New Mexico

Day Hikes of Central New Mexico

Early last year, I started hiking locally with a group of about four or five regulars. These were friends I'd hiked with before, but we fell into a rhythm of hiking every Sunday.

It seemed to work out for all of us, and even during the pandemic lockdown, we decided to continue despite the risks.

I'd hiked before, mainly with UNM's Recreational Services Getaway Adventures program, but this was the first time in years I had gone so regularly, and gone on so many trails that were new to me.

New Mexico, a Great Place to Settle

New Mexico landscape. Near El Rancho de las Golondrinas

The other day I was returning something at Home Depot and had to show my ID.

The cashier took one look at my driver's license and exclaimed, "You're from Hawaii? What are you doing in New Mexico?"

I get that a lot.

The short answer is, I moved here in 1997 and there's just enough inertia to keep me here.

The long answer is below.

Open House, Hidden Space

The front of a house in Santa Fe, New Mexico

On Sunday I saw a sign advertising an Open House by Sotheby’s. On a whim, I followed the signs to a twisty, narrow part of East Santa Fe, an old and respectable part of Santa Fe. In fact it was one street over from Canyon Road. I knew it would be expensive. On the way I passed an acequia so I knew it would be even more pricey. When I got to the house, it was pleasant but unremarkable from the road, so I knew it was definitely top dollar. Also there was a guest house.

You are here