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Las Cruces Dona Ana County
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Old 03-16-2016, 03:12 PM
 
Location: The Springs
1,778 posts, read 2,868,748 times
Reputation: 1891

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My wife and I are CO natives (well she's Korean but has lived here for 35 years). We "enjoy" living in the Springs but the older we get (we're 60 now) the more we tire of the cold and snow. Even though we don't face what the Midwest or the East does, we're starting to find it more depressing with each passing year. I have a broken back which has never properly healed and both of us have severe arthritis. The cold doesn't help.

We have a plan to retire in the next 6 years. Las Cruces is on our list of preferred areas. It appears to have a low COL, a relatively safe crime rate, and weather that seems "moderate" for the most part. Not as hot as AZ and not as cold as CO.

For those who have retired to Las Cruces, have you found it to be a pleasant place to live? Is it easy to make friends and become accepted in the community? Are there enough activities to keep seniors from becoming bored?

Are you glad you chose relocating to NM? What are the drawbacks and things you miss most about your former hometowns?

We have our 401(k) and if it's still around, maximum social security benefits. We'll also have pretty much a straight shot up I-25, 7-8 hours to see family and friends up in Colorado Springs, so I don't believe we'll feel that isolated.

Any recommendations or suggestions regarding considering this area for retirement are greatly appreciated! The good, the bad and the ugly.

Thank you!

Last edited by Kar54; 03-16-2016 at 03:53 PM..
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Old 03-16-2016, 03:31 PM
 
Location: Londonderry, NH
41,478 posts, read 59,608,382 times
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I suggest you consider Truth or Consequences so you can take advantage of the Thermal springs. We stayed at one of the resorts last spring and having a real hot soak at the end of the day was surprisingly relaxing. if you decide on Las Cruces, T or C is only about an hour away.
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Old 03-16-2016, 04:17 PM
 
Location: Albuquerque, NM
1,663 posts, read 3,688,326 times
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I'm not a retiree, but retirees seem to generally like Las Cruces. It's been named one of the best places to retire by national publications many times.
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Old 03-16-2016, 06:00 PM
 
Location: Sacramento Mtns of NM
4,280 posts, read 9,122,664 times
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While I never considered Las Cruces when I was thinking of retiring, and am happy where I have lived since retiring 19 years ago, I have a number of friends who are very happy with their choice of Las Cruces. In fact, two of the couples I know well chose to move from where I live in Ruidoso to Las Cruces. One couple had homes in both places and now has their home in Ruidoso up for sale.

These are people well acquainted with all the pluses and minuses of Las Cruces before they made the decision to move there. Because of these friends, I visit often and was in fact just there a week ago for a visit.

I much prefer Las Cruces to El Paso whenever I need to shop or seek medical care, even though it's the same drive time for me to either place.

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Old 03-16-2016, 08:09 PM
 
Location: New Mexico U.S.A.
26,527 posts, read 51,587,820 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kar54 View Post

We have a plan to retire in the next 6 years. Las Cruces is on our list of preferred areas. It appears to have a low COL, a relatively safe crime rate, and weather that seems "moderate" for the most part. Not as hot as AZ and not as cold as CO.

Any recommendations or suggestions regarding considering this area for retirement are greatly appreciated! The good, the bad and the ugly.
We retired about 240 miles north of Las Cruces in 1998 (Rio Rancho). We visit Las Cruces on occasion (two weeks ago, the last time).

You might read the following threads about Las Cruces:
Las Cruces in Forbes List for Retirement
Las Cruces for Possible Retirement
For those who moved to Las Cruces for Retirement
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Old 03-17-2016, 07:22 AM
 
Location: The Springs
1,778 posts, read 2,868,748 times
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Thanks for the comments thus far folks.
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Old 03-17-2016, 08:56 AM
 
Location: NP AK/SF NM
681 posts, read 1,200,153 times
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We are visiting Las Cruces right now....I'm typing this as I drink coffee at our vacation rental. For almost the past three weeks we have been checking out places in NM for a possible retirement spot. We started out in Farmington, moved to Albuquerque, and now Las Cruces. In between we made brief stops to look at other possibilities....Aztec, Bloomfield, Rio Rancho, Socorro, TorC, Alamagordo. Unfortunately we don't have the time on this trip to check out Cloudcroft or Ruidoso, other areas that interest me. We will make it to Silver City though.

