In February of this year, I bought 21 acres of land near San Antonio, New Mexico for my future retirement property. I can honestly say that has been the most exciting thing I have ever done in my entire life. I’m calling my adventure the Road to New Mexico. Everyone pretty much thinks I’m nuts. Who buys property in the middle of nowhere site unseen? I do. And it’s going to be awesome.
Buying My Land
I did a ton of research. Originally, my plan was to move to Texas, but the price of land there was definitely out of my budget. Here in Erie, Pennsylvania, we don’t see the sun all that much. As I am typing this, it is literally pouring rain. Over the years, I have discovered my love of the outdoors and being in nature. The amount of sunlight directly affects my moods. So, I began by searching for the sunniest places in states I’ve always wanted to see. After months of searching, I came across the broker website for Highland Springs Ranch. It was gorgeous and exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, again, the prices were out of my range. Then I found some parcels available for resale on Realtor.com. I agonized over it for a few more months and then just jumped in feet first.
The Actual Road to New Mexico
In May, my daughter and I were able to head out and visit my land. We did the trip in 2 days, with the majority of the driving occurring on the first day. There were some hiccups in the plans with regard to accommodations, but it worked out in the end. The first night we stayed at a beautiful hotel in Kansas. The next afternoon, we made our way around Albuquerque, down Route 25, through Socorro, past San Antonio, and finally to our hotel in Truth or Consequences. The scenery was amazing. Everywhere I looked, there was something beautiful. Even the pictures I took from a rest area were stunning. The winds coming down I-25 were a little scary at times. We get some strong winds here in Erie at times, but nothing like the continuous, high winds that were coming through New Mexico at that time. But a little white-knuckle driving did nothing to diminish my excitement.
Visiting My Land
The day after we arrived, we went right out to see my ranch. The roads were a bit crazy, but nothing my jeep couldn’t handle. My land is basically a big triangle in the Rolling Hills section of Highland Springs Ranch. And it was more than I could have ever hoped for. The views were stunning. It took me a few minutes to locate my parcel, as I have not yet had it surveyed. Once I did, I put my jeep in four-wheel drive and drove up in.
When I stepped out of my jeep, the quiet was incredible. All I could hear was wind and nature. A far cry from the sirens and auto noise of the city. We met one of the wildlife neighbors on the way in, so that was pretty exciting. The views, the vegetation, the rocks…I have never seen land more beautiful. And it’s mine. That part is still sinking in. Right now, there is nothing there. A complete blank slate. I cannot wait to start building and creating a life there. I take a few small steps every day that move me a little closer to completing my quest. Enjoy the pictures and stay tuned for my road to New Mexico. 🙂
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