Find Your Retirement Town in New Mexico

FOR THE CULTURE SEEKERS 

Becky and Curt Longardner wanted to be close to family when they moved to New Mexico last year. But they also didn’t want to be far from the cultural amenities, historic charms, and natural beauty found in Santa Fe. So they settled in Eldorado, a suburb of about 6,000 just south of the City Different and about 90 minutes from Becky’s parents and brother’s family in Los Lunas. 

“Visiting the area before we moved to get the vibe was important for us,” says Becky, who was an art teacher back in Cincinnati. “The diversity and mix of cultures were appealing, as was the history. We’ll be learning about the local culture here for the rest of our lives.” 

They’ve also fallen in love with Santa Fe’s vibrant art scene, famous for museums such as the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and New Mexico Museum of Art Vladem Contemporary; hundreds of galleries; public art installations; and annual art festivals. To immerse herself in the city, Becky volunteers at the International Folk Art Market, in July, and the Southwestern Association of Indian Arts Santa Fe Indian Market, in August. 

A painting of a red-tailed hawk on a weathered fence by Rourke Griffin—purchased on a visit to his Rowe studio and personally hung by the artist—has a prominent place in their living room. They look forward to attending the world-renowned Santa Fe Opera (the couple’s first date was at the Dayton Opera) and catching live music at the Lensic Center for Performing Arts and Unit B by Chocolate Maven. Because Curt loves to cook, he heads to the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market for local produce, meats, and other ingredients.

Being active year-round is also easy for the Longardners, who joined a local walking club to explore the 48 miles of publicly accessible multimodal trails in the nearby 10,000-acre Galisteo Basin Preserve. “My favorite part of living here is the evenings, especially in summer when the temperature drops,” Curt says. “With beautiful, wide-open skies year-round and no light pollution or humidity, I go out often at night to see the Milky Way and just see forever.”

FOR THE ART LOVERS

Pat DiPalma and Allan Packer have been dreaming about a return to the Land of Enchantment since their honeymoon at Taos Ski Valley. “It only took 36 years,” Allan says of their 2017 move.

In between, the couple built a life in Denver, New York, and finally Seattle, where Pat’s talent for fundraising became a career at the University of Washington. But Taos’s longstanding reputation as a haven for artistic expression and collaboration has continually tugged at them. A painter and sculptor known for his oversize, often motorized, canvases shaped like animals, trees, and other figures, Allan spent two professional artist residencies in Taos—one in 2008 and another in 2018—and had exhibitions at the Taos Art Museum and local galleries. “The history of the arts colony meant we would be part of an inviting artistic community that was already well established,” Pat says.

Culturally, Taos’s rich tapestry of Native American, Hispanic, and other diverse cultures creates a community infused with history and life. “Embracing this cultural heritage enriches the community experience,” Pat says. “That’s important here and adds to the sense of mysticism.”

They appreciate Taos’s stunning natural environment and tranquil mountain setting as an escape from the big-city life they lived in Seattle. As an avid skier, Allan spends significant time during the winter at Taos Ski Valley, which also attracts mountain bikers and hikers in the summer. Meanwhile, the nearby Río Grande del Norte National Monument delivers recreational opportunities such as fishing, camping, and whitewater rafting on the Río Grande. 

“It’s a pleasure to wake up in the morning and see the mountains,” says Pat, who’s quickly made friends in town. “The lifestyle is slower, and friends love Taos as a destination, so they visit us often.”

FOR THE BUDGET CONSCIOUS

Stewart and Karena Oberman wanted to downsize when they moved from San Francisco to Mesilla, just five minutes south of Las Cruces. Selling their house overlooking the ocean meant they could purchase a three-bedroom, Southwestern-style home in the historic town to host their children and guests. 

With a cost of living that’s 18 percent less expensive than the national average and 10 percent less than the average city in New Mexico, according to the Economic Research Institute, the move meant they could afford more of what they love while being closer to Karena’s family in El Paso. 

The couple embraced the area’s diverse cultural events and lively music scene, including the Mesilla Valley Jazz & Blues Festival in October, and have become active in the local “get out the vote” movement. Stewart also gives back as a volunteer projectionist for the Mesilla Valley Film Society and Fountain Theatre, which has helped them discover a sense of belonging and purpose that can be absent in larger, more anonymous cities. 

