How is Santa Fe for asthmatics? - 10/6/2009

My wife and I are looking at cities to relocate to because of my asthma. I was told that we should check out Santa Fe as a possibility. Any input?

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Pros n Cons - 9/1/2009

We moved here from Maine 3 years ago. On paper, Santa Fe has it all over Maine. 300 sunny days a year, beautiful mountains, clean air, amazing scenery, bobcats and coyotes in the yard, dark skies with bright stars, great hiking, art, no mosquitoes, etc. Santa Fe is beautiful downtown as well, and we really enjoy the culture here. There are a thousand good reasons to live here. Here are the things to really and truly consider, though, if you are considering a relocation . . . 1. The economy is tight. If you are moving here for a job, make sure to look to see that there are ample back-up plans, because if it doesn't work out, it can be difficult to find a suitable situation. 2. Education here is terrible. The schools are underfunded, and despite the efforts of a great many dedicated people, the system is hamstrung. 3. Healthcare here is abysmal. I cannot tell you how many horror stories I have heard about our local hospital St. Vincents, or as it is know here, St. Victims. 4. This is a small place, and much of the population is transitory. People live here for a few years and then go away. So, we have found it difficult to establish community.

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The Perfect Climate - 6/11/2009

Santa Fe has what I consider to be the perfect climate. We have four seasons with no extremes in temperature or other factors. The two drawbacks are a very high altitude (7000+ feet) and very high housing costs.

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the real santa fe!! - 4/19/2009

i have lived in Santa Fe my whole life i was born and raised there and i love it!!! but some of the other comments about Santa Fe disturb me a little...people who are just seasonal visitors are making judgements about this little town. I'm sorry or happy to say Santa Fe is nothing like NY. we do however have one of the most unique cultures filled with deep history dating back hundreds of years, art galleries to even old Indian ruins. There's no big skyscrapers or a city that never sleeps. There's a limit on how tall our buildings can be. the cost of living is expensive and there is a poor, MIDDLE, and upper class contrary to what someone posted. And while driving in between cities in NM there is barren land not buildings and buildings. the people there can be rude at times but there are also ones that will bend over backwards to help. it is truly a place all its own.

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Truth about Santa Fe... From a local of 24 years.. - 4/16/2009

I have lived in Santa Fe my whole life and the city itself is EXTREMELY Unique and Beautiful and Vibrant with Culture. Definitly a reccomend for Visitors, however as far as living here, the truth be told Santa Fe is the kind of place that due to the People who reside in it can really effect you in a Negative way. The People are extremely un-welcoming, NOT looking to spark up new friendships or even new conversations, and can infact be very hateful and condesending (give or take the rare exception). I have spent most my life defending against thos who chose to dislike New Mexico as a whole, but after 24 years of living here I can't really disagree with those general statements, even after a few weeks in town I think most can agree the level of friendly-ness and even general kindness in just something like the hospitality industry is almost non-existent. It is unfortunate. It will always be home for me, but it is cursed with being the kind of place that chews you up and spits you out. Split between a very disgruntled lower waged class of people and a very snobby wealthy class of people... and probably makes for the poor quality of life. BUT HEY THE MARGARITAS ARE GREAT!!! Everybody has their place so give it a try and see if its for you, no matter what a review says lol :)

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Living wage: business is booming! - 6/15/2008

As a business person, my experience has shown that the living wage ordinance actually improves the bottom line, in that employees are more motivated and there's much less problem with folks not showing up to work (e.g. due to problems making rent, cars breaking down and not being able to afford repairs, etc.) and it has reduced turnover / improved employee retention. Moreover, it's just a better business climate when employees are happy; they have a better demeanor and attitude and it shows in their relations with customers. From a business perspective, I can say it's improved things in our city. More cities should consider adopting such ordinances. The Chicken Little "sky is falling" crowd who lobbied so heavily against it and out spent proponents 3 or 4 to 1 (but were still defeated!) can look around and see that the ordinance has, in fact, not "decimated" our economy as they claimed it would; Santa Fe is thriving! It should be noted that Santa Fe's living wage ordinance only applies to employers with at least 25 employees, so very small businesses have a chance to get off the ground when they are just starting out. I believe that is a good compromise.

