Thinking about relocating to Las Cruces (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: co-op, wedding, buy)

[swtraveler]

I'm considering relocating to LC. I like the size of the City, and it's proximity to a large city (El Paso). I'd really appreciate feedback on what is available in LC as far as 1) health/natural food stores 2)gyms and 3)areas in, or near the city, for walking dogs. I especially like to walk my dog near water (pond or creek) and am wondering whether there are public walking/hiking trails along the Rio Grande, in or near the City. Thanks

[RyanG]

There are approximately two natural/organic/health food stores in town and a local farmers market once a week. There are also a few local hobby farms that sell eggs, chicken, and beef. Mountain View co-op and Toucan Market are the two stores that you are asking about. Mountain View is smaller than Toucan and both of their prices are more like Whole Foods rather than Trader Joe's (which is nowhere near here). There are walking trails along the Rio Grande and there is local hiking at Tortugas Mountain (A Mountain) and further back at the foot of the Organ Mountains on the Las Cruces side and at Aguire Springs on the White Sands side (at least 15-20 miles away for Aguire Springs and 10-12 miles for the Las Cruces side of the Organ Mountains.) The hiking however in almost all places is rough for it's lack of shade. The sun is very intense in Las Cruces, NM (which Las Cruces proudly states they have 350 days of sunshine per year). However, the sun is hot everywhere in New Mexico and becomes more intense the higher in elevation you go. There is a new Planet Fitness in the same parking lot as Mountain View Market and seems to be very affordable, as well as a Gold's Gym and other than that I don't know much about the gym's here. You could walk your dog on campus at NMSU, they have a couple of ponds here and it is a nice campus to walk. Also, the two stores, Farmers market, NMSU, gyms, and the Rio Grande are all within 5-7 miles of each other. Most people spend their summer days inside and come out to play when the sun is beginning to set.

[swtraveler]

Thanks for the info, Ryan How do you like living in LC in comparison to S. Cal?

[RyanG]

Your welcome. I like the openness of New Mexico, there are incredible sunsets and in the summer the monsoons are exciting. The people of Las Cruces are for the most part good people, quite a bit more conservative down in Southern New Mexico compared to Northern New Mexico ( that can be a plus or a minus or it might not matter at all depending on who you are). I know this because I have also lived in the northern most city of Taos County, NM for a little more than seven months. The prices on everything to do with a car are much less than California, and housing is also much less.
However, the same doesn't apply for food as it is a little more expensive. There are not as many choices for restaurants or groceries and the produce overall is not as fresh or plentiful, with the exception of whatever is locally in season. I just wish they had a Trader Joe's in Las Cruces, I think that would help. The sun is honestly to intense, I am white and it feels like a radiation kind of heat. I love being outside but the sun for five months of the year feels like my skin is being slightly microwaved. You can count on the temperatures starting to hit the 90's by late April and staying on average in the mid 90's from mid May till just about the first week of October in Southern New Mexico with the exception of the mountains. By the way if I could live anywhere in New Mexico it would absolutely be a mountain town near Santa Fe. Second choice would be Taos. Third choice Silver City. Fourth choice Ruidoso or High Rolls near Cloudcroft.

I like my family, relatives, and surfing in Southern California. We may move back when my wife is finished with school, but New Mexico is a pretty special state, so who knows.

[RyanG]

It sounds like you would like Santa Fe, NM better. They have Albuquerque an hour to the south and more Health food stores, the best Farmers Market in the state, better hiking, and in my opinion better and more interesting weather. However, housing is more expensive. They have a Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and probably more.

[swtraveler]

I had given a lot of thought to relocating to Santa Fe. The only drawback is the cost of housing! I'll have to take a look at Silver City and Ruidoso. Also, I do have a difficult time with living in an area that has limited choices for natural food stores. I'm actually toying with the idea of establishing a natural foods coop.

I love S. California. What a beautiful place! The cost of housing there is well-justified.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by swtraveler

I had given a lot of thought to relocating to Santa Fe.

Can't imagine that Gig Harbor, WA is cheap living? What a change it will be to move to the arid SW from such a lovely waterfront as Gig Harbor. I wouldn't mind living there myself - other than the rainy winters. I'm looking forward to being in the area in September for my son's wedding.

[RyanG]

Yeah, the climate of Washington seems like it is much better on your skin too, and probably almost anything grows there. Silver City has a liittle local co-op, and I do mean little. Silver City is nice and artsy with a surprising number of coffee shops, however, it may not have every amenity you would prefer to make your decision to settle there. It is in the transition zone (the zone between the alpine forests of about 7,000 feet+ and the high desert of 3,000 feet- 5,000 feet.) Silver City sits at just under 6,000 feet in downtown. There is a lot more natural-growing-vegetation in Silver City vs. Las Cruces but you feel pretty removed, as the closest major city is Las Cruces (2 hours away) and El Paso as well as Tucson (3 hours away).

[swtraveler]

Gig Harbor is a nice area but very expensive and this area has seen tremendous growth over the past 6 years. It's great if you like to go shopping but entertainment is still very limited. It's just the 'burbs,' well, an exurb, I guess. Pretty boring for me. And should you decide to venture away from town for entertainment, the traffic is atrocious. In fact, I believe the traffic along the I-5 corridor for 50 miles from either end of Seattle placed as 4th worst in the US this year. Actually, I believe it's made the top ten for the past decade, or so. And the weather is awful. I've lived here for 16 years and I'm so depleted of Vit. D that supplements just don't do the trick anymore. And vegetable gardening? Well, some years you can grow a tomato and some years you can't. Forget tomatoes this year--my zucchini plants only just set fruit earlier this week. On the upside, though, we do have a bountiful, and relatively inexpensive, supply of Eastern WA and California-grown veggies and fruits available at the groceries here.

Two summers ago I was finally so tired of our dreary weather that I went on a 13-month road trip. I spent 7 of the months in Arizona (2 cities) and 6 of the months in the D.C. area. Loved my stays in Arizona, and enjoyed my stay in the D.C. area (except for the weather--too humid).

[joqua]

Originally Posted by swtraveler

Gig Harbor is a nice area but very expensive and this area has seen tremendous growth over the past 6 years.

Well, Las Cruces will certainly be the opposite of Gig Harbor, for sure. But before you make a decision it would be best to stay in Cruces for awhile. Winters are going to be mild and except for the windy/dusty days, fairly enjoyable. But summers can be hot - but not as humid as Puget sound area. Water is very much a problem even though you can still buy land in the irrigated part of the Mesilla Valley that has access to irrigation waters, assuming the land comes with the proper water rights.