Thanks from Texas! (Colorado Springs, Woodmoor, Palmer Lake: home, transfer, good schools)

[just_jenn]

By way of livejournal I found my way to this community a couple of weeks ago and you all have offered a plethora of information! My thanks to Mike especially, but also to everyone who chimes in.

Moving is a monster of a drag, so to have helpful eyes watching and offering tid-bits is a blessing, no doubt. We're military (AF, Peterson bound come November '08) and this will be our first move in 7 years (from Texas, which I love dearly so no hatin') and it is overwhelming to say the least. Of course, after spending a couple hours on here tonight reading through it all I think it kind of backfired and now my brain feels like goo:

. ....shoot, I have lots of tattoos! I'll be an outcast!
....my slug bug (VW BEETLE) will never make it through winter!
....I'm not conservative enough!
....We're way too poor!
....my kids really are gifted, but what schools will be good for them?
....I read there's not enough to do. But we're coming from the middle of the West Texas bible belt....surely there's more than here (where cow tippin' and tattooin' rules the roost!)?
...what areas do wechoose to live in? Gardyloo! There are so many pros and cons to every area and everything's so relative to the individual so how will we really know? We can't come visit first. We've got to base it off the net and WOM and hope it works out
. ..and
.. ..and..
....Ahhhh, but thank god, there's a Sonic! We were truly worried we'd be saying goodbye to our Route 44 Cherry Vanilla Diet Dr. Peppers. And our hearts were bruised.

Yes, about a trillion and one thoughts are swarming about, but still, so much is offered here and I just wanted to send a general thanks to all...of...(oh..you have to see this one comin'....) Y'ALL!

Peace,
Jenn ~34-ish, mother of 2 (3 if you count the mister), rockin' the stay at home mom gig since 1998.

[ryanek9freak]

Good god you really are from Texas.

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by just_jenn

Ahhhh, but thank god, there's a Sonic! We were truly worried we'd be saying goodbye to our Route 44 Cherry Vanilla Diet Dr. Peppers.

Yeah, but there's no Whataburgers here...what the wide wide world of sports is a goin' on here? Perhaps I should open a franchise, but I am afraid I would eat my own profits. When I go back to Texas to see family, I must have at least one Whataburger! From one expatriot Texan to another...welcome to the Springs!

[lalahartma]

Hahaha, if you aren't conservative enough, well, come on over!!!

I see plenty of tattoos round town. Good luck on your move!

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

Good god you really are from Texas.

Nah - not really, you know a real Texan when they got there big a$$ truck coming out this way with white plates on it.

-But really, to the OP, you should be fine. Fitting in will be easy since you are in the military lifestyle, don't worry too much about the civilians and what having to worry what they think. Anyone can own a VW Bug w/ crap load of tat's on their arm's/legs ect..ect.

Just be yourself and enjoy what Colorado has to offer.

[Mike78613]

Originally Posted by Fullback32

Yeah, but there's no Whataburgers here...what the wide wide world of sports is a goin' on here? Perhaps I should open a franchise, but I am afraid I would eat my own profits. When I go back to Texas to see family, I must have at least one Whataburger! From one expatriot Texan to another...welcome to the Springs!

In Springs though, you do have conways redtop .. a good substitution of whataburger


Home - Conway's Red Top

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by Mike78613

In Springs though, you do have conways redtop .. a good substitution of whataburger


Home - Conway's Red Top

That's true; those are pretty good burgers and their chocolate malts are top rate!

[Mike from back east]

Jenn, don't worry, you'll be just fine here.

Good schools are in D20, D38, D12, with D11 being large and having decent to very good schools.

Tons of USAF types up here in the D20 area, generally north of Woodmen. Areas to consider are Briargate, Cordera, Wolf Ranch.

D38 is further north, but the commutable may be a factor. That area is Monument, Palmer Lake, Woodmoor, Kings Park.

Check the index of threads for threads on Briargate, Zip 80920, Schools, etc, lots of info here.

[COflower]

I know plenty of people with tattoos.

Eh, VWs tool around fine around here.

I'm poor, there are a lot of dollar stores around here.

The conservative nature of this place is over rated but definitely started as military conservative so you'll do just fine if you think of the hubby's or other C.O.s you've been around.

I don't have kids but whoever helps you in your transfer should help you, read the boards about the better schools. A charter school might be a good deal for you.

There's plenty to do if you look for it. Colorado Springs Independent : Colorado Springs is a great resource - which can be found in or around various stores (for free).

Your budget will help people determine where you may want to live. Also, what kind of commute...

This is such a transient town because of military and DOD contractors, if you're from the moon we don't care.

[TexaCo Mom]

Originally Posted by Fullback32

Yeah, but there's no Whataburgers here...what the wide wide world of sports is a goin' on here? Perhaps I should open a franchise, but I am afraid I would eat my own profits. When I go back to Texas to see family, I must have at least one Whataburger! From one expatriot Texan to another...welcome to the Springs!

Good grief! You sound just like my husband