A few years back I was contracted to write a destination profile on Las Cruces, New Mexico, for Where to Retire magazine. At the time, I recall being a bit skeptical about the place, wondering what the attraction was. Well, after talking to a few retirees and spending some quality time there, I saw that they hadn’t ended up in Las Cruces by accident. The draw? Reasonable cost of living, beautiful scenery, cultural diversity and educational opportunities.

Framed by the lush banks of the Rio Grande and the dry, jagged Organ Mountains, the city of Las Cruces is home to New Mexico State University and the state’s second largest, after Albuquerque, city and one of the United States’ fastest growing. An economic, agricultural, tourist and cultural Mecca for southern New Mexico, the city sits at the heart of the fertile Mesilla Valley - a thriving metropolis in an otherwise desert landscape.

Then, my friend Julia bought a vacation home there, and I really started to spend time enjoying her winter retreat. But, life, or, in this case, her husband’s death, brought change. So, Julia has decided to put the house on the market.

Click here to view the listing.

Not exactly, my usual posting, but just in case you’ve been leaning toward a move to Las Cruces, I couldn’t resist letting you know about this fabulous deal.