Alamogordo or Silver City? (rent, buying a house, buying)

[malamute]

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy

As of Friday, I was informed by my A-Town future employer, that they needed to recant on their original offer....by a little more than 10K!!!!! HR came back and said they actually couldn't meet the official offer that my future Boss there originally proposed for me, when I was out there visiting.

Um, NO. I'm pretty much appalled that this professional entity has such egregiously poor communication infrastructure. I sure hope this isn't a statewide/small NM community-type of phenomenon, 'cause I was not impressed by experiencing this. Oh, well. I'm a bit down. So much for my Alamo.

On to Silver City! Tell me if I'll enjoy it, please. I want to feel better about all of this, especially since my A-Town choice folded.
Hiking? Exactly where? Are there lakes or rivers for water activities, like kayaking or swimming? Can I economically own a horse? Young people (late 20s-early 30s?)? What are the grocery/clothing/retail outlets there? Is there a Super-WalMart (please??) ? What about excellent Family Practice docs, who care about their patients? What's the healthcare/hospital reputation there? What's it like there in the summertime? Winter weather frigid?? I need to rent...Where do I live?? Good, clean, (scenic?) reasonably sized apartment suggestions, please.

As for cost-of-living, I'll be making around 52-53K, so I'm hoping I could do okay there on that, as I'm single. I'd like to own a place/some property for animals, eventually.

THANKS, EVERYONE!!!

Silver City is also very nice, but it is a small town. The mountains are beautiful and you have a whole wilderness area around you. You're close enough to Las Cruces, El Paso, Deming for city kinds of activities, there are plenty of horses in that area and good riding trails. The lakes are very nice, not so much for skiing and boating but there's always Elephant Butte and Caballo for that.

[nmbound]

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy

As of Friday, I was informed by my A-Town future employer, that they needed to recant on their original offer....by a little more than 10K!!!!! HR came back and said they actually couldn't meet the official offer that my future Boss there originally proposed for me, when I was out there visiting.

Um, NO. I'm pretty much appalled that this professional entity has such egregiously poor communication infrastructure. I sure hope this isn't a statewide/small NM community-type of phenomenon, 'cause I was not impressed by experiencing this. Oh, well. I'm a bit down. So much for my Alamo.

On to Silver City! Tell me if I'll enjoy it, please. I want to feel better about all of this, especially since my A-Town choice folded.
Hiking? Exactly where? Are there lakes or rivers for water activities, like kayaking or swimming? Can I economically own a horse? Young people (late 20s-early 30s?)? What are the grocery/clothing/retail outlets there? Is there a Super-WalMart (please??) ? What about excellent Family Practice docs, who care about their patients? What's the healthcare/hospital reputation there? What's it like there in the summertime? Winter weather frigid?? I need to rent...Where do I live?? Good, clean, (scenic?) reasonably sized apartment suggestions, please.

As for cost-of-living, I'll be making around 52-53K, so I'm hoping I could do okay there on that, as I'm single. I'd like to own a place/some property for animals, eventually.

THANKS, EVERYONE!!!

If you are a horse person I think that you will like the Silver City area-------we have looked at property and watched Silver for 6-7 years planning our retirement and we think it looks like a great place. And from what I can determine 53k would give you a good living in Silver City.

[davbetcoo]

Silver City also has a small 4 yr university (Western NM) so there should be some entertainment and cultural options there. (probably an advantage over Alamo which only has a 2 yr branch of NMSU)

[ollieburger]

Well, we've been trying to decide between the two for several years now, and have pretty much decided on the Alamogordo area, probably La Luz, but Silver City still has a lot of appeal. The two are so different, it's hard to choose.

Any input on La Luz??

[Six Foot Three]

Originally Posted by ollieburger

Any input on La Luz??

Small ....maybe about 500 people. There is a small Post Office and the La Luz grocery market there.

[jecc]

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy

What about excellent Family Practice docs

I've found the doctor search difficult in Alamogordo. I go to a different one each year, hoping to find one who meets my idea of "good." I've given up on "excellent." Southern NM is mostly rural, and rural areas typically have a hard time attracting the best in any field. I've heard good things about one particular GP in Alamo, but there's a 10-month waiting list for new patients.

