Congrats! You’ve made the excellent choice to move to New Mexico. Our state is an amazing, unique place. Depending on where you’re relocating from, you may find the Land of Enchantment requires a bit of an adjustment. So, here are 15 tips and observations to ease the transition when moving to New Mexico.

1. You’ve moved abroad.
Flickr/Aero Icarus
New Mexico’s part of the United States? Good luck explaining that to customer service agents.
2. Chile is a food group.
Flickr/Nathan Eaton Jr.
Embrace this, or prepare to finish every single restaurant order with the words "chile on the side."
3. Chile is also a season.
Flickr/Krissa Corbett Cavouras
You’ll know it’s chile season when huge roasters and lines of people fill the parking lots.
4. Speaking of parking… you can now find some.
Flickr/Jim Legans, Jr
Say adios to choosing destinations based on parking availability, including parking costs in a budget, and valet parking. Those are problems for other states. Many of us go weeks without parallel parking.

(This doesn’t apply to the most densely populated parts of our cities and certain narrow streets in historic areas.)
5. It’s helpful to speak some Spanish.
Flickr/Samat Jain
The flags of both Spain and Mexico have flown over our state and the Spanish language is part of both our past and present. Currently, an estimated 29% of New Mexicans over the age of five speak Spanish when at home.
6. New Mexico’s history stretches back thousands of years.
Flickr/Jenni Konrad
The state is filled with historic buildings and ruins. Living here makes it easy to explore the past.
7. There are more shades of brown than you ever imagined.
Flickr/Rafay Seyal
Our landscapes offer stunning panoramas and, while New Mexican architecture is gorgeous, it doesn’t steal attention away from the surrounding natural beauty.

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8. We have a mañana attitude.
Flickr/Jessica Fiess-Hill
I’ve heard this used in a critical way, but there’s a lot to be said for embracing a slower pace of life. It gives you room to focus on the things that truly matter, rather being buried under to-do lists.
9. Rocks are the enemy.
Flickr/PJ Nelson
Don’t believe me? Wait until one of those suckers flies up off the road and cracks your windshield. It’s inevitable.
10. In New Mexico everyone laments the lack of rain…
Flickr/Keary O.
…Until this happens.
11. At Christmas, the simplest decorations are the loveliest.
Flickr/Mike Fisher
It’s the one time we don’t pick red or green.
12. The sky is jam-packed with stars…
Flickr/Jason Carpenter
…And you had no clue until you experienced night in New Mexico.
13."Heavenly" light isn’t something you only find in religious artwork.
Flickr/Mike Lewinski
On many an afternoon, you’ll witness sights like this.
14. Double rainbows are a thing.
Flickr/Wayne L Pendley
(We make no such claims about leprechauns.)
15. You won’t want to leave.
Flickr/Matt Dente
New Mexico seeps into your soul and in no time you’ll be hooked on everything from the sunsets to the wide open spaces.

If you’re a transplant, what lessons did learn after moving to New Mexico?

Perhaps you’re thinking about relocating or are trying to find the perfect place to settle down in the Land of Enchantment. If that’s the case, check out the best places to live in New Mexico.

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More to Explore

Moving To New Mexico

Leah | September 11, 2020

What stereotypes are there about New Mexico?

If you plan on moving to the Land of Enchantment, here are some weird things about New Mexico you might want to learn about ahead of time. There are many stereotypes about the state, some truer than others. For example, New Mexico is known to be a place of UFO sightings and believers in the extraterrestrial. Not every New Mexican believes in aliens visiting the state, but many do - or at least play up the stereotype. New Mexico is known for its love of chile, and that one is definitely true. Many restaurants in the state smother their food in red or green chile, or both if you enjoy it "Christmas style."

Is New Mexico a great place to live?

When considering living in New Mexico, you'll be pleased to know that many people consider it a wonderful place to live. The state is not heavily populated, resulting in plenty of wide-open spaces and fewer problems of more densely urbanized places. New Mexico is perfect for an outdoor nature lover, with tons of beautiful natural areas that range from deserts to snow-capped mountains. The state is also great for cultural and historical fans. The state is steeped in history and the colorful and beautiful traditions of the state are still going strong.

What unique words and phrases do people in New Mexico say?

There are some things to know about New Mexico before moving there so you don't stick out like a sore thumb when you make the transition. Namely, that's words and phrases. It's no secret that New Mexico embraces their "Spanglish," so it's helpful to know a handful of Spanish words and phrases before moving there. When visiting a restaurant, it's likely there is chile involved in many of the dishes. You should be prepared to answer the question "red, green, or Christmas style?" This, of course, refers to red chile, green chile, or both.

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