The New Frontier:
Lives Reinvented
in the New West

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Living life just as they want it in the New West

  • Names: Phil and Cheryl
  • Residency: Highland Springs Ranch, New Mexico
  • Employment: Retired
  • Passions: Travel, Nature, Wildlife Photography

“If you want to be out and watch animals run around, you like the quiet, you want to see amazing views of the stars at night where you can actually see the Milky Way, this is the place.”

When Phil and his wife Cheryl wake up, their life seems just like that of many younger, active retirees. There’s breakfast to make, news on their phones, maybe they flip on the TV or hop on the computer to read emails or do some shopping.

But when he walks out his front door, Phil is greeted by breathtaking views of high New Mexico hills dotted with low trees, looking down a valley at a wide sweep of sage-colored rangeland, rugged rock outcroppings and distant hazy mountains.

He and his wife are also greeted by something else: Another day living independently in the New West, free to shape their homestead and their time exactly as they please.

Watch Phil tell his story

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Secluded living, modern comforts

“We wanted privacy, we wanted lots of peace and quiet … and we wanted to not see our neighbors. We like having neighbors, not seeing them,” laughed Phil. “Almost every day, I get up in the morning, I come out here on the porch and look out and say ‘this is so great.’”

At the same time, Phil and Cheryl – she an electrical engineer and he a software engineer – are not anti-modernity, survivalists or people trying to go back in time. They designed their home to provide the comforts of modern living, just as they had in their former home in the city of Las Cruces in southern New Mexico. And that means more time to follow their interests.

Secluded living, modern comforts

“We wanted privacy, we wanted lots of peace and quiet … and we wanted to not see our neighbors. We like having neighbors, not seeing them,” laughed Phil. “Almost every day, I get up in the morning, I come out here on the porch and look out and say ‘this is so great.’”

At the same time, Phil and Cheryl – she an electrical engineer and he a software engineer – are not anti-modernity, survivalists or people trying to go back in time. They designed their home to provide the comforts of modern living, just as they had in their former home in the city of Las Cruces in southern New Mexico. And that means more time to follow their interests.

Time and space to do what they want

In the New West, Phil and Cheryl find plenty to keep themselves active. They have a barn and garage housing their tractor and collection of implements (for projects around the property that they enjoy tackling themselves) and 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles (for exploring their hilly 340 acres by themselves or with friends.)

The land and wildlife also inspired Phil to go deeper into his photography hobby. He has built up his collection of digital camera gear with lenses to capture the wildlife and landscape and has collected thousands of photos in books that line the shelves of their living room.

“We sit here and watch wildlife all day,” Phil said. “We put out a water tank and watch deer walk right up to it.” Their land is home to deer, elk, fox, badgers and all kinds of birds, including a golden eagle. Although arid, the land has a variety of plants and flowers that bloom at different times of the year, adding to the beauty.

Time and space to do what they want

In the New West, Phil and Cheryl find plenty to keep themselves active. They have a barn and garage housing their tractor and collection of implements (for projects around the property that they enjoy tackling themselves) and 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles (for exploring their hilly 340 acres by themselves or with friends.)

The land and wildlife also inspired Phil to go deeper into his photography hobby. He has built up his collection of digital camera gear with lenses to capture the wildlife and landscape and has collected thousands of photos in books that line the shelves of their living room.

“We sit here and watch wildlife all day,” Phil said. “We put out a water tank and watch deer walk right up to it.” Their land is home to deer, elk, fox, badgers and all kinds of birds, including a golden eagle. Although arid, the land has a variety of plants and flowers that bloom at different times of the year, adding to the beauty.

Photography by
Phil Wright
...

Jokes about not seeing neighbors aside, the couple have become something of the social directors for their corner of New Mexico. “We enjoy having neighbors on the other side of the hills,” Phil says. “We have people who come out periodically, and we visit with them and cook out. We help them, they help us. It feels a lot like how people say communities used to be.” In a modern twist, Phil and Cheryl keep their neighbors up to date on the latest happenings with an email newsletter Phil sends covering comings and goings, natural happenings like migrations, blooms and weather, and other news from the area.

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Building to fit your lifestyle

Located halfway between Las Cruces and Albuquerque, and an hour from the town of Socorro, moving far into the wild actually put them midway between their families, who come on some weekends to visit – Phil’s brother even bought a neighboring parcel.

Phil and Cheryl built in stages, starting with a well and a barn, and then planning and adding the house and other buildings and facilities to fit the land and their lifestyle. “We grew this property week by week,” Phil says. “Start with the basics – water, food and shelter.”

And with careful planning and a willingness to modify their routines, Phil says living “off the grid” has been enjoyable and comfortable.

Building to fit your lifestyle

Located halfway between Las Cruces and Albuquerque, and an hour from the town of Socorro, moving far into the wild actually put them midway between their families, who come on some weekends to visit – Phil’s brother even bought a neighboring parcel.

Phil and Cheryl built in stages, starting with a well and a barn, and then planning and adding the house and other buildings and facilities to fit the land and their lifestyle. “We grew this property week by week,” Phil says. “Start with the basics – water, food and shelter.”

And with careful planning and a willingness to modify their routines, Phil says living “off the grid” has been enjoyable and comfortable.

A new plan for a new way of life

“People ask, how do you do that when you’re so far from public utilities?” he said. “We both are technical people. Setting up solar power doesn’t scare us.” In fact, they have consulted with many of their new neighbors, helping them get their systems optimized.

With a full solar system, batteries for electric service at night, a well and septic system, and a repeater station to extend phone and internet connectivity to their home, Phil and Cheryl are able to enjoy all the conveniences of any modern home.

Similarly, visits to town are consolidated, so shopping, healthcare, social visits and dining out typically happen in one trip once a week.

Get Phil's tips for living off solar

A new plan for a new way of life

“People ask, how do you do that when you’re so far from public utilities?” he said. “We both are technical people. Setting up solar power doesn’t scare us.” In fact, they have consulted with many of their new neighbors, helping them get their systems optimized.

With a full solar system, batteries for electric service at night, a well and septic system, and a repeater station to extend phone and internet connectivity to their home, Phil and Cheryl are able to enjoy all the conveniences of any modern home.

Similarly, visits to town are consolidated, so shopping, healthcare, social visits and dining out typically happen in one trip once a week.

Get Phil's tips for living off solar
“If you want to be out and watch animals run around, you like the quiet, you want to see amazing views of the stars at night where you can actually see the Milky Way, this is the place.”