‘You get back what you put out’

IN RESPONSE to Alison Fredericksen’s long, whiny complaint about life in Albuquerque, I have this to say: News Flash! You live in a big city! The complaints that you listed could apply to any city of this size. You say you want to return to Minnesota. So go already. I doubt if the idyllic life you describe there exists, but go, enjoy the arctic winters and bland food.

I moved here recently to escape the hurricane zone, as well as the horrific crime, the second-worst school system in the United States, the miserable climate and the exponentially rising cost of living in New Orleans. The next time you go through Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, Ms. Fredericksen, I want you to call me and tell me how terrible life is in Albuquerque. This city is absolute paradise after living a sizable chunk of my life in New Orleans. Katrina didn’t break me, but it did wake me up. Four more hurricanes later, I decided that I’d had enough.

I live in a beautiful neighborhood in a friendly city that offers great food, a laid-back lifestyle, an affordable cost of living and a truly wonderful climate. Of course there are bigcity problems here. Hello! Albuquerque is home to over half a million people so, yes, there are problems. And, yeah, this is the WEST. I haven’t found it so wild, rather tame actually, compared to New Orleans. I’m sorry your experience here has been so negative, but I think you get back what you put out.

MARGRETE GREY WOLF Albuquerque