San Luis Valley (Alamosa, Williamsburg, Saguache: Mennonites, living, moving to)

[DOUBLE H]

Sockeye is right! Anywhere in the SLV, from Del Norte to Ft. Garland , or from Saguache to Antonito, you are talking a 35 to 45 degree drop in temperature at night. Living down there are only for the very hardy. But it is beautiful country, there is fishing and hunting, and there is friendly people. Crueladev brings up a good point regarding wealth. It has been a couple years since I have been to Antonito, 8 miles up from the New Mexico border, but when I was there last the streets in town are still gravel. That's right-gravel. It apparently doesn't bother them. I've stayed there a few times, ridden on the narrow guage to Chama (beautiful ride). Great mexican food restaurant downtown (name escapes me).

[jazzlover]

The San Luis Valley has always been a very hard place to make a living, except for the relatively few affluent farmers who have usually farmed for generations. Even for them, it is a life of extremely hard work and unending substantial financial risk.

Some of the nicest people I have ever met have come from the San Luis Valley. In many ways, it epitomizes what Colorado used to be, and may become again if the economic debacle I am predicting comes to fruition (which appears more likely every day). There is probably only about 1 out of 1,000 Coloradans (or people from anywhere else) who are tough enough to endure the many challenges of living it that area--that's why it hasn't grown much. I consider that a positive thing. People in the SLV are survivors, and they will likely be around long after many "latter-day" Coloradans have packed off somewhere else with their tails between their legs.

By the way, DoubleH, the restaurant in Antonito you're probably thinking of is the Dutch Mill.

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Cool! This thread is pretty helpful. I'm gettin' up in my years--I'll be 29 next month--but I'm headed back to school full-time regardless, and I'm leaving Tennessee to do it.

The Adventures Program at Adams State College sold me to that school as I am an Exercise Science and Sports Admin major. I'm not really that outdoorsy, but it's something I really never gave myself a chance to undertake due to work restraints and inability to finish school. Hopefully, that will change once I get up to Alamosa.

I hear there are excellent hiking trails even for beginners and mountain and ice climbing. I think things like that will help me achieve peak physical fitness and with my studies, I'm hoping I won't become too distracted by the laziness of sitting on the couch watching television or sitting behind a computer which I seem to have developed a habit of doing.

I don't know how I'll handle the change--the altitude, climate, prices, etc. I just know 1,330 miles is a long way, but come August 21st I'll be roaming ASC's campus trying to locate all my classes! I'm really excited.

What I don't have set up is a job. I'm interested in working at the Rex Activity Center on ASC's campus, but I hear on-campus jobs are hard to obtain. I'd like to try to get a weekend job working as much as possible in an active environment. I can do a desk job, but I'd much rather be active on the job.

Even though I've sold my house here in Tennessee, I'll still have the debt of a vehicle, motorcycle, cell bill, credit card bill, and vehicle insurance so I will have to work at least 40 hours I think.

I've read so much about Alamosa with it's proximity to many attractions like the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the Fourteeners, San Luis Shrine of the Stations of the Cross. Heck, I hear you got Denver about 4 hours north and Albaquerque, New Mexico 2 hours south. You also got Four Corners out that way.

What I've read here about Alamosa is reassuring. It really sounds alot like home here in Manchester, Tennessee except we're on the edge of a plateau and Alamosa is in or around the Rocky Mountains and lots of sand. Really lookin' forward to the move!

[jazzlover]

Alamosa is not "in" the mountains. It sits in the middle of the largest alpine valley in the Western Hemisphere. Plenty of beautiful mountain country all around it, but Alamosa itself is pretty much flat. As alluded to earlier, Alamosa has a cold, very arid climate.

Good luck, ScottyDoesKnow. Your biggest challenge will likely be the job thing--jobs are scarce in the Valley, especially in the winter.

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Alamosa is not "in" the mountains. It sits in the middle of the largest alpine valley in the Western Hemisphere. Plenty of beautiful mountain country all around it, but Alamosa itself is pretty much flat. As alluded to earlier, Alamosa has a cold, very arid climate.

Good luck, ScottyDoesKnow. Your biggest challenge will likely be the job thing--jobs are scarce in the Valley, especially in the winter.

Cool, man. Alamosa actually sounds like a polar opposite to my home now when it comes to climate. I'm used to hot and humid. Yikes.

I've never really had a hard time finding a job when I really needed one. Are there employment agencies I can contact in Alamosa? I've got a flawless employement history. Spent 8 years working in factories. Spent my first year and a half at Middle Tennessee State working in the school cafeteria. Worked 3 months as an intern at Disney World while at MTSU.

I've never been fired from a job and had high recommendations from all of my previous employers including the one I'm still working with. I'm very loyal to my employer and hard working. I hardly ever miss work, and I'm hardly ever late. I would think anybody would find that kind of work ethic valuable.

