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Sam, there's a lot of good advice in the replies to your post. I would add that a lot of people from the more compact eastern US don't realize how long the distances are in the West. (It sounds like this might not apply to you as you've done some exploring out here.) Taos, although well known as a tourist destination, is a small town of about 5,000 people far from any major cities. it's also significantly colder than Santa Fe. I live just outside Santa Fe, which itself is a smallish city of about 75,000 with a disproportionate number of great restaurants and art galleries, and which falls between Taos and Albuquerque climate-wise. Taos is about an hour and a half from Santa Fe, and Santa Fe is about an hour from Albuquerque, the closest genuine city. I moved to Santa Fe from suburban Chicago about 11 years ago and love it here. I've known others who moved here picturing an idyllic nonstop vacation, only to discover that there's also real life here, including poverty and a distrust of outsiders who don't make an effort to fit in. People who let themselves just go with it without trying to change things to match where they came from will do just fine.
Concerning the dog-friendly bit: I spent several days in Taos and the whole town seems to be dog-centric: a lot of shops in town have dog waterbowls at their entrances. Although several restaurants/pubs I went to all had signs up "no dogs on the patio", there were several dogs (with owners) on ALL the restaurant patios! Must be some kind of in-joke. Dogs all look happy, owners too.
Must be some kind of in-joke. Dogs all look happy, owners too.
There are a lot of dog lovers, some actually go through the trouble of training their dogs to behave.
Dogs are allowed in restaurants in Europe (At least when we lived there), and young children are generally frowned upon (Two year old babies don't always behave well in restaurants. Plus the remainder of the family needs to take a break on occasion...)
my opinion is that the most important part of the "will i be happy there" equation when moving to taos or santa fe is that you be at the far left of the political/life choices spectrum.
as an aside, durango colorado is The Most dog friendly town i've EVER experienced (:
I'll second checking out Durango CO for a location in this part of the country.
Durango really IS dog friendly. I was at the mall buying some furniture a couple of weeks ago...and people were walking through the showroom with their dogs on leash.
I am not a resident but have been to both places many times. It is left of center politically. My main concern to you is that is NOT a cheap place to live. Everything is expensive. I think it is beautiful, just have lots of money.
I am not a resident but have been to both places many times. It is left of center politically. My main concern to you is that is NOT a cheap place to live. Everything is expensive. I think it is beautiful, just have lots of money.
We have been living in Santa Fe for two and a half years now.
We do not have "lots of money."
It is really no more expensive to live here than it was in Kansas. (Except for home prices and water.) Everything else can be affordable if you shop around, live a frugal lifestyle, don't be tempted to eat at the pricey restaurants and buy expensive art work on the Plaza.
Santa Fe is FULL of affordable restaurants and things to do for people who are committed to a frugal lifestyle. We are doing it with no problem.
If you look at the major categories of living expense, IMO housing is expensive and everything else is about average. Towanda is correct, of course, water is expensive unless you have your own well and then your expense is to some extent a matter of chance. Having your own well is an option (or a necessity) only in some areas.
I find that a really excellent restaurant meal is actually cheaper than most places I have been.
Okay, I will yield to the natives. However, I still say that gasoline is always higher than ABQ, PHX, ELP and housing is a major expense. Haven't bought groceries there so can't comment.
Gasoline is SOOOO much cheaper than here is Chicago. I remark upon it every single time I am there. Also, much easier flying in and out of ABQ than O'Hare as to be ridiculous.
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