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Fabulous People Drawn to Fantastic Places - 6/6/2008

In nearly 20 years of covering the regional art scene for various publications I've rarely, if ever, encountered someone less than intriguing with a compelling story to tell.

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mountain retreat - 5/3/2008

Santa Fe is at an altitude of 7000 feet and surrounded by mountains. Most folks here don't need AC - a ceiling fan will do. Well, actually, due to some climate change, it is getting warmer here so there are a few uncomfortable days during the summer - mainly July - but adobe houses are designed to keep out summer heat and hold in winter warmth. I've lived here almost 20 years and have seen our mountains get less and less snow. Drought is always a problem and global warming will see it get worse. If you love dry climates, THIS is the place for you! NM averages 300 days of sun a year and there is almost always a breeze. Solar panels are everywhere.

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Artist Mecca - 4/10/2008

A great place to settle down, but not a young town. Plenty of outdoor activities within the town and just outside of it. Great small town for eccentric artists.

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compared to a big city, Santa Fe is a breath of fr - 3/22/2008

My family is relocating soon to Santa Fe, and I was at first shocked to read all the negative posts about rude people and high cost of living, but then I sized it up and realized, most of the people who are so bummed about the "high" cost of living and crime rates are probably born and raised in Santa Fe. While it's unfortunate that people are experiences these less than welcome changes, Santa Fe is still way more affordable than any other city in the US with a comparable population of artists and art venues. And after growing up in Los Angeles I can't imagine that the gang population is going to feel very large or disruptive. One woman commented that she was cursed at by a public employee. If that's shocking or rare, it's a GOOD sign. I've sat on buses in Miami where the drivers would smoke cigarettes, make unscheduled stops at fast food stores or mini markets, and cuss at anyone who didn't like it. I am simpathetic to those who feel they are seeing the city go downhill from where it was, but the "big" problems that have been mentioned still render the city very attractive.

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Cool place...lack of water, lakes biggest drawback - 2/24/2008

I think Santa Fe is cool b/c of it's uniqueness, climate. Many smaller scenic towns lack diversity or culture, Santa Fe has some of both. The main drawback for me is lack of lakes and rivers. The dryness can get depressing. I'm looking for a gorgeous vacation area to live in summers/falls, and come to in winters on occasion to ski. I favor Whitefish Montana, Vermont & Bend Oregon b/c of their access to lakes and rivers. But I like Santa Fe's spicey culture!

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My opinion - 10/16/2007

I think santa fe is one of the most uniques cities Ive ever been to. It really is unlike any place in the U.S. The only thing I dont like here are the people. Their are alot of people living here from some of the most wealthiest sections of Americas largest cities which means their are some very uptight and pretenchious people here.

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Housing & Job Availablity - 6/29/2007

I'm a G/L Accountant and would like to relocate to Santa Fe in 2007 or 2008. Have made at a minimum $45K in Arizona up to $62K. I have done some homework on the internet and it appears that Santa Fe surrounding areas have affordable housing but I'm not interested in a mobile home. Where can I find an affordable housing community and either commute to Albuquerque or work in Santa Fe in the Accounting field? It would be good to hear from other finance and accounting professionals or a realtor. What is so expensive about the standard of living besides the housing market? Phoenix is becoming a major populated city with prices over the US Nat'l average. It's a right to work state which means they can hire and fire you "at will" without any reason. This is good for employers and we have a huge real estate contracting industry. I'm looking for a slower pace, casual life style but one comment revealed that Santa Fe was 2nd to New York City. Does it have the hustle and bustle that NYC has? It seems when I look at the demographics, that there are isolated desert communities with large lots of land and even acreage. Compared to Arizona prices, this looks very affordable. Can someone reply to me with their feedback? I would appreciate hearing from anyone. Thank you very much.

