On My Way to the Land of Enchantment -- Deming, New Mexico!

[junglefighter]

I am also 71 and have the desire to move,no reason,just want somewhere different.I plan to drive I 35 South to San Antonio,take I 10 West and am interested in SE Arizona,around Sierra Vista,Benson or maybe Tombstone area.There is only me,do not need/want employment,just somewhere new and different.I plan to leave in April for my trip without a real destination in mind,just a direction.Best of luck in New Mexico.

 

[yaktamer]

We had a beautiful place on 5 acres of land, surrounded by National Forest on the back side of Sandia Peak at 7,200' of elevation.

I haven't been there in about twenty-five years, but the Turquoise Trail used to be one of my all-time-favorite drives.

 

[yaktamer]

I am also 71 and have the desire to move,no reason,just want somewhere different.I plan to drive I 35 South to San Antonio,take I 10 West and am interested in SE Arizona,around Sierra Vista,Benson or maybe Tombstone area.There is only me,do not need/want employment,just somewhere new and different.I plan to leave in April for my trip without a real destination in mind,just a direction.Best of luck in New Mexico.

You might want to check out Portal and Patagonia.

 

[junglefighter]

Patagonia looks interesting.Thank you for the advice.

 

[Black Sunshine]

I recommend Si Senor for some good Mexican food. I haven't eaten at the Deming location, but all the other locations have used the same recipes and are delicious. If you're not accustomed to spicy food, start with the mild.

 

[Bullseye 2620]

GREAT outdoors place. Enjoy the good, try to avoid the bad, and carry a firearm with you everywhere you go.

So, are we talking four-legged or two-legged adversaries? I'm not much for 9 millimeter Tupperware. What might be the better choice -- a 1911 Colt in 45ACP, or, a 4-inch Model 57 in .41 Magnum? New Mexico actually has reciprocity with Virginia in terms of concealed weapons permits, and I have had a Virginia CCW for two decades, so no problems on that count.

 

[DR505]

I used to carry a .45 ACP in the urban areas. I like the 1911 platform best, but my service weapon is a Glock 21. I also usually carried my 625 .45 Colt Mountain Gun in the rural areas where critters lurked.

I am retiring soon, so I might just be packing my 3" 657 in .41 magnum. That is a good all-around caliber for critters with any amount of legs.

 

[black1970]

Lived in El Paso in the late 70's. Passed through Deming many times hauling big engines for the big dump trucks at the copper mines around Silver City. Be sure to try out a green chili burger. Also went south to the U-bar ranch down on the border hauling irrigation engines. Go to Columbus when you get a chance. Moved back to Tennessee in 79. Green here,brown there. Maybe I can visit there again. I believe there is another forum member that lives in Deming. Your place looks very nice. You will find that you will have a somewhat period of adjustment from green to brown. You will know what I mean before long. Good luck. BTW-I an NOT black-my 1970 Chevelle is.

 

[snuffy51]

Congratulations. At least it looks like you won't wasting much time cutting grass. Hope everything works out for you.

 

[DR505]

Here is a photo of my old place:

Here is the Buckhorn Saloon in Pinos Altos:

Here is the Opera House next to it (good steak):

And finally a view of Albuquerque from Sandia Peak at 10,600'

 

[Farmer17]

The ski resorts in NM are lots of fun to visit in the winter and the summer and they have great ATV trails. The resort areas are much more laid back and cheaper than the big resorts in Colorado and I think over half the land in the state is government owned and accessible to the public.

 

[junglefighter]

I am happy with my Model 69(4.25' bbl.) loaded with 44 Spl. for backwoods or urban treks.Spare ammo is 44 Mag. My 617/6 is good for general all around use.

 

[billwill]

Congratulations! It will be nice but you will miss the beautiful Blue Ridge. Have fun in the SW/
We'll leave a light on for you!

