The past two weeks were spent mostly traveling, with trips to New Mexico and Montana made in proportion to each other. I spent four full days in Santa Fe, four full days in Red Lodge, and four full days traveling to and from both. Santa Fe is about eight hours south, and Red Lodge is about eight hours north. Both drives are primarily conducted on two-lane roads, and both routes encountered a fair number of thunderstorms en route. Both locations are buffeted by mountains, embrace the old-west vibe, and both are occupied by a large population of wealthy retired folk or just wealthy folk. Both are also popular tourist destinations, and both are places I would consider living, which is saying a lot because I am rather picky. Perhaps part of why is that both enjoy some cooler summer weather, benefiting from high elevations and mountains nearby.

In Santa Fe, I visited friends, one of whom I worked with in my most recent career, which I walked away from almost two years ago. In Red Lodge, I visited family and my old sprinter, which my cousin bought last summer. I thought it might be awkward to spend five nights sleeping in it, as it was my designated sleeping quarters, but if most certainly was not. It was like being home.

There are some differences to note between the two towns. Santa Fe is a rather large city with a population close to 90,000, while Red Lodge is quite small with a full-time population of 2,600, though there are thousands more in town nearly every day due to the popularity of summer and winter activities nearby. Santa Fe has an arts scene, while Red Lodge has an outdoor recreation scene. Red Lodge sits at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains, while Santa Fe sits at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

What I love about both towns is that people genuinely seem to love living in them and just being in them, and there is a palpable connection between the people and what makes each location so special. Santa Fe embodies the high desert, with an Adobe lifestyle that is connected to nature through its architecture, perfectly designed to combat the hot desert sun. Red Lodge owns its mountain town charm by having a little of what every nature lover loves. Both towns not only boldly own their uniqueness but are eager to share it with whoever shows up to partake. And those who do seem to vibe with the honest and authentic, unabashedly proud people who live there. So, here is to many more years of my family and friends giving me the best excuse in the world to drive along the 860 miles of two-lane roads that connect the two.