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Not all respiratory problems are solved by dry air (which Taos tends to have more than most places). If your problems are exacerbated by altitude, as many are, then NM in general may be a pretty bad call. A number of people who develop health problems here find they go away by moving to lower parts of Arizona.
There are plenty of interesting communities in Arizona (Sedona, Jerome, Bisbee) that hit a similar spot to Taos, but don't have quite as much altitude.
If you are concerned about meeting people and having social life, I would not recommend Taos. It is smaller than a small town. If you have a friend in Santa Fe, go there. Santa Fe has a much more vibrant social scene, less provinciality and you can still get to Taos pretty quickly.
We have spent half a year in Taos for five years now and have had no problems meeting people. The community is too small for much siloing so there don't seem to be many professional groups but we have met and become friends with Native Americans, Hispanics, Anglos, farmers, potters, bakers, weavers, plumbers, and the list goes on and on.
There are about 10,000 residents here so if this is smaller than a small town you've got me on what to call the thousands of communities in the US smaller than Taos.
We have more friends in Taos than in the town in which we worked and lived for thirty years with its population of over 100,000. Some of those friends are American Indians, some are Hispanic families whose roots in the area that go back hundreds of years, some are young artists, some are married gay couples, one has just turned fifteen, and some are in their eighth or ninth decade of life.
Meeting people is not a problem. Many who say meeting people in Taos is not easy don't live here and know not of what they speak.
TexasGabe, yes I do enjoy hiking when I can. Are you referring to a specific app or something to find a hiking buddy, or just a general way to do it?
Zoidberg, I already live at an altitude of 3,000, but in a much more humid area (!), and I am highly allergic to mold. I doubt that altitude would be a problem; do you think dry air is not good? Thanks for the pointers on Arizona communities.
CII, I doubt that 10,000 is smaller than a small town; I live in a town of about 1,400, though there is a larger town about 40-45 minutes away. Isolation is one of the reasons I want to move.
I like your idea of meeting a variety of people; I've done the same thing here, but so far, it hasn't been enough, partly bc chronic illness sometimes keeps me at home (which might happen anywhere, LOL).
CII, I hope that if, by chance, I should decide to move to Taos, I will meet you.
Speaking of which, how is Taos for healthcare? I think I could always drive to Santa Fe.
And ABQ, Santa Fe is too expensive for me!!!
Just looking online, I've found some cute small residences in Taos. I am looking for a very small house; downsizing is a priority for me.
Zoidberg, I already live at an altitude of 3,000, but in a much more humid area (!), and I am highly allergic to mold. I doubt that altitude would be a problem; do you think dry air is not good? Thanks for the pointers on Arizona communities.
It's not the dry, it's the thinness of the high-up air. To illustrate, I get sick for 2 days whenever I go up above 8000 even though I've lived most of my life above 5000. Each person is different so it may not impact you. The good news is NM is about as mold-free as anywhere.
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Speaking of which, how is Taos for healthcare? I think I could always drive to Santa Fe.
And ABQ, Santa Fe is too expensive for me!!!
Taos has one tiny hospital (in the news recently for a rather disturbing reason); any specialist and you'll find yourself driving 1+ hours south. That drive really sucks if you're sick.
The cost of living in Taos is way higher than in ABQ or Santa Fe; ask any Taoseño and they'll agree with that point.
Some folk drive to Santa Fe for specialized treatment (a little over an hour if the roads are clear) but there is one speciality which Taos has covered and that is orthopedic medicine, probably because of all of the skiing.
It's not the dry, it's the thinness of the high-up air. To illustrate, I get sick for 2 days whenever I go up above 8000 even though I've lived most of my life above 5000. Each person is different so it may not impact you. The good news is NM is about as mold-free as anywhere.
Taos has one tiny hospital (in the news recently for a rather disturbing reason); any specialist and you'll find yourself driving 1+ hours south. That drive really sucks if you're sick.
The cost of living in Taos is way higher than in ABQ or Santa Fe; ask any Taoseño and they'll agree with that point.
Sterling'so best places list cost of living in Taos at 104 versus 100 ( being the US average.) Albuquerque comes in at 101, Santa Fe at 120
It seems to me that the "incident" alluded to above had nothing to do with the quality of the hospital.
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