Santa Fe or Flagstaff - Flagstaff or Santa Fe? (Albuquerque: lease, lawyer)

[rybert]

Originally Posted by Miami_Dan

Other states? Not sure what you re implying here. I am looking for some one who has lived in Flagstaff and SF. I posted this thread in both NM and AZ. Are you out there?

Well, although I hate to admit it... the perspective of a tourist may be helpful in a situation like this. If you post in a non-native forum you are likely to learn things about a place that locals would not dare devulge.

I know you're never going to get me to admit that my home-state has problems, it's beautiful in every way to me.

[Towanda]

Rybert - I agree with you to a point....

However ... there are likely to be very different answers from people who have visited here as tourists ... and not particularly helpful to someone who is contemplating moving here.

I see Santa Fe as almost two seperate entities -- the tourist section of town: Plaza, Railyard, the pricey art galleries, the ski basin, etc.

And the Santa Fe I live in ... which has really not much to do with tourism -- I get to know the residents of the city, I go to doctors and do my grocery shopping here. I go to the restaurants that are not high end and much expensive.

So ... the comments one would get from tourists vs. residents would be very different, I would think.

I think Miami_Dan is wondering what it is like to live here, not just visit.

[Xavious Orgus]

Towanda,

How did you know / realize Santa Fe was the place for you?

[GreatSantaFe]

I've not lived in Flag, but have spent time there for business meetings. I like that area - its natural beauty and the fact that it's a college town (NAU is a big party school). The winter weather seemed tougher there than here, but maybe it was just the times I was there.
Having lived in both Arizona and New Mexico, I prefer the latter. I consider AZ - especially the Phoenix - Tucson corridor to be Californicated. NM has a rougher, more "real" feel to it. Also, in southern AZ there is the second largest Indian reservation in the US (the Tohono O'Odham), but you'd never know it. Too, the Hispanic population tends to live in separate communities within AZ cities. There appears to be little integration of the cultures in AZ, unlike what I've experienced and admired about NM.
In short, Santa Fe is different than virtually any other place I've lived. I don't know if I can put my finger on the exact reason/s why, but it just has a different feel/spirit. Having lived in at least a dozen different states, there's no place I'd rather hang my hat than right here....

[Towanda]

Originally Posted by Xavious Orgus

Towanda,

How did you know / realize Santa Fe was the place for you?

We lived in ABQ when my husband was in the Air Force about 300 years ago.

We had two sets of cousins in Santa Fe, so that is where we spent our weekends -- part of the time helping one cousin make adobe bricks to build his home there.

After the Air Force days, we came to Santa Fe every one to two years for nearly 40 years. We stayed with the cousins, and then when they moved away, we stayed at various hotels around town, but never down in the Plaza area -- too expensive and for me anyway, it wasn't a real picture of how life living here would be.

We absolutely fell in love with the city and the whole surrounding area in northern New Mexico -- the weather, the scenery, the diversity of the culture here, the food, the light, the peacefulness, the quiet, the general feeling that this was a special, almost magical (to us anyway) place -- and the desire to stay here and not have to leave to go home after a few days.

In recent years, we did a whole lot of research into what part of the city we wanted to live - and could afford. We came here in May well prepared, I think, for what it was going to be like living here. At least we have had no major surprises as residents.

[Xavious Orgus]

Thanks,

Now that you have had an opportunity to settle in, has your opinion changed at all?

[Towanda]

Originally Posted by Xavious Orgus

Thanks,

Now that you have had an opportunity to settle in, has your opinion changed at all?

Maybe a little.

I love it here even more than I thought I could, if that is possible.

In my opinion, this is an awesome place to live. But realistically I know Santa Fe/Taos/northern New Mexico is not for everyone.

[Xavious Orgus]

I hope to find out in 2009!

Sooner or later my luck is gonna change!!!!

[Towanda]

GOOD LUCK with your plans to move out here!!!

I am living proof that dreams do come true.

[Xavious Orgus]

I WILL move to Santa Fe this year!!

Just seems to take me a bit longer than most?!!? Slow learner I guess.