Our Santa Fe Experience - Loved It (Chama: how much, buying a house)

[KundaliniGirl]

Well, the first thing I have to say is that I've never encountered nicer people. Everyone from the waiters, bartenders, people we met when having a drink or dinner - hands down the best vacation experience I've had on a friendliness level. We met three different local couples, chatted, had a blast. One couple even had us over to their home for coffee the morning after we chatted with them at a restaurant. I guess it just goes to show you how diverse experiences can be. For us it was amazing and solidified our wanting to move there.

Every meal we had was outstanding - here are the restaurants we tried:

Gabriel's
Rio Chama
India Palace
Chow
Osteria
El Meson

Fantastic experience all around. (And, the weather was even good -- so glad we missed the storm a week or so before we went).

A very happy camper,
KG

[cynanthus]

That's awesome that you had such a good time! Now it's time to move here!

[KundaliniGirl]

That's the plan! Just have to sell the house - will take a while because we're remote. If you happen to get back to this thread, can you tell me a little about your experience living there? Positives/negatives once the honeymoon period is over?

Thanks, C!

[cynanthus]

Kundalini - in answer to your request... my transition to SF was actually a bit bumpier than many people that I know. I wasn't 100% ready to move here (husband was) so I think I left part of me in our previous city. Once I got over missing our old city, I've been quite happy here. The only negative I see -- other than snow -- is the fact that Santa Fe is for all intents and purposes, a small town.

I agree with your observations - people in Santa Fe are generally very friendly and welcoming. We live in a neighborhood where the houses are quite far apart so we don't know all of our neighbors, but most people wave while passing on the street, and we have one neighbor who organizes parties and welcomes newcomers. It's been quite nice. I joined a local gym and have really enjoyed the easy camaraderie of the people I've met there.

I wish I spoke better Spanish, and some days I feel like I get treated slightly differently because I'm not Hispanic. It's probably very easy for people who've lived here their entire lives to lump the majority of transplanted white people into the "tourist" category... and we all know that tourists get treated differently everywhere. But no matter what race/culture/ethnicity of person I've met here, once you have a personal connection, none of that matters... and I like that about SF.

The small size of SF has been the hardest thing for me to get used to, especially with many of the stores clustered together down on Cerrillos Road. I live only about 12 minutes from Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Best Buy, the mall, etc... but the fact that they're not on the way to anything has really frustrated me. In our previous city I could stop at the grocery store on my way home, or hit Target during lunch while at work. Here in SF, though, I have to make a special trip to the store whenever I need anything. So that's taken some adjusting to. Also, there aren't many clothing stores that sell the kind of clothes I wear (nothing special... just basic stuff a bit above Target but not quite as fancy as Dillards, and not as artsy as the stores on the Plaza). I do a lot more online shopping now. I have small kids as well, and the selection of childrens clothing and shoes in SF is awful, so again, the Internet is my friend.

The small town feel has an upside, though. I really really like the fact that I can be on the far side of SF in less than 30 minutes. That means that if I meet someone that I'd like to get to know, there's no concern about the fact that I live on the East side and she the West like there is in bigger cities. This also means that I run into people I know in the grocery store or at the doctors, which is so much fun. Once you've been here a year or so you really feel like you're part of a community here in SF.

My favorite thing about SF is the fact that there are TONS of things to do in the summer - from daily concerts on the Plaza, to the Opera, to all sorts of lectures and events around town. To me, the city has a completely different vibe now versus the summer, when it seems like people just come out of the woodwork to hang out at the Farmers Market and on the Plaza. I take my kids to the Plaza several afternoons a week to play, meet people, have a picnic, etc. It's great.

Ok - enough rambling. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.

[Dogmama50]

I think cynathus summed it up pretty well.

Since you have visited you have seen that Santa fe is immersed in history and culture. Sometimes things operate on a different schedule than other places but if you can embrace and respect the differences you'll really appreciate the city.

[bongo]

Originally Posted by Dogmama50

Sometimes things operate on a different schedule than other places but if you can embrace and respect the differences you'll really appreciate the city.

The proverbial Land of Mañana in the city different!

