Circles

"The wheel in the sky keeps on turning...." Journey was certainly right about how strange the patterns in life can be. This blog has, on occasion, commented on recurring themes over the years. And now, here we go again...............

It's 2006. She's had it with the attitudes in junior high. He works for a national company. They've just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a family reunion in Yellowstone Park. Now the family's dispersed back to their own lives and the couple wends their way down I-25 through Colorado and into northern New Mexico. Wouldn't it be great if she could retire and he transfer?? They would be closer to the grand-kids but far enough away to avoid the politics of extended families and in-laws. And perhaps they could settle in a "destination," a place that might be alluring enough to entice other friends and family to visit them. With these dreams occupying their mental processes, they visited places like Trinidad CO, Pecos NM, Santa Fe.

Then they found a town named Cochiti Lake. About 40 minutes from Albuquerque and 25 from Santa Fe. A giant dam across the Rio Grande forms a picturesque no-wake lake. The town of some 400+ people nestles into ridges across the two lane state highway from the lake and its recreation area. The people they met were very welcoming and friendly. Ahhh, she could retire, he could transfer to Albuquerque, life would be good---the pueblo and territorial style houses they had fallen in love with, the hiking and biking possibilities, the lake access....Paradise after the years in New Hampshire and enduring those winters.

Returning to New England, they set the wheels turning. She put in for retirement. He began the transfer process. They had a realtor set up a portal for them to track prices and house availability. Alas, the prices were steadily rising. And the number of houses on the market decreasing. Would there be anything both desirable and affordable by the summer of 2007 when she retired?? Would they be able to sell their cape in the already slowing NH real estate market?? Why was his transfer taking so long??

Then in June 2007, the house sold, she retired, and he was offered a better position----but in Clovis, not Albuquerque. So they packed up their family of multi-legged "children" and moved. It wasn't the style they wanted but at least it was New Mexico!! (In truth, it was more west Texas.)

Through the economic downturn of 2008 into 2009, the agricultural businesses near Clovis expanded and did well. The nearby Air Force base underwent a change of mission and flourished, with the expectation of as many as 5,000 new families coming to the area. Meanwhile, the real estate sorrows that afflicted the rest of the country had descended on northern New Mexico with a vengeance. Prices were plummeting. Properties were spending hundreds of days on real estate agencies' listing services.

So our intrepid couple decided to plunge again. They found a wonderful property in Pecos but hadn't sold their place in Clovis. They contacted a realtor and listed. The action was hot and furious but no contract yet. The Pecos owner reduced his price. Oh horrors---it's now under contract!! What to do, what to do.....

A few other abortive attempts to find a suitable place...Then, as Bokonon would say, "as it was meant to happen", they recalled Cochiti Lake. Que un milagro!!! The prices had DROPPED. Imagine a territorial style house on a ridge where the worst view is the faint glow of Albuquerque some 50 miles to the southeast?? A ravine below your backyard where there are coyote dens?? Looking west, there's no towns for about 100 miles.

There's a realtor who will be pushed hard the next few days. Really want this place!!!!!! And the wheel continues to turn...................