A GREAT PLACE FOR GENUINE LIVING AND RETIREES!!
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6/12/2012
I can only assume all the negative reviews that occurred in 2011, early 2012 were people looking for a cheaper way of life in Las Cruces from some other place, given the state of the economy, and worked briefly (we do have low pay) and did not experience the city at all! Las Cruces is a state of mind, not a luxurious high-end shopping mall. If you want to live in those places you will have to pay higher taxes and experience lots more traffic and smog. The ancenstry of the people here go back several generations and I have never met such nice people who are proud of their traditions in this town. There is no feeling of segregation here at all like you have in Tucson, where there is alot of hate in my opinion. It is not rich, but the people are classy. I cannot always say that for the caucasians that wander through this town and want Arizona/California type ammenities; which by the way these states were hit the worst by the recession and are foreclosure nightmares.
I highly enjoy the culture, history, THE NEW MEXICAN FOOD, festivals, Art, University, new educational public schools being built or renovated, museums being renovated, the state parks around the area, the proximity to Elephant Butte and Hot Springs, Ruidoso and Silver City in the Lincoln and Gila forests are a nice reprieve as well as small towns in the mountains and ghost towns. The setting of the Organ Mountains is spectacular, the weather cannot be beat, there are 3-4 golf courses, nice tennis courts a new indoor pool, and lots of outdoor pools. We may be marginally below the national average on income, but the people are proud and not on as much welfare as you would find like in California. They are happy, and live for their families. It is not dirty, and many of the so-called run down homes are adobes and wonderful, unusual architecture. There are places to get away from the city center, like Picacho Hills, Sonoma Springs, Telavera, Mesilla, Los Alturas and others that are very nice areas that do not have that awful neighborhood design found in Vegas and Phoenix. There are many upper end neighborhoods. Cultural things I do not appreciate is trash, loud music from cars, and stray dogs are kept off the streets, but there is a need for a better spray/neuter program. The graffiti is kept under control, as well as the crime. There is property crime so most people like me who built a house put in an alarm system. Most of the grocery shopping is done through Walmart or Albertson's, and drug stores are Walgreens or CVS and discount stores like Target and K-Mart. It makes it easier for me as these stores are clean, clean bathrooms, and not real crowded, nor do I feel this is a drug problem community from what I see of the people in the stores. I put my son through high school here, and the teachers and staff care about their kids. The buildings may not be top par, nor the curriculum, but the University or Junior College will bring them back up to speed. There are two hospitals here, one private and one public. One is new and the other renovated. Store owners keep their stores and bathrooms clean. There is alot of small businesses here, so you will find about anything you need, but from a small store, not a big conglomerate. They are putting in a trail system around the whole town, and The Organ Peaks National Mounument looks like it will pass.
This is an up and coming city and has alot of potential where cities like Tucson had their hey day and it breaks my heart that planners have sprawled that city all over the place. This city has a progressive government and the people here, many retirees and students, care deeply about the development of their town. The only thing I would mention is the winds in the Spring and there is a lack of sufficient amount of health care due to the low pay. People looking for additional healthcare go to Tucson or Albuquerque. I would not recommend El Paso, but they do have a Costco, a wonderful Plaza Theatre that plays Broadway musicals, a movie theatre in the Bassett Center that plays art house films, a very nice zoo. Las Cruces has a brand new performing arts theatre, a world class orchestra, the Rio Grande theatre and other venues for plays and music.
It is a great place for retirees and students. It may not be the best for singles looking for a high tech job, or a significant other. I feel very safe here and not part of the mess in the rest of the country. I love the drives in the Mesilla Valley and one of the largest Pecan Groves in the Nation up and down Hwy. 28, as well as we have been voted the best Farmers Market in the downtown area. It really is genuine and fabulous, and quite refreshing, not Americanized or trendy. I do agree with one person who said the drivers are crazy here, so be on the lookout. They go slow, but can wander or get in front of you :0). We are aA couple that relocated from the California nightmare, after my parents lived here for 10 years. Our house feels like a resort!! People tell us that all the time.
Cheyenne | Las Cruces, NM