Vibing with Santa Fe

It is not particularly surprising that we feel enthusiastic about New Mexico, and about Santa Fe in particular–many people do. Aesthetically, Santa Fe is stunning. I can remember when the book, Santa Fe Style, came out in 1986 and how mesmerizing it was. A good part of this is about the natural environment–the crisp blue sky, bright sun, high desert vegetation landscapes, and strong shadows cast have a certain quality about them. But it is also about the craftsmanship and beautiful, practical aesthetic of the native peoples who lived here long before any Europeans arrived. This, of course, would then be blended with the Spanish aesthetic and later combined with a Victorian aesthetic. There are lots of exceptions, but somehow this arrived at a place today that still holds up to a surprising degree.

A Georgia Okeefe capture of New Mexico vibe. I can see why she fell in love with NM in 1929.

But beneath this veneer, we have also learned that there are some very, dare I say, social democratic decisions being made here. New Mexico remained a territory until 1912, and perhaps because of this, it remains quite independent in its thinking. Although it is considered to be a poor state, somehow in this most recent state legislative session, they have passed universal childcare as well as legislation to break out of no-limits malpractice insurance, which has made it difficult for doctors to afford to practice here. At some point, state college programs became tuition-free for residents, paid for through the lottery. This all sounds more like Finland than the United States, with elected officials working hard to support their people without a big budget. So even though residents are quick to point out that New Mexico has problems– poverty, food insecurity, homelessness, along with various challenges that arise in an area with lots of diversity–they also feel that things are getting better. This feels very positive here in 2026.