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I'm just starting my retirement search and I'd love your thoughts about choosing Mesquite, NV or Alamogordo, NM as a retirement destination. I lived in Las Cruces when I was young and so feel more familiar with southern New Mexico although Mesquite's proximity to Las Vegas is attractive.
Some of the things that I'm looking for include
Hiking trails
Dry heat
Good senior center/ activities
Beautiful mountain views
Art community
Reasonable housing prices (below $400,000)
Outdoor pool (indoor pool would be a plus)
Nearby fishing
Dog-friendly
Within 1 1/2 hours of a major city
Friendly to newcomers
Thanks in advance for any thoughts. Please feel free to recommend other places that fit my criteria.
I've not been to Mesquite any amount of time to comment but I have been to Alamogordo several times from living in Timberon and Capitan.
Alamogordo would be a nice place to retire. Surrounded by mountains, dry heat. Hot in summer and nice in Winter. I found the people to be friendly. El Paso would be your closest major city. Up the road toward Cloudcroft and Timberon are hiking trails.
May I also suggest Ruidoso? They also have most of what you're asking for.
I don't know about dog friendly. I usually left my dog at home when going to town to shop, eat or whatever. I can't think of any fishing places in any of these areas. Most people I knew went to Elephant Butte to fish and boat.
Mesquite "seems" to be a viable alternative, but sure wouldn't move there without spending some time there mid-summer. Rent a place for long enough to make a decision. Summer temps could make it difficult to enjoy the outdoors for much of the summer.
Thanks for the replies! I agree that Ruidoso does have everything that I want and even includes fly fishing opportunities. My only concern about Ruidoso is the fire potential. I remember the Los Alamos fire a few years ago and worry that Ruidoso also has the potential for a big wildfire. Is it a realistic fear?
I'm somewhat interested in Mesquite due to its location so close to St. George and Zion in addition to being close to Vegas. My husband has spent lots of time in Vegas for work and likes it but I'm not sold on the idea of living in a large city. I live right outside Chicago now and want a quieter pace to life when we retire
Thanks for the replies! I agree that Ruidoso does have everything that I want and even includes fly fishing opportunities. My only concern about Ruidoso is the fire potential. I remember the Los Alamos fire a few years ago and worry that Ruidoso also has the potential for a big wildfire. Is it a realistic fear?
I'm somewhat interested in Mesquite due to its location so close to St. George and Zion in addition to being close to Vegas. My husband has spent lots of time in Vegas for work and likes it but I'm not sold on the idea of living in a large city. I live right outside Chicago now and want a quieter pace to life when we retire
Hello there!
I'm formerly a native of the Alamogordo area. We left there about 6 years ago, and I do miss NM a lot. We now live in Boise, Idaho. We really love it up here too, but it has outgrown us. Home prices are sky rocketing and it's just too expensive to live here. I would love to move back and as of this post we are seriously considering either going back to NM or maybe the Texas area.
Alamogordo, is a nice little town. The Whitesands are nearby, Holloman AFB is there, the beauty of Cloudcroft is just minutes away to cool down and enjoy the Winter wonderland up there. There are 4 seasons all around you, the heat is there too, but it's the desert and it has a beauty all its own. I wouldn't mind going back. It's very affordable as well. Best of luck with your final destination.
My only concern about Ruidoso is the fire potential. I remember the Los Alamos fire a few years ago and worry that Ruidoso also has the potential for a big wildfire. Is it a realistic fear?
You can view an interactive fire map provided by GEOMAC. Using the map, you can zoom in to view specific fires in the New Mexico region.
Thanks for all of the replies so far. One thing that factors into our decision is that my elder sister would like to move with us when we retire. She is a veteran so it would be a pro if we lived near a base. Also, she doesn't drive and prefers to be able to walk or take public transportation to everything that she needs. Do any of you with familiarity with Alamogordo think that we can find that in Alamo? Thanks!
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