Sorry, I followed the 3rd Gen link and didn't see all the other good info you had here.
I like someone who researches the heck out of stuff then finally just wings it.
That would be in my wheelhouse.
As for the Southwest, you really should visit where you think you want to plant yourself. I think it is great that you got excited about the 4 garages/14 acres and not so much the house. My dream is 30 acres/barn with a lift and 20 stall garage...yet I digress there.
I would suggest Flagstaff area. I did live around there and the winters really aren't that big of a deal (at least the 2 years I was there). I've also lived on the Navajo Reservation - while remote, it is great for getting out and exploring.
Phoenix and it's suburbs are pretty nice also. Depends on how far you really want to be from shopping. sometimes the drive times are deceiving. Living on the rez, Flag was about an hour (going about 85 all the way) for like 90 miles. Current residence outside Chicago, an hour to drive 10 miles.
I am currently driving to New Mexico to Las Cruces for the Bataan Death March (hoping I won't die). I like Albequerque and Santa Fe..not so much Taos. This will be my first time that far south in NM.
Why not southern Wyoming? I did a tour with the kids around Yellowstone and like the Jackson Hole area. Very pricey and all but maybe there is something close not so pricey?
I"m sure you will get better advice from people who live in the SW. I have always liked the SW desert and yes, the critters are to keep you on your toes at all times. My big scare was the black widows. Found 3 in one week on the patio furniture as I lifted up a cushion or towel. They promptly became dead spiders. And those scorpion spiders - those white/yellow things that run across floors. Not enough cuss words in the world to make them even close to how much I smashed them. Just keep a shotgun or pistol handy for the snakes. Or a shovel. a nice E-tool will do the job and easy to keep in the truck.
Have you pondered Texas? Big state, nice terrain, easier on the cash flow.
Now I will follow this thread to see where you end up. Once I get my camper/Airstream/Shasta, I'm rolling south/SW and out of this snow.