Now we're here in CO, and my family is homesick for.. (Denver: relocate, house)

[SortaMobile]

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Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

Dude, i've been to Iowa. I can't beleive you'd prefer that barren moonscape to Colorado."

That depends. Where in Iowa were you, and what time of year? I will say there's a large portion of north central Iowa that's quite flat, full of hog confinements and best visited at night, at high speed, and with clothespin on nose. The rest of the state is generally more rolling and pleasing to the eye, if not the nose.

"Your girls don't know how lucky they are to be here.

"

True indeed. I've delivered your message to them.

[Bob from down south]

Originally Posted by ryanek9freak

Dude, i've been to Iowa. I can't beleive you'd prefer that barren moonscape to Colorado.

Your girls don't know how lucky they are to be here.

Just make sure you don't let 'em date Ryan!!!!

Is Colorado Springs getting more liberal? Is it really as conservative as everyone says it is?

[wolfpack99]

I can relate to the OP's situation, and I'm sorry to hear that it's not working out as planned.

My husband and I got relocated to Denver from North Carolina three years ago. He is a big time skiier and absolutely loved being so close to great skiing. I thought it was beautiful there, but I didn't love it like he did. We tried our hardest to make friends, but it never became "home" for us. We never made good friends like we had back home. That was really hard for me because I was used to southern hospitality. We're back home now. I'm thrilled, but he's sad to have left Colorado.

That said, if we ever move back, I would not move near Denver again. I worked for the government in both Aurora and the Springs, and I preferred the Springs by a large margin. The people were nicer in my opinion and the area was much prettier to me. I also liked Fort Collins and Gunnison a lot.

My manager lived in Bennett, which is a flatter area east of Aurora. You might see if your family would like that area, as it's nice farmland, but not too far from the amenities of the Denver metro area.

I'm really sorry to hear that you're family is in a tough spot. I hope it all works out!

[SortaMobile]

Thanks for your advice. Towns within about 20 miles east of the I-25/E470 corridor between Castle Rock and DIA are in the area I've targeted. However I wouldn't also rule out affordable and safe areas in closer in burbs, as we've always lived in urban/ suburban areas prior to coming to Canon City.

This could be tough, since our definition of affordable is $100-$150k. I'd like to be able to pay the house off within 10 years or so. Good quality schools are also important. I realize this could make for a tough calculus.
Any suggestions, or is what I'm looking for a "null set?"

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by SortaMobile

Thanks for your advice. Towns within about 20 miles east of the I-25/E470 corridor between Castle Rock and DIA are in the area I've targeted. However I wouldn't also rule out affordable and safe areas in closer in burbs, as we've always lived in urban/ suburban areas prior to coming to Canon City.

This could be tough, since our definition of affordable is $100-$150k. I'd like to be able to pay the house off within 10 years or so. Good quality schools are also important. I realize this could make for a tough calculus.
Any suggestions, or is what I'm looking for a "null set?"

That's pretty cheap for close-in Denver metro areas if you want a nice neighborhood. But the way outer suburb prices are falling, you might be able to catch a deal on something in Castle Rock before long.

[luckysam]

One of my co-workers is from Iowa. She just loves Iowa and gets to go back a few times a years to visit family. They live on the north side of Thornton and are really happy there. I would possibly look into the Thornton, Westminster, Broomfield, Erie, area. There is a new Super Target, Wal-Mart Super Center, Lowes and more just off of I-25 and 136th and 144th. Those stores are actually in Westminster but they're surrounded by Thornton and Broomfield and minutes from Erie. The Orchard shopping center just opened at 144th and I-25 as well. It has a great new movie theater. It's an outdoor mall with tons of new shops - JCpenney and Macy's are two of the bigger ones. The area is growing like crazy. It's also only 15-20 min. from Flatiron Crossing in Broomfield. There is so much to do in that area too! You're family would never be bored.

I live about 20 min. north of Denver in Frederick which is a small town. My co-worker was here for her daughter's gymanstics meet a few weeks ago and said it reminded her of Iowa. It's a very small town. I'm in one of the numerous subdivisions that popped up on the outskirts of teh downtown area. I think I'd rather be a little closer to shopping as well but this area is nice because we're 20 min. from North Denver, 20 min. from Longmont and 20 min. from Loveland. There's just not a lot 5 min. from our house. Housing is pretty inexpensive out here - especially with all the foreclosures. It might be a little too isolated for your family though. You have to hop on I-25 to get to any decent shopping. We do have King Soopers, Safeway, Walgreens, American Furniture, Ace Hardware and some auto parts stores. We were supposed to be getting a Home Depot and a big mall but when the economy tanked work on those projects came to a screeching halt.

I LOVE Ft. Collins as well and it's ranked the #2 best city to live in. There is tons of shopping and its a great community. The south end of town is getting a new super Target. It's also close to the new Centerra Mall in Loveland.

I can see why your family is unhappy. I have never been to Canon City but I've not heard many positive things about the area. I'm not one to talk since I've never been there though. I think the north part of the state is great and can see how you would feel isolated where you are. Good luck!

