hey. what about Santa Fe, NM?

vash · vash's Garage

driving past and stopping (both directions) to eat and rest..the town seems kinda cool!!

those homes in the North side..nestled in the Mesquite bushes seem kinda enchanting!. quick Zillow search; they seem doable.

saw some monster hospitals.

weather? crime?

what about Santa Fe as a retirement place? anyone live there?

look 171 · 09-18-2018, 03:43 PM

We drove up there just to check things out. Seems very upscale, at least in the down town or the Plaza and its surrounding areas.

Aurel · Aurel's Garage

I lived in Albuquerque and we used to take the 45 min drive to Santa Fe on week-ends for events and restaurants. Very old market where native Americans sell their stuff, beautiful old adobes. Great art galleries and artsy community, skiing slopes a 10 minute drive. It is a great place for retiring, IMO. The schools are not so good, so housing is not too high.

id10t · 09-18-2018, 04:10 PM

Their community college is jealous - we got the sfcc.edu domain before they did. Think they got it when we gave it up with a legally required name change when we started offering 4 year degrees.

MMiller · 09-18-2018, 06:16 PM

"The City Different" yes Santa Fe is a very nice place. Insulated from a lot of NM short comings. Great food, great vistas, great art and great weather. It's a affluent community with lots of folks owing property there from both coast. It's also one of the oldest cities in America, so lots of history...

Vash...come, stay, retire and learn them in the ways of the kitchen and cool knives!

I mean that with all sincerity and respect!

Mike

DWBOX2000 · 09-19-2018, 08:14 AM

I was just there visiting so no expert. Seemed the downtown was really nice. Lots of art to see. Everyone I spoke to loved the (Local or repeat visitors) area. The Art community sections was really nice also. Those red clay houses seemed to be part of the landscape. Lots of restaurants in both areas.

Where I stayed outside both these areas, there was some sketchy stuff going on. Never seen a street fight between two older men before. There was also beef jerky trailer in a pet crematorium parking lot too which was funny. Like downtown though, everyone i spoke to were very pleasant and nice.

Temperature related, it was very hot in August but the humidity was low. I preferred to Boston with lower temperatures but high humidity.

Georgia Okeefe museum was just awful. Maybe I just don't have the eye. Lots more beautiful art to appreciate at the various art stores in the area.

Overall, I liked but didn't love. Preferred over Taos but not Sedona. God willing, I will return to Sedona.

Evans, Marv · 09-19-2018, 09:55 AM

There are a couple of killer bead stores there. Ask my wife how I know.

09-19-2018, 12:02 PM

I love Santa Fe. Beautimous.

tdskip · tdskip's Garage

Santa Fe is a great town, good food, lots of arts, and loads of outdoor recreation as well.

dan88911 · 09-19-2018, 01:38 PM

From what I have read NM, is not a tax friendly state for retirees.

fintstone · fintstone's Garage

I could live in Santa Fe or Albuquerque. Love the food. Weather is great but altitude and dryness takes a toll on the skin quickly. Especially if you are over 50 or fair. Not a good place to raise your own food (like potatoes, beans and corn)...but if you water them, the soil and climate are perfect for tomatoes and peppers. Roses as well.

IMHO, Sante Fe lends itself better to a vacation or a day trip and Albuquerque is the better place to live (if you can afford a nice area)...as the shopping and restaurants are more plentiful and better for regular fare and the airport is there. If you are retiring and like being a bit of a hermit much of the time and don't have to work, there are some nice communities of large southwestern homes in between the two (like Placitas). I would get bored soon unless I entertained all the time or spent a lot of time traveling.

scotricker · 09-19-2018, 04:45 PM

Hey Vash,
Send me a PM if you'd like. I've lived here since 1980, so it's home for me.
Raised the kids, bought and sold a few homes, different careers, you know, all of that.
I think Santa Fe is a great place. Let me know what your comfort areas are, and I might be able to sort some details.

Scot.

vash · vash's Garage

We are planning a trip. Maybe spend the holidays there.

tcar · 09-20-2018, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

We are planning a trip. Maybe spend the holidays there.

It's beautiful at Christmas on the plaza... probably have snow...
(it's 7,200 ft above sea level).

Skiing is 30 minutes away.

OK-944 · 09-20-2018, 04:27 AM

Great town...the community of artists and shop/restaurant owners are very civic-minded and passionate about what they do.

Last year I got very lucky...my wife attended a five-day (morning sessions) medical conference near the old city center last year (late May of 2017) - and I got to hang out most mornings at a Porsche event...with enough great cars (everything from a 1955 Pre-A to a 918) to completely surround the square! Great bunch of friendly folks, eager to share car stories and tech talk. I was in heaven!

Conference afternoons spent exploring the town a surrounding area (do not miss the Georgia O'keefe museum!) - then three full days added so that we could both explore further. One day up to Taos and then the Enchanted Circle, hitting a couple of vinyards on our return to S.F. Another day over to Bandelier and up and over to Valles Caldera (spectacular, and got a spontaneous, private tour of Walter Longmire's cabin!), then a third day hiking at Ghost Ranch, with a sunset dinner under cottonwoods looking out over Cerro Paternal.

My only regret, especially given some of the great twisty roads...and given that we flew in from Vt., is that I wasn't driving my Porsche!

tcar · 09-20-2018, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OK-944

.... I got to hang out most mornings at a Porsche event...with enough great cars (everything from a 1955 Pre-A to a 918) to completely surround the square! Great bunch of friendly folks, eager to share car stories and tech talk. I was in heaven!

That's part of an annual event of the Roadrunner region of the PCA... happens every year. Lots of folks drive down there from Colorado, also. That show, rallies, drives, etc.

vash · vash's Garage

never knew Longmires cabin was in the VC! thanks.

vash · vash's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar

It's beautiful at Christmas on the plaza... probably have snow...
(it's 7,200 ft above sea level).

Skiing is 30 minutes away.

thanks..my wife's achilles is super cold weather. i figure start there..if she freezes her ass for the holidays. it will be a non-starter.

i did take a fast drive thru (closer to Abq) Bernalillo NM. it is like the northern hoods of Santa Fe, but about half the money. but i think i can swing north of santa fe.

Skytrooper · Skytrooper's Garage

My wife and I are currently looking in Abq and Santa Fe for retirement. We have also been looking in Cedar Crest and Sandia (actually that's where we started). Our son and DIL live near Nob Hill and his in-laws are in Rio Rancho, which is great.

My Dodge Charger came from Bernalillo last year

Seahawk · 09-20-2018, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

thanks..my wife's achilles is super cold weather. i figure start there..if she freezes her ass for the holidays. it will be a non-starter.

https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/santa-fe/new-mexico/united-states/usnm0292

Uh-oh:

https://www.bankrate.com/retirement/best-and-worst-states-for-retirement/

I honestly don't know why I even try and think I am going to get my wife off the farm.

I a domed, domed I tell you.