Ok, I just came from spending a week in New Mexico. Maybe you folks can tell me why I shouldn't retire there.I was happier than a pig in poop.Three places I have to seriously check out next year are Silver City, Farmington, and Raton. Any other recommendations for a place on some acres where you can hunt and fish and still have some bucks in savings?

bentpole

i'm with you...try glenwood which is west of silver city at the foothills of the mongollon mountain area(gila national forest)...elk, small town living, hiking, fishing, you name it...that's where i'd like to end up...

heartshot

I would definitely stick to the Northern part of the state, just too darn hot down here. I have to drive a considerable distance to go fishing, but I do have good deer and elk hunting close. Cost of living is relatively low, provided you stay away from Santa Fe . I like it here, retired from the Air Force here in Dec 06, but I would go back to Alaska tomorrow, still homesick for the Fairbanks Northstar Borough.

Dave

Raton gets my vote...

We winter in Las Cruces and roam the desert 8 hours a day.  Can't wait for January.  We do leave for Michigan in March before the high winds tho.

lived here my whole life, and don't intend on leaving!  two hour drive from albuquerque in any direction will put in nice quiet mountain country!
A nice place to go if family is coming along is Ruidoso; lots of trout, deer, elk, bear mountain lion, coyote and turkey plus it has nice places for shopping and trinkets in town.  Ruidoso is about a 2.5 hour drive south/east from albuquerque.  the town is kinda touristy, if you know what i mean, but its nice.
any where up in the pecos area is nice too, but that's putting you in "remote" areas without amenities (again, if family is in tow).  you can be in the pecos wilderness in about a 2.5 hour drive north of Albuquerque.  same wildlife here too       plus big horn sheep!!!
West of Albuquerque is Mt. Taylor.  again, about 2.5 hour drive.  the same wildlife there minus trout fishing.  
to the far north is chama and toas.  toas is much larger then chama with shopping and skiing too.  Taos reminds me of a mini Santa Fe.  Chama got something like 10 or 11 feet of snow this last winter!  that's a lot for us New Mexicans!  here's a picture i took in early fall on the road between Taos and Chama at about 10,000 ft elev...
 

Joshua, yep Raton was one of the towns Ed [born and raised in Midland Park N.J. ] from the Reel Life Fly Shop recommended. MP, great photograph!  Sante Fee and Taos are very expensive from what I see and hear.. Taos I understand is where some of  the folks that were at the  Woodstock Festival ended up at. We had a great time riding horses up in Espanola, Black Mesa area. Jr. and I Fly Fished the Pecos River  in Pecos National Forest. Never realized there was a Civil War Battle that far West.Saw where Billy The Kid was held in jail.Even went to Pueblo Jemez to watch the dancers on their Feast Day.Didn't have a bad meal in Sante Fee. Great country.You good folks are very helpful!!! Hope to be neighbors one day!! God Willing.