First few days in COS (Colorado Springs, Castle Rock: renting, brokers, houses)

[redsoxgurl]

I see a lot of people are planning on moving from wherever to cos and they have so many questions... so I thought I would give my first impressions of the city. Now, these are first impressions... not saying I am always going to feel like this lol I am from outside boston and then lived the last 3 years in MI.

First thing I noticed.... the absolute beauty of the mountains and the weather (I LOVE IT). I love how it changes quickly. Wear layers. As for the mtns, you turn a corner.. there they are. You go up or down a hill and there they are. The mtns are gorgeous!

Second, I took a trip around town and I do see how easy it is to go from one neighborhood to another (good to bad to good) very easily. You turn a corner and tons of pawn brokers, lol. Doesn't bother me. Hearing gunshots were somewhat a norm for where I lived until 5 years ago. For the most part, the town looks very safe in my opinion. You'll have bad neighbors no matter what town you go to.

Third, people do drive like maniacs here. Seriously. They speed up to pass really quickly (with no real room to pass) then slow down, then speed up again because in that 1/4 mile, they can get WAY ahead of everyone else There does seem like a lot of traffic but I think that is because I am not used to the area. In MI there was very little traffic. I got spoiled.

Fourth, the streets are really messed up. I took a left at a statue yesterday. In the middle of a street. Weird. There seems to be a lot of wide streets that can obviously fit two cars in one direction but no painted lines so I assume only one car in the lane? (downtown area I noticed this)

And lastly.... get a good car for the winter. I can see why ab awd or 4wd is absolutely needed. The hills will be trecherous in the winter I think. I have heard that the snow melts quickly but still.

[mugglecrazy]

Thanks resoxgurl that is good to read. We will be moving to

[mugglecrazy]

Sorry about that I'm computer challenged... as I was saying... We will be moving to COS @ the end of Sept. I am so excited! Thanks again redsoxgurl

[cs2go]

Is you feel comfortable letting us know, what area or sub-division did you and your family decide on? We are in the process of looking everywhere from Castle Rock on down to CS. Also, if you have kids, would you let us know what your impretion is of the school system when is starts?
Thanks.

[Keylime]

Great post, thanks DBF and I are planning to relocate to Colorado Springs or very near there as soon as I graduate college (approx 2 more years). We just can't wait

[ryanek9freak]

Originally Posted by redsoxgurl

I see a lot of people are planning on moving from wherever to cos and they have so many questions... so I thought I would give my first impressions of the city. Now, these are first impressions... not saying I am always going to feel like this lol I am from outside boston and then lived the last 3 years in MI.

First thing I noticed.... the absolute beauty of the mountains and the weather (I LOVE IT). I love how it changes quickly. Wear layers. As for the mtns, you turn a corner.. there they are. You go up or down a hill and there they are. The mtns are gorgeous!

Second, I took a trip around town and I do see how easy it is to go from one neighborhood to another (good to bad to good) very easily. You turn a corner and tons of pawn brokers, lol. Doesn't bother me. Hearing gunshots were somewhat a norm for where I lived until 5 years ago. For the most part, the town looks very safe in my opinion. You'll have bad neighbors no matter what town you go to.

Third, people do drive like maniacs here. Seriously. They speed up to pass really quickly (with no real room to pass) then slow down, then speed up again because in that 1/4 mile, they can get WAY ahead of everyone else There does seem like a lot of traffic but I think that is because I am not used to the area. In MI there was very little traffic. I got spoiled.

Fourth, the streets are really messed up. I took a left at a statue yesterday. In the middle of a street. Weird. There seems to be a lot of wide streets that can obviously fit two cars in one direction but no painted lines so I assume only one car in the lane? (downtown area I noticed this)

And lastly.... get a good car for the winter. I can see why ab awd or 4wd is absolutely needed. The hills will be trecherous in the winter I think. I have heard that the snow melts quickly but still.

Fianlly, someone who has some senses when it comes to your vehicle choice

[redsoxgurl]

Originally Posted by cs2go

Is you feel comfortable letting us know, what area or sub-division did you and your family decide on? We are in the process of looking everywhere from Castle Rock on down to CS. Also, if you have kids, would you let us know what your impretion is of the school system when is starts?
Thanks.

I just dropped my daughter off at college at ASU so I no longer have to worry about the school system (secret WOOHOO there!!)

I am staying in a furnished apt because I didn't know if I would like it here or not. I am in the west side I think, near old colorado city. Off of W colorado ave (within a few miles anyhow) It's a beautiful area with gorgeous houses. Since I am renting, I don't know if I can be of much help there....

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by redsoxgurl

Hearing gunshots were somewhat a norm for where I lived until 5 years ago.

Dang, sounds like you're originally from Lynn, MA.

[COflower]

Originally Posted by redsoxgurl

And lastly.... get a good car for the winter. I can see why ab awd or 4wd is absolutely needed. The hills will be trecherous in the winter I think. I have heard that the snow melts quickly but still.

Naw...a front wheel drive car is very sufficient for this area. I have owned Hondas, a VW Jetta, two Chevy trucks with four wheel drive, a Suburban (also 4x4) and back to a Honda.

Front wheel drive is fine as long as you keep good tires on it.

Heck I had a friend that had a huge 70s Pontiac "boat" with rear wheel drive and she got around pretty good - but then again, she drives like a granny in even nice weather. But a front wheel drive car is fine. You take your route carefully is all and hope the bone-heads in the four wheel drive vehicles don't think they are Superman or Superwoman and t-bone you for their stupidity.

[lizmyer]

Originally Posted by COflower

Naw...a front wheel drive car is very sufficient for this area. I have owned Hondas, a VW Jetta, two Chevy trucks with four wheel drive, a Suburban (also 4x4) and back to a Honda.

Front wheel drive is fine as long as you keep good tires on it.

Heck I had a friend that had a huge 70s Pontiac "boat" with rear wheel drive and she got around pretty good - but then again, she drives like a granny in even nice weather. But a front wheel drive car is fine. You take your route carefully is all and hope the bone-heads in the four wheel drive vehicles don't think they are Superman or Superwoman and t-bone you for their stupidity.

For true! I have a Chevy Impala, and a Pontiac Grand Prix before that, and got along fine in the big ice storms and blizzards of the midwest. Just keep your car in good shape, don't drive like an idiot, don't try going off-road, and watch out for the other idiots, and you should be fine. However, people with the Geo Metros beware! People put their giant 4x4s in the strangest places, like on top of your tuna-can car.

Manitou might be a real bear though, those streets are STEEP! I would want to drive my boyfriends' 4x4 for that, with a couple bags of sand in the back and one bag to put on the ice! At least the same snow that falls in October isn't the same snow that melts in April like in Iowa. It's a deep freeze until spring decides to come back! I think I'm going to like it here.....