OK, I'm in Texas but if you want to move west you should consider the great state of . . .

First, Texas's economy is better by far than Arizona's or New Mexico's.

Second, Texas has no state income tax -- a plus for your daughter who is seeking a steady income.

Third, coastal Texas, Austin and San Antonio are not as da*nably hot as Phoenix, Southern NM or even Dallas and Houston (in Houston, it's the humidity). Phoenix hits 90+ from April/May to late September and 100+ for most of the summer including MANY days over 105. That "it's a dry heat" concept is bull -- if it's 105-110 in the shade (and that will happen in Phoenix) and you can barely breathe because of the oppressiveness of the heat, it doesn't matter if it's dry. You are from MAINE where 85 is hot. Do NOT underestimate that difference.

Fourth, facilities: Northern New Mexico is very pretty (a more stark beauty like outback Australia, not goodgawdlookatallthosetrees like Maine) but lacks top notch hospitals and medical care (especially for Santa Fe and anywhere outside of Albuquerque). In Texas, Houston and Dallas have excellent medical centers. This is both an issue for your daughter's employment and your own future.

All that said, the 2/3 Colorado and 1/3 Arizona option is appealing but you need to determine (1) if that works viz. your daughter and (2) if you can handle the atmospheric difference. That leads back to emalloy's suggestion to visit and explore, which is a good piece of advice.

We retired to Tucson from the NE (Port Jeff- NY, Longmeadow-MA, Nashua-NH)We chose Tucson because of its slower pace, friendly community, and amenities. If you want major shopping, you can head to Phoenix but otherwise, we have everything here without the Phoenix heat, crowds or traffic. Theatre, Opera and an outstanding Teaching Hospital. We are a university town so we also have athletics along with the other amenities of a university town. I agree, you should vacation where you are planning to retire and at the same time also compare what you are going to need and want in your retirement. Try to visit at different times of the year so you can get an overall picture. Call up the Newcomers or Welcome clubs and see if you can attend a function or two. We thought about NM but decided on Tucson and have never regretted our move for a moment. This is our Home.

For the hospitals your daughter needs, there are several in the Longmont/Loveland/Greeley/Ft. Collins region. I disagree with Isabel - outside of the downtown of these NO. Colo. cities, the lot sizes are good size and not that expensive. But that depends on what you consider expensive.

How much are you looking to spend on housing and what size lot are you looking for?

>>LeeAnn, ha ha - you don't have a clue what REAL humidity is; the stuff we get in ABQ is consider a great day back east! :) <<

I've spent a little time in Texas in the summer, and we had a memorably humid few days in Virginia one September. Believe me, I appreciate New Mexico's humidity levels! :-)) But it's kind of fun to complain about 40% humidity in the summer...

Lee Ann

.....with all that space in the west, some of it would be used for houses on big lots, but it isn't. ......

We may have a lot of space but what we don't have is a lot of water. Big lots require extra water. So we are smart enough to plan accordingly. That is one thing that is not often considered -- what is your water source?? Deep wells, run off, etc. It is not uncommon to have 2 or 3% humidity days in Denver during the summer. Tough on skin, hair, and furniture.