Moving to Santa Fe in three weeks...what can I expect? (crime, Home Depot)

[oneleggedspider]

I live in Southern California, and have been looking to move out of the state for a long while now. The economy here is in the toilet, even more than most other places, and it's just too crowded and expensive. I know Santa Fe can be pricey too, but it's nothing compared to San Diego so I'm not overly concerned about that.

Anyway, I've been offered a job in Santa Fe. Housing is included so I'd already have a place to live. Really what I'd like to know is about quality of life and demographics.

1. The people-are they friendly? How about racism? I'm white and have heard white people are occasionally discriminated against.

2. Crime? Ugliness? By that I mean ghettos, slums, gang bangers and their bull****..we have alot that in San Diego and I can't wait to leave that behind.

3. Nature and scenery? I'm a very outdoorsy kind of guy and access to nature isn't a preference, it's a necessity. I'd hope it's not all desert there. Trees? Mountains? Hiking and camping? That sort of thing.

Entertainment? Resturaunts? Movies? I don't really spend much time at malls or plazas so don't care about that...just where to get the basics-groceries etc....

I know this is a long post but this is important to me and I only have three weeks left, so please be as thourough as you can.

Thanks.

[Towanda]

Hi oneleggedspider(interesting name )

I can give you my impressions, with the caveat that everyone seems to have a different opinion about Santa Fe, so the answers you will get from someone else may be completely different. This is strictly what I have observed and have determined after being here nearly a year now:

1. I find people very friendly. I like to strike up conversations with people wherever I go, and I have not encountered any unfriendly people since I have lived here (well, just one. ) I am white too, and never been discriminated against. My theory all my life has been that people are just about as nice to you as you are to them and respect you if you resepct them....(of course there will be a few exceptions to this).

2. I have heard all about the crime here, gangs, drugs, etc. etc. but I have never been a victim of any crime here, nor have I ever felt unsafe in any part of the city I have been in. Yes, there are poor areas, I am not sure I would call them slums, though.

3. Oh yeah. Mountains, hiking, camping, skiing, many places, many opportunities...wonderful scenery. I LOVE this area for getting out and doing activities -- and I am not a person who has done a lot of physical exercise in the past in my life. BUT once you acclimate to the high elevation here, you will find the climate invigorating. Trees? Yes. Smaller junipers and piñon pines in the city and foothills, and bigger trees (aspens and ponderosa pines) in the mountains. Many kinds of trees and shrubs and perennial plants will grow here. We are not as green as many other places, but we do have some green.

4. There are restaurants in all price ranges -- and I have yet to find a really bad restaurant here -- this is a big-eating-out city. (It does help if you like green chile/New Mexican cuisine. ) I am not sure about movies, I don't go to them. The city has a wealth of museums which are first class. There are the expensive little artsy shops and boutique type places on the plaza for shopping, but also several inexpensive chain groceries, as well as Trader Joes, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods. And we do have all the big box stores: Wal-Mart, Sam's, Target, Kohl's, Home Depot, Lowe's, Borders, Best Buy, etc.

I hope this gives you some of the information you are looking for, and if you have other questions -- ask away!

~Towanda

[TomM1]

Santa Fe is definitely not for everyone.
Here is a photo of an area not far from downtown.
Click the thumb.

[Fischer_girl]

The weather today has been silly.. rain, snow and thunder which leads me to believe that we probably aren't into the hiking season just yet.
There seems to be TONS to do around here. Just lastnight I learned about the Wild Horse State Park (just an hour away) and also the Kasha Katuwe Hike. They all look incredible! But, today sure would have been a cold and windy day to go!
Anyway. I have one comment about your questions and that is the "white people" situations. I have not run into an racism. However, I was warned about people in small, local places overcharging the "gringos". Again, I have never had that happen..so someone else feel free to chime in on the topic!

But the one thing that does annoy the hell out of me is the pan-handling. My husband and I get this ALL the time. Ususally outside restaurants or grocery stores. I'm not sure if its a "you're white, you must have money" mentality or if its because we are in the wrong place at the wrong time. It just bugs me that people assume that you don't have financial struggles of you're own.

[Fischer_girl]

Originally Posted by Towanda

There are the expensive little artsy shops and boutique type places on the plaza for shopping, but also several inexpensive chain groceries, as well as Trader Joes, Wild Oats, and Whole Foods.

~Towanda

I am by far a Smiths fan over any other grocery store..but to each his own. I've noticed in SF it takes forever to get anywhere.. atleast around where I live...so if I was far from Smiths.. I don't know I'd make the travel time either!

[Uncle Buddha]

Instead of waiting for the pan-handler (goofy name, makes you assume someone is waiting to hit you over the head with a frying pan) to ask you for money, ask them first. Works like a charm! At worst you get turned down, at best you get a couple of bucks.

[Towanda]

We sometimes encounter people in restaurants and parking lots selling things ... we just tell them no thanks and they turn away -- I have never seen a panhandler -- someone begging for money -- in all the months I have lived here. Not saying they might not be out there -- just saying I have never seen one.

[greycar]

I've only been here a few months, so these are very first impressions. And I have to add that I am here because of a good job offer to my husband, not out of any longing to live in SF. So my approach to SF has been very neutral (With a slight resistance having had to leave family back East).

1. People - nice, haven't experienced discrimination.

2. Crime- haven't been personally affected, but panhandling, there's plenty of that ( and I agree with Fishergirl, I don't like it. A past poster said this a few weeks ago and was really criticized, but I grew up in NYC and opening your wallet in public was a no no). Gangs, you see grafitti in parts of town and big groups of teenagers hang around in downtown parks, but I don't know if that's gang activity.

3. Nature - nice, skiing,hiking available. My neighbor told us the first week to be very careful about where you park your car and hike though.

4. Lots of movie theaters, restaurants. There's a nice big recreation center with skating, pool, etc. Grocery prices, about the same as anywhere.

Happy Easter/ Passover to all .

[Towanda]

Greycar -- could you tell me the exact locations where you have been and had people approach you asking for money?

I am very very interested in this because this has never happened to my husband or I at any place we have been -- not a single time.

[greycar]

I live towards the mall and when I go to Albertsons at the end of Zia Rd, I am almost always approached in the parking lot, going and coming. Then when you drive out of the lot, there is always someone at the stop sign. I recognise all the various people by now and there are about 6-7 that work the lot, one is a woman. Strange as it seems, they seem to take turns. I wonder if they all live ( or commute in) together. Strangly, I've never seen anyone give them a thing. Though people must, or why would they stay??

Then it's pretty frequent at Trader Joes, always the same couple guys. I wonder if being with your husband gives you "protection"? I'm always on my own- single women are probably easier marks.