Meet Me in Santa Fe

Welcome back to the Goldfish Chronicles (see this Ted Lasso clip for background on my name choice https://youtu.be/8PmX7zEUg_w?si=CCEfCgtrPilP6_Zr.) I know you'll all check out fast if all I do is talk about therapy and growth. So, I want to make this post part travelogue and part remote work tips/tricks. One of the last things I mentioned in my first blog post was a desire to return to Santa Fe. If you recall, New Mexico was calling me, and working remotely meant I could pack my laptop, take off, and work out of a hotel room. And that's precisely what I did—six days in Santa Fe in January 2023.

If you don't like the cold, I wouldn't recommend this time of year. Lucky for me, I adore the cold and snow. The airport in Santa Fe is delightfully tiny and "rustic." Before I flew home, I ensured I was there early, but they "weren't open yet." I mean, it was after lunch, but I guess the flight schedule that day was light! You walk in off the tarmac, and you can get your bags and rent a car simultaneously. Exaggerating, but not by much. Since it was snowing, the lady behind the Hertz counter drove me to my car…in her car. She also helped me scrape the windshield. I love this little airport.

My hotel was right off The Plaza, and the fire was roaring when I checked in. I set up my laptop in my room and confirmed that I could log in for work the next day. After that, I went for a drink and some dinner. My dinner destination was El Callejon Taqueria and Grill. My preference in a new place is to eat at the bar and visit with the bartenders, so I did. I had the Mole Micaela, and it was delicious. Confession time: I hadn't been to New Mexico in at least 15 years because it wasn't something my ex-husband and daughter enjoyed. That meant emotions were running high, and I blubbered a bit at the bar. I also was overcome the following day walking to the Farmer's Market. I felt the familiar cold air, heard the crunch of the snow, and smelled the pinon wood blowing from an outdoor chimenea. I stumbled a bit and lost my breath for a second. It's the closest I think I've ever come to time travel. (I know two cousins who could feel and hear what I just described.)

On the first morning, I ate blue corn pancakes with pinon nuts at Tia Sophia's. I was skeptical of the corn pancake but returned a couple of times for more. Another favorite nearby place was the Collected Works Bookstore and Coffeehouse. They had a fantastic tomato soup and a gorgeous selection of books. That was heaven for me. I did buy Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver here. What a beautiful and terrible read.

After work, I kept walking and exploring. My maternal grandfather worked for the Santa Fe railroad his entire life, so seeing the logo all over the city was extraordinary.

In Santa Fe, food is a top priority. Over the weekend, I ate breakfast at The Pantry, dinner at La Boca, and spent a day with a realtor. Crucial side note - if you love spicy food, you can ignore this. When you ask your waitstaff if the food is spicy, they will respond from a very different place. Their definition of spicy is skewed. I have to be extremely careful at dining establishments in Santa Fe to ensure I don't turn myself into a lipless fire-breathing dragon.

There are some fantastic museums in Santa Fe. I visited the New Mexico Museum of Art and the International Folk Art Museum. There's a cool area right by the Hotel La Fonda (109 East Palace) with a plaque dedicated to the men and women who worked on the atomic bomb. They were dropped off at this building and then ferried up the hill to Los Alamos. About 45 minutes to the west(ish) is Los Alamos. Much of the movie Oppenheimer was filmed in this area; the landscapes are stark and beautiful.

The shopping is fantastic as well. Honestly, one of my favorite stores was The Savory Spice store. The scent of the spices was intoxicating. I brought my daughter some Makrut Lime Salt, ground New Mexico Chili Power, and Tomato Powder as a little gift. That Makrut Lime Salt is incredible in

almost everything. Another favorite store is Overland Sheepskin Company. Our whole family used to visit the original store in Taos in the '70s and '80s, and it's such a warm memory for me.  I purchased some gorgeous slippers for my dad.

What did I learn about working remotely? It turns out I learned quite a bit. I realized that I could travel and still stick to a work schedule. I did my job and hit all of my deadlines and deliverables. The beauty of working remotely in a hotel room meant I could pop out for breakfast or lunch or just to amble around The Plaza. If you are new to this remote work/exploration gig, here are some additional lessons from me.

• Call your hotel in advance to determine internet speeds and reliability. The speeds at the Hilton were decent, but they did make Zoom/Team calls challenging if I wanted to be on camera.

• Invest in an inexpensive wireless keyboard/mouse combo. Most of you work fast on a laptop trackpad, but I zoom along with a full-size keyboard and mouse. Also, bring extra batteries!

• Bring an HDMI cord. If the room setup allows it, you can use the room TV as a giant monitor.

• Hit a bakery, Walmart, or Grocery Store for snacks and water. Hotel offerings are paltry and pricey!

• Assess the need for a rental car. Don't absorb those hotel parking fees if everything is within walking distance. Rent for only the days when you truly need a car. I had a great experience with Turo. Looking back, I don't think I needed the car for this trip. I didn't venture far from The Plaza at all. Everything I wanted to do was within walking distance.