Why Choose Colorado Springs? (Denver: live, estate, donation)

[germangirl06]

I just got to reply to this post:
We've been here for five years and mostly like it. The south end of COS is very nice, I think, but I'm partial. As for the crime, just stay away from certain areas - B street, Southgate, The area around Murray/Academy are the ones that come to mind right away.
The north end is more expensive, all the big and new developments, if you like that sort of thing but that's also coming up down here.
Roads are comparably bad here, I guess. What do you expect with 70F one day and 20 at night and 50 the next day and 10 that night all autumn/winter/spring long? Tornadoes are not really a big issue IN THE CITY, but they are once you get a few miles outside of town or out toward Fountain and are usually not very strong.

On the south end, you hear a lot of artillery fire, the train and the airport. Not extremely noisy, but bothersome on some days.

One thing I do not like - hate, absolutely hate - about the Springs is the religious super-right around here. If you don't go to church, if you don't agree with the statement "all mexicans should be deported/shot" then don't come here. We're trying to move to a more liberal place. My daughter has lost lots of friends because we don't go to church.

Manitou Springs is much nicer, much more liberal. Restores my faith in humankind, otherwise I'd have lost it long time ago.

[jorhyne]

Originally Posted by germangirl06

One thing I do not like - hate, absolutely hate - about the Springs is the religious super-right around here.

Those mean ole Christians huh? That's a real scary bunch.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by germangirl06

One thing I do not like - hate, absolutely hate - about the Springs is the religious super-right around here. ...My daughter has lost lots of friends because we don't go to church.

I think it is a myth (though I agree with you that there are some sick delusional brainwashed religious people here).

I love witnessing guys like Haggard and the catholic church in general reveal how hypocritical and phony all these religious morons are.

In fact COS has a religious element no higher than Denver and actually lower than Los Angeles. (From Sperlings)

Percent Religious 58.02% 58.02% (COS, Denver)

Percent Religious 58.02% 58.08% (COS, Los Angeles)

Colorado Confidential:: C-Springs Publisher Disputes Religious Image Of City

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by germangirl06

I just got to reply to this post:
We've been here for five years and mostly like it. .....One thing I do not like - hate, absolutely hate - about the Springs is the religious super-right around here. If you don't go to church, if you don't agree with the statement "all mexicans should be deported/shot" then don't come here. We're trying to move to a more liberal place. My daughter has lost lots of friends because we don't go to church. Manitou Springs is much nicer, much more liberal. Restores my faith in humankind, otherwise I'd have lost it long time ago.

Having lived back east and traveled much, our experience is not the same as yours. We don't have kids, but we haven't experienced or heard of incidences of religion-based bias here on the north end. Nor do we see the overt religion here as we saw back east, where hundreds of farm fields or hillsides display 3 large crosses, and people wear their religion on their sleeves. Maybe it's because our neighborhood is new, most of us are from other areas, not locals.

Having moderated the VA forum for quite a while, I read every new post, every day. I recall reading that most small rural towns back east are fairly closed societies until you join one of the local churches. I've never had anyone in Colorado try to preach the gospel to me, like happened to me at the shoeshine stand in National Airport that serves DC, and elsewhere back there. I recall hearing my late mother-in-law (a Baptist), tell about a Baptist church in Falls Church, VA that would not let a man be a Deacon because he drove a beer truck for a living. By comparison, we actually drank wine in our local Catholic church during some social gatherings we visited. None of this makes sense to me, it seems more like rooting for your favorite football team (I'm from Catholic Univ and we BELIEVE in the almighty passing game....Oh yeah? Well I'm from Texas Christian Univ and we BELIEVE in the glory of the rushing game. And so it goes.....yea brothers, verily, put your hands on the pigskin, FEEL THE HEAT! Halleluyah and Amen!!)


IMO what you experienced in your area can happen in most areas of the USA; so I venture this: Just as no area is immune to snobbism, elitism or arrogance of a financial or racial sort, it's equally true that no area is immune to religion-based snobbism, elitism or arrogance. There are small minds everywhere, they are a sorrow to humanity, I ignore their foolishness and pity them their empty lives. Mankind is a feast, to be enjoyed widely, with gusto, relish and appreciation of its endless variety and texture.