Since the last time I was in LC (~25+ yrs.), the area appears to have exploded. Almost every conceivable national or regional business entity looks to now have a presence in LC. New or almost new housing covers large areas to the north of I25. I also see many medical offices and a newish looking hospital in the area. There are lots of retired-aged people shopping in the stores or eating at the restaurants we have gone to. People in general are friendly and helpful. And after almost 30 years of living in Interior Alaska, who can argue with the 350 days of sunshine and the weather that LC offers!

So far at this point, LC has moved to the top of our list. The plan is to spend more time here over the next year or so to make sure it really is the place we're looking for.
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Old 04-07-2016, 06:34 AM
 
37 posts, read 38,655 times
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I was going to start a new thread, but I think just following this one might answer any questions I have. We are not retirement age yet, still in our 40s, but are hoping to get out of Wisconsin in about 5 years. Same issues as the OP, the cold, the snow, the dark, and the humidity are just starting to take their toll. Any type of cold virus turns into bronchitis, and then turns into asthma. Gravity seems to have a lot more pull at an altitude of 600 feet and the air is a lot heavier. Getting real tired of not being able to be outside in the summer due to mosquitos also!
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Old 04-17-2016, 04:23 PM
 
35 posts, read 83,348 times
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We have lived here in LC for years and thought about moving elsewhere to retire. But, really, why?

We will probably move to a smaller, easier to clean home on the east side of town with little maintenance -- we will definitely want a small inground pool and air conditioning to deal with the summer and monsoon season. You can get all this for under $200K.

The COL is cheap, there are few natural disasters to worry about, there's still some water in the aquifers and you can add a rainwater collection system if you want large trees (drink mulberry tea to counteract the effects of their pollen). Crime depends on the neighborhood -- realtors can't tell you that, so do some research. Mostly it's theft because it really is a poor city -- you have to be OK with that. Or just stick to the golf enclaves and the eastside shopping, and you won't see the crime or the poverty.

Weather: you have to like a lot of sunshine, little rain, some dust, and heat. But not as hot as Phoenix or Tucson, and it does cool down at night. We can have a strong monsoon season, so if you buy a house with a cooler (rather than air conditioning) it won't work during that season (that's when you'll be miserable) But, the winter is glorious! Sometimes some snow, but that usually melts off quickly. You can do a lot of nice hiking in the Organ Mountains 3 seasons of the year if you like the outdoors.

OK, now for the downsides of retiring to LC: Medical. If you have a chronic condition, we don't have a lot of specialists here in town. Many people commute to El Paso for their medical care. Many of the doctors with a good reputation don't take new patients. We have a couple of decent hospitals, but they don't treat trauma patients and sometimes people get a helicopter ride down to El Paso.

Shopping. We don't have a Sprouts, a Costco or a Trader Joe's. We are a Wal-Mart town and just got a third one. There are some good Hispanic stores, and then there's Albertsons. There is a co-op and Toucan Market near the University, but if you're looking for great selection at a great price, just plan on a monthly trip down to El Paso, stop at the Costco and the Sprouts, and there might be a new Whole Foods soon.

Culture and music. Sure we've got plenty of great artists, and some nice music, but not really a huge variety. You'll have to travel if you want that. Check out Old Mesilla for the historic, and the Fountain theater for alternative film.

Best thing: the people. Lot of nice and caring people. Nice mixture of culture and politics.
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Old 04-17-2016, 05:45 PM
 
Location: Sacramento Mtns of NM
4,280 posts, read 9,122,664 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by katmeyster View Post
We have a couple of decent hospitals, but they don't treat trauma patients and sometimes people get a helicopter ride down to El Paso.
Trauma centers are few and far between because they serve a "region." To my knowledge, the three that are closest to me here in Ruidoso are Lubbock, El Paso, or Albuquerque and it's uncertain which one you'll end up in, depending on various factors. Most EMS calls I hear refer to the first two. I think Albq gets mostly cardiac patients - not sure.

I was VERY pleased with the care I received at Mountain View in Las Cruces when I recently underwent spinal surgery. And the neurosurgeon was a godsend! I've also been happy with the retinologist in Cruces, who is one of those associated with a larger practice in El Paso.

One other comment: I know there are a number of the better doctors in El Paso who maintain alternative offices on both the east and west sides of the city. El Paso also has a large concentration of hospitals, specialty hospitals, surgical centers (outpatient) in the central area easily accessible from either the east or west sides - and especially handy for those traveling into El Paso from Las Cruces.
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