I chose Albuquerque as my new residence because of the Sandia Mountain range.
Prior to living in the southwest, I was in the Ozarks in northwest Arkansas.
Growing up in the Ozarks was a treat because of the beautiful natural scenery, especially with the breathtaking views on mountain peaks. But the mountains were just one part about the natural scenery in this part of the country that enraptured me from a young age. If you go on Google Maps and look at some of the 306 degree photos that people have uploaded from the Ozarks, a good number of them are of rivers, creeks, and waterfalls. These basic smartphone photographs look like scenes out of fantasy movies, but they’re normal features for those of us who were raised in these mountains. Sadly, the Sandia Mountains don’t have nearly as much water as the Ozarks, but there are a number of small creeks and springs on the West Face of the mountain range. Still, the views from Sandia Peak are absolutely breathtaking, even for someone like myself who is from the Ozarks. These days I spend every single minute outside of work and home commitments hiking out in the Sandia Mountains with pre-rolled joints in my backpack next to my water bottle. I feel a strong connection to nature while I’m in the Sandia Mountains, even though I have to watch out for rattlesnakes in some areas. There are also black bears, but I still haven’t seen one myself. I’m happy I moved to Albuquerque where I can enjoy my favorite cannabis products in my new favorite mountain range.