I have lived in Albuquerqer most of my life since 1963.  It is simply the best.  After short periods of time living in other states such as Colorado, (my original home was near the FT Collins area),  Richmond,  Virginia,   various places in Texas,  Virginia,  Minnesota and Wisconsin,  I always returned to Albuquerque.  The people were nicer,  the climate, milder,  and the politicians were the best that money can buy!   You just can't beat it.  I grew up in the school systems and had fabulous teachers.  I remember them with LOVE! .  The University experience is what you make it.  There are few jobs here unless you work for the government, are in the military,  or are in a health profession or self-employed.  We are self-employed. 

There are gangs EVERYWHERE in the USA.   We have lived all over Albuquerque during the past 40 years and prefer the EAST side.  We have been living in a very LOW  CRIME  area since 1993. 

We now have a security patrol that we pay extra protection for--an extra $85 per month.  If something happens,  they can be here in 5 minutes.  The only time I have had to call them was when the "intruder"  turned out to be a raccoon trying to gain entrance from the second floor balcony and setting off my alarm.  My other family members live in the east area of town and have never had a problem of any kind.    I love Albuquerque.  The gangs are everywhere and we are a border state.  I am armed and would be no matter where I lived.  I have enjoyed the culture here and would never miss chile season or the best Mexican food.   If you don't love it,  you should find a place that you resonate with..

truthhurts is right, as are the other writers re: retiring overseas. I don't plan on waiting until I am 65 to do it. Many countries (Ecuador, New Zealand) make it a lot easier to live abroad ESPECIALLY IF YOU INVEST IN THEIR COUNTRY (either through an existing business or a new one). Kind of what brought people to the US a hundred years ago: ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY!

Unfortunately, America's best days are behind it. No one wants to hear it but it is true. Recently heard that studies show that America hasn't been this divided since the Civil War. Everything is clouded by political ideology.

We all can agree that roads, schools and bridges need to be rebuilt; We can all agree that Americans need affordable health care; We can all agree that our children need to be better educated and able to compete with the world; We can all agree that we need to build things here before (or as much as) building countries abroad. The hard question is "How do we get there?"

The answer is for the left to stop giving things away to those that don't truly "deserve" them and for the right to stop falling for the crap that by voting for the rich that they, too, can be rich (and additionally to STOP TRYING TO SHOVE THEIR SOCIAL POLICIES DOWN EVERYONE ELSE'S THROATS!!) FREEDOM IS NOT LIMITED TO THE RICH OR JESUS-WORSHIPPING CROWD.  (And, no, supporting the right of gay people to marry or everyone to be entitled to affordable health care or safe drinking water and clean air is NOT the left shoving their ideology down everyone's throats. It is about equality, freedom and justice for all: rich or poor, gay or straight, able-bodied or disabled, black or white.)