Originally a Spanish outpost, Albuquerque, NM is now a major metropolis worth considering retiring into. The Rio Grand runs right down the middle of the city, and the Sandia Mountains can be seen off in the distance. The city is at high altitude and is also very dry (in fact part of the Chihuahuan Desert). The sun shines almost 300 days a year, and although there are 4 seasons, the temperature rarely get too hot or too cold. This high and dry climate makes it the perfect place to retire.
Albuquerque has wonderful healthcare options for senior citizens; from assisted living communities and retirement homes, to home care agencies designed to keep you in your residence for as long as possible. Regardless of your living situation, all seniors in Albuquerque should consider meeting with an elder law attorney to assure your estate and will is in order. Retirement planning cannot be stressed enough, as most seniors in New Mexico live on a fixed budget every year.
Albuquerque has been called the "fittest city," because of its numerous trails and exercise clubs. It is home of the New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair. You can visit Petroglyph National Park to see historic rock scratching done by the Pueblo Indians and Spanish settlers. There is a botanical garden, as well as lots of museums (including the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History). Every year the International Hot Air Balloon Festival happens in Albuquerque, when hundreds of hot air balloons grace the sky for a solid week. There is a minor league baseball team, as well as a soccer team, roller derby, and indoor football for sports fans. Family is always close because of the 2 major airports, and Santa Fe is only a 70-mile drive away for a quick get-away. Spicy food lovers relish the fact that green chili is served just about everywhere!
During the 18th and 19th centuries, patients flocked to the tuberculosis sanitariums before antibiotics were invented, because the dry, thin air made breathing easier. Today, the Lovelace Repertory Research Institute still commits itself to respirational health, and there are many other fine hospitals and medical practices in the city.