The Real Deal on Boulder from Folks Without an Axe to Grind, Please! (Durango: middle-class, homes)

[CCCVDUR]

Here's something I found on the Boulder Chamber of Commerce web site that looks great for those of us young entrepreneurs, the 2140 club (ages 21-40). This sort of thing really can help to create social networks among newcomers to town who want to start businesses, especially in these tough economic times. This sounds very encouraging. Down here in Flagstaff, young enterpreneurs feel isolated and alone. The 2140 has a Twitter account, for updates.

Click Here:
Boulder Chamber - Young Professionals Group

The Chamber's new group, Boulder 2140, supports business men and women in the 21 to 40 age category.

Mission
To become leaders committed to establishing a community of young professionals dedicated to building and fostering relationships through professional development, philanthropic involvement, and cultural and social opportunities.

Vision
To be the lead organization committed to developing Boulder’s young professionals through relationship building and education.

Areas of Interest
Two volunteer committees are developing action plans to support projects and programs in two specific areas of interest.

• Philanthropy
  To involve community outreach projects, such as recruiting volunteer groups to support local non-profits and developing a mentor program for high school students.
• Professional Development
  For young professionals to get to know each other and enhance their careers by meeting at breakfast series, Inside Boulder seminars, and presentations by community members.

Governance Structure
The boards consists of six members and a staff member to develop the group’s strategic focus, implement projects and programs, and oversee committees.

[left]Get Involved
If you would like to be kept in the loop on the latest developments of Boulder 2140, please contact.....(------------)
Special Thanks to the Boulder 2140 Event Sponsors! (TRUNCATED)

[Remember]

Thanks for the more upbeat contributions, Tom.
I will check them out.

[Remember]

So, I've been looking online for prices on rental houses and it seems every site I go to has different listings. Can anyone recommend a good venue that's pretty comprehensive? (Basically I'm looking to see what's available in a single family house, 3-4 bedrooms, yard, etc., probably in Whittier neighborhood.) I get the feeling each of these sites had maybe 10% of what's actually available.

[NorthSDLifer]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

Someone started a thread and invited people with an "axe to grind" to stay out and you just can't do that. Do you see us going to your Arizona threads getting up in your grill telling you to "Give it a rest"? No, you don't.

Your rights to free speech here? You have none. This is a private forum. The admin can do what they want. You're here on their grace.

I just think it's classic though, how a brand new poster to City-Data from Texas took it upon themselves to come in here and tell YOU to give it a rest. I'm sitting here laughing.

Reps; if I repped you, you'd be getting 4 from me. How many times would you have to rep me to reciprocate? I have a lot of reps because I give a lot of reps. I can guarantee you they don't come easy here in the states forums; at least this state. You want some reps, lighten up and come see some of us over in the Music/TV forums.

Flashforward to WolfBoy: no, I wasn't raging on you or even the other people who post in here.

I was commending you for your post. That first one was a beaut and came right out of nowhere.

Let's revisit, shall we?

[/b][/color]

Your post confused me as well. I wasn't sure if there was some sarcasm in there or not. But I gotta pipe up a sec about Flag. My family spent two days there in January as part of a northern AZ vacation. Seems to have enough going for it - legit, established, walkable downtown. Lots of tall green trees, spaces and mountains. I've been through worse rest stops.

Now back to originally scheduled thread.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by NorthSDLifer

Your post confused me as well. I wasn't sure if there was some sarcasm in there or not. But I gotta pipe up a sec about Flag. My family spent two days there in January as part of a northern AZ vacation. Seems to have enough going for it - legit, established, walkable downtown. Lots of tall green trees, spaces and mountains. I've been through worse rest stops.

Now back to originally scheduled thread.

Yes you're right, Flagstaff, and similar places like Boulder, Santa Fe, Ashland (OR), etc. etc. all are highly appealing as a tourist. But for those of us who live there, they are expensive and business unfriendly with impact fees and taxes. If you want a low cost of living, be careful of these towns.

The best thing for Boulder is to live outside and commute to town if you have a job in the city. Every time I look at Craigs List for Boulder it gets more expensive. It may not be possible to move there now, although it is vastly superior to Flagstaff in terms of wages, environmental sustainability, friendliness, recession resistance, and scientific and technical work opportunities (as you'll see on the City-Data forum for employment for each US city).

It's the rents that are the problem in Boulder, as the US Cost of Living for Boulder is 103% of the national average in Flagstaff is 121% - so the rents and home prices are driving things up in Boulder.

If I get a chance I'll take a photo tour of Flagstaff and post them on our Flagstaff thread as the Colorado moderator did on the Boulder thread. Flag looks similar to Boulder.

When do the UC students move out so it's easier to find jobs and places to rent?

[sweetpotater58]

I have a longtime good friend and his wife who lives in Boulder and love it-what's not to love-it has mountains, it has doctors, stores, and a vibrant community. Some say it is too liberal or this or that, but go see for yourself-you will like it.

[Katiana]

When do the UC students move out so it's easier to find jobs and places to rent?

Some of them move out in mid-May. However, some stay in their apts b/c of their jobs. Others sublet their apts in the summer, and come back in the fall.

[Remember]

A few more questions about Boulder if anyone's still checking in on my thread...
First, are there outdoor places to swim in Boulder? Lakes, rivers, etc? I've heard you can swim in the reservoir. How is it? I've heard it's theoretically possible to swim in Boulder Creek but also ice cold and maybe too shallow?
Also, had a friend warn me, "NO! You don't want to live there! The students totally run the town and they mess it up, cause havoc, they're act totally privileged, etc." I've noticed plenty of students when I've been there, of course, but never felt like they owned the place.
Then another acquaintance told me it's snobby and cliquish, etc., and that we should stay away.
Basically the same old stuff you hear from everyone. I was just surprised because either these people somehow didn't really process that we're deep into planning a move there and they were just causing us to feel uneasy about it (and somewhat uncomfortable about responding, "Well, ummm... we ARE moving there); or they really felt like, despite our plans, they simply HAD to warn us because it was so very important.
I just haven't gotten the snobby vibe while I've been there, but who knows, maybe it's just because it doesn't push my buttons, plus I like yoga, organic food, etc. Or perhaps I'm actually a snobby, elitist, crunchy, new age intellectual hippie/yuppie, so I fit right in.
What do you guys think?

[Neditate]

Yes, people swim in Boulder Reservoir and also Eldorado Springs. I haven't been to either in many years. Many of the lakes in Colorado are very cold - too cold for swimming. There are times of the year when people wade in Boulder Creek (like now when the water level is low) but it is not really for swimming. Tubing is very popular in the summer.
"Or perhaps I'm actually a snobby, elitist, crunchy, new age intellectual hippie/yuppie, so I fit right in." LOL! Maybe? Well, I'm not. I lived there for 15 years and never got the "snobby" vibe. I'm still there at least once a week and I'm still not getting it. Thank goodness my self esteem is not that low!
If you like Boulder and you think you want to live there why let anyone else's opinion affect you? Some people love it. Some people hate it. Too bad.

BTW I was also told that I would HATE it where I live now. Well, it's been 12 1/2 years and I still don't hate it.

[Remember]

Thanks Ned.
Yeah, I never got that vibe either, but some people are so vehement about it, it made me wonder if I somehow hadn't discovered it yet but eventually would (like right after relocating there).
It's funny, b/c it's usually Portlanders who are telling me this, and Portland is the only place I've been where it seems to be cool for wait staff to treat customers like ****.
The older I get, though, the less black and white everything becomes. So I'll conclude that every place is someone's heaven and someone else's hell.