Thanks Charles, that's encouraging...

by Charles, Thursday, October 25, 2012, 12:07 (4414 days ago) @ pokynojoe

I prefer smaller town that are close enough to a trade center for shopping and medical care. Abilene and San Angelo both meet that test and lots of smaller towns around there to choose from. The kids grow up and move to the bigger cities so the price of real estate is lower in places that are not growing but getting smaller. This is offset to some degree by the gas it take to go shopping for anything more than the basics. But, by careful planning, the number of trips can be cut way down and it is always fun to go to a place with a choice of places to eat and big box stores. Shopping and going to the Dr. become a mini-vacation.

Folks in small town West Texas towns are straight talking conservative people that cling their guns and their religion. They can be narrow minded and set in their ways. But they are also warm, friendly and loving.

Everbody loves the Hill Country and wants to live their, that is why home values and everything in general cost most.

I am very fond of New Mexico and the culture is entirely different with much diversity. You will be living hip and thigh with all kinds of people. New Mexico has an income tax and Texas does not. But Texas sale taxes are higher than NM. So, it balances out.

Parts of New Mexico are very pretty, but folks want to live there so prices are up. About the only way to stretch your dollars is live somewhere where folks don't want to move to. I like deserts myself, so I am good to go in the cheap places.