We're finally out here!! (Denver, Colorado Springs: for sale, Valentine's day, rental)

[Curious in CT]

Hi to everyone thinking about making the move...

We just moved out here about 1 month ago and so far I really like it. We're renting near the Gleneagle section of town. For all of you complaining about this winter out here (with the exception of the blizzards you had)...this is nothing compared to the Northeast. Back in CT you feel even more depressed in the winter. I was just talking to my family back east and it's been in the single digits for a good portion of the last three weeks. At least you could take a walk or play with your kids outside without freezing your *** off here in the springs. And the snow is beautiful and PURE. So much easier to drive in than in CT. Back there the snow is never just snow and the cold goes right through you. It's usually mixed with freezing rain or sleet. The sun here is awesome, the mountains.. to die for. I would miss my family much more if the weather and scenery sucked here. I really can't wait for the spring to come around to enjoy all the wonderful things this place has to offer.

The only thing I had a hard time getting used to were the BIG roads with ALL the lanes. If you don't know you're way around, it's pretty intimidating. I've gotten pretty brave though and started exploring. All of you from the west are probably used to this sort of thing.

If anyone is contemplating about moving out here I say go for it. I thought I would have a MUCH harder time adjusting having lived in CT all my 35 years. I have two young children, a dog and husband. And trust me, we left soooo many friends and just about all of our family. Not to mention, Colorado Springs is NOTHING like the towns in CT that I'm used to in terms of size and all the people and developments and stores....and I could go on and on.

The weather IMO is great, the people are nice and there is something here for everyone "JUST DO IT". I'm glad we did it.

[sdb158]

I am glad to hear things are going well. I am from Erie, PA and know exactly what you are talking about when it comes to the harsh winters back east. They don't get much worse than what Erie dishes out. They are zero fun! Are your children in school? If so, are they adjusting well?

My family and I are planning on moving to either north of Colorado Springs or the Parker, CO area next spring. I'm sure we will find it as enjoyable as you are.

[CityGirl52]

I'm SO glad to hear a New Englanders perspective on living in CO. I am seriously thinking of moving there myself one of these days. I live in NH and right this minute, it's sunny with gusty winds like you wouldn't believe. It's 9 degrees right now and it feels like -10 below. It's going up to 18 degrees during the rest of the day. The winds are brutal and have been since last night. They could gust to 40 MPH according to the news this morning.

You're not missing a darn thing in NE, you made the right move, trust me! As far as your family is concerned, they can always visit you and you can always visit them, hey and cell phones & computers are awesome, what would we do without them!

Our Valentine's Day Nor'Easter last week left us with close to a foot of snow in parts of NE and where I live in NH, it's rock solid ice out there right now. I can only imagine how nice the snow is in Colorado compared to ours here! Some day for sure I'll be there....

You absolutely made the right choice with your family, the weather alone and those gorgeous mountains and lakes sound incredible. Try to keep all of us posted on this site if you get the chance with your new lifestyle change? It helps with getting your New England perspective on it all in that neck of the woods! So glad you wrote about the highways and byways, I was wondering about that myself! It just must take a while to get your bearings and figure out what's what and all that.

Good luck!

[newlysgl]

Thanks for posting - I'm sitting here freezing my a** off in CT right now, contemplating moving out there.. your post is really helpful. thanks

[Curious in CT]

Thanks for appreciating my take on this place. It's beautiful out here. SDB158, my oldest daughter is 5 and attends kindergarden out here. She adjusted so well, I couldn't believe it. She is actually a shy kid and I expected her to crumble when I put her in her new school. She's in a district 20 school and the curriculum is great. My youngest daughter is 2 and I hope to get her into a preschool program at age 3. Everything here is much bigger than back east, including the sky! If you guys have any other questions, or want my opinion or comparisons, just ask away!

[Mike from back east]

..glad to see you finally made it...glad you agree with the assessment of COS that I posted almost a year ago now in:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/color...o-springs.html

So, WELCOME! and in the very nicest of ways... didn't I told ya so!

We too lived in a rental off Struthers Rd (Woodrock Path) until our new home was built. Nice, but even better areas await exploration... tis the season for Open Houses!

About the roads, when I first came here, stayed in a motel on Briargate Pkwy (exit 151), walked out of the door, saw 6 lanes of road, with only 5 cars at 9AM rush hour time... blew me away, I knew right then and there that I was in the promised land. We'd kill for such streets back in the DC area... mobility here is so MUCH better than back east or the overloaded west coast. I haven't been blowing smoke at anyone, it's true, and I'm glad you spoke up.

It's already 51 degrees with strong sunshine. I'll be out taking my health walk shortly, wearing the lightest of gear.

