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No need to yell. It was more implied rather than stated...shall we move on?
I have learned a great deal from the various postings about how people perceive the varied groups in Santa Fe. Seems there are highs and lows much like other cities maybe a more obvious gap than in other places. The middle is where many of us reside is that a viable thriving group in Santa Fe? We are not wealthy, not snobby, but liberal older folks who are drawn to the outdoor lifestyle, cultural diversity and of course city's beauty and fantastic food. Abq. is also a great place but we we seem to like smaller towns so SF seems good size.
Sorry for the delay in responding… I attribute the high percentage of those attributes having a lot to do with the false sense of superiority liberals seem to walk around with and / or the fact that there seems to be a lot of "new money" (for lack of a better term) that lives here.
That might sound a bit harsh, but I'm just calling it like I see it. Having grown-up around people that come from families with a lot of money, often for a couple generations, I can tell you without a doubt that there is definitely a big difference between the way those people act and the way new money acts. I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions to the rule, but generally, I've observed that people who come from money aren't the ones flaunting their stuff or talking down to others. Hell, often times they don't even drive a "luxury" car and are perfectly happy shopping at Target and WalMart for everyday things.As for the liberal sense of of false superiority, if you haven;t experienced that yet, just go talk to a Prius owner. =)
Just to call it as I see it, this too is another narrow-minded, myopic view of people.
Met someone visiting here from Santa Fe and so negative about it. Here are some of the complaints:very expensive, ridiculously strict building codes, pretentious people, drunk driving problems, lack of good medical, seems the list was endless.
Are you building a home, or going to be buying one? Or will you be renting an apartment or house? Do you think the "ridiculously strict building codes" will really affect you at all?
Expensive? Yes. Probably most expensive city in NM. Tax is slightly higher than ABQ, as is gas. You'd really have to look at your budget to see if you'd fare better in another place.
Pretentious people? Yes. not more so than the Californian's though (by the way I'm a Californian so I know what I'm talking about).
Drunk Driving? That's a problem in ALL of NM.
Lack of good medical? Let me explain my situation...
My husband has lung problems. His pulmonary specialist works one week per month at the pulmonary clinic. There are two other doctors and a nurse practitioner there as well, but none have any openings. He was told to call at the end of November for a January appointment. Maybe they can squeeze him in if he's "feeling sick" or "getting worse", but really, he'd be seen faster if he were admitted to the hospital.
To see a different lung specialist he needs to see his primary, who just so happens to be one of only TWO doctors of internal medicine at the clinic. Sure there are PA's, but still, we would wait three weeks for an appointment, just for a referral.
I needed to see a dermatologist. Out of all the doctors that take my insurance (presbyterian, the largest in the state I believe), I could only get an appointment 4 weeks in the future with at two different clinics. One doctor was in Santa Fe, one was in Albuquerque. All other dermatologist were booking 6 to 8 weeks in the future, and then some.
This may not seem like a big deal to people who NEVER have to go to the doctor, and granted, it isn't. But when you suddenly become ill, or you develop a chronic ailment, you're feeling like crap, some "thing" on your skin/neck/head/eye keeps getting bigger and bigger, or changing colors, waiting 4 to 5 weeks &%$#@ SUCKS!!!
This is all in ABQ by the way. How much worse is it in Santa Fe? Don't know, but it ain't much better here (or in the rest of the country for that matter, so at this point the "lack of 'good' medical" doesn't seem to be a factor in moving anymore.... usually).
Are you building a home, or going to be buying one? Or will you be renting an apartment or house? Do you think the "ridiculously strict building codes" will really affect you at all?
Expensive? Yes. Probably most expensive city in NM. Tax is slightly higher than ABQ, as is gas. You'd really have to look at your budget to see if you'd fare better in another place.
Pretentious people? Yes. not more so than the Californian's though (by the way I'm a Californian so I know what I'm talking about).
Drunk Driving? That's a problem in ALL of NM.
Lack of good medical? Let me explain my situation...
My husband has lung problems. His pulmonary specialist works one week per month at the pulmonary clinic. There are two other doctors and a nurse practitioner there as well, but none have any openings. He was told to call at the end of November for a January appointment. Maybe they can squeeze him in if he's "feeling sick" or "getting worse", but really, he'd be seen faster if he were admitted to the hospital.
To see a different lung specialist he needs to see his primary, who just so happens to be one of only TWO doctors of internal medicine at the clinic. Sure there are PA's, but still, we would wait three weeks for an appointment, just for a referral.
I needed to see a dermatologist. Out of all the doctors that take my insurance (presbyterian, the largest in the state I believe), I could only get an appointment 4 weeks in the future with at two different clinics. One doctor was in Santa Fe, one was in Albuquerque. All other dermatologist were booking 6 to 8 weeks in the future, and then some.
This may not seem like a big deal to people who NEVER have to go to the doctor, and granted, it isn't. But when you suddenly become ill, or you develop a chronic ailment, you're feeling like crap, some "thing" on your skin/neck/head/eye keeps getting bigger and bigger, or changing colors, waiting 4 to 5 weeks &%$#@ SUCKS!!!
