looking for a young/hippie/liberal SW town (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: find a job, live)

[samalauren]

hey everyone!

i'm looking to move to the southwest over the winter, but have never been so am in need of a bit of guidance. i'm 23, from vermont and am looking for a small city/big town (maybe around 50,000, more or less) with a liberal, easygoing, hippie vibe, or at least some sort of like-minded subculture. ideally, a food coop, bike trails, environmentalist ethics, live music...and a beautiful natural landscape. if any of you have ever been or know anything about burlington, vermont (where i live)...i'm after something similar. i don't expect to find it exactly, but am trying to get a gauge of what's out there.

i'm also open to arizona (possibly even southern CA?) so would love to hear what anyone has to say about the greater SW. mostly, i'm seeking a sunny, warm winter...i'd like to leave my snowboots in the northeast!

thanks so much everyone!

sama

[Zoidberg]

Try Bisbee AZ. New Mexico sounds like it's too cold (it snows everywhere) for you.

[songinthewind7]

Manitou Springs, Colorado.
It may be a bit cold there though.

[Mike Horrell]

Billings Montana

[karmathecat]

In the more northern part of AZ:

Sedona, AZ
possibly Jerome, AZ
possibly Globe, AZ

[JDTH]

Sedona is for rich hippies.

Jerome would be my choice, but it does get some snow.

[karmathecat]

She did not say if she is rich hippie or poor hippie.

Prescott, AZ is also possibly a possibility.

[nmnita]

Most of the truely hippy places in the SW do get some snow and believe it or not some are very pricey. Now, they do not get the cold like Vermont, that's for sure.

The places suggested in AZ would be fun, as well as Sante Fe, but it is colder.

As for So California, there are a lot of places, like Laguna Beach, but you will need a huge savings to exist. If you are planning on working, remember jobs, no matter where are not easy to find these days.

Nita

[TigerLily24]

You really need to come out and visit There are few things better than a nice leisurely drive across the southwest.
That being said, maybe Silver City or Madrid (both in NM) would appeal. It does get cold in the winter, but, coming from Vermont, it probably wouldn't faze you, and, winter doesn't last anywhere near as long here as it does in New England.

Art galleries, studios, artists and related member businesses of the Silver City - Grant County Chamber of Commerce!

Visit Madrid NM Home

[ABQConvict]

I would say Santa Fe, NM if you have the $$ to survive before you can find a job. The problem with the smaller cities is that jobs can be hard to find. Also, Santa Fe has a winter similar to downstate NY. It is not brutally cold, but you will need winter gear/boots especially if you live anywhere in the foothills around town.

In Albuquerque you can get by with your 'October-November' wardrobe. No real lasting snow to speak of, but it is a much larger city.

Like the previous poster said, most hippy-friendly places in the SW are in the colder/higher areas.


ABQConvict