Mutatio, I don't mind if you mention the state I live in. It's so big, it would take forever to find me.
As to your question; yes, indeed, I have been in that area. It is gorgeous. But it is very "red". Colorado Rockies are green, lush, and full of water - but the farther south you go, it gets less green and more desert-like. It's much warmer in the Sante Fe area, and I strongly prefer the lower altitude. I think it's phenomenal, unlike any other area in the US. Strikingly historical, Spanish/Native American style buildings (no sky-scrapers here), and a vibrant artists community. Clearly, I'm a huge fan.
New Mexico is basically a state with a lot of open land, with a few heavily populated areas. It's got mountains, but they're not the green kind. The only bear I've ever spotted in the wild was in New Mexico! I never saw one the entire time we lived in Colorado...although I did get up close and personal with a Moose once. We scared the crap out of one another!
For peace and quiet, with the option of seeing people? Santa Fe.
