The 5 things you should do if you want to live in rural Colorado: (Denver: appointed, real estate market)

[jazzlover]

Want to move to rural Colorado? Here are the top 5 things you should you should be willing to accept if you want to live in rural Colorado:

5. Don’t try to make rural Colorado like the place you just left. A lot of rural Coloradans (both old and new) like rural Colorado just the way it is. They don’t want paved roads, curb-and-gutter, local tax-supported “amenities,” trendy upscale resorts, fancy golf courses, strip malls, or umpteem big-box stores. They especially don’t want another 5,000 trophy houses cluttering up the landscape.

4. Learn to like brown. People who visit Colorado in the height of summer or for the winter ski season tend to think that the state is either green or white. The truth is that most of the Colorado landscape is brown most of the time. The longest growing season in the state is maybe six months. Most places, even at lower elevations, it’s less. In the mountain areas it can be WAY less, often less than 3-4 months. In winter, only the higher elevation areas have continuous snow cover. Most of the time, the winter ground is bare (and brown) in most of Colorado. The “brown season” usually lasts from 6-8 months in most of the state. Much of what is green in summer is from agricultural irrigation. Front Range cities have been diverting more and more of that water for decades. Every year more agricultural land and wetlands are dried up into a permanent brown condition. With the ongoing drought and pine beetle infestation, many of Colorado’s evergreen forests are also becoming less “ever” and less “green” every year. There are a lot of dead brown trees up there now. If Colorado were all green or white, it would have been named “Verde” or “Blanco,” not for the Spanish term for “reddish.”

3. Learn to understand Colorado water rights. Colorado’s history includes homicides committed over water rights disputes. In rural Colorado, water rights are deadly serious business. There are more water lawyers in Colorado than any other state for a reason. The old ranchers’ saying that, “You can mess with my wife, but don’t mess with my water” is not a just a trite joke. As population growth continues to stretch Colorado’s water resources to their very limits—and beyond, expect the acrimony over water to become more heated, shrill, and—probably in some circumstances—violent.

2. Don’t expect to be greeted with open arms by many of the rural Colorado natives. You, and thousands of other people like you, are moving to rural Colorado. You are causing the real estate market to inflate and you are demanding more and more governmental services. That will translate into higher taxes for the current residents. Many of those like you have contributed to the demise of the industries that historically supported much the local population—ranching, farming, logging, mining. You are also helping to make it economically impossible for many of the native residents’ children to stay in the community in which they grew up. And, unless those natives are prostituting themselves by selling you their land, or by working in the real estate or construction industries to pander to your needs, you are doing little to benefit them economically. Your increasing presence is reducing the amount of open space and agricultural land that they have enjoyed—often for generations. Your presence means more traffic congestion, less solitude, inflating living costs, and—often—increased social problems. Most of the natives didn’t ask you to show up and a lot of them, at least privately, wish you hadn’t.

1. Don’t expect to make a good living in the local economy. Unless you happen to be in one of the limited professions in high demand in rural Colorado (say, a doctor, or a roughneck in the energy industry), or you, too, are willing to prostitute yourself in the real estate or construction trades—effectively helping to destroy the very lifestyle that you probably moved to rural Colorado to embrace, you are relatively unlikely to find many decent-paying jobs. You will also find that, excepting some services, most day-to-day living expenses in rural Colorado—utilities, fuel, food, etc.—will cost as much or more than the area you left. Because of Colorado’s relative isolation from many manufacturing and distribution sources, the costs of those goods are likely to rise faster than other better-located areas—especially if fuel costs continue to spiral. Real estate may seem cheaper than some areas of the country, but is far overpriced if you expect to pay for it out of locally-generated income. Unless you can pay cash for it, rural Colorado real estate is generally no bargain.

Accept all of this, and you just might enjoy living in rural Colorado. Otherwise, you just may be disappointed. Oh, and don’t expect it to be much different anywhere else in the rural Rocky Mountain West.

[littleamen]

I grew up in what you are referring to as rural Colorado. Definitely not going back since (as you noted above) there is nothing to go back to. But, I'm curious what brought on that little rant?