Both agree that access to good health-care options at nearby New Mexico State University and just across the state line in El Paso was a crucial factor in their relocation decision. The Las Cruces area also appealed to them for outdoor activities. Karena walks daily along the Río Grande or joins Stewart and friends on the extensive hiking and biking trails in the nearby Doña Ana Mountains, Dripping Springs Natural Area, or Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument. “I play tennis almost every day and appreciate the four-season ability to be active outside,” Stewart adds. 

Finally, Las Cruces’s climate, blessed as it is by abundant sunshine, dry desert warmth, and mild winters, makes it an appealing destination for those weary of colder climes. “I was afraid I would miss the water, but now the sky is my ocean,” Stewart says. “Catching the sunsets is a big deal for us.”

FOR A SLOWER PACE

Skye Gebhart and Jerry Kuhn were looking for an escape. After six years in Oroville, California, they wanted to get away from the bustle of the Golden State, lower their risk of wildfire (they lost their home in the Camp Fire of 2018), and find a place where they could live a laid-back lifestyle. 

They found it all with a move to Edgewood. About 30 miles east of Albuquerque, the town of 6,000 residents offers peace, natural beauty, and convenience in one quaint package. “We had a lot of opportunity to spend time in New Mexico,” says Skye, who often visited her mother in Santa Fe before her passing in 2023. “We loved it every time.” 

After researching Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, they eventually circled back to the Land of Enchantment. “New Mexico had more of the things we wanted: less population per mile, a more liberal political climate, and a more affordable area,” Jerry says. “We feel really lucky to be here.” 

While Edgewood serves as the geographic, retail, and healthcare services hub of the East Mountains, the community strives for a tranquil atmosphere. The lower cost of living—about 38 percent less than New Mexico’s state average, according to Salary.com—enhances its appeal, with cheaper home insurance and property taxes, vehicle registration, and everyday essentials. The financial benefits also mean the couple can partake in Edgewood’s other attractions, including immediate access to the forests and trails of the surrounding Sandía and Manzano mountains and a host of community events.

In fact, Jerry plans to volunteer as a crew member at this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Skye, however, says she prefers to stay on the ground. “I’m hoping to learn to paint,” she says. “We’ve found that so many people living here are creative and appreciate art.”

Their 2025 move also reflects a desire to become immersed in a location that feels genuine and rooted in history, like the nearby Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. “It feels nice to be in a place that feels like a place, and not just a series of strip malls that could be anywhere,” Skye says.

FOR THE OUTDOOR ADVENTURER 

Tim and Kim Eagan hadn’t given Truth or Consequences much thought as a retirement destination until an RVing friend tipped them off to the recreational opportunities the area offers. 

So the former Colorado residents visited the artsy hot-springs town—and were hooked. In 2022, they built their Southwestern-style custom home at Turtleback Mountain Golf & Resort, in nearby Elephant Butte. They wanted an established subdivision, where they’d have neighbors and still be close to the Elephant Butte State Park, New Mexico’s largest and most popular lake. 

Tim, who considers T or C a hidden gem for outdoor lovers seeking both adventure and tranquility, spends four to five days a week at the lake boating and fishing. “Kim’s parents lived on a golf course, so we knew how nice that was,” says Tim, who enjoys the scenic vistas of Turtleback Mountain right outside their back door. 

While many people assume New Mexico’s high-desert setting is Arizona hot, the reality is that nights cool off significantly, making being outdoors comfortable even in summer, including soaking in the natural hot springs along the Río Grande. “A warmer winter than Colorado was a big draw,” he says, “as was an affordable housing market and the availability of essentials like groceries and health care, combined with access to larger cities.”

Located roughly halfway between Albuquerque and Las Cruces, Truth or Consequences provides residents access to big city shopping, health care, and cultural events in either direction without long travel times. “T or C seems like it’s remote, but it’s really not,” Tim says. 

The quietude of small-town living doesn’t mean a lack of cultural goings- on, either. The dynamic T or C community allows retirees to be as active and social as they want, with annual events like the Truth or Consequences Rock & Gem Show, Artists of Sierra County Studio Tour, and festive holiday happenings, like the Elephant Butte Luminaria Beachwalk. 

“A big plus for us is all of the activities,” says Kim, a quilter who immediately discovered the thriving local crafting community. She’s already contributed her skill to several charity quilts and volunteers at the annual Gathering of Quilts convention. “Every weekend there is something going on,” she adds. “People like to get together in New Mexico. I feel like they are some of the friendliest people around.”