This is all in ABQ by the way. How much worse is it in Santa Fe? Don't know, but it ain't much better here (or in the rest of the country for that matter, so at this point the "lack of 'good' medical" doesn't seem to be a factor in moving anymore.... usually).
Couldn't get a dermatologist in SF as a new patient. As of August 2013, the only one taking new patients did not take insurance. Had to go to ABQ and it was a 3 month wait. While on the phone with them, making my appointment, they said that if my referring doc wanted me to get there sooner I could. It's pretty much an expectation that trips to ABQ for certain medical issues are required and that it may be a long wait for impacted specialities like dermo. SF should absolutely have more dermatologists when considering the age of its population the solar radiation at this altitude, but there isn't much you can do about it but be flexible.
When one is considering medical care in SF/ABQ, I think you also have to consider the general state of health care nation wide...which is not good and getting worse. Aging population, cost containment, obesity, on and on and I am specifically leaving out the "hot potato" Most if not all cities, facilities are impacted by the preceding issues. Major metro areas may have a greater brain trust and better trauma centers but I see just as many screw ups, misdiagnoses, and in-patient infection as any place else.
So is Santa Fe medical care bad? I don't think it is when you consider everything. One can be seen the same day for most emergent medical conditions without going to the ER. We have a regional medical center that serves the northern part of the state. Full function, with a level III trauma care. My experience it that I generally am able to spend more time with my doctor. Most medical tests, invasive and otherwise can be done here in town. Most but not all medical specialities are available. Being an in-patient in any hospital is always dangerous, unless you can buy the best. What seals the deal for Santa Fe medical is the proximity of UNM an hour away with it's level one trauma center and teaching hospital.
This proximity and complex of care is better, much better, than other cities similar to SF that we investigated. Either the local hospital was a community based and not really capable of handling the big stuff, or the major facility that could was too far away.
The middle is where many of us reside is that a viable thriving group in Santa Fe? We are not wealthy, not snobby, but liberal older folks who are drawn to the outdoor lifestyle, cultural diversity and of course city's beauty and fantastic food.
Wealth is a relative term. If "your kind" (I am using this in the way to encompass the group you say you belong to) is coming to an area where the average property value is, I don't know - $2,000/acre and after a decade or two of constant influx to the area it has become $20,000/acre then obviously the people who lived there before were poor compared to you . Their offspring won't be able to stay there since they simply can't compete. I believe there is a word for what you described - gentrification?
Wealth is a relative term. If "your kind" (I am using this in the way to encompass the group you say you belong to) is coming to an area where the average property value is, I don't know - $2,000/acre and after a decade or two of constant influx to the area it has become $20,000/acre then obviously the people who lived there before were poor compared to you . Their offspring won't be able to stay there since they simply can't compete. I believe there is a word for what you described - gentrification?
What you describe is happening in many places not just Santa Fe.
I live in Santa Fe and after 8 months here, can’t wait to get out . Yes Northern New Mexico is incredibly beautiful..the mountains, clean air , four distinct seasons, the history, etc., 50 million less people than the West Coast or the East Coast. However what I did NOT expect or anticipate or not do my due diligence about was..very expensive rents, low inventory in a desperately poor state, more drug addicts and drunken drivers than I’ve seen anywhere else in the World, a very old and incredibly unwelcoming and unfriendly Caucasian Population, limited choices, no real sense of community unless you’re in the “Arts” , all motor traffic backed up bumper to bumper all day long like a mini California on the one main ugly Drag, Cerrillos Road, where all traffic lights are timed to turn red as soon as the previous one turns green...so you can only go ONE light at a time through town, locals can be very sweet although tend to be suspicious yet more friendly than the transplants, a snobbishness and pretentiousness not backed up by any apparent substance or reason. Nor world class services or amenities , petty crime, violent crime, dog eat dog attitude with horrific drivers and a huge pool of uninsured motorists, car theft, homelessness, people unhappy or on the edge, pitiful traffic management or control with more speed bumps than people, generational poverty, racism, a good old boy network of Local Spanish, a sanctuary city with not enough jobs for the natives, ultra Neo liberal with no money to back it up or create a San Francisco wannabe city, trash, lack of education, corruption, crazy fringe New Agers yet no interest whatsoever in an altruistic or consciousness raising type of community , expensive art , snobby literati, thankless rude citizens, and all within sight of a beautiful 400 year old town just as damaged by the Spanish and as depressing as Cusco , La Paz, or Quito can be when you realize that a few wealthy Control Everything, the tourists are all over, and the locals are poor and can barely afford to live in the city in which they were born..Welcome to the City Different
I live in Santa Fe and after 8 months here, can’t wait to get out . Yes Northern New Mexico is incredibly beautiful..the mountains, clean air , four distinct seasons, the history, etc., 50 million less people than the West Coast or the East Coast. However what I did NOT expect or anticipate or not do my due diligence about was..very expensive rents,
Then leave....
Rents could have been determined before moving out here...
We live in the Albuquerque area. My wife gets friends visiting from the east coast. They all just have to go to Santa Fe. Thank goodness for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express (Train).
New Mexico is not for everyone...
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. Their offspring won't be able to stay there since they simply can't compete. I believe there is a word for what you described - gentrification?