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy

As for cost-of-living, I'll be making around 52-53K

Not sure about Silver City, but I think you could do quite well in Alamo in a modest house with a modest lifestyle. Try a realtor.com search for an idea of real estate prices. I'm mostly retired now with no debt, and I could live like a king on 50 grand. Even if I were still paying off my mortgage, I could do just fine on that.

[SeekingJoy]

Originally Posted by jecc

I've found the doctor search difficult in Alamogordo. I go to a different one each year, hoping to find one who meets my idea of "good." I've given up on "excellent." Southern NM is mostly rural, and rural areas typically have a hard time attracting the best in any field. I've heard good things about one particular GP in Alamo, but there's a 10-month waiting list for new patients.



Not sure about Silver City, but I think you could do quite well in Alamo in a modest house with a modest lifestyle. Try a realtor.com search for an idea of real estate prices. I'm mostly retired now with no debt, and I could live like a king on 50 grand. Even if I were still paying off my mortgage, I could do just fine on that.

Thanks, but as I updated a few days earlier, Alamo is now out of the equation. My main concerns are about Silver City.

1. How safe is SC and surrounding vicinity?? I am young and female.

2. Where to live (reasonably priced rentals)? I prefer apartments, but would settle for a modest rental house, if reasonably priced. I have found NOTHING online, in my searches.

3. What are some nearby communities I could investigate for housing options, within very reasonable commuting time??

4. OOH! Tell me about this food-coop. I LOVE fresh, healthy groceries.

5. Where to hike? Horse rentals?? (anyone willing to exchange some riding some for some horse/barn upkeep laboring?? I'm plenty willing to get my hands dirty, thank you!!!

6. Names of fantastic MDs or DOs in SC or nearby, please.

Thanks, everyone!

PS. rain? snow? What should I expect with this?

[jecc]

Originally Posted by SeekingJoy

Thanks, but as I updated a few days earlier, Alamo is now out of the equation. My main concerns are about Silver City.

I think you missed my point. Most of southern NM is basically rural and small-town, at least compared with the ABQ area. The pros and cons I mentioned are not unique to the Alamo area. Silver City is different from Alamo in many ways, but it's relatively rural and so will have similar limitations. I'm not saying there are no "fantastic" doctors in SC (I have no idea). I'm just saying you might have to look hard and/or be lucky to find one. You also might want to be more specific about what you want in a doctor. People's taste in doctors is very subjective. Finally, there's no advertising allowed here, so no one will be able to simply post a name for you.

As for crime, weather, and nearby communities, that info is right here on City Data's Silver City profile.

[SeekingJoy]

Originally Posted by jecc

I think you missed my point. Most of southern NM is basically rural and small-town, at least compared with the ABQ area. The pros and cons I mentioned are not unique to the Alamo area. Silver City is different from Alamo in many ways, but it's relatively rural and so will have similar limitations. I'm not saying there are no "fantastic" doctors in SC (I have no idea). I'm just saying you might have to look hard and/or be lucky to find one. You also might want to be more specific about what you want in a doctor. People's taste in doctors is very subjective. Finally, there's no advertising allowed here, so no one will be able to simply post a name for you.

As for crime, weather, and nearby communities, that info is right here on City Data's Silver City profile.

Sorry if I "missed your point", but I don't believe I did. Alamo and SC sound quite divergent from each other in multiple facets, including population, COL, climate, recreational opportunities etc. Of course, I have already read the SC profile on the CD main site. However, I am trying to glean ANECDOTAL input/experience from those who have actually lived or currently DO reside in SC. Big difference from what a page of statistical data can provide, ya know??
I DO appreciate the time and efforts everyone in investing in my thread. What can I say? I ADMIT that I am very anxious, second-guessing this move, and definitely needing some reassurance from those who might so kindly pride it.
Thanks.

P.S. I am looking for a reasonably adept generalist MD, who is concerned on a holistic level for my health (mind/body), listens to me and works WITH me. Someone who CARES and doesn't look to just "collect" on me, and push me out the door. My exceptional MD here is mentor/life coach (of sorts) for me, and I am suffering terribly over the thought of leaving his care.

[jecc]

That's OK. I give up. Good luck.