WHAT IS THE BEST SORT OF ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE IN?
I do a lot of thinking about what an ideal environment for human growth and living might be. I especially have these thoughts because I spend time with my elderly mother who may or may not have made good choices for herself in this matter. She has stayed in her own house, which is certainly pleasing to her, and her house is not far (and yet again too far) from groceries, doctors and other things one needs at any age. But one wonders if a single family dwelling on a couple of acres in a sort of bedroom area for New Haven is a very good solution for an elderly person. One has to have a caregiver, a driver, and a raft of people who can take care of the property. Family is not too, too far away, except for me, but nobody is close enough to do anything but a “bolster-her-up-visit.” American life is tough on this sort of thing, spread out as we are. There is no built-in social life, and even though Mom is dynamite when it comes to the short “just checking in” type of telephone call (my call comes at 4:00 PM every day), it’s not really adequate. I simply tell whomever I am with, “This call is important. It’s my daily 2000 mile connection that lets me know Mom is okay, and I don’t need to hop on the next plane east.” Her life is lonely, her world is progressively smaller, and it’s very hard getting around in an ordinary New England house, even with an elevator and a helper.
I think about Placitas. Discounting weather and ecology, Pine Orchard, CT and Placitas, NM are not as different as one might think. Residents live in single-family dwellings; there is only a little commercial activity; there is no public transportation; taxis are expensive and infrequent, and life involves a lot of driving. In Placitas it’s hard to keep our kids near home because the school system goes only so far, and extracurricular activities can involve lots more driving. There are few small places, intimate communities, in which one could choose to live and age relatively comfortably. The Village would be good for social interaction and some services within walking distance, but how much housing becomes available in the Village? Not much. I’m not complaining, just wondering. Mom has always said that it is important to have friends of all ages. I think she’s right. Old people, young people, working people, retired people; people with babies; people with grandchildren. Varied life stages in a community mean life enrichment and a more accurate view of the world than one might otherwise have staying always within one’s own familiar sphere. In the case of my mother, she has lost nearly everyone in that sphere, so having connections in the others is really important. Unfortunately, due to the type of residential area where she is, and her age, she has lost all other spheres as well.
So shouldn’t Placitas have some housing that fosters a well-rounded, diverse community? Shouldn’t there be some areas where housing is closer together, some small houses, townhouses, little compounds of casitas communicating with one another, some thoughtfully developed mini-environments that meet the needs of a variety of age groups and personalities? There could be some common space for recreation, walking trails or sidewalks. A sort of pocket park, or two or three...pocket arroyo, trees, picnic table, public art? Maybe there are pieces of land of a few acres here and there around Placitas where such precious little compounds could be established. Maybe that is something I could, or should, work on. Is anyone interested? I would love to hear from you.
Lucy Noyes, CRS,
Broker Associate & Co-owner
La Puerta Real Estate Services, LLC
01 Ridge Court, Placitas, NM
Office Phone: 505 867-3388
Mobile Phone: 505 280-8352