Top Five Reasons to Retire to New Mexico

Arizona has long overshadowed neighboring New Mexico, but retirees are beginning to see the possibilities in this state. New Mexico shares a similar climate with Arizona as well as the sweeping desert and mountain landscape. Active seniors love the possibilities for recreation here and can afford to live in New Mexico on any budget.

Weather

The weather throughout the great state of New Mexico can vary a little bit, but generally, you can expect to have 90-degree days in the summers and 60 degrees in the winters. At some of the higher altitudes, it may get a little colder in the winter and you might even get a little snow. Besides being warm nearly all of the time, the sun seems to be always shining. Cloudy days are a rarity here. And if the hot summer temperatures put you off a bit, remember that the air is very dry. A 90-degree day in a dry climate is much more tolerable than 90 degrees in a humid climate.

Active Lifestyle

With this kind of weather, how can you not get up and be active? There is nothing like a cold, snowy or rainy day to make you want to sit inside and hibernate. You will rarely have that excuse in New Mexico. People here are very active because the climate and landscape is conducive to it. You too will enjoy getting out there and trying new activities. A few of the best outdoor activities for seniors in New Mexico are hiking, biking, and golfing and the weather being what it is, you can enjoy them at any time of year. The mountains are never far away in New Mexico, which means you can hike and take in the fabulous views. Biking is another great sport with all the open space available here. And, the golf courses are abundant, of course.

Affordability

New Mexico’s cost of living varies depending on where in the state you live, but in many spots, it is quite low. Areas like Santa Fe and Albuquerque will be more costly while smaller and medium-sized towns like Las Cruces or Roswell are very affordable. Property taxes here are reasonable and a law that is in effect prevents an assessed property value from rising more than three percent each year. This can help keep your taxes low. Overall, the tax burden in New Mexico is low. It is in the bottom half of the fifty states.

Beautiful Scenery

The grandeur of the landscape in New Mexico is tough to beat. The state is made up of rolling deserts, flat-topped mesas, and snowy mountains. To many people’s surprise, much of northern New Mexico is covered by forested mountains. You can go between hot, dry desert, and cool, snowy mountains with just a day long drive. The mountains are the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southernmost part of the Rockies. Whether you enjoy the scenery while sitting on your porch, or go out and actively explore it, you will not be disappointed.

Arts and Culture

Another thing that surprises outsiders is that New Mexico has a lot of arts and cultural opportunities. The state is rich with Native American history and has the ruins and artifacts to show it. You can visit the remains of ancient dwellings and see the petroglyphs in the desert rocks. Navajo and Apache still live in the state in high numbers. The history of the Spanish explorers and missionaries can be seen here as well. They left behind their trails and missions. For modern culture, Santa Fe is a hotspot for artists. The small city is packed with art galleries. In Albuquerque, the annual International Balloon Fiesta is a must see.

Author: Sheila Martin
Publish Date: Thu, 01/05/2012 - 16:40
Categories: New Mexico, Living in