New Mexico The Quality of Light … and Life

Georgia O’Keefe felt it, embraced it. The celebrated modernist painter was innately informed by the almost mystical beauty and vivid quality of light in New Mexico. Her adopted home, beginning in 1929, is a place that O’Keefe fondly referred to as the “Faraway.”

That natural beauty and ethereal light have been a beacon drawing artists to New Mexico for a century, especially to the quintessential arts communities of Sante Fe and Taos, both perched 2,000 feet higher than Denver.

But the artists, and countless others, have also been drawn to New Mexico by a kind of unspoken spirituality buried deep in its rust, biscuit, and ochre-tinted cliffs, the 13,000-foot snow-capped peaks, the darkest skies on earth revealing the most brilliant stars, the vast silence of the desert South and the treasured souls of countless Native Americans who called this glorious land home across several millennia. They’re also drawn to the unique blend of ancient Pueblo and more recent Spanish Colonial culture, architecture, and cuisine.

New Mexico is also a land of counterpoints. It was never a part of Mexico—it was initially called New Spain. The fifth-largest state in the union’s population is just 2.2 million. And perhaps most importantly, there are still very affordable and enticing towns and cities for retirees to investigate.

Charles Lehman is a manager for Retire New Mexico, the state organization responsible for sharing the ethereal allure of the ‘Land of Enchantment,’ the state’s moniker.

“We started a national campaign over the last four years to enhance the visibility of New Mexico with seniors or work-at-home couples looking for an affordable relocation,” says Lehman.

“The weather is great, not too hot or cold, with low humidity and 300 days of sunshine. The cost of living stands 12% lower than the national average. There are towns and cities from north to south in New Mexico where the median price for a fine home sits under $300,000. Even in Sante Fe and Taos, the median price is $590,000, not a lot if you sold your house for $750,000.”

Another counterpoint in New Mexico is that there is not yet the preponderance of traditional active adult communities … although there are several near Albuquerque including Jubilee at Los Lunas, an active 55+ master-planned community. Residents there enjoy hiking with spectacular views from the neighboring mountain, El Cerro.

More good news, just this year New Mexico eliminated taxes on social security benefits for couples with less than $150,000 in annual income. The state also reduced the taxes on military retirement income.

Now for some fun this fall. Arguably the most photographed event in the world is the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, held this year from October 1-9 and celebrating its 50th anniversary. New Mexico has countless other smaller balloon festivals all over the state.

Your inner adventurer will want to explore the Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the 4,000-foot breadth of the Big Room, the largest chamber in North America. Then, visit the stunning gypsum crystal dunes that utterly glisten under the signature New Mexico blue sky at White Sands National Park.

New Mexico’s uncommon light, although truly mystical, really comes from the short blue and longer red wavelengths of light variously scattering as they travel through the state’s clear, crisp atmosphere, creating cobalt daytime skies and works of art in the firmament at sunset.

As for the landscape hues, Ms. O’Keefe describes that as "All of the earth colors of the painter’s palette are out there in the many miles …”

For more information on New Mexico, be sure to check out www.visitRetirenewmexico.org.

From north to south, New Mexico has varied and affordable towns. Here are a few options…

Farmington is at the top of the state, tucked in the four corners region, with six national parks, three rivers, five lakes, and lots of golf nearby.

Median home cost: $274,000

Albuquerque, the business, financial and medical center for New Mexico, is close to the middle of the state. It has several 55+ communities.

Average home cost: $310,000

In the south is Las Cruces, awash in old Hispanic culture, and offering a major university and great year-round weather.

Median home cost: $285,000