I'm with Charles, I take a certain sad but smug comfort when phonies and hypocrites like Rev Haggard, Senator Craig, Rep Foley, et al, are unmasked, repeatedly proving there are few illnesses worse than moral hypocracy.

s/Mike

PS: Never heard anyone up here say such horrible things about Mexicans, especially since many have been here legally for MANY generations. That sort of talk you hear sounds like some of the illiterate white trash I know back in Baltimore, where I grew up and visited often until 2005.

[terrijean]

Thanks for all the info. How about the dry climate on your skin? Is it really dry? How about the social scene for singles in their 50's??

[Wisteria]

Mike: IMO what you experienced in your area can happen in most areas of the USA; so I venture this: Just as no area is immune to snobbism, elitism or arrogance of a financial or racial sort, it's equally true that no area is immune to religion-based snobbism, elitism or arrogance. There are small minds everywhere, they are a sorrow to humanity, I ignore their foolishness and pity them their empty lives. Mankind is a feast, to be enjoyed widely, with gusto, relish and appreciation of its endless variety and texture.

I'm with Charles, I take a certain sad but smug comfort when phonies and hypocrites like Rev Haggard, Senator Craig, Rep Foley, et al, are unmasked, repeatedly proving there are few illnesses worse than moral hypocracy.

Good post, Mike. It seems from what I have noticed -- and I may not have observed correctly -- is that people who are used to a more liberal environment may find Colorado Springs too conservative (i.e. the comparison of CS with Manitou Springs). Those from a more conservative area (such as where you were), may find CS more open and looser.

I am in the process of trying to balance all those sides. When I lived in Phoenix, I found Colorado more open; then I moved to California, and now I don't see Colorado as open as I once thought....it's a shift in perspective.

It's always good to hear other people's views on this because one can then say, "I'm more like this person, or I'm more like that person, and I need to listen more closely to them."

Good post.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by terrijean

Thanks for all the info. How about the dry climate on your skin? Is it really dry? How about the social scene for singles in their 50's??

1. Climate. Mostly summer, but year round we urge you to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, water, lip balm, hats to shade the face. Lots of water, especially first few days, else you may feel some dizziness, but 99% of folks do fine. Air is thin at these altitudes so the sun hits intensely and is VERY warming. Even at 45 degrees, sun is warm, short sleeves are fine for most folks. After sundown, or if windy, long sleeves or light jacket. It feels warmer in winter due to lack of bone-chilling humidity. If sun shines and wind is low, a heavy long-sleeved shirt and jeans are usually fine daytime attire along the entire Front Range. Light coat for nights. If wind is strong or sun behind clouds or there is a rare day of high humidity then it can feel cold. Nights are cool, cold if windy. Intense cold snaps along the Front Range can see -10 at night, but these don't last long, may last weeks up in the ski areas aka High Country. Because the air is generally dry all year, use of skin lotions is required by many people, I use it too. Found a great peach-scented shea butter to use on the face, else use any decent skin lotion for arms/hands, as needed.

2. Social Scene. COL SPGS is not known for its night life, there is little of that here, tons in Denver. As far as the mid-life single scene, I've no experience at all, there is bound to be some. Suggest check Yahoo or AOL personals to see what shows up in the way of available men age 45-55, that might give some indication of what's available.

s/Mike

[Pru22]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Here’s how we decided to move to Colorado Springs from the Wash, DC metro area.....snip....

HI Mike,
Thanks for all your observations about America. We live in Calgary Alberta right now, wages are fantastic but traffic, crime and expense is all out of control here. One more year here for the excellent education for my son and we are back to Colorado Springs, where I am fourth generation from the North End, Alamo Ave, to be exact! I agree with you bout most of the States, have not seen North EAST though. ?

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Pru22

HI Mike,
Thanks for all your observations about America. We live in Calgary Alberta right now, wages are fantastic but traffic, crime and expense is all out of control here. One more year here for the excellent education for my son and we are back to Colorado Springs, where I am fourth generation from the North End, Alamo Ave, to be exact! I agree with you bout most of the States, have not seen North EAST though. ?

I guess at one time Alamo Avenue was in North Springs.

Here's a shot of Alamo Avenue (just a block or two north of Colorado College) around 1956. Note there is no I-25.

[Pru22]

Hi Mike and Charles,
You must have a great interest in history, sociology etc? And yes, Alamo AVE. was (is still)? considered the North End, or maybe the old North End? Or perhaps I learned it when I was a child and my Grandparents, who lived there, called it that. It was the kind of neighborhood I want to live in again, no cookie cutter houses there.