Albuquerque is… Albuquerque. The food is diverse, the lgbtq+ scene is surprisingly robust, and there’s a lot to do if you’re into outdoorsy things. Nightlife is a bit limited and there’s pockets of crime all over, but you learn which areas to avoid pretty quickly. The zoo is world-class, and the museums are great. There’s history in Albuquerque and all over the state.

I can’t speak on the merits or lack thereof for Columbus, but I have known people to willingly move there.