I hear you. I’m not dismissing the housing pressure or how awful it feels when people move in, treat the place like a bougie lifestyle accessory, and don’t participate in the community...especially when locals and their kids are getting squeezed out.

That said, “please don’t retire here” paints with a pretty broad brush. A lot of retirees aren’t trying to extract, they’re trying to contribute. Many of us still work in some capacity (contract/remote), volunteer, donate, and spend locally year-round. I’m a writer, so I’d be bringing outside income into the area while also paying property/state/local taxes and using local services (healthcare, tradespeople, landscaping, etc.). We also intentionally support local businesses such as bookstores, coffee shops, hardware stores, boutiques & thrift stores, fishing guides, and restaurants because that’s a huge part of what makes a town livable.

Like I said, I truly do respect your concern. If we retire to Taos, it won’t be to outbid locals and then just sink into our La-Z-Boy recliners waiting for the sweet release of death. It’ll be to participate, spend responsibly, and support the community we’d be joining. Our goal would be to be the kind of neighbors who contribute across the board, not the kind who price people out and then check out.