are there any members from new mexico here?

[Scibaer]

tell me why i would not want to move to new mexico..
say somewhere around T or C
or maybe up near Taos ?
 

[Graybeard]

Dunno if we have any on this forum but we do have several NM folks on the site.

[Scibaer]

yeah, i wasnt sure where to put this.  i wanted to put it where there was the highest chance of folks from NM in seeing it.

since i was a wee lad, i've had a interest in going to NM. when i was a truck driver, i tried to get runs there, but it never turned out.
after my dad died, my older brother told me that the old man lived there for quite some time, adding to my desire.

if this is in the wrong forum, move it to where appropriate.

[Graybeard]

Prior to retirement I had plans to head in that direction but retired five years early and the money just wasn't there to make it happen. Dunno if I'd have liked it or not. I'm honestly not sure where would be the best place for it really.

I'll move it to the Pot Bellied Stove Forum for you since that's one of the most visited forums here. Perhaps it will get you some comments there.

[magooch]

I'm not from New Mexico, but I have stayed in a Holiday Inn a time, or two.  New Mexico has a lot of variety and a heck of a lot of wide open spaces.  It certainly deserves a look-see. 

A feller who worked in the same plant that I did, here in Washington, split for Truth or Consequences when he retired.  There must be something there that caught his attention.  At least there is a lake nearby and it's in the right part of the state for a bit less severe winters that the more northern parts get sometimes.

[rex6666]

I don't live there but lived in El Paso TX for a good while and traveled all
over NM and still hunt there. Lots of Difference between T or C and Taos
Taos  would be my pick it is in the high country.

[Sourdough]

My wife was raised in Alamogordo.  In 1981 we were stationed at Holloman AFB, and moved into her Dad's house.  We lived there four years.  Can not remember if they had a State Income Tax or not. 

Alamogordo is in the Desert, White Sands is SW of town.  The town is tucked up against the Sacramento Mtns and Lincoln National Forest.  In 20 minutes we could be up in the cool pines.  Alamo is at 4,400 ft above sea level.  Summrs are not near as hot as Pheonix of Las Vegas, due to the elevation.  Winters are what I call mild, with usually two or three weeks of nasty weather where it might snow or sleet.  If it should snow it will be gone the next day.  If you want to snow ski or go sledding, it's only 20 minutes away in Cloudcroft.

Now for T or C.  I really can not say what the weather is like over there.  There was a mountain range between us and T or C, the San Andraes Mtns.  Only drove over that way once hunting Javalina.  All I can remember is that it was dry, desert.  Can not tell you much else about the area, except Elephant Butte lake is south of there and that is where everyone in Alamo went to go fishing.  Since I don't fish I never went there.

I would like to retire there, but the wife won't go back there.

[Scibaer]

well all of that sounds positive so far. thats just adding fuel to my fire to head out.

[oldandslow]

I replied to this early this morning but looks like it just evaporated. I've lived in New Mexico all my adult life.

T or C is high desert. Elephant Butte Lake is just east of town and the surface of it is 4400 feet+. Caballo Lake is south about 17 miles and much smaller than the Butte but has some good fishing. You will have some days in the summer when it will get over 100 degrees. The winter is pretty mild. Hardly ever snows and very little when it does. Those blue northers that blow down the east side of the state rarely make it over the mountains that run down thru the center of the state. They have a fancy new golf course now. The Black Range and Gila Wilderness are to the west and have very good hunting. There is usually good skiing at Sierra Blanca at Ruidoso (pronounced Ree- ah- doh-so by the locals) and there is horse racing all summer. Skiing is iffy at Cloudcroft. They haven't opened for the last four or five years for lack of snow. It is very nice there in the summer and is cooler than Ruidoso too. If my memory is right it is about 160 miles to Cloudcroft and a little farther to Ruidoso.

Taos is a different place all together. Gets a lot colder up there in the winter but there is good skiing at several runs. Santa Fe Ski Basin, Taos, Sipapu, and Angle Fire are all close. Some of the prettiest country you will ever see is to the northeast and also to the south in the Sangre De Christo mountains. Not too far to Santa Fe and Albuquerque either.

New Mexico does have an income tax but it is based on your federal tax and isn't too bad. I didn't have to pay any last year but I'm retired and broke. Property tax is pretty reasonable if you stay out of Santa Fe county also.

