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My boyfriend and I are contemplating retirement in Santa Fe in the next several years and will make our first of what I expect to be many visits to Santa Fe in October. I'd like to connect with others who have retired from the northeast to Santa Fe and hear about their experiences. Aside from the expense, are there any obvious pitfalls we should be aware of as we contemplate this major move? What do you love/hate about life in SF?
As one who is from the Northeast originally, I guess my first comment to you is that New Mexico is very different than EVERY OTHER PART of the country, and maybe especially the Northeast. The culture is different, the food is different, the architecture is different, and the pace of life is different. It is definitely not for everyone, and you either love it or you don't.
I am glad to see you are going to be making a lot of trips out to Santa Fe to learn more about whether this is going to be the right move for you.
Also ~ you need to keep in mind that Santa Fe is very expensive, and you will need to structure your retirement income so that you are able to handle it all financially.
After living in the Detroit metropolitan area, my parents, after first retiring to Florida and realizing that it wasn't for them, moved here back in the late 90s. So I put this question to them.
Their Likes
1. All the art classes
2. All the museums, studios, galleries and exhibits
3. Being able to walk to and around town
4. Their neighbors
5. Hiking
6. The Albuquerque airport is a fairly easy drive and it's an easy airport to get in and out of
7. The architecture
8. The people
10. The events at the Lensic
11. Trader Joe's
Their Dislikes
1. More snow than they bargained for
2. The library could be better stocked
That's just their opinion. I'm sure you'll get as many answers as there are people.
I lived in SF for 7 long years, and I can only speak from my own experience. Everyone has their own, good and bad.
Personally I can't stand SF. As far as things to do there is an abundance. Hiking, shopping, resaurants etc... The climate is ideal. My main problem with the area is the unfriendliness of the town. There is some major race tensions among locals and newcomers. Also, I have never in my life seen so many materialistic snobs as in SF. Perhaps I haven't been to enough places. If you're the type that likes a feeling of community and get-to-know your neighbor this is not the place! Good luck.
I lived in SF for 7 long years, and I can only speak from my own experience. Everyone has their own, good and bad.
Personally I can't stand SF. As far as things to do there is an abundance. Hiking, shopping, resaurants etc... The climate is ideal. My main problem with the area is the unfriendliness of the town. There is some major race tensions among locals and newcomers. Also, I have never in my life seen so many materialistic snobs as in SF. Perhaps I haven't been to enough places. If you're the type that likes a feeling of community and get-to-know your neighbor this is not the place! Good luck.
I agree. Santa Fe visiting > than living there. I think the problem comes down to economy. The surrounding area does not have enough employers when it comes to high skilled jobs that match the costs of houses there. This is because many of those who live in SF are second home owners. The locals who have been here prior perceive this as a version of interloping, in addition to driving up the costs of all goods and services to a level in which they can no longer afford. Normally, when a place gentrifies, there is a strong employment base. Such is not the case in Santa Fe. In contrast, Rio Rancho and Albuquerque have these employers and thus, more stability and continuity in the neighborhoods.
I hope all of you who don't want to live in Santa Fe will keep posting here ..... then maybe that will discourage people and there will be less people there that I have to stand in line behind at restaurants and at Wal-Mart when I get there.
I hope all of you who don't want to live in Santa Fe will keep posting here ..... then maybe that will discourage people and there will be less people there that I have to stand in line behind at restaurants and at Wal-Mart when I get there.
I absolutely love the city.
Towanda,
I am pretty sure there are no Wal Mart locations in Santa Fe. It's not that kind of town.
Yes, there sure is a Wal-Mart in Santa Fe. It's on Cerrillos Rd. Been there many times. Prices are the same there as what I pay here in Kansas. There is also a Target which I have not been to yet. There is a Sam's Club, too, which is where we get gas for a few cents cheaper per gallon.
Yes, there sure is a Wal-Mart in Santa Fe. It's on Cerrillos Rd. Been there many times. Prices are the same there as what I pay here in Kansas. There is also a Target which I have not been to yet. There is a Sam's Club, too, which is where we get gas for a few cents cheaper per gallon.
Yep, that's right. It's on Cerillos, but it's out much further from the town center by I-25. I don't even assoiciate that part of town with authentic Santa Fe. As I recall also, that Wal Mart is one of only 2 (the other being in Taos) that is not a Supercenter Wal Mart (i.e. no groceries).
Well, I'll be darned. I didn't know anyone would consider that only the downtown area is "authentic Santa Fe."
When I move to Santa Fe, I will probably be closer to the Wal-Mart on Cerrillos Rd. than I am to the Plaza.
But wait....I will be moving to Eldorado .... I guess that isn't "authentic Santa Fe" either.
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