Why is Santa Fe New Mexico such a great place to live?

Santa Fe New Mexico has many wonderful qualities.  The cost of living is low relative to high-density urban areas.  The area is surrounded by mountains yet the city itself is easy to get to.  Santa Fe has a world-class opera house and a strong local culture of artisans and creative types.  The weather is dry, with occasional thunderstorms in the summer and snow in the winter.  The sunsets can be so beautiful that words fail to describe them.  Finally, and perhaps most important, the city has a strong history dating back to Pre-Columbian times, and hosts many cultures in relative harmony in a beautiful high-desert western settings.