[wannabemt]

Well, after driving straight through, 1700+ miles we are finally here in Denver. I must say I would have loved to have seen this area about 50-100 years ago. I have never seen so many people wanting to move to such a beautiful state but only to live on top of each other. I can't believe all the housing developments and the stores that surrond the foot hills of Rockies! Don't get me wrong, yes it's still beautiful, but from someone who's from NE PA, it's a BIG surprise. We have spent two days so far trying to find that "small" community where houses are not 10ft away from eachother and not ever mile you find a shopping center. Unfortunately we can not afford a 250K home. We are really concerned if this is the right place for us.

You can't blame people for trying to find a better quality of life. This very thing is happening in our own back yard! People come and build..raising the cost of living, housing and taxes and the only alternative is to move on. It's just the way things are. We do need to be more conservative and learn that we can't make something that it's not. If God didn't make it green and lush, don't try and make it into something it's not! Except the land for what it is. Don't destroy it's natural beauty. Also, stop taking down the old buildings and homes, repair and upgrade. Once these buildings are gone you can't replace history.

I'am not sure what God's plan is right now for our family but I can say that it has been a real pleasure to see the natural beauty of Colorado. It's a trip I hope to make again, next time with my children in tow.

Many blessings,
Jamie

[CosmicWizard]

jazzlover

original post : jazzlover

You are also helping to make it economically impossible for many of the native residents’ children to stay in the community in which they grew up.

I really don't understand how growing up in a certain area ( anywhere ) entitles a person to be exempt from the financial realities that everyone else in the USA is subject to. This kind of thinking reeks of ENTITLEMENT.

And, unless those natives are prostituting themselves by selling you their land, or by working in the real estate or construction industries to pander to your needs, you are doing little to benefit them economically.

Where in the constitution is it written that a person is obligated to provide economic benefit to the community in which they choose to live? I think it's a responsible, courteous thing to do, but it is a totally unrealistic expectation that can only bring about a great amount of frustration for the person having such an expectation.

Your increasing presence is reducing the amount of open space and agricultural land that they have enjoyed—often for generations.

Where in the constitution is it written that certain families are entitled to live the same priveleged lifestyle generation after generation? Perhaps if more of this privately owned open space that is not agricultural was made accessible to the public it would lessen the desire to live in the open spaces. This is another aspect of Entitlement mentality.

Your presence means more traffic congestion, less solitude, inflating living costs, and—often—increased social problems. Most of the natives didn’t ask you to show up and a lot of them, at least privately, wish you hadn’t.

I'm wondering if the current natives, were asked by the original natives to show up. The presence of the current natives required the original natives to make a more drastic change in their lifestyles....far more serious than traffic congestion & inflated living costs.

With just about everything else you wrote I am in agreement. Good post!

regards...Franco

[jazzlover]

francowell,

I don't consider it "entititlement." Unfortunately, a whole lifestyle is being squandered at the altar of brazen consumption and leisure non-productive living these days. The rural Colorado I grew up in actually produced tangible products of real value to people--food, fiber, minerals, energy. Mostly what rural Colorado produces today is a good time, for those people who can afford it. To do that, the resources of the state are being exploited in ways that are no less destructive than the "rape" of the land that many of those latter-day recreationists ascribe to mining, logging, etc.

The other nasty thing about today's rural Colorado development is that it is enabled by a whole suite of direct and indirect public tax subsidies, everything from 1031 exchanges, mortgage interest deductibility, the socialization of road and infrastructure costs, preferential property tax treatment of subdividers, artificially low residential property tax rates--just to name a few. Then there is that huge subsidy of the people of the United States owning and protecting (sometimes, anyway) Colorado's public lands--only to have some developer cuddle his private development right up against it.

I've come to figure out that Coloradans don't like leftist socialism (and neither do I), but the developers and their real estate lackeys do like the kind of "nationalist socialism" now prevalent in this country where certain favored private industries and businesses get preferential treatment in taxation or public policy. Another group many years ago liked that--they were the Nationalist Socialists in Germany in the 1930's (the Nazis) and their leader was Adolf Hitler.

True defenders of free-enterprise and small business like Teddy Roosevelt (who was also a ardent conservationist, Bless his Heart!) must be rolling over in their graves as they watch this country today.

