know what it is – the air, the dirt, the lack of humidity, etc. – but nothing compares to sunsets in New Mexico. They’re simply off-the-charts. There’s a reason that the mountains immediately east of Albuquerque are called the Sandias, which is Spanish for watermelon.
5 THINGS NEW MEXICANS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COLORADO
If you’re not into some sort of an adventure sport, you’re a nobody.
If you don’t ski/bike/rock climb/kayak/raft/backpack/summit 14ers/pursue fastest known times (FKT’s)/hunt/fish/moto/etc. you are in the minority. During my 20+ year professional career in Colorado I never once missed a business/social-networking opportunity because I didn’t golf. Business in Colorado is done on the trail, slope, etc. In contrast, I’ve missed several business connections since being back in New Mexico due to me not being a golfer.
Shoe culture is a thing.
Specifically, taking one’s shoes off – or at least offering – when entering a Coloradoan’s home is the polite thing to do. Similar to Japan, you’ll find a pile of shoes at the door of a Coloradoan’s home. Why is this? Colorado, especially in the winter, is a dirty place, which is why…
No one bothers washing their cars in the winter.
Why? Because the roads are an absolute mess for up to half of the year depending on where in Colorado one lives. People in New Mexico often comment on how filthy my Colorado cars are (only on the outside, of course). I don’t get these comments in Colorado.
Snow shoveling etiquette is a big deal.
Why? Because if you don’t shovel snow properly you may end up with an ice skating rink for the remainder of the winter. If in the city, tackle your sidewalks first (before somebody walks on them) and then transition to your driveway. If in rural Colorado (where I am now), hire someone to plow your driveway and make sure they show up before you need to pull your car out. Oh, and don’t ever drive on someone else’s driveway before they’ve had a chance to plow/shovel – talk about rude!
Shoulder season is a thing.
Ski area is closed for the season but trails and gravel roads are impassable? Welcome to shoulder season! What do you do? Get out of town.
Coloradoans can be a bit cynical about out-of-staters.
It’s understandable given that Colorado is such a destination State for vacationers both Summer and Winter. When visiting, just remember to be respectful and leave your home State’s flag at home where it belongs. And if you move to Colorado from another State, get your plates changed ASAP…and this is doubly true if you’re moving in from California or Texas!.