[SortaMobile]

I can't really knock Cañon City too much. I will say it's a little rough around the edges. I'll call it a live and let live, or laissez-faire, attitude toward individual property owners by the city and county governments. (More so in the built-up areas of the county) So that means you can have some nice properties in one block, and some really junky properties a few doors down or even across the street. Overall, I call "the Cañon City subconcious anti-gentrification policy!" Still, if that doesn't bother you, there are some fairly nice properrties to be found in the $125-175k range, and there is a new development up in the SW hills above Cañon with $250k and up homes with great views. If you're into hiking and kayaking, it's almost at your doorstep. Monarch ski area is about 90 min. west.

But as I mentioned earlier, wife and daughter would like more urbanized areas. Hope to take a look at some of the areas you've mentioned; good suggestions...

[Canon City Girl]

Hi, I just moved to Canon City last July, we love it compared to Minnesota. We know all of Minnesota and Iowa and I can not believe anyone would want to move out of Canon City. The weather is great, and it has a small town appeal, we came from a town bigger then Canon City with a mall and many things to do, but we are very happy here even if we have to drive to the Springs or Pueblo.
It gives us something different to do when we want to get away. The schools are great, I am getting A's with out any trouble, it has been harder meeting friends but I manage. I don't ever plan on moving away from the mountains, they are so beautiful, I also seen my first bear here today, it was so cool!
We also go for bike rides and walks around the Abby, we see deer about everyday, it is the best place to live as far as winters here compared to Minnesota and Iowa. If you do move, you will miss it here so much, I think you have more things here to do as any where, because we have the Springs, Pueblo and the Royal Gorge, along with so many drives you can take, just look around, this is Gods Country. Good luck with what ever you choose, for ourselves we are staying put.

[onthamove]

Originally Posted by SortaMobile

Iowa.

What's a person to do, short of giving in and moving back?

Some background is in order. We moved to Canon City a year ago. Unfortunately this was made possible only through my permanent disability from a spinal cord injury a couple of years back. Between my SocSec / long term disability payments and my wife's side income, we've been doing OK. Granted, being able to get around without a walker or wheelchair and be able to live and work in Iowa or anywhere elsee would be my preference.

But, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade, they say. Since I had become "sort of mobile" (hence the moniker), we were now blessed, or cursed, with being able to choose where we wanted to live. I say cursed because it's easy to give into wanderlust. We'd been thinking about leaving Iowa for a western state for nearly five years, but thought better of it. Didn't want to pay the "mountain tax" i.e low salaries or underemployment, plus we didn't think it was worth coming out to anywhere w/o jobs.

Now, when we have the choice of living where we want, it's easier to second guess if we'd made the right decision. If it were just me, I'd be happy staying in Canon. The climate is ABQ without the ABS of a big city. I don't mind the semi-rural nature of this place at all. Donkeys beat big city jackasses any day. But then ,i grew up in a farming community w/ cornfields to the east and west sides of the house (great sunrises & sunsets) And, I marvel at all of the old iron (especially trucks)fading, not rusting away.

My wife and daughter are used to living in city/suburbs and have found they like to be closer to decent shopping than the 40-45 min to Pueblo or Springs. They miss the lush, green summers found most years in Iowa. I've tried to remind them of the five months of gray, cold and/or snowy weather. They want four distinct seasons. Snow melts too fast here, they say.

I'll admit wishing we had chosen an area closer to Denver if we had it to do over again. Not quite so dry as Canon. But, now they say no deal. It's back to the old neighborhood in Iowa for them, and the sooner the better.

I'm afraid we'll get back to Iowa and say "what have we done?" I really feel we should stay put here one more year and check out other CO options. That's probably going to be the Front Range btwn Ft Collins and the Palmer Divide. Pueblo's just too hot for them, and CO Springs is just too close to the mountains for all of us, as in 4pm mountain shadow in the winter. All suggestions welcome for affordable areas within a 20 to 25 min drive of of decent shopping ( not just WalMart, but Target and maybe a mall) Also, I'd appreciate any talking points to help persuade the girls to stay in colorado. Granted, we've seen a good portion of the States and Iowa stacks up pretty well overall. I'd pick it over just about anywhere else but here.

dude i got homesick and came back to ky TRUST me leaving colorado is probably not a bad idea BUT dont go back to iowa!

[McGowdog]

Originally Posted by Canon City Girl

Hi, I just moved to Canon City last July, we love it compared to Minnesota. We know all of Minnesota and Iowa and I can not believe anyone would want to move out of Canon City. The weather is great, and it has a small town appeal, we came from a town bigger then Canon City with a mall and many things to do, but we are very happy here even if we have to drive to the Springs or Pueblo.
It gives us something different to do when we want to get away. The schools are great, I am getting A's with out any trouble, it has been harder meeting friends but I manage. I don't ever plan on moving away from the mountains, they are so beautiful, I also seen my first bear here today, it was so cool!
We also go for bike rides and walks around the Abby, we see deer about everyday, it is the best place to live as far as winters here compared to Minnesota and Iowa. If you do move, you will miss it here so much, I think you have more things here to do as any where, because we have the Springs, Pueblo and the Royal Gorge, along with so many drives you can take, just look around, this is Gods Country. Good luck with what ever you choose, for ourselves we are staying put.

YEAH!!!!!!!! SoCol Represent!!!!!!!!!!!! Now go find Nadine and get her back on here. So Monarch would be about 2 hours from us. SoCal, eat your heart out!