I wanted to put in a plug for Pagosa Springs, as I think some of the observations in other messages are not entirely correct. My wife and I moved to Pagosa 17 years ago from the Baltimore area. This is intended to be a retirement home, although both of us worked after arriving. In my case, I worked for another 14 years for a national consulting firm. I worked from my home and did quite a bit of traveling. Internet speeds are good here, thanks mainly to a local wireless service called "Skywerx." They offer a variety of speeds and the service works fine as long you are on a sightline with their several towers. Traveling was quite easy, with good service from Durango airport about 55 miles from Pagosa. The airport has direct service to Denver, Phoenix and Dallas and seasonal service to LA. A few other observations:
1. I do not agree that Pagosa real estate is as expensive as Durango, particularly if you want a bit of land. Although prices have risen in the last few years, you can still get a fine home for under $250K. Much of the price of residential real estate depends upon two factors, view and lot size. 3-5 acre lots are still available for $50K (and up, of course).
2. Although Pagosa does not have the dining scene of Durango, our tourist economy still supports a good selection of restaurants. And we have 3 breweries, now.
3. I agree that there is income disparity in Pagosa. However, I have never found this to be a hindrance to making friends. I find Pagosans to be friendly and hospitable, regardless of income. We have MANY more good friends here than we ever had in previous locations. Pagosa is a conservative town compared to Durango, so we generally avoid discussions about politics and religion. However, we rarely go to the supermarket without meeting acquaintances, so we always budget some time for conversation!
4. Pagosa has a much more "small town" feel compared to Durango. The town population is 2,000, with a total of 11,000 in Archuleta County. Traffic is modest and we have only 5 traffic lights in the whole county. Yes, we now have a small WalMart, but this hasn't really affected local businesses, which tend to be fairly specialized.
5. One of the reasons we moved here was to be close to the two narrow gauge railroads. However, if you want to actually get involved with a railroad (and don';t want to live in Chama), Pagosa is your best bet. The D&SNGRR uses few if any volunteers. The C&TS, on the other hand, has many volunteer opportunities through the Friends. I work as a docent on the trains, which is a real hoot! Pagosa is 45 miles (and 45 minutes) from Chama, so an easy drive.
6. Pagosa hospital recently doubled in size and now offers many medical and surgical services that you once had to go to Durango for. Of course, Mercy Hospital in Durango is much larger, but is less than 60 miles away if you need more specialized care. And Pagosa has an excellent EMS system.
Don't get me wrong. I love Durango. It is a charming town with good shopping, dining, etc. We have good friends in Durango, as well. However, it is just too crowded for our tastes as a place to live. Hope this helps.
