What does SF smell like? (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: insurance, crime, community college)

[scsigurl3000]

Hope it's not an odd question. Oklahoma (for example) always smells so good -- we just want to avoid natural disasters as much as possible and don't want to deal with the tornadoes in OK.

SF is listed as one of the top five places (IIRC) which are the least likely to have a natural disaster. Problems in SF seem limited to: high rents, odd street layout, water shortages, crime, touristy shops, snow not being removed from streets in winter, conflict between blue collar workers and the wealthier class ..

but what does it smell like?

Also, if you look at the courses offered at SFCC (SF Community College) in the physed department, a large number of them seem to be oriented towards older people. This leads me to think that the area has a lot of retirees. So I'm wondering, what is health care like?

New Mexico will probably get the public option, if that goes through the Senate, whereas where we are now, Texas, will NOT. New Mexico also has medical marijuana, which as a MS patient, is very important to me.

Any input on the health care in SF would also be appreciated.

TIA

[jeffohray]

Compared to OK the air in SF smells crisp and clear, for lack of a better word. The area lacks the humidity so there isn't that "heavy" feeling nor does it have the grassy aroma. Pine is also an odor you can smell in most areas. In the desert areas, especially after a rain, you can smell the chamisa and sage - good stuff.

[Santa Fe]

Originally Posted by scsigurl3000

Any input on the health care in SF would also be appreciated.

TIA

It is hard to generalize about something like this. Santa Fe is large enough that it generally offers the full-range of health care that people need. Sometimes people need to travel to Albuquerque to find a provider who will accept their insurance but ABQ is only an hour away by car or train.

If you need an operation I would advise using the center that the doctors started -- Physicians Medical Center
Physicians Medical Center of Sante Fe - About Us
rather than St. Vincent. PMC has a staff that focuses on getting you out quick with no problems

This could influence your choice of specialist since some practice there and some don't.

[Santa Fe]

Originally Posted by scsigurl3000

SF is listed as one of the top five places (IIRC) which are the least likely to have a natural disaster. Problems in SF seem limited to: high rents, odd street layout, water shortages, crime, touristy shops, snow not being removed from streets in winter, conflict between blue collar workers and the wealthier class ..

but what does it smell like?

TIA

Not a bad list. You might add drunk drivers. NM is still number 11. Crime IMO seems mostly property and murder occurs among people who know each other. The city doesn't seem too good about removing snow -- you could live in the Pojoaque Valley at 6,000 feet and the snow usually melts as it falls. Touristy shops -- don't shop at them. Streets -- not a grid, definitely but I found them fairly easy to learn -- it is a small city, really. High rents yes but fall off rapidly as you move away from Plaza and frankly there is no reason to live near the Plaza. Water -- don't put in a lawn. Class conflict?? IMO not really.

Smell -- I don't notice any unless crisp and clear is an odor.

[bongo]

My favorite smell around SF is when folks are burning cedar. Mmmmmmm! Oh and the smell of the crushed sage when you are hiking around. Aaaaaaaaah!

[scsigurl3000]

Originally Posted by bongo

My favorite smell around SF is when folks are burning cedar. Mmmmmmm! Oh and the smell of the crushed sage when you are hiking around. Aaaaaaaaah!

We're in Lubbock and the only prominent smell we ever get is the occasional wonderful scent of the feed lots (pigs, mostly). And the people here are SOOO.. conservative. I teach in my home, and I have to hide my favorite books (Richard Dawkins, Bertrand Russell, Sam Harris, etc.) and also the wine collection.

I'm hoping that there are a lot of people in SF which would be considered "snobby" (how I hate that word, which isn't really even a word), in Lubbock, but are normal there...

A lot of artists, right? I want to change careers and become an art dealer.

[loborick]

Originally Posted by scsigurl3000

We're in Lubbock and the only prominent smell we ever get is the occasional wonderful scent of the feed lots (pigs, mostly). And the people here are SOOO.. conservative. I teach in my home, and I have to hide my favorite books (Richard Dawkins, Bertrand Russell, Sam Harris, etc.) and also the wine collection.

I'm hoping that there are a lot of people in SF which would be considered "snobby" (how I hate that word, which isn't really even a word), in Lubbock, but are normal there...

A lot of artists, right? I want to change careers and become an art dealer.

Tons of artists, local bookstores, funky little shops and coffee bars. I work in a used paperback book store and meet the most interesting people. Authors, eccentrics and even a politician or two.

This will tell you how we lean...I can't keep Obama's books on the shelves long but I have a couple of McCain books that have been gathering dust for months. Will probably send them to be recycled...

[GregW]

Santa Fe is called "the City Different". I guess it is. i have no idea what it would smell like.

[scsigurl3000]

Originally Posted by loborick

This will tell you how we lean...I can't keep Obama's books on the shelves long but I have a couple of McCain books that have been gathering dust for months. Will probably send them to be recycled...

Hmm...looks promising!

[Santa Fe]

Originally Posted by scsigurl3000

and I have to hide . . . also the wine collection.

I'm hoping that there are a lot of people in SF which would be considered "snobby" (how I hate that word, which isn't really even a word), in Lubbock, but are normal there...

A lot of artists, right? I want to change careers and become an art dealer.

Even up here in the Pojoaque Valley - which is less whatever than Santa Fe -- our local liquor store ("largest in Northern New Mexico") holds a wine tasting every Saturday. So you won't have to hide your collection.

Yes, there are a lot of artists, but art dealers are having a hard time these days.