8 Things That Will Happen If You Leave New Mexico

1. Your access to Hatch Chile won’t change

Although the rest of the U.S. doesn’t function on Hatch Chile as you might, there is always a way to obtain the state’s most cherished food. Even growing up mostly in Missouri, we had stashes of Hatch Green Chile stored in our pantry. Our visits back consisted of retrieving as much Hatch Chile as we could fit in our car. It was a necessity as a New Mexican, and it will be for you too.

Courtesy, Power Road Farmer’s Market

2. You’ll take your décor with you

All that southwestern décor, the hanging red chiles, the wooden ladders, the Native American artwork—it all goes with you. Whether you realize it or not, you’ve got more in your house that will showcase your true identity should you decide to relocate.

Courtesy, Describe the Fauna

3. You’ll likely develop allergies

Most other states and regions of the U.S. are much greener, and you might not have been exposed to such abundance of flora and fauna—i.e. pollen, mold, dust, and who knows what else floating in the air. Worry not, it is a suffering that all must endure during certain times of the year.

Courtesy, Flickr

4. Everyone will ask you if you speak Spanish

While we’d all like to habla Español, there’s a good portion of us that don’t know this beautiful language. For some reason, people you come across will think it is a requirement in order to live there. Although you’ll likely understand and be able to speak a little bit, holding a conversation might be left for native speakers. Or better yet, download an app like Duolingo or Rosetta Stone and get to learning!

Courtesy, Moneytis

5. People will often think you are from Mexico

In addition to thinking you speak Spanish, many people will mistake your native state as Mexico. Believe it or not, it happens more often than you would think. Whether they know their geography or not, it can be annoying to explain that no, New Mexico is not part of our neighboring country.

Courtesy, Plastics News

6. You’ll have an immediate bond with anyone from New Mexico

It’s true. If you come across anyone from the same great state, it’ll be as if you’ve known them for years. There’s just something about the land and culture that makes us more genuinely good people. I never met a New Mexican I didn’t like, and I’ll take a bet that you won’t either.

Courtesy, All Flags World

7. Anywhere else will be too humid

Whether you’re moving to the Midwest, East, or South, the humidity will likely be gut-wrenching. You’ve spent your whole life stripped of this ghastly heat component, and moving away is going to make for some adjustments. I’d like to tell you that is getting better over time, but in truth, it does not. You’ll never take New Mexico’s dry heat for granted ever again.

Courtesy, Skymet Weather

8. You will spend your whole life trying to get back to your home state

New Mexico has a pull on your heart that can never be extinguished, and it’s something I’ve learned over time. As someone whose parents spent much of their adult lives in New Mexico, and where I was born, I can confidently say that all of their years spent in the Midwest have not waned their desire to return to the Land of Enchantment. There’s a reason for the name, and it will forever call you back no matter where you are.

Courtesy, JC’s Travel Adventures