considering a move to Colorado Springs from Seattle (Denver: taxes, living)

[techieness]

self-employed and single, looking to move my business and I to Colorado Springs. I'm originally from New Mexico and have family on the Western slope, so I'm familiar with a lot of Colorado. Haven't been to CS in years, but the size is perfect to transplant a creative business. I also want to be closer to my family. Looks like an awesome place for outdoors and other activites. I'm curious about the culture... music scene, events, hangouts, etc... I've been in Seattle for 5 years now and am ready for a change. Cost of living is high, winters are dark, traffic is more than crazy, and friends are hard to make. Looking for more sunshine too. I'll be taking a trip there soon to check it out, but wanted to get some input as far as basic likes and dislikes of the city. Any tips?

[froggin4colorado]

Please check the "link to key topics" at the very top of the forum. Your questions will be answered there.

For some reason, it is a bit more difficult to meet people here, no main local hangout so to speak. People get out to shop, yes, but to just hang somewhere, nope.

Our weather is awesome, we get to enjoy the great outdoors year round, for the most part.

[Bulldawg82]

The reason that there isn't a "hang-out" might be because everyone is outside enjoying the great outdoors!!!! Little tongue n cheek, but probably a certain degree of truth to it. I know I will find me an authentic Irish Pub with good Irish bands playing and make that my watering hole hangout! I'm easily pleased

[bashep]

What kinda business are you bringing this way? That may help us in telling you areas to key in on.

[Topaz]

We moved from Seattle to Colorado Springs in search of a slower pace of life and more sun. After a few months, we realized we had made a mistake. Seattle to Colorado Springs was too big a cultural shift for us...we found we were constantly driving to Denver and preferred Denver to Colorado Springs. We moved again after only a year.

Colorado Springs really feels like a small town. If that's what you like, you might enjoy it there. Otherwise, you might want to explore larger cities with more sun.

[solarweasel]

funny, i moved to seattle FROM colorado springs (where i grew up) to escape the onslaught of excessive/uncontrolled development and obscene city planning.

as an outdoor enthusiast i will always have a place in my heart for the springs, and would one day like to move back to colorado because i miss the mountains/weather but i will not be returning to the front range. it's a reiteration of the endless sprawl that can be found in places like los angeles/phoenix -- just not as far along yet.

unless someone puts their foot down and starts practicing/enforcing smart city planning then you have orange county all over again.

[pshinspections]

Originally Posted by solarweasel

funny, i moved to seattle FROM colorado springs (where i grew up) to escape the onslaught of excessive/uncontrolled development and obscene city planning.

Did you know in King County that you are required to save a good chunk of your land as undeveloped, and can never do anything with that portion, yet pay taxes on all of it? Would that fall under obscene planning?