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Sad Santa Fe - 5/6/2007

Like a previous comment made. It seems like Santa Fe has lost it's old town tharm. MY wife and I have visited there for the past two years, in hope of one day moving to retire. No middle class exists. The rich and poor are in there own worlds of self destruction. It's sad to think that this could be the future towns and cities of US. We found Taos to be a more friendly town. I think it's ok to move to other parts of the country, but remember the very things that may have attracted you to these places, the people that were born and raised there want to keep it that way. Never bring big city problems to small towns.

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Santa Fe is changing rapidly - 4/9/2007

I first moved to Santa Fe, NM in '92 and found a delightful close-knit community with a bouyancy and delight in itself. We just walked down the street smiling at each other. The sense of humor was evident in the city's ability to laugh at itself and we at ourselves and each other. I returned to the city in 2004 to find almost all of the above characteristics gone. While there are still people here who are trying to pretend that atmosphere still exists, I can see the handwriting on the wall. I am so sad that my beautiful city has succumed to greed and out-of-control growth and all of the problems that brings. Humor has been replaced by anger and hostility is seen often. We are having approximately 40 break-ins a week and that doesn't count what's happening to cars. The city police department is down by 20 officers and no one is applying. Gangs have begun spilling over into the general population. Drunk driving is epidemic and deadly. Graffitti is everywhere. Developers have gone wild building subdivisions south of the city while the water availability situation continues to worsen. I don't know what went wrong and when, but I've been shocked and heartbroken by the changes. It is difficult to find the middle class here. Extremely wealthy people are building gigantic homes on the ridgelines of our beloved and sacred hills. And nobody seems to be able to do anything about it...or seems to care. We still have the best weather on earth, the most beautiful skies and sunsets and the outdoor sports are fantastic. Perhaps I hoped for a continuity of such delight. Perhaps I expected too much. But this beautiful city is facing tough times. So sad.

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Delighted to be #2, says Santa Fe realtor - 3/28/2007

We're all pleased that Santa Fe was voted #2 best place for artists by Sperlings. This joins all the other "bests" for Santa Fe. All in all, this city of 80,000 souls is just a great place to be. If you are thinking of moving here, I'm a realtor with Santa Fe Properties, and I'd be happy to give you some ideas! My number is 505.699.3985 www.realtorsantafe.com

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Santa Fe is a fabulous place to live! - 2/28/2007

I had to post something here to respond to the person that's moving out of santa fe because it's a "terrible place to raise kids" (I think that's how she put it). I've lived in Santa Fe for 6 years and have seen none of the apathy she suggests. Yes, gangs are a problem here, but in general it's an extremely safe little city, still. Most people I know don't lock their house or car and none of them have had breakins or theft. I agree, the schools aren't very good, and sometimes you'll run into rude people, but there are also a lot of super nice people, too. Sometimes it depends what you put out there, and sometimes it doesn't matter. The best thing about Santa Fe, I think, is how vibrant and active it is for being such a small city. I think it's got a lot of energy and a great community feeling. There's also a very multicultural population, which I think is great. With the 3 colleges here and the Lensic Theater, a lot of great shows - dance, theater, music, etc. - come through town, and there's a fantastic arts scene here. Santa Fe has the 2nd largest art trade in the country behind New York City (visual art) and there's an active and growing dance, theater and new circus scene as well. The mountains and trails are minutes from town, the ski resort is 20-30 minutes away, and lakes and rivers are just a little ways away. All in all, I love it here. Sure, it's got its cons, but every place does. Come check it out for yourself!

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SF - 1/26/2007

The sunsets are beautiful. The cost of living here can be trying when you consider that it is less just 61 mile south of here.

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I will be moving to Santa Fe next year - 10/27/2006

and I was wondering which area of town would be a good place to live, I have a 5 years old son and I'm looking for a safe area with other children he could play with. I am a middle class American. Any suggestions?

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Moving to Santa Fe? - 9/18/2006

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of moving to Santa Fe in the next few months. I understand that living in the city itself can be pretty expensive, but what about neighborhoods or surrounding towns that would be a little easier on the budget? Is there any sort of public transportation that connects the surrounding towns and suburbs? Which ones are low in crime, et al.? Thanks for all of your help!

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