Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hi everyone. My wife and I are from the upper peninsula of Michigan. she works in healthcare, and I have a rotational job. We are so sick of Michigan weather. We love the outdoors, fishing, hunting, hiking, biking. We are looking to relocate to a quiet safe area with lots of recreational opportunities, and good QOL and reasonable cost of living. my wife has visited NM a couple times and loved it. Where are good small towns with outdoorsy folks, who are friendly and laid back? I just need a decent airport within a couple hours. Thank you in advance for your advice. We don't need a fancy house, but something decent with an acre or two and some nice neighbors would be perfect!
Small town: what population size range is that to you? Folks can really vary greatly.
Decent airport: What do you want?
There a few bigger one with multiple routes, some with Just one.
If willing to drive "a few hours", it should workable many places, but maybe not all. (Lots of folks express dissatisfaction or rejection if they have to drive 30+ minutes or don't have lots of direct flights.)
What is affordable housing to you?
For starters, I'll throw out these possibilities: Aztec, Silver City, Truth or Consequences, Alamogordo and Ruidoso. Maybe Carlsbad. Maybe Los Alamos. Which have more appeal to you?
These days: "We are looking to relocate to a quiet safe area with lots of recreational opportunities, and good QOL and reasonable cost of living," many, many people are looking for the same thing.
New Mexico will have lots of hunting and outdoor activities in places, but not an abundance of fishing that I'm aware of. Edgewood, NM could be OK. We lived in Albuquerque, but had friends in Edgewood. It's not too far east of Albuquerque down I40. Just far enough away to keep much of the riff raft away, but close enough for a long commute into Albuquerque, or for shopping/entertainment, and the International Sunport for flights. No fishing in the area, but there is hiking, hunting and a small ski area close by.
Taos could be another options to look at. I've only been up their to ski, but some people like the area quite a bit. It does have a regional airport. Not sure if the Rio Grande is fishable in that area. The further north in New Mexico you go the better the river looks.
As mentioned by NW Crow, your feedback will help a lot.
New Mexico will have lots of hunting and outdoor activities in places, but not an abundance of fishing that I'm aware of.
Fishing depends on what kind you want to do. There are a few lakes in New Mexico where you can take a boat out, but not as many as some other states. There are a lot of wade-able streams for flyfishing in northern NM. Water levels fluctuate on streams and rivers so sometimes there might be too much or not enough. The upper Rio Grande, San Juan, Chama, are usually good. Smaller streams might depend on local conditions. If you live in Albuquerque, it will be a bit of a drive to the bigger rivers. Colorado has some interesting fishing waters in easy reach just north of the border as well.
There are plenty of other outdoor recreational opportunities and they are seldom, if ever crowded. There are a lot of bike trails. You can head out into the back country and maybe not see another person all day (so you have to be prepared with water, etc.)
I agree about Pecos. Close to Santa Fe and under 2 hours to the airport in ABQ.
Bernal is a nice bedroom community. Quiet and close to Villanueva State Park and the Pecos River. Any closer to Santa Fe and it's going to be more pricey. Benal is probably a bit too quiet, no amenties and further out from Santa Fe and Pecos.
Ruidoso. A seasonal resort town.
IMO Silver City and Truth or Consequences are too far from an airport and more adequate health care. Health care in general can be an issue in NM, so it's encouraging that a health care person wants to relocate to NM.
This is not to scare you off but to let you know that if you are white and live in an area with a lot of Hispanics (people of Spanish - Spain - origin) there will be a certain attitude from some folks. I said some, not all. All you have to do is be polite, friendly, helpful if the opportunity arises, and all will be fine. I lived in a very, very small town with very few white people. Only some were unfriendly and standoffish but I won them over with friendliess, showing interest in them, and kindness. Remember that these people will be very different than what you are probably used to.
I don't recommend your wife working at the hospital in Las Vegas. Many accounts of trying experiences from patients (including myself) and staff as well. There are 2-3 nice hospitals in Santa Fe. There is only one clinic in Las Vegas. The rest are very small doctor's offices and there aren't many of those, either. Santa Fe is the best bet if you choose Pecos.
On the other hand, Las Vegas is an interesting little town with a lot of transplants of the artsy, healthy lifestyle type. They travel to Santa Fe frequently to see doctors and get supplies they can't get in Las Vegas. I lived there for a while and while I have mixed views on it, it had a hold on me that I couldn't quite let go. The area is gorgeous. In fact, I'm passing through there next month to meet up briefly with a friend. I'll always have a special place in my heart for L.V. as enigmatic as it is.
If you decide to make this move, you will probably love it because it sounds as though you have the right interests, lifestyle and attitude that will make it a success. Just don't come in with a lot of expectations. Go with the flow and enjoy the ride, whatever it is because New Mexico is a very unique place. Thankfully.
I will say this about fishing coming from Michigan: that's going to be a hard ask. I have attempted to, but have failed to catch one fish since moving here. I gave up after about 10 tries.
Hi everyone. My wife and I are from the upper peninsula of Michigan. she works in healthcare, and I have a rotational job. We are so sick of Michigan weather. We love the outdoors, fishing, hunting, hiking, biking. We are looking to relocate to a quiet safe area with lots of recreational opportunities, and good QOL and reasonable cost of living. my wife has visited NM a couple times and loved it. Where are good small towns with outdoorsy folks, who are friendly and laid back? I just need a decent airport within a couple hours. Thank you in advance for your advice. We don't need a fancy house, but something decent with an acre or two and some nice neighbors would be perfect!
It sounds like it is a good fit as long as you understand that you will not be able to earn as much in New Mexico as you do in Michigan, and cost of living has gone up as it has in all the states. But there is a lot to do outdoors so that might outweigh the rest of it.
P.S. Healthcare is not good here, staff is overworked and patients have to wait sometimes months to see a doctor.
P.S. Healthcare is not good here, staff is overworked and patients have to wait sometimes months to see a doctor.
I don't see how you can make that generalization across the board. Santa Fe has plenty of primary care docs (open to new patients), even a few good ones, haha, and a fair number of specialists. There are better specialists in Los Alamos. Probably the smaller towns, like many small towns and rural areas around the US, don't have enough primary care practitioners. That's not unique to NM though.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
