Simple Solar Homesteading

My username is an amateur radio call sign so you can use any of the call search forms for a bit more info on me. First of all I have been interested in this for years. My first exposure was while on leave from Camp Pendleton in Arizona with some friends. After 22 years in the Marines I became an electrical engineer and now am expecting to retire again in a couple more years. I will be retiring to southern New Mexico and am looking for an old lode or placer around Luna County. I have expressed concerns and questions to Corey at GRE about old lode mines and so far he has been very enlightening but I am here to learn as much as I can and share where I can. I realize this is an Oregon based group but a good education comes from more than one source. I am happy to share my skills and hope to find the same here. Dave Johnson