Now, all the rest of you fence-sitters... pull the trigger on a good idea and get out here. There are thousands of great homes for sale in El Paso County and good deals are being struck. Our schools are great too. My neighbor is a realtor (I'm NOT one), she has a brand new home in the superbly located Cordera area on which she's dropped the price $20k below market to get some lookers in to see it. Such deals are to be had all over town.

Any questions, fire away.

Warmest regards!

s/Mike from back east...and I ain't goin back....

PS: Change your profile...you're no longer in Bristol, CT

[Curious in CT]

Mike, Thanks for reminding me where I live now!!!

Newlysgl, Where are you in CT? Stop freezing your *** off and get out here! HA HA. No need for a jacket today or yesterday for that matter....so nice out. Does that help you?

[500mike]

Curious in CT.

I have been reading on this site for a while now and of course i'm glad you're happy to be in COS.
But.
Is seems people are out to turn places like cos into a huge metro area -telling the whole www. to come to cos.
Will you and many others onboard here enjoy cos when it's stifled w/thousands of people and traffic and w/that comes high taxs etc..?

I guess i just have a different mentality about colorado -i'm not a people person to me people are trouble -too much traffic -long lines-natural beauty in nature is out the window when there are droves of people.

I lived in a small coastal town -biloxi,ms. for 21yrs. and the local business people where always trying to bring in any and everything.
Well finally casinos were voted in and many old families from there were displaced due to incoming people and demand.
After several years i had to relocate due to too many people and i'm a homebuilder.
I just don't see the benifit for the people moving to cos to want the whole world to come to cos.
This isn't meant to burst your bubble i am just 'curious in florida' planning to move westward but if the rest of the world is going to be there i'll have to find a new spot.
Best of luck -Mike

[newlysgl]

Newlysgl, Where are you in CT? Stop freezing your *** off and get out here! HA HA. No need for a jacket today or yesterday for that matter....so nice out. Does that help you?

I'm in Ridgefield, which is beautiful, and to be fair we have had a pretty mild winter - December was mostly warm.. but the last two weeks have been pretty brutal. Last week it was a case of only going outside if absolutely necessary, the wind has been awful and there's a lovely coating of some kind of slippery re-frozen stuff on the ground - I fell down twice just trying to get from my house to my car yesterday (all that snowboarding comes in handy, I am really good at falling!). Last night my car thermometer said 19 degrees, but then there was a wicked wind on top of that.

Today it was actually above freezing and quite pleasant - amazing. I ride horses and I've been having to wear so many layers that I can barely get up on the horse lol

so.. yeah 51 degrees sounds pretty good to me right now!!

[Nadine]

Originally Posted by Curious in CT

Hi to everyone thinking about making the move...

We just moved out here about 1 month ago and so far I really like it. We're renting near the Gleneagle section of town. For all of you complaining about this winter out here (with the exception of the blizzards you had)...this is nothing compared to the Northeast. Back in CT you feel even more depressed in the winter. I was just talking to my family back east and it's been in the single digits for a good portion of the last three weeks. At least you could take a walk or play with your kids outside without freezing your *** off here in the springs. And the snow is beautiful and PURE. So much easier to drive in than in CT. Back there the snow is never just snow and the cold goes right through you. It's usually mixed with freezing rain or sleet. The sun here is awesome, the mountains.. to die for. I would miss my family much more if the weather and scenery sucked here. I really can't wait for the spring to come around to enjoy all the wonderful things this place has to offer.

The only thing I had a hard time getting used to were the BIG roads with ALL the lanes. If you don't know you're way around, it's pretty intimidating. I've gotten pretty brave though and started exploring. All of you from the west are probably used to this sort of thing.

If anyone is contemplating about moving out here I say go for it. I thought I would have a MUCH harder time adjusting having lived in CT all my 35 years. I have two young children, a dog and husband. And trust me, we left soooo many friends and just about all of our family. Not to mention, Colorado Springs is NOTHING like the towns in CT that I'm used to in terms of size and all the people and developments and stores....and I could go on and on.

The weather IMO is great, the people are nice and there is something here for everyone "JUST DO IT". I'm glad we did it.

So happy you are happy but no I am don't like to drive the streets in CS but Denver is worse and I25 too. Not used to it either. My daughter is CS now and has learned but in her heart she is still a little town /country girl too. I am learning from Internet friends that being dry is not a bad thing. Also learning that they are learning too. They thought mountains they thought terrible winters. But this winter has been a bugger. I love 4 season here but I am ready for the next one. I am about 40 miles N on Highway 115, Canon City and the Royal Gorge. Check our little burg out sometime.