How can you possibly live so far away from everything?
That’s a question that has come up in conversation ever since my husband and I moved to the small desert town of Borrego Springs, California, nearly two years ago.
I have to laugh sometimes because I don’t think folks realize that it’s not like we’re living off-grid or don’t have access to things.
Our little community has a lot of what we need right here. Yes, we do have to drive out of town for some things, and we do make those long trips. But we have access to most of what we need right here, with a few exceptions.
If you’re curious or might be considering a move to Borrego Springs, here’s a list of the kinds of things we have and don’t have here in the desert.
Daily Essentials
Let’s start with the day-to-day stuff like food, gas, cash, and the errands that make up regular life.
How easy is it to get groceries? Pretty easy. We have three options here in town, and you can typically find what you need. DG Market is the budget-friendly place to go. The other two markets in town are locally-owned and operated but pricier.
Where do you get gas? You can fill up in town if you need to, but it’s usually considerably more expensive. We drive about 40 minutes to Red Earth Casino, which typically has much better gas prices.
What about getting cash? No problem. There’s a small bank that has both a walk-up and drive-up ATM.
Where do you get your car washed? We don’t have a car wash in town, although there is a guy who offers a mobile car wash service.
What about Amazon deliveries? Yes. In our experience, they typically deliver to the post office rather than our front door.
Health & Safety
Of course, one of the first things people worry about when we say we live out here is what happens if something goes wrong.
What about basic medical and dental care? Yes. We have access to medical clinics, a dentist, and a pharmacy. For many specialists and more extensive medical care, though, you’ll need to go out of town.
What happens if you have a health emergency? We have emergency services that can respond if you call 911. We also have Mercy Air 8 based here for emergency air medical transport when needed.
Staying Connected
Then there’s the question everyone who works remotely wants answered.
Do you get internet and cell service in Borrego Springs? Yes, but there are outages from time to time. So if you’re relying on the internet for work, just be prepared to go offline sporadically. We have Starlink that we use for RVing, which also serves as our backup at home.
Leisure & Community
And then there’s the fun stuff.
What about eating out? Yes, we have several great restaurants in town. My favorite is the Ram’s Hill Golf Club Restaurant because the prices are affordable, the food is great, and the view of the golf course is amazing.
Is there anywhere to go shopping? Yes. Believe it or not, Borrego Springs actually has a shopping mall with various locally operated shops. There are also other shops outside of the mall, including the popular Frugal Coyote Thrift Shop.
What about going to the park? Yes, as long as it’s not summertime. We have two community parks in town: Christmas Circle, where local events and fairs are held, and Borrego Springs County Park, which has playgrounds, sports courts, walking trails, and dog areas.
How about going to the movies? We have a beautiful theater at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. My husband and I particularly enjoy the free community film series.
So, how do we live so far away from everything? Turns out we don’t. Not really. I mean, we’re not exactly living out in the boonies.
For those of us who like the comfort of knowing we can always get what we need, but love the idea of living in a natural landscape, it’s perfect.
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