Firearms laws are friendly too. Open carry is legal and we have concealed carry too although it is over priced. Carrying firearms anywhere in your car, loaded or not, is legal also. Lots of public land, state, national forest, and BLM, is available to hunt on too. Lakes are in short supply compared to a lot of places but we do have some. Come on, we would be glad to have you.

[Scibaer]

old and slow, we have talked some, about grips. now you tell me you live in NM ? wanna new best friend ? LOL ...
seroiusly that just the kind of info i was looking for. i have looked at NM real hard since i found out the old man lived there and so i was thinking that TorC would be just about right for me.  i wasnt sure about the gun laws or how good the hunting was. but it sounds pretty good.
what can you tell me about Gallup ? that was one of my choices too. if the winters get hard in Taos, then thats out, i live in Michigan now, and an tired of the winter, not the snow but the cold. so, i need a second choice, hows Gallup ?
glenn

[rex6666]

Gallup NM is the worst place in the world JMHO
Gallup is in the middle of the desert and hot as blazes in summer, nothing
but the Navajo Nation between you and the north pole in winter, can't imagine
living there.  

Please go look at Gallup, before even talking to anyone about living there.

[Questor]

The only thing to do is to make an extended visit, and perhaps rent an apartment for a few months in a place you like. New Mexico is a big state, and there are a lot of attractive places there, but there are plenty of unattractive ones too.

[Sourdough]

I agree with Questor, go there and check it out.  Mid winter and mid summer to know the extremes. 

I'm personally partial to the Tula Rosa Basin.  That's Tula Rosa, Alamogordo, and La Luz.  From there you can drive into the mountains and see lots of wildlife.  Deer (Mule and Whitetail, as well as hybrids called Muletail.) Turkey, Bear, Elk, Mt Lion.  And out on the flats south of the Sacramentos are Antalope, and Oryx (Africian Gemsbock).If you can stand the heat Las Crusis is nice as well, just more people.

Also liked the Ruidosa area, liked the horse racing.  Have friends a Carazzo, don't blink you'll miss it.  Just a cross roads with a few houses.  If you like flat land, Artesia is nice as well.  Even Roswell has something to offer.

Basically what I am saying is don't just look at one side or the other, look the whole state over.  It's big and lots of different things available.  The northern part is so different than the southern portion.  And the East is very different than the west.  And within just a few miles it completely changes.

[Questor]

I should point out that there's real danger in this if you're not ready to go. I rented a little place in Florida with my son for about 10 days about a year ago. Now I can't get the place out of my mind and I just want to go live there.

[Scibaer]

yeah, im just talking and getting some opinions. i do plan on going for a visit, thats why im getting some ideas. it does sound like Gallup is not the place to be, so i'll look else where.  sourdough makes tula rosa sounds good, so thats on the list now. that diversity sounds great and just what im looking for.
no real danger cause if i make my head up to doing this, its gonna happen and im gone..
yeah the whole state will get a fair once over, and this isnt something that will happen next week, but it will happen.
i do value the opinions here and apprecaite anything thats given. michigan is swirling the toilet bowl and i really do want to get outta here while the getting is good. my wife works for the state and you cant imagine what is come  down the tube for this state.
anyhow, the attraction of NM is strong, alaska was a runner up, but i dont like the looks of the economics there and the extended winter weather.
i went to missouri for close to a year, i dont like the taxes there or the high cost of living.

[Questor]

Scibaer:

Yes, I'd want to get out of Michigan too. I recently visited there. Pretty country, but too many problems to warrant living there. Good luck. It's a big country and most of it is good.

[IronMan]

I lived outside of Aztec for 3 yrs between 1973 and 1976 and loved it. The only reason I moved back to Oklahoma was because of a divorce. Had to get away from the woman

The country is fantastic,high desert and foothills of the Rockies,I worked in Farmington and lived on 10 acres outside of Aztec. Navajo lake State Park was only about 15 mls from my place. Great fishing for trout,great hunting on BLM land for Mule deer,bear,elk,jackrabbit,grouse,quail.

It did get cold and snowie in winter,Aztec is 6,000 ft,days rarely get over 100 in summer. A few miles north is Durango Colorado with the Silverton narrow gauge train. That is a fantastic ride anytime of the year that the train is running.

I hope to go back sometime with my wife,she has never been out of Oklahoma.

I dont think you will regret a move to New Mexico.

Good Luck
Rex

[rex6666]

I had forgotten about Aztec, seems to be a nice place.
I have always liked Cimmaron, have a friend that lives there.

[oldandslow]

Scibaer, check your messages.