[CosmicWizard]

jazzlover

As long as the corporate special interests have the US government on their payroll, WE the PEOPLE will continue to get squeezed. About 10 years ago I became a programmer partly because it was a good paying job back then and there was a huge demand for programmers. Programming positions are much harder to find now, and the paychecks have gotten smaller because many corporations have their programming needs filled by overseas workers who will do the job for a fraction of an American workers salary. From a corporate perspective it's a no brainer. Gotta keep the sharholders happy! How would the the government ban corporations from doing this, & would this be a good idea if it was attempted?

American workers of all stripes, blue-colllar & white-collar alike are getting squeezed like this. There's a very real pressure and a need to make our hard earned dollars go further. Moving to a more affordable area is one of the most available ways to do it. Having recently moved from Virginia to Colorado I can honestly say that I moved with no intention to endanger anyone's lifestyle, yet being aware that my move could possibly do so. My awareness didn't hold me back in any way. As a citizen of the UNITED States, not a SPECIFIC state, I and others like me have a right to live anywhere I/WE can afford to live whether born there or not. If our presence in a new location changes the economic dynamics, we'll all need to adjust, newcomers and oldtimers alike. Those who cling to the good old days and resist the change ( for better or worse ) will grow increasingly frustrated and probably become bitter. Those who accept the change and make the adjustment will be alot happier than those who don't.

I assure you that my lifestyle is very conservative in the Teddy Roosevelt sense of conservatism ( not necessarily policically ). If you witnessed my day to day lifestyle, you'd likely agree that I leave a very small footprint on the environment, that I do less than most to endanger the loss of agricultural land. I do whatever I can to encourage others to live more conservatively, but I don't force it on anyone and I've never had a desire to keep people from out of state moving to my hometown in any state I've ever lived. Honestly I enjoy seeing new people come in. I like making new friends with oldtimers and newcomers alike.

regards...Franco

[littleamen]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

francowell,

I don't consider it "entititlement." Unfortunately, a whole lifestyle is being squandered at the altar of brazen consumption and leisure non-productive living these days. The rural Colorado I grew up in actually produced tangible products of real value to people--food, fiber, minerals, energy. Mostly what rural Colorado produces today is a good time, for those people who can afford it. To do that, the resources of the state are being exploited in ways that are no less destructive than the "rape" of the land that many of those latter-day recreationists ascribe to mining, logging, etc.

So true. I was really sad to return home a few months ago to find that what used to be beautiful grassland had been turned into a motorpark (not sure if that's what you call it, but for dirt bikes, etc to drive around on).....what an eyesore! Judging by the trailers/trucks etc parked there, you definitely have to have some $$ to participate.

[CosmicWizard]

Greetings....

I imagine that many who most adamantly resist the influx of newcomers and the changes that follow in their wake, are people who have a dream in their heart. A dream that would take them to some place else in the world, to see new vistas, to meet new people, to live in a whole new way. Naturally this is pretty scary stuff, so fear sets in and it grows and grows. Soon, the only way to maintain sanity is to pretend the dream doesn't exist...deny it completely. But denial never kills the dream. It gradually generates frustration instead. Acting out frustration is usually alot easier than acting out a dream. A readily convenient way to vent the frustration is to take it out on the newcomers who subtly remind you of the dream you pretend not to have.

I make the statement above based on my own experience and I trust that it contains a grain of truth. When my wife & I recently quit our jobs, sold the house we lived in for 15 years, and took to the road...final destination unknown...in search of a new hometown and a new lifestyle, many of our friends said they would love to do what we're doing, but they'd never do it because they would be too afraid. My usual response was to say, You have no idea what real fear feels like. We are actually making this move and FEAR is our constant companion. I can almost guarantee you that whatever you are calling fear, it falls way short of the fear we feel every day. Somehow we found the courage to do it in spite of the fear that could have easily paralyzed us. If we can do it...so can you!

If you the reader are one of the people who resents the newcomers maybe this is true for you, maybe it's not. Take a look in your heart and find out for sure. I've been wrong before and hopefully I'll live long enough to be wrong many times in the future.

regards...Franco

[wannabemt]

Every dream has it's price. My fear and frustration is that we can not afford it. That's the hardest part of this..Corporate America and those who make the big bucks make the "little guys" dreams fail.

[CosmicWizard]

wannabemt

I respectfully disagree that those who make the big bucks make the "little guys" dreams fail. I'm more inclined to think that those who make the big bucks make the "little guys" dreams more challenging and difficult to achieve, but they certainly don't make them fail.

regards...Franco