[KundaliniGirl]

Cyanthus, thanks for this in-depth description of SF. Actually the smallness of SF is what appeals to me. But I do hear you that there are a few negatives that go along with that. Overall, though, I see that as a big plus.

You've really described things well, and I appreciate your taking the time. I'll PM you if I think of other specific questions.

Thanks also to Bongo and Dogmamma.

xx,
KG

[tsmw47]

We have visited S.F. several times and loved it and keep thinking how much I'd like to live there. Cyanthus's post gave me a lot of information about S.F. and a clearer idea of the town. Biggest question for us is cost of buying a house it seems it is a bit high. I'm not ready to contact a realtor it will be several years before we could leave here, but I do check out the MLS. We would like a nice neighborhood but not McMansions and would enjoy having a variety of neighbors. One reason I am attracted to Santa Fe is the cultural diversity of the area. Currently we live out but will probably be ready for in town and would like to be able to walk for at least some services. Any suggestions of neighborhoods to consider where under 400,000 is doable and we are not really subdivision people. Thanks

[Disco Inferno]

Originally Posted by cynanthus

Kundalini - in answer to your request... my transition to SF was actually a bit bumpier than many people that I know. I wasn't 100% ready to move here (husband was) so I think I left part of me in our previous city. Once I got over missing our old city, I've been quite happy here. The only negative I see -- other than snow -- is the fact that Santa Fe is for all intents and purposes, a small town.

I agree with your observations - people in Santa Fe are generally very friendly and welcoming. We live in a neighborhood where the houses are quite far apart so we don't know all of our neighbors, but most people wave while passing on the street, and we have one neighbor who organizes parties and welcomes newcomers. It's been quite nice. I joined a local gym and have really enjoyed the easy camaraderie of the people I've met there.

I wish I spoke better Spanish, and some days I feel like I get treated slightly differently because I'm not Hispanic. It's probably very easy for people who've lived here their entire lives to lump the majority of transplanted white people into the "tourist" category... and we all know that tourists get treated differently everywhere. But no matter what race/culture/ethnicity of person I've met here, once you have a personal connection, none of that matters... and I like that about SF.

The small size of SF has been the hardest thing for me to get used to, especially with many of the stores clustered together down on Cerrillos Road. I live only about 12 minutes from Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Best Buy, the mall, etc... but the fact that they're not on the way to anything has really frustrated me. In our previous city I could stop at the grocery store on my way home, or hit Target during lunch while at work. Here in SF, though, I have to make a special trip to the store whenever I need anything. So that's taken some adjusting to. Also, there aren't many clothing stores that sell the kind of clothes I wear (nothing special... just basic stuff a bit above Target but not quite as fancy as Dillards, and not as artsy as the stores on the Plaza). I do a lot more online shopping now. I have small kids as well, and the selection of childrens clothing and shoes in SF is awful, so again, the Internet is my friend.

The small town feel has an upside, though. I really really like the fact that I can be on the far side of SF in less than 30 minutes. That means that if I meet someone that I'd like to get to know, there's no concern about the fact that I live on the East side and she the West like there is in bigger cities. This also means that I run into people I know in the grocery store or at the doctors, which is so much fun. Once you've been here a year or so you really feel like you're part of a community here in SF.

My favorite thing about SF is the fact that there are TONS of things to do in the summer - from daily concerts on the Plaza, to the Opera, to all sorts of lectures and events around town. To me, the city has a completely different vibe now versus the summer, when it seems like people just come out of the woodwork to hang out at the Farmers Market and on the Plaza. I take my kids to the Plaza several afternoons a week to play, meet people, have a picnic, etc. It's great.

Ok - enough rambling. If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me.

I really enjoyed reading this. Same way I feel about Santa Fe...friendly, but at times it doesn't seem too friendly, as I feel I am not treated as well as others also. Well said. Very positive.

[Towanda]

Kundalini Girl:

So nice to read your positive post about your visit to Santa Fe.

It is really nice to hear that the city and the people you met made a good impression.

I hope you are able to get back very soon. You have only scratched the surface of this wonderful city!