It was August, 2015. I had just sold my house in Taos, thinking I would move somewhere exciting. But as a photographer (landscape and sacred places at that time) I felt like I needed to stay in the Land of Enchantment. So I decided on Albuquerque. I saw an advertisement for Mirehaven and I came to check it out. I didn’t want to build a house so I was looking for one that was ready. There was one on Bear Lake Way, which I liked very much. While I was standing on the sidewalk looking at the house, two women came by and introduced themselves as Sherry and Lynnett. They lived next door and one down to the house I was considering. What they said that day convinced me to buy the house. They said, “We are really nice! You need to be here!” We laughed and I was sold. That was at the beginning of August; I moved in three weeks later. It was a wonderful decision! ~Cathy Carter

Edwin Light and I moved into our home on November 20, 2015 and have fond memories of many Friday evening TGIF parties in 2015 and 2016 in Bear Lake Park or Wayne and Lynnett Fink's front courtyard with fellow Pioneers from Bear Lake Way, Iron Creek and Goose Lake.  Beginning in June 2015 when construction started on our house, we drove down from Santa Fe every Friday evening to get in before the front gates closed. This was before there were model homes or the Sandia Center. There was only Phase 1 - mostly empty lots and lots of tumbleweeds. ~Jack Cox

Being one the first residents had some drawbacks. No internet; no tv; no mail; no landline; nothing from UPS or Amazon could be delivered because we weren't on GPS. We had to share our space with the critters: coyotes, millipedes and other creepy-crawlies. Because there was nothing to hold thesand in check, when the wind blew, we had several inches of sand in our patios. Not complaining, just stating the facts. ~Rich Asman

I was living by myself in an apartment from Aug 1 until the house closed the week of Thanksgiving 2015.

I would come and look at the progress of my house being built. It was very difficult to find the property at first because the Cebolla/Del Webb Lane street sign was twisted showing the incorrect streets.

If I was ever driving around and needed a toilet in a hurry I knew there were loads of port a potties all over DWM.

When I first moved in I remember watching a port a potty blowing down the street.

I used to see a lot of jack rabbits—I can’t remember the last time i saw one now.

Early on it was quiet because there were no birds! We didn’t have much foliage/trees in DWM and therefore we had very few birds.

For quite a while I could see the sun rise over the Sandias. I joked that I was going to throw some chicken bones in the lot behind mine so they’d have to investigate the bones and delay the building of the house that would remove my Mountain View.

We had our monthly coffee chats in the Journey model home, Julie used to heat things up in the oven there.

No mosquitoes! Their proliferation is a recent thing.

Early on I would bring cookies to new residents. That didn’t last long because people were moving in so quickly.

DWM wasn’t on GPS so it was very challenging getting the many deliveries that one gets when first moving. And, no one’s phones worked—cell service was much worse.

There was no DWM fence around the Petroglyph monument.

It was so easy to meet people, there were many fewer of us, and we all had the same experiences at the same time; moving, no GPS, no cell service, problems getting your refrigerator delivered, so on and so forth.

November 2015 is when I started walking my dogs in the desert, a.k.a. phases three and four. I had them off leash and they were enjoying themselves and I met another dog walker with her dog off leash. She told me that I wouldn’t be able to do this come the spring, and I asked why? Rattlesnakes! Well, that was an eye-opener for this New Yorker.

The amenity center didn’t open until July 2016, so we got a small discount on our HOA fees. ~Deb Correnti

My memories of the very early days were of excitement and joy of meeting so many new and interesting people from all over to US who chose to live here.  I loved the fact that it was relatively easy to get to know most everyone because of the smaller numbers even without the Amenity Center and Interest groups.  Happy hours at Lynette and Wayne’s patio, or in the park were great fun.  We compared notes about our discoveries and places to go, whether it was a great restaurant,  day trip, whatever!  I felt like a kid in a candy store about moving to NM, living here, and the future!  I still feel that way… ~Jeri Burzin

A favorite memory Jay and I have of being some of the early residents was one night there was a lunar eclipse. All of the residents met in the park to watch it. Jay and I brought popcorn and champagne for everybody. Rich of Rich & Isabel took fabulous photographs. As there was no Center, we always relied on the park or somebody’s house. It was such a cozy time,but I prefer it now because I’ve made so many wonderful friends that are newer residents. ~Kathy Porter.

It was early February 2014 when I mentioned to Mary Beth that we should look at the model homes in Mirehaven. She was very surprised that I was interested in buying a new home. When we arrived at the sales office, which was a small trailer, we met our sales agent, Michelle Kekich. Michelle gave us a tour of the model homes, some of which were finished, and some were not. Afterwards, she showed us the 16 available lots. Some of the roads were paved, but most of them were still gravel. There wasn’t much to look at because the amenity center was only in the plans. No swimming pool, no hot tub, no pickleball or tennis courts, just bare land. At that time 4 lots were already sold, ours was the 5^th. Both Mary Beth and I wondered if Mirehaven would ever get off the ground. We looked at our lot and the surrounded lots … dirt and more dirt and sand blowing around making mini sand dunes throughout the neighborhood. Yes, there was stress, and yes there was a pucker factor there that went on for weeks. Anyway, we settled on the Serenity model for our home. After 12 change orders, the plan was in motion.  We moved in mid-July 2015. Since we didn’t have an amenity center, neighbors would meet once or twice a week at the only neighborhood park off Bear Lake Way and Coyote Creek. This was the beginning of what is now “Happy Hour” at the center. It’s much different now … but the memories both good and bad are still fresh in our minds. Looking back…this was the best decision ever. ~Pat & Mary Beth Lashinski