My supervisor found out a week ago that I was going to be leaving for Colorado in August. While completely understandable on the reason why knowing that finishing my degree at Adams State would be far better for me than continuing to work for the man doing something that I felt I had to do instead of something I want to do, he's been pretty nervous about how to replace me as I am the only person on my shift in the entire plant that can effectively operate the machines in my work area. It's hard to keep someone in that area. It's a one-man job.

I really think if I find a weekend job, that might be best for me. I need to find some employment agencies in Alamosa to contact though. I'd really feel better if I can get some dialogue going with some people up there.

[Gunluvver2]

Alamosa used to have a great Artesian well fed swimming pool. It flowed enough water to fill the pool completely in just over an hour. I am not sure if it still exists since I last visited it my Senior year of High School in 1964. I also remember some great fishing and hunting within a couple hours drive from Alamosa. The Great Sand Dunes is a must see attraction too.

I would try to find a job you could do from your own computer if possible. Like most rural communities in Colorado, jobs will be scarce.

Good Luck,
GL2

[zaphod07]

I have always liked the road from Poncha Spgs to Crestone over Poncha Pass, down past Villa Grove and on to Saguache. Then Colo 114 over to "North" pass and the back way to Gunnie is actually a lovely drive. I call this the northern edge of the SLV. I hope that is the correct terminology....I hate to P*#@ jazzlover off! My folks told me about colo 114 one winter when Monarch pass was closed but "North" pass was open. (I call it "North" pass...I know that's not the correct name, but that's what the locals call it...)

You can see the Dunes from Villa Grove and then on as you travel south.... Crestone is actually a very nice place, except for all the wacky religious groups parked there. As far as the mountains there...Hayden peak and the Sangre de Cristo's...they are as awesome of a range of mountains as anywhere I've seen in Colo...except for maybe the San Juans around Ouray-Silverton-T'ride.

I own a parcel west of Saguache that my father bought to use as a camp base for elk and antelope hunting. It appears dry as can be, but I have a spring that has never been dry. One of my sons jokes about moving to Saguache county to raise Alpaca's! (Is that whole Alpaca thing a pyramid scheme??)

I think some of the local ranchers in conjunction with the BLM and Forest Service folks will keep the what little water there is in the valley...at least for now. I agree with jazzlover that there is a looming crisis for water in Colo, but unfortunately it is going to be there for future generations to deal with, not us.

I am surprised that nobody in this thread has mentioned all the "Ufology" (yes, the study of UFO's and "paranormal" activity) that has been recorded in the SLV. I read one article about it and it says that the SLV is the Grand Central station of UFO sightings and other weird goings on.... Look up Cristopher O'Briens' book "Secrets of the Mysterious Valley" for the scoop. We have owned our land since the 70's and have never seen UFO 1 or any cattle mutilations.... We all got a good laugh out the magazine article..
I also agree with jazzlover about SLV folks being tough, as far as a way to make a living, anyway, and that FEW people is a good thing rather than a bad thing. Places like Durango, Montrose, GJ and Springs have really gotten urbanized. That's fine with me....let the fools stay in the city... Anyway, the SLV is a great place to get outside and enjoy Colorado...esp. if you want to avoid the crowds in the usual tourist traps (translated: anything along I-70)

[ScottyDoesKnow]

Hmmmm. I did an internship at Disney World some 9 years ago, so I do have some experience in the hospitality industry. I noticed that there are some lodges and resorts out that way that are looking for people to employ for different things. I may look into that when I get there.

[pinehollowgal]

I wonder if many of the people who are getting their homes repo'd in other parts of the country are looking to the inexpensive acreage in the San Luis Valley? That is scary as most are city dwellers and will have trouble adjusting to the "roughing" style of life it would take to make it there. I've been driving thru the SLV for 30 years every few years. Better listen to Jazzlover on the basics of rural Colorado!!! PinehollowGal

[soonerguy]

I'm thinking about moving to the San Luis Valley in the next couple of years. I've spent time there on different occasions and now I have relatives who live part of the year in South Fork. I realize its not "city life", that it is largely rural farmland, but I love the closeness to the little mountain towns, the beautiful scenery, wonderful weather. Although the towns are smallish--they seem to have everything one would need.

What is the culture like there? Does it get tedious? Is it one of those types of places that people sometimes want to escape?

I don't have a job lined up there and of course I wouldn't move without one, but I would be looking for work in the education sector--public schools or universities, or perhaps libraries. There is a chance that I may be able to work from home. My partner is thinking about "artistic" work--aimed at the tourists and people with summer homes in the mountains.

I'm thinking about either Monte Vista or Alamosa, leaning towards Alamosa because it is the largest.

It would be a long-term move. What can I expect?