New Mexico offers beautiful mountain and desert landscapes. Its mild climate, with over 350 days of annual sunshine, affords year-round outdoor activities including snow and water skiing, golf, hiking, and camping. The people of New Mexico are diverse. Forty percent of the state's population is Hispanic and ten percent is Native American. This ethnic and cultural diversity is reflected in the state's architecture, art, music, and food.
Hispanic residents come from varying backgrounds.
Many are descendants of the original Spanish settlers of the early 1500's, while some have recent ties to Latin America. Native American ancestors can be traced to prehistoric times and long-abandoned communities, while Anglos are relative newcomers, arriving with the opening of the Santa Fe Trail in the 1820's. Today, New Mexico attracts new residents from across the country. Many are drawn by the quality of life and others are attracted by the spectacular scenery and agreeable weather. The three communities where the programs are located provide unique living opportunities to the resident.