Taos,, end of the trail?? (Santa Fe: fit in, for sale, real estate)

[stevebaileymusic]

Hello to all,,, we are new to this thread/post business so please excuse any mistakes we make here,,,, My wife and I (early 50's) intend on seriously exploring the Taos area as "the end of our trail" in the next year or so,,, we have been reading City Data,,, which by the way is very helpful, entertaining and informative,,,, it seem like a lot of the "posters" want to describe the people who retire in the Taos area as "richy riches" and we read a lot of the same for Santa Fe,,, we would like to hear from some average working class people who live (retired or not) in these areas,, so many say the cost of living is so much higher in Taos,,, so what about the working people that live there..... if we move there we will be in a position to buy and pay for a nice home,, and live on a modest retirement income,,, we would not fit in with the "richy rich" type people.... so our question is,,, is there room for us in Taos?

[mortimer]

There are a lot of "Richy Riches" retiring in Santa Fe, but I don't think
that even applies to 10% of them - so well-off that after plunking down
$1 million on a house can afford to eat out several times a week and
travel about frequently.

I think that most just live a relatively modest life in a beautiful place.
Of course, "modest" has different definitions for every person.

Taos, it seems has far less of that, but you should be aware that it is a
small place and they are not in a big hurry to make it more convenient
for retirees by building roads and encouraging out-of-town retailers to
locate there.

Your idea of exploring is the right thing to do. Stay in a motel close to
the center of town and drive around to see what kind of homes are
there to retire in.

At Taos, NM, Real Estate Listings and Taos, NM, Homes for Sale - REALTOR.com®

There are 783 listings starting at $6,200,000. My guess is that might
be out of your price range.

There were 266 listings for places between $100k and $250k.

I could retire there, but I would guess that 99% of the people looking to
retire would find it boring, depressing, and frustrating as a place to retire.

In any case, I encourage a visit because if you haven't ever been there,
a vacation to Taos is always wonderful and for you, specifically, it would
be educational.

Don't fly there. Make sure to drive from ABQ.

[stevebaileymusic]

Thanks Mortimer for the reply and info,,, we'll sure take your advise and do a lot of looking around

[Towanda]

stevebaileymusic:

My husband and I retired to Santa Fe a year ago.

We can in no way be classified as "Richy Riches". Sure being rich would make a Santa Fe lifestyle a lot more lavish and we could hang out down on the Plaza eating expensive dinners, and purchasing expensive art-work to fill our pricey home.

But that is not us, and has never been us.

We live a very frugal lifestyle.....yes, even in Santa Fe. It is easily done, as long as you aren't the kind of person who wants to keep up with the Joneses .... errrrr, the Riches.

We made the choice to live here and live a modest lifestyle....because it is the weather and the mountains and the food and the culture and the sheer joy of the atmosphere of Santa Fe that we love -- and not the material things.

Come on out and check out Taos, and see if you think you can do it. I am one who thinks we should live our dreams if it is at all possible for us to find a way to do so.

[mortimer]

Towanda claimed:

> My husband and I retired to Santa Fe a year ago.

> We can in no way be classified as "Richy Riches".

Oh sure!
Do you have one of those red chile ristras hanging about your house?

"The ristra represented civilization and wealth in the Southwest ..."
Chile Peppers and Identity ( page 4 )

We'll just see about that.

[Towanda]

Okay okay okay.

I cannot tell a lie ... I DO have a chile ristra.

You caught me.

[stevebaileymusic]

Hi Towanda,,, sounds like you and your Mister are enjoying your Santa Fe life,, especially since you are affluent enough to have a "chile ristra",, thats wonderful,,, can I ask where you migrated from?? oh and I think we will start saving now so we can have a chile ristra too!! haha

[Towanda]

Hi Steve,

I'm originally from New York, where I lived till I was 23.

Then all over the country, with the longest time frames being in San Antonio Texas for 9 years and the Kansas City area for 28 years. I have never lived any place I didn't like, but New Mexico is really really special .... and I look at it as our last big wonderful adventure.

[Vinegaroon]

This Christmas Madam bought one of those atrocious ristras and had it hanging on our door like we were newcomers basking in the new found glow of Santa Fe. One day a shaggy, homeless dude was doorknocking for handouts. I routinely do not answer the door when beggars come a knocking, and so to my surprise and joy, said gentleman could be seen with the ristra. He had about 5 of them on his arm, and my guess is he was taking some off the doors of those who did not answer, and selling them to those people who were answering their doors. I would personally like to thank this gentleman for ridding our residence of the foul and offending ristra, and hope he made some profit on the deal.

[mortimer]

Vinegaroon reported:

> This Christmas Madam bought one of those atrocious ristras ....

You mean as opposed to one of the really cool ristras?

What's an atrocious ristra?