free-for-all opinion-fest (Denver, Grand Junction, Golden: budget, income, rental)

[j1n]

Ok, so let me say this upfront. I'm no noob here. I've researched, read, commented, read some more, and I know how to use the "search" function.

Background...
I'm a long-time northeasterner (NJ/NYC area...born and bred). I have spent large chunks of time in and/or lived in NJ, AR, FL, and upstate NY. I have spent smaller chunks of time in HI, WY, CO, UT, MT.
I currently live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern VA. My wife is a long-time med receptionist/records person. I have done everything from customer service, inside sales, to jockeying a forklift/warehouse work, to working on a horse farm. Neither of us have college degrees. We have 2 kids, 10 and 4.

All of that said...
I have a serious case of mountain fever. I love the snow. I know how to drive in it. I don't care about how green or lush the foliage is. I love camping and being outside. I like being above treeline. I love red rock landscapes. I enjoy high altitudes and the bluest skies I've ever seen. I'm not looking for a big "career". I'm no corporate climber, and I don't need to be a millionaire. I want to work doing something that I don't hate. I'm not too picky...good people and a good company are more important than a prestigious job title. I want to walk outside and see the mountains and be blown away every time. I want to live somewhere where the cost of living is low enough to allow life to be enjoyable. I want my kids to grow up with a love of hiking and camping and skiing and snowboarding. I want to live near other folks who feel a lot like I do. I have a sister in Golden, another in NM, and a best friend looking at a relo back to the SLC area.

Anyone have any suggestions? Opinions? Opinions on where/what might be right for me? Thanks!

[Charles]

Originally Posted by j1n

I've researched....

I want to work doing something that I don't hate...

I want to live somewhere where the cost of living is low enough...

What is your budget for rent or house price?
Have you seen any acceptable jobs?
Where are places you have considered?

[MtnSurfer]

It sounds CO or UT would be great places for you. But from your comments you say you have spent time in CO already. So maybe you already know the answer to the question that you seek.

What is it that you don't like about the Blue Ridge Mountains? Are there other things you are looking for besides what you have mentioned. Simple mtn. living can be had in almost any state with mtns. The cost of living varies of course with 'where' in the mtns. you want to live and are able to find work. This cost of living varies a lot in CO. But obviously expensive mtn. resort towns such as Aspen are not what you are describing.

The closer you are to the Front Range the more jobs there are in general. Places like Golden are nice because they are close to major economic centers and also far enough away (for some) to feel like you are not living in the city. But last time I checked Golden was a bit pricey compared to the rest of the state. Maybe higher up into the mtns. would be better in places like Bailey for example.

[j1n]

Originally Posted by Charles

What is your budget for rent or house price?
Have you seen any acceptable jobs?
Where are places you have considered?

our budget for rent would probably correspond to income/wage. In an initial rental situation, we would be ok with the kids doubling up to share a room if necessary. We would almost certainly rent until we got a feel for exactly where we wanted to buy.
I'm not picky. I'd take a forklift/warehouse job or a temp job initially. I think that they are usually readily available.
I've spotted some stuff for my wife as well...good pay in med reception type jobs.
Places I've considered or would consider are...pretty much any "suburb" of Denver, CO Springs, Ft Collins, Grand Junction, etc. I would seriously consider somewhere like Ouray or Silverton if I could find work and reasonable digs that would support a move to someplace like that.
I have a sister in Golden. She's lived there forever. So I would likely ask her to do some networking for me...through in-laws, friends, church.

[vegaspilgrim]

If you truly love red rocks, and want to live in a city with a distinct upper southwest feel, I would suggest Albuquerque. It's the closest city to the four corners area, the red rock capital of the world. The Sangria de Cristo mountains in northern NM and southern CO and the San Juan mountains in SW Colorado, two of the most impressive mountain ranges of the Rockies, are just as close if not even closer to ABQ than they are to DEN. Cost of living is lower in Albuquerque, too.

[j1n]

hey MtnSurfer...
you may be right. I think that I do already know the answers to some of my own questions. I guess I'm looking for more suggestions, reinforcements, etc.
Mountains to me, in my childhood, were the Adirondacks of NY state. They remain almost as remote and wild today as they were then.
More recently, I have fallen in love with the mountains of the American West...Rockies...and/including the La Sals, San Juans, Winds, Absarokas, Beartooths, etc (WY, MT, UT, etc). They practically take my breath away.
The Blue Ridge Mountains are no longer wild or necessarily breathtaking. What I see is this...that a lot of folks seem to live here despite the mountains rather than because of them. The mountains around here, while inherently beautiful, seem sadly to be viewed as high spots to slap cell towers on top of...or to carve these "reverse mohawks" into in order to run power lines over.
And although I see a lot of "southern hospitality", I also see a lot of the "good old boy" mentality, backward attitudes, etc. There's just something about the South that doesn't quite work for me.

and vegaspilgrim...i had never considered Alb. I have a sister who lives there also, and I will look into it. Thanks.

[MtnSurfer]

The San Juans are probably my favorite Mtn. range in Colorado. As a nature photographer by hobby and passion I just can't seem to get enought of them. They are truly breathtaking.

One last suggestion you may not have considered or even explored yet is the PNW. Both WA and OR have some amazingly beautiful Mtns. and you are close to the coast and nice cities such as Seattle, Portland and Vancouver CA. Some of the top nature photographers in the world live there because of its awe inspiring beauty. Here are just a few to give you an idea - Zack Schnepf, Marc Adamus, Bryan Swan

[brightdoglover]

No work in Ouray or Silverton. Really. Maybe your wife could work in Montrose, but Ouray/Ridgway are no place to arrive without a set job. I think Silverton is even tougher- more remote, smaller, and even more likely to be owned by outside money.
Ridgway/Ouray is my favorite place in the world. I am reserving it for semi-retirement. I know I'd like to spend summers there, but it doesn't seem like a place for year-round for me, or for anyone who needs a job.

[j1n]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

The San Juans are probably my favorite Mtn. range in Colorado. As a nature photographer by hobby and passion I just can't seem to get enought of them. They are truly breathtaking.

One last suggestion you may not have considered or even explored yet is the PNW. Both WA and OR have some amazingly beautiful Mtns. and you are close to the coast and nice cities such as Seattle, Portland and Vancouver CA. Some of the top nature photographers in the world live there because of its awe inspiring beauty. Here are just a few to give you an idea - Zack Schnepf, Marc Adamus, Bryan Swan

I agree. The San Juans and that area....absolutely the most beautiful place I have ever been. I'm a nature photographer (hobby) as well, and yeah...I could probably just shoot pictures out there and never leave.

(Well, maybe head a couple hours over to Southern UT for some red rock pictures.)
I also have famil and friends in the Portland OR area, so I actually have considered there as well. Not too sure about all the rain though!

[j1n]

Originally Posted by brightdoglover

No work in Ouray or Silverton. Really. Maybe your wife could work in Montrose, but Ouray/Ridgway are no place to arrive without a set job. I think Silverton is even tougher- more remote, smaller, and even more likely to be owned by outside money.
Ridgway/Ouray is my favorite place in the world. I am reserving it for semi-retirement. I know I'd like to spend summers there, but it doesn't seem like a place for year-round for me, or for anyone who needs a job.

I agree. I would never just show up in Ouray looking to survive. I think I could wrangle some work there (or Silverton) ahead of time, but both of those places are probably out. Ouray is a great place, though. If I could swing it, I'd probably head for Telluride. I fell deeply in love with that town.