Retiring to Santa Fe from New Jersey

[Castaway]

Originally Posted by Towanda

AMEN, Castaway!

Love your post!!! I totally agree.

Thanks, Towanda. I love NM and it is where I have lived for 29 years. While NM doesn't have many of the amenities that more populated states have, it has two things that most states don't have. Serenity and sanity!

The stress of urban living has caused many people move to NM. Why do they want to bring this with them?

If you are a person that needs mega-malls & big name entertainment on an everyday basis, NM is not for you. We have venues like the Santa Fe Opera (one of the best), the Lensic & Apollo Solari (small enough to actually see the performers without TV screens, i.e.,Judy Collins, John Prine, Bob Dylan, James Taylor), larger venues are in ABQ if you prefer (Casinos, Journal Pavillion, Tingley). Many things are not at your finger tips and at your beckon call but you realize that they are just things and not needed at all. There is always the internet if you can't find something here.

NM is what you make of it. For me, peace of mind and friends, good skiing, great hiking, friendly people.....it's PRICELESS!

[Castaway]

Made a mistake. It's the Paolo Solari in Santa Fe. I was a bit cloudy when I wrote that post. Duh!!

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by Castaway

It was perfect as, perhaps, only I and a few others could see. Today, I see people trying to change NM into something other than what it is.

Reminds me of when I lived in Eldorado and every weekend would hear mowers. You would see whole lots mowed down--trying to look like a suburban yard?? I loved that it could be left natural and spend my time doing fun things. And the people that had big spot lights on all night trying to conquer the darkness and ruining the night skies for their neighbors. Ya wanted to plant a sign in their yard--"Go back to the city."

[Castaway]

Originally Posted by Dancingearth

Reminds me of when I lived in Eldorado and every weekend would hear mowers. You would see whole lots mowed down--trying to look like a suburban yard?? I loved that it could be left natural and spend my time doing fun things. And the people that had big spot lights on all night trying to conquer the darkness and ruining the night skies for their neighbors. Ya wanted to plant a sign in their yard--"Go back to the city."

Exactly! Manicured landscapes are not a part of NM. Xeriscapes have been the answer to water shortages. And why do we have water shortages?? Too many people living in Santa Fe (ABQ, as well).

The night skies...beautiful! Clear & starry until, as you have mentioned, all the lights. I used to sit on my porch at night at get lost in the vastness of the starlit sky. Such peace and calm. Now, just city lights hindering the view. I loved to watch meteor showers.... they turn green and red as they fall. They are now hard to see with all the lights. Sad.

[Towanda]

I am confused and hopefully you can give me an answer since you lived in Eldorado.

I am a property owner in Eldorado and hope to own a home there in the coming year.

I am quite familiar with the covenants there ... or I thought I was.

My understanding was that only a small portion of one's property could be planted as a lawn or gardens, to cut down on irrigated space.

Also, I thought spotlights or any outside lights pointing upward were not allowed, so as not to interfere with the night sky.

Am I not understanding the covenant rules properly? Or is the community association not enforcing them?

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by Towanda

I am confused and hopefully you can give me an answer since you lived in Eldorado.

I am a property owner in Eldorado and hope to own a home there in the coming year.

I am quite familiar with the covenants there ... or I thought I was.

My understanding was that only a small portion of one's property could be planted as a lawn or gardens, to cut down on irrigated space.

Also, I thought spotlights or any outside lights pointing upward were not allowed, so as not to interfere with the night sky.

Am I not understanding the covenant rules properly? Or is the community association not enforcing them?

They weren't enforced as far as I can tell. Awful lot of houses for the association to be monitoring. I suppose if neighbors complained enough the association might do something, not sure. Even if a bright light is shining downward, it is annoying if they are on all night. I know some people told me they thought it was creepy not having street lights. People didn't plant lawns, they mowed the desert plants down! There was some reason behind it which I no longer remember--I thought it looked odd. Wildness manicured? I did meet some people who were planting more than the allocated amount allowed and probably getting away with it because they were on a well. It was the quietest place I ever lived. Very nice. How much longer before you move?

[Towanda]

Our move will probably be in late Spring 2008.

I'm ready for a quiet place.

I guess I can see where people from someplace else, a place with manicured perfect lawns might mow down the desert.

How sad that people choose to move to a unique wonderful place, and then try to make it look like "back home."

I will have a problem with that when we move.

[Zoidberg]

To the posters who have been flipped off every time they visit Santa Fe, I have a theory to offer.

If you were in a car each of these times, I'd say it's a sure bet. I'm willing to wager that one or more of the following were happening each of these occasions:

*Your vehicle was consistently more than one carlength behind the vehicle ahead, even when stopped
*Your vehicle consistently traveled five or more mph below the posted speed limit
*Your vehicle made a lane change without signaling or verifying the space was clear
*Your vehicle did not acknowledge a green light in less than five seconds
*Your vehicle strayed into adjoining lanes
*Your vehicle impeded the progress of another vehicle that had the right of way

Although not all of these are traffic violations, they are all extremely commonplace in Santa Fe (I would even venture over 10 times the per-capita frequency of Albuquerque), and other drivers feel them to be frustrating and rude. My guess is out of frustration, they felt flipping off was at most returning the rudeness.

After hearing of your visiting Las Vegas NM, I think that this makes this even more likely. The driving culture in Las Vegas is unique and nearly the opposite of Santa Fe's. They mix about as well as oil and water.

Just for fun, on your next visit to SF, try finding a different driver and see if you get flipped off this time.

[Dancingearth]

Originally Posted by Zoidberg

To the posters who have been flipped off every time they visit Santa Fe, I have a theory to offer.

*Your vehicle was consistently more than one carlength behind the vehicle ahead, even when stopped

Eight years there and I don't remember being flipped off but after reading this one, I probably was--I have a lazy eye and my depth perception makes things look closer than they are. I also spent more time paying attention to my driving and not at what driver's were doing with their hands and looking for who was flipping me off. I did watch for out of town plates though, you KNEW when they realized they were in a right turn lane they'd shove their way over at the last minute without warning, it was annoying but I also felt they were strangers to the roads and in their own little vacation me world.

It's even more fun as a pedestrian--a driver in Eldorado got a ticket because he stopped at a crosswalk at the school for a pedestrian and got rear ended. In SF I was beginning to walk thru a crosswalk at the signal when a car came flying from the opposite direction and turned left in front of me--the woman smiled and waved as I stood with one foot in the air, my face looking like this When I breathed again I wanted her back so I could flip her off. I have enjoyed walking in WA --cars stop!