A follow up 3 years later... (Security-Widefield: live, county, rain)

[Vision67]

As for the weed, I don't see it, don't want it, so I don't care but I do not have teenagers..

But as for the altitude, if you have respiration problems, e.g. COPD, I understand. Get down to a lower altitude.

No place is perfect.

[otowi]

Thanks for the update! About the rain every day in summer - it is hard to say we have that, because it doesn't happen every year. It is pretty unlikely to happen this year as we appear to be heading back toward drought conditions. You happened to be here in a few of the wetter years we've had in awhile.

As for the hail storms -when I was a kid here and when my parents were kids here, we can't remember anything like the severity we've seen in hail storms in the past 10 years. Maybe it is an artifact of global warming. But I am with you, it is one thing I really don't like about living here - but I also think almost anywhere you go there is some kind of severe weather threat - tornadoes, hurricanes, hail, flooding, fire - or even earthquakes, etc. I don't care for the MJ either but not having a teen it is easy to ignore. My brother has three kids in their early 20s, though, and unfortunately two of them seem pretty hooked on it and I do think it has negative impacts on their lives - they are less productive, less ambitious, etc. - basically not meeting their potential and while I can't say for certain there is some evidence that the MJ is a major factor there.

I hope you find a place to put down roots soon.

[TCHP]

Thank you very much for the follow up. I'm sure it will help some future posters.

I thought for sure we had talked about hail, wind, and variable weather in your original post, but looking through it, it appears we did not. Typically those topics are touched on, but after so many years, my memory of them may run together through the many different posts requesting info. But you may be correct, as a local, there are some things I've just taken as a course of life here that may not register on my conscious thought process.

Unfortunately, a by product of weed legalization is that CO leads the nature in underage use. I don't know if it is any more prolific in schools than when I was a kid (it was everywhere and easily obtained and used by a fair percentage of kids), but unlike then, open use by some parents mean many more exposure opportunities.

Best of luck in Idaho. My wife has family there that we visit on occasion. It is similar in many ways to southern CO but with lower elevations, more water, and more farming.

[sammy87]

Ive been in the Denver metro for 8 years now and it was great pre kids....we are going to move if my company will allow for it. I have a pretty good gig and it would be hard to walk away from.

From the OP i agree with most points. Also its mid May and everything is mostly brown still. Im also 38 and this past year the dryness has started to really bother me. eyes and skin....Our kids have bad issues with it and when we go back east it clears up right away. We installed a humidifier in the home and it marginally works. I can't say it was worth it quite yet.

The weed is an issue with teenagers. We know the principal at our HS and its a problem. Even with parents its a problem. Several in our neighborhood, the dads are checked out of their kids lives. That can happen anywhere but more visible here.

[hollyt00]

I think this was a really good "good, bad, and ugly" thread, it was fair and informative! Sometimes those things you said (hailstorms, etc) are things that you don't realize that it's something to mention.

Sammy the dry air is bothering me more and more as well.

[Gorges]

Nice update, OP! I agree with you on the following.
- Spring and summer storms. This is one of my least favorite things about living in the area. The storms here are almost always accompanied by hail, sometimes very large. My area was hit by a huge hail storm just before we moved here in 2014 and we had to have our roof replaced and house painted last September from storms a few months earlier. My favorite time to be here is from August through March. I love the fall and I love winter. The weather dislikes come mainly from the thunderstorms. My dream would be to have a second house elsewhere for spring and summer, and live here the rest of the time.

- Altitude. I had a relatively easy adjustment and we've spent a lot of time hiking around Crested Butte with no problems. But after 4 years, I started to feel it more and would have a harder time doing the steps at Red Rocks for concerts. I don't think that will get any better. Also, we have one relative from SoCal who is very sensitive to the elevation. When he visits he is sequestered for the first 36 hours with a bad headache, longer if there is a low front approaching. And he is just 30. It's a bummer that we can't take him to higher-elevation places.

- Wind. Agree. There have been very few times that we have been able to sit on our back deck and have a relaxing meal. The wind seems to pick up right at dinner time and it isn't just a breeze. I don't mind it the rest of the time. Also, Idaho isn't without wind.

The weed doesn't touch me, so no opinion about it.

Good luck with your next destination! We enjoyed the two days we spent in Boise.. Hope you'll be happy there.

[orngkat]

They always say to rent for a year in a new place before settling in for the long haul. It has taken us three years to come to the conclusion that Springs is not the place for us. Lots of positives for sure but just not comfortable here anymore. We haven't had any altitude issues but the dryness is ridiculous. It is nearly impossible to keep plants and grass alive without constant watering. The persistent brown-ness and the crazy wind/hail can be oppressive. Primarily though, this is not a well-run city in our opinion. Development has happened in fits and starts with no real overall plan and it shows in how roads are laid out and maintained (or not). Citizens rebel against any sort of progressive change or further taxation for improvements. Enforcement of existing laws is very lax. It's been interesting...no regrets but time for the next adventure. Most likely a much smaller town/city in another state TBD.

[sammy87]

Originally Posted by Gorges

Nice update, OP! I agree with you on the following.
- Spring and summer storms. This is one of my least favorite things about living in the area. The storms here are almost always accompanied by hail, sometimes very large. My area was hit by a huge hail storm just before we moved here in 2014 and we had to have our roof replaced and house painted last September from storms a few months earlier. My favorite time to be here is from August through March. I love the fall and I love winter. The weather dislikes come mainly from the thunderstorms. My dream would be to have a second house elsewhere for spring and summer, and live here the rest of the time.

- Altitude. I had a relatively easy adjustment and we've spent a lot of time hiking around Crested Butte with no problems. But after 4 years, I started to feel it more and would have a harder time doing the steps at Red Rocks for concerts. I don't think that will get any better. Also, we have one relative from SoCal who is very sensitive to the elevation. When he visits he is sequestered for the first 36 hours with a bad headache, longer if there is a low front approaching. And he is just 30. It's a bummer that we can't take him to higher-elevation places.

- Wind. Agree. There have been very few times that we have been able to sit on our back deck and have a relaxing meal. The wind seems to pick up right at dinner time and it isn't just a breeze. I don't mind it the rest of the time. Also, Idaho isn't without wind.

The weed doesn't touch me, so no opinion about it.

Good luck with your next destination! We enjoyed the two days we spent in Boise.. Hope you'll be happy there.

My Sister in Law visits a lot and she has been taken out by the altitude. I'm just under 6k. My parents struggle more now that they are a bit older. I always thought it would be cool to MTN bike around Breckenridge....yeah that didn't work out well. Im in good shape but 9k and above im gasping if im doing any more than a hike.

The wind and the brown are my biggest gripes at this point.

With little kids its harder and harder to get to the MTNS so if we can move with my job we will.

[orngkat]

When we visit family in Mountain Village in Telluride (9000+) we have to take it really easy the first few days and check oxygen levels.

[Gorges]

Speaking of hail, guess what it's doing now! Arghhh! At least the flowers haven't be planted yet.