Well we are doing the exact opposite of each other. I am moving to Texas after being in Colorado Springs and Denver for almost 10years. The economy here has been a real see-saw as someone mentioned earlier and not as sustainable and vibrant as Houston (where I am moving).
San Luis Valley is not really all that arid, it is actually very green \ lush, and I love it there. There is absolutely nothing to do there, unless you are a nature lover and want zero interaction with people and commercialism.
We had a very long and harsh winter this past year (Snow in May!!! and it snowed yesterday as well, the ealiest snow I can remember!!!) and a very long and ultra wet spring \ summer and consequently not much of a summer. I drove my 911 2 or 3 times all summer
I wish you luck.
Yasin