 

[cowboy4evr]

I lived / worked for 10 yrs in the SE part of NM , the Roswell area . I can tell you you will probably love NM if you just give it a chance . It was changing when I left , not so " clannish , cliquish etc as new people moving there was changing it .
Junglefighter : I grew up / lived and worked off and on for 60 yrs in SE AZ . The town was Willcox . At one time it was the cattle capital of the nation , shipping over 35,000 hd of cattle from that one rail head . It's the home of Rex Allen ( movie star , singer etc ) and the home of Tanya Tucker . One of the Earp brothers (Warren) was shot and killed there . A great train robbery took place 9 mi's outside of town towards the " Dry Lake " aka " La Playa " . It was done by the first Marshall of that town . He had worked sometimes for the law and sometimes against it . The loot they (3 men) got off with was never recovered . Treasure hunters still come there today hoping to find it .
That part of the state was home to the Apache Chief " Cochise " . You should take the time to drive through Apache Pass , after visiting the Chiricahua National Monument , park your car at the parking area in Apache Pass and walk to Fort Bowie . It's a very interesting walk with many history markers along the way . Remember , Az is a " permitless " state so you can open carry / conceal carry there and be perfectly legal as no permit is necessary . I could go on and on but will stop here . Regards, Paul

 

[junglefighter]

Thank you for the information.

 

[two-bit cowboy]

Howdy BlueRidgeBoy,

Congrats and best wishes.

Through 28 years the Air Force moved me 14 times. Two of those moves took me to southern New Mexico -- near the must-see White Sands National Monument -- for a total of five years. My home state of Wyoming doesn't have personal income tax -- if it weren't for that I'd live in southern NM.

North of Silver City, as you mentioned, are the Gila Mountains. One of my favorite places on the planet.

South of Las Cruces is a small town named Mesilla. A bit touristy during the "season" but fabulous during the off times for food and quirky entertainment. I saw the group "Canned Heat" there one night for the price of two drinks. South of there are pecan orchards and shops where you can buy anything and everything made from pecans.

If you like pistachios there are many orchards near Alamogordo. Lots of great places to hike and explore south and east of there, too. The space museum is also well worth a visit.

Cloudcroft is a neat little town at about 9,000' just east of there, just don't go on the three-day weekends when half of
Texas is there for a respite from the heat.

Further east is Carlsbad -- the caverns are worth the trip.

You'll discover lots of other wonderful places, too.

Wyomingites tend to be a bit clannish, too, so I was familiar with that sort of behavior everywhere I was stationed, but I found the native New Mexicans to be mighty friendly.

Hope your move is easy and your new place welcoming and rewarding.

Bob

 

[dave1918a2]

Been wondering where I will go after this Colorado legislative session is over. Almost 20 gun bills, all bad. Dumbocrats have taken over. This year it cost Me $141.00 to register My 1996 Ford F250, not to mention the $65 for emissions test annually. Thinking about OK or NM or going back to So Dak. Best of luck with the move and do keep Us here on the Forum updated.

 

[amazingflapjack]

A great opportunity to see new folks go out prepared to help others.

 

[GB]

I spent several years in N.M. working construction. One thing you will find is that almost every town will have various neighborhood "mom & pop" eateries. All have their own specialties and all will have something that is just out of this world. (I am glad that I had pretty much quit drinking before I discovered Margaritas! Many variations, most all good) If you don't speak Spanish, consider lessons as it will improve the quality of your life. Yes I know that N.M. is in the USA but its Spanish heritage goes back 400 years and many of its folks are bi-lingual. (you will see what I mean after you get there)

Enjoy you new adventure!

 

[DR505]

GB is right about Spanish. When NM became a State in 1912 it officially was designated (in the NM constitution) as a bi-lingual English/Spanish State. Santa Fe is the second oldest European settled city in the US, in 1610. Only St. Augustine, FL is older as it was established in 1565. If you go to the Acoma Pueblo, you will see a village that has been inhabited going back 2,000 years.

There was a ballot measure back in 1912 to make Arizona and New Mexico one big state, called Arizona, with the capital in Santa Fe. Neither territory voted for that.