So, you (or your spouse) have gotten orders to Cannon. You've heard all the rumours. You're not sure if you should sigh in resignation or paste a smile on your face and give it the ol' college try. After all, anywhere's better than Minot... (Pretend you didn't just see that.) Well, I'm here to help. I've lived in New Mexico for 25 of my 29 years and I've been living in the Clovis/Portales area since 2010. I don't pretend to be an expert on the area, but I've been around long enough to know a thing or two about a thing or two.
The roads are horrid.
Potholes. SO MANY POTHOLES. I've heard many a spouse say they've had to replace the shocks on their cars several times because of the, ahem, bumpy rides around here. Clovis and Portales do not have adequate drainage on the streets either, so when it rains, floods force many of the main roads to close. In the country many of the roads are unpaved. Summer rains turn them into mud pits (hope you have good tires) and in the winter, the extreme cold causes the dirt roads to turn into muddy slush. Your little city Miata wasn't built for this kind of abuse. You've been warned.
That smell? Why, it's the smell of money...
As the locals will joke over and over until you can't fake laugh at it anymore. This area is home to many dairies which have been here for generations. As such, the air often smells like a wonderful mix of rotting hay and manure. Agriculture is big business here, so get used to the smell. Supposedly you won't even notice it after awhile. That's what I was told, anyway. It's been five years, and...
Target? Panera? (Insert name of business you liked back home)
We don't have any of them here, and they're probably not coming any time soon, so don't even bother to ask. Clovis/Portales are rather isolated. The nearest large towns are Amarillo and Lubbock, which are roughly a two hour drive. Roswell, NM is about 1.5 hours south and has some wonderful thrift shops (no extraterrestrials, though.) In New Mexico and West Texas, some businesses have no presence at all. In-N-Out, Wawa, Publix... Only in your dreams, amigo. (Side note: Starbucks recently opened up on base this year, so maybe this is proof that God loves us and doesn't want us to suffer.)
The area is full of wonderful gems and hidden treasures.
Clovis is a thrift store lover's dream. There are many locally owned consignment and "gently used" shops full of antiques, vintage clothing and fun little tchotchkes for your mantel. The Cannon Spouses Club also runs a thrift shop on base which donates all profits to the morale and welfare of the base. Some more discerning palates may disagree, but there are great places to get your grub on too. Try the bread pudding and green chile potato soup at Gallery 15. Indulge yourself in some excellent Italian at Roma's. Want authentic Mexican food? Espiga de Oro and La Paz (in Portales) have you covered.
Do all of the sightseeing while you're here.
A lot of times, spouses shut themselves up in their houses and pine for home (or their last base), becoming virtual hermits save for social networking. Don't make this mistake! New Mexico is chock full of culture and numerous sights to behold. Plus, most everything is a day trip away. Go see the Gathering of Nations in April, the world's biggest Native American Festival. Hike the La Luz Trail or at Bandelier National Monument. Get your (sand) sled on White Sands. See the Trinity Site, where the world's first atomic bomb was detonated. Take a relaxing dip in the refreshing hot springs of Ojo Caliente or at rustic Faywood. Go see the ancient, massive Valle Caldera. Decide for yourself if Georgia O'Keefe's paintings were really flowers.
Crazy weather and BUGS.
We live on the prairie, which means that the weather can be extreme. (Kinda gives you a new respect for the old-time pioneers, huh?) Summers are blazing hot, winters are bitter cold, and gusty wind occurs year round. It doesn't rain often, but during monsoon season heavy rainfall causes flash floods. Severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes are not uncommon. Be prepared for many types of bugs in your home as well, such as wolf spiders, roaches, and lots and lots of flies.
Clovis Schools are excellent.
Think that just because you're stuck in the boonies, your kids won't get a quality education? Think again! Clovis has a wonderful school system. They have programs to encourage kids to be good citizens and many parents say that teachers and administration are very proactive. For music, Clovis is top notch. When I was in band in Los Alamos, they were the ones we always feared because we knew they would beat us.
Volunteering, leadership opportunities, and socialising can all be found....
... when you join the Cannon Spouses Club. This organisation brings spouses, active-duty, retirees, reservists and base-affiliated civilians together for fun, friendship, and to make a difference in our community. For just $45 a year (your first event is free), you can experience everything CSC has to offer. The Cannon Spouses' Club also gives away scholarships and has an annual charity auction. Wanna get involved? Check out their website HERE for more information.
Sometimes living here feels like a time warp.
With the dearth of big-city businesses, ultra conservative values (we are on the edge of the Bible Belt, after all), surrounded by crumbling remnants of a bygone era, living here can seem rather surreal at times. The mall is full of empty storefronts. Since this area is so isolated, many of the fads and trends in other parts of the country have not made it here yet. The good news is, if ever there is a zombie apocalypse, it won't hit us till two years after it happens.
YOU WILL SURVIVE.
Got kids? Join a playgroup. Love to read? Join a book club. Once you get involved in the community, you'll feel much better about being at Cannon and actually enjoy your time here. Since Cannon is a small base, the community is tight-knit. The base also has many, MANY resources for spouses looking for jobs, trying to finish their education, or just needing someone to talk to. (Call the AF&RC at 575-784-4228 to learn more). Get to know your spouse's squadron's key spouses... and for heaven's sake, if you don't know what squadron your spouse is in, ASK! Your key spouses are invaluable resources and they know how to get you to the right people for whatever you need. (Not to mention, I've heard stories of some Key Spouses bringing soup when you're sick and being great shoulders to cry on, but that could be an urban legend.) Point is, you're not alone and no matter how tough things get, someone has your back. This is important to remember when the inevitable Deployment Curse strikes.
I hope you found this useful. The best part of military life its transience: you won't be here forever, so make worthwhile memories while you wait for your BOP to come through, or your spouse to separate. :)
-Matti
