Ruidoso - Bad Reputation (Las Cruces, Santa Fe: transplants, new home, property taxes)

[jdub1120]

Torn between New Mexico and Colorado. Will be moving in the near future. Hope someone can tell me why choose Ruidoso over a mountain town in Colorado. I really love Ruidoso, but don't want that nasty reputation that some Texans are crowned with. How does a guy avoid it?

[mtncat]

I think the issue is not so much "Texans" as what it is "outsiders" in general moving into any smaller area.
Best advice I can give you is to be a good neighbor and NEVER let the words "where I came from we did it this way" cross your lips.
Learn the way things are done in your new home town. If a person moves to a new area and then wants to change that area to match what they left the general feeling quickly becomes "if it was so great where you came from, why don't you go back"
I live in a town that is much smaller then Ruidoso and we get our fair share of "outsiders" Some move in and make it home, a large number move in, try to "improve" the area and then leave when they fail.
Best of luck to you.

[hogfarmer]

For what it's worth, we are transplants from Minnesota (i.e. "Yankees"-at least in the local's eyes) and really have no regrets moving to the area. Carrizozo yes, but that's another story. But Ruidoso is a well educated (and frankly generally well off) area and quite welcoming to non locals. Mr. Cat is 100% right, integrate into the area, get involved with churches and other areas of service, and you'll find it quite rewarding-and a fantastic place to call home! We did consider Arizona, and Colorado before deciding on Southern (emphasis here) New Mexico as the weather is great, taxes are reasonable, and mind set was pretty logical. Yes, you do hear grousing about the Texans, but I assure you we would miss y'all if you weren't here! And it's mostly in good fun anyway-not like the Californians!! (sorry Bay Area folks!)

[joqua]

Originally Posted by jdub1120

Torn between New Mexico and Colorado. Will be moving in the near future. Hope someone can tell me why choose Ruidoso over a mountain town in Colorado.

My own personal decision when considering retirement was a matter choice between Montrose, CO. (and surrounds) and the Ruidoso area. I have no regrets since I no longer find Montrose the "small town" that I fell in love with at one time. And I seriously doubt that I could have purchased a house in Montrose comparable in price/sq ft to what I bought in the Ruidoso area. To say nothing of ongoing annual property taxes being much lower in Lincoln county.

I think that Ruidoso, being a tourist mecca, is often referred to as "the poor man's Aspen" - and really can't be compared to similar "tourist towns" in CO, that are in the Rockies. And for sure Ruidoso has milder winter conditions than most of the ski towns in CO.

As for Texans, I am native born El Pasoan and Ruidoso has been a second home to me all of my long life. When I had Texas plates on my car, I swore at the antics of the locals with NM plates. As soon as I switched to NM on my own vehicle I began swearing at the antics of the Texas drivers! The reason being that people who are in town vacationing speed about as if they have to cram every last minute with some touristy thing to do. While those of us who live here in retirement find no reason to hurry anywhere at any time, thereby frustrating those who would exceed the speed limit to get to their next "fun venue."

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by joqua

... people who are in town vacationing speed about ...
... those of us who live here ... no reason to hurry anywhere ...

That is hilarious!

Usually, the locals know every curve and bump in the road and are
always angry at non-locals who don't know that the curve marked
35 mph can actually be taken at 60 mph if you cut the apex just so ...

Try driving to Los Alamos at 5 mph above the posted speed limit.
You will usually have someone's bumper 6" away from yours.

[joqua]

Originally Posted by mortimer

Try driving to Los Alamos at 5 mph above the posted speed limit.
You will usually have someone's bumper 6" away from yours.

That's why I wrote in another thread that I find Santa Fe (and the area) to be too "frenetic" for my tastes and recommended Las Cruces as an alternative.

[jdub1120]

Thanks to everyone for the honesty. I agree with joqua. I have noticed the non-locals speeding around. I say to heck with all the tourist things to do and just be thankful to be in such a beautiful place. While visiting Ruidoso 3 times in the past 2 months, I was asked, "What will you be doing?" Who cares? It's enough to just be there. Ruidoso is sounding more like home to me every day!

[br7or13]

Originally Posted by jdub1120

Torn between New Mexico and Colorado. Will be moving in the near future. Hope someone can tell me why choose Ruidoso over a mountain town in Colorado. I really love Ruidoso, but don't want that nasty reputation that some Texans are crowned with. How does a guy avoid it?

Remove the following from your Truck/SUV:
TX lic. plates
Longhorns sticker
Texas Tech sticker
TX A&M Sticker
Don't Mess w/ Texas sticker

.. you'll be fine.

[songinthewind7]

I live in Timberon but enjoy visiting Ruidoso. Beautiful town and very well taken care of. I've heard about the 'Texan' thing too but I think that's for the big mouth Texans that come in and try to take over and most of the time make things worse. I moved to NM from Texas and haven't had any unfriendliness from Ruidoso.

[catman]

I live in TX and have spent quite a bit of time in Ruidoso. I haven't noticed much resentment toward Texans in Ruidoso. After all, Ruidoso makes a lot of money off them! For the record, I think some Texans are jerks and deserve being disliked.