There are so many reasons that living in New Mexico is the best. However, given that New Mexico’s population hovers at a little over two million and there are roughly 318 million folks living in the U.S., most people haven’t gotten the memo that our state is an awesome place to live. On the one hand, we’d like to keep it that way. Then again, we also feel obliged to share the enchantment of the Land of...well, Enchantment, with others. Here are just a few of the many reasons to move to New Mexico. (Added bonus: this also acts as a public service announcement to inform people that New Mexico is one of the 50 states.)

1. New Mexican culture is a unique blend of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo influences.

Culture stands at number one pros on the list of pros and cons of living in New Mexico.

2. As a result, our cuisine is both distinctive and delicious. Breakfast burritos, sopaipillas, green chile cheeseburgers… what more could you want?

If you're asking yourself, why visit New Mexico? The food, of course! You'll find the best, most delicious food in New Mexico.

3. Speaking of chile, we grow the best in the nation (maybe even the world).

When you move to New Mexico, you'll enjoy a whole lot of iconic foods.

4. Some kind of annual celebration is always taking place, from alien festivals to balloon fiestas, crane festivals (pictured) and wine festivals.

5. While we’re on the subject of wine, did you know that New Mexico’s vines are some of the oldest in the country? Monks smuggled them out of Spain and began cultivating them here around 1629!

Another of the top pros when it comes to the pros and cons of living in New Mexico? You'll have so many New Mexico wineries to visit.

6. Ours is an old state with a long history, from dinosaurs to the Clovis people and highly sophisticated Native American cultures.

You'll find a ton of interesting stories in New Mexico's history.

7. We have three UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, Taos Pueblo, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. That's more than any other state.

8. We have architecture like this…

And this…

9. The arts flourish in New Mexico. Painting, theater, world-class opera. We have it all.

If you move to New Mexico, you'll never want to leave, or...you'll miss so much.

10. The job market is diverse. Key industries include aerospace and defense, energy, agriculture (chiles in particular), government, and tourism. It’s also one of the few places where you can call yourself an artist without necessarily needing a day job.

11. The cost of living is reasonable. In most parts of the state, it hovers around the national average.

Take a peek at these affordable places to live in New Mexico.

12. New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment for a reason. Our landscapes are unparalleled.

13. And it's easy to get out there and explore them. There are more hiking trails here than you could walk in a lifetime. Other fun activities include cycling, horseback riding, climbing, rafting, kayaking, and even ballooning.

If you move to New Mexico, you'll definitely want to start exploring by heading out on these eight best hikes in New Mexico.

14. When you're craving solitude, it's never far away.

15. Even in our cities, the air is clean. Albuquerque and Santa Fe have both appeared on lists of the least polluted cities in the U.S.

16. Light pollution is also low, which allows us to marvel at night skies such as these.

17. During the day, there’s lots of sunshine.

18. And our sunrises and sunsets blaze with color.

Check out some amazing New Mexico sunrises.

What’s your favorite part about living in New Mexico?  Is it New Mexico's natural beauty? New Mexico's history? New Mexico's small towns? Or the food in New Mexico? Let us know what you think the pros and cons of life in New Mexico are in the comments. We know that New Mexico is a good place to live and we love sharing our state with others.