General Discussion

lunatica

(53,410 posts) Thu Mar 15, 2018, 11:25 PM Mar 2018

I finally decided to retire at 70. [View all]

I was going to just keep on working well into my 70s, but I realized I could be really free to do whatever I want. I have no family left, but I think they would all be supporting me if I retire.

So l’m leaving California after working in UC Berkeley because it’s simply too expensive and I’m going to New Mexico. I’m an artist and that’s what I want to do. Just to do it and with no plans to sell any, although I’m good enough to have sold it in the past and have been commissioned a few times.

Does anyone have experience or live there who can tell me about life there? I would like to know about life there. I love the Bay Area, especially for the wealth of diversity it has. I want to love it there too.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts. DU is my cyber family. I have always gotten more out of you guys than I could possibly ever give back.

83 replies

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Highlight:

I finally decided to retire at 70. [View all] lunatica Mar 2018 OP

Good luck! And enjoy your retirement. Lifelong Protester Mar 2018 #1

I already am enjoying it! lunatica Mar 2018 #9

Good Luck ! Congrats on your retirement lunasun Mar 2018 #2

Thanks! lunatica Mar 2018 #5

I retired at 70. Two years ago. I dont know much about New Mexico. wasupaloopa Mar 2018 #3

I know Ill miss the coast lunatica Mar 2018 #6

Happy Retirement! snacker Mar 2018 #4

Thanks. I feel quite liberated just not having to go to work. lunatica Mar 2018 #7

I.....dream of that day Skittles Mar 2018 #8

I dont know why I waited so long. lunatica Mar 2018 #10

I have heard that from a few people who retired Skittles Mar 2018 #42

I hear Taos, NM is an artist's colony and spiritual, so you could start researching that... Hekate Mar 2018 #11

I have been researching both Taos and Santa Fe lunatica Mar 2018 #14

Beware the Taos hum.. pepperbear Mar 2018 #82

I have read about it. lunatica Mar 2018 #83

Retiring in 8 months GP6971 Mar 2018 #12

One of the ladies I worked with who also just retired lunatica Mar 2018 #16

I was totally burned out and retired at 62. In the 10 years since I've never regretted it. Binkie The Clown Mar 2018 #13

Being interested in life is what kept me sane all this time. lunatica Mar 2018 #18

Taos and Santa Fe are both wonderful dawg day Mar 2018 #15

Many years ago my mother and I drove all over NM for a vacation lunatica Mar 2018 #19

I retired last year... bluecollar2 Mar 2018 #17

I hope life is good for you now lunatica Mar 2018 #20

Moved down to Florida from Texas o take care of my mother bluecollar2 Mar 2018 #21

Questa and and Arroyo Hondo, my ancestral home Demonaut Mar 2018 #22

Tell me more lunatica Mar 2018 #24

Very close to Taos, a bit unknown for me, only visited once but very affordable Demonaut Mar 2018 #63

Taos is gorgeous. BaileyBill Mar 2018 #23

Ive been looking into Taos very seriously lunatica Mar 2018 #25

Wonderful wonderful news! I only wish it were sooner UTUSN Mar 2018 #26

Thanks for being on my side! lunatica Mar 2018 #30

Both Taos and Santa Fee are lovely. Laffy Kat Mar 2018 #27

Im thinking that too lunatica Mar 2018 #31

Not sure about real estate prices in that area. Laffy Kat Mar 2018 #34

Exactly! lunatica Mar 2018 #35

Congrats Renew Deal Mar 2018 #28

Taos, NM SharonAnn Mar 2018 #29

Enjoy it. GoneOffShore Mar 2018 #32

Happy retirement, lunatica. BadgerMom Mar 2018 #33

Thanks for your response lunatica Mar 2018 #36

Another Californian thinking of NM and other areas cally Mar 2018 #37

Well good luck to you on your choice too lunatica Mar 2018 #54

Congratulations Olafjoy Mar 2018 #38

Santa Fe and Taos sound like just the ticket lunatica Mar 2018 #71

I live in Santa Fe. PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2018 #39

Your description is very compelling! lunatica Mar 2018 #68

This city only claims 300 days of sunshine a year, PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2018 #72

Anything in particular you want to know? TygrBright Mar 2018 #40

Santa Fe is one of the greatest cities in the country. SomethingNew Mar 2018 #41

I suspect I may feel just like you about Santa Fe lunatica Mar 2018 #69

Wish you the best! marlakay Mar 2018 #43

DEFINITELY DONT BUY FOR A YEAR OR MORE... Hulk Mar 2018 #49

Thats excellent advice lunatica Mar 2018 #58

Rent...or possibly even consider AirBnB long term rental, if you have trouble finding something else Hulk Mar 2018 #74

The city of Santa Fe does not get all that much snow. PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2018 #73

We knew a couple that had condo in ski area marlakay Mar 2018 #78

Ahhh. The ski area is about 3,000 feet PoindexterOglethorpe Mar 2018 #79

Congrats!! And enjoy your new life!! (Wish I could retire.) InAbLuEsTaTe Mar 2018 #44

Enjoy! tenderfoot Mar 2018 #45

Many folks head south of the border...and Im one of them. Hulk Mar 2018 #46

Im an American citizen but I grew up in Mexico lunatica Mar 2018 #55

Happy Retirement...enjoy this special time in life...I can't wait to join you. iluvtennis Mar 2018 #47

Check out Las Vegas ... the New Mexico one..... dobleremolque Mar 2018 #48

If you dont mind 117 degrees summers... Hulk Mar 2018 #50

Las Vegas, New Mexico....easily confused... dobleremolque Mar 2018 #51

I started looking into it lunatica Mar 2018 #56

I was referring to Nevada...but that wasn't your suggestion? Hulk Mar 2018 #75

Enjoy your retirement and you will certainly find your new home interesting. akbacchus_BC Mar 2018 #52

Its not that I dont want to sell it lunatica Mar 2018 #59

Taos would be my choice. honest.abe Mar 2018 #53

Thanks! lunatica Mar 2018 #57

I'm glad you are able to do it workinclasszero Mar 2018 #60

Ive tried three times to retire tavernier Mar 2018 #61

Retired At 54. 20 Years Ago Now. Absolutely No Regrets. TheMastersNemesis Mar 2018 #62

Grew up in NM, lived in the Bay Area 25 years, back in NM.... alittlelark Mar 2018 #64

Im thinking of north of Albuquerque lunatica Mar 2018 #67

I used to live in Marin. GregD Mar 2018 #65

congratulations on your decision, and much good luck to you in your move. niyad Mar 2018 #66

Love it malaise Mar 2018 #70

Abiquiu RoadRunner Mar 2018 #76

Thanks! lunatica Mar 2018 #77

My husband's uncle was a photographer in the Santa Fe area for decades csziggy Mar 2018 #80

Thanks! lunatica Mar 2018 #81