Is Colorado Right for Me? (Denver, Aurora: houses, places to live, cost)

[rkb0305]

Originally Posted by AwayfromOC

rkbo305

My Obama shirt just arrived in the mail today. Tomorrow will be the first day I where in my mostly republican town of Ladera Ranch/Mission Viejo. We'll see how that goes. Did you see his speech tonight? He was great. Our country needs this change so bad. I only hope people can get past the one liners from McCain and vote for what we need. I absolutely respect McCain and the sacrifices he's made for our country (i.e. prisoner of war, a Vet), but his ideas are antiquated and proven not to work as the Bush Administration has shown. I was quite during the last two elections believing politics is a personal and private choice, but I just can't keep quite any more and let another four years of republican philosophy finish off our country. I'm going to wear my Obama shirt and let people know that I tired of being trickled on by their economic policies of giving to the rich to hope it flows down hill. I'm struggling to make ends meet and my two daughters are almost college age. One of the main reasons for our move is to lower costs so we can get our daughters through school. Also most all the colleges out here are impacted. I know a secondary education is a high priority in CO, so we will be looking into that as well when we are out in Sept. Thanks for all the info!

I agree. My kids are small, so we haven't looked into college in CO yet. Cost of living was a secondary reason for us moving here. Air quality was the first reason. We really budgeted carefully but the housing market crash, and gas prices, and rising prices of everything else hit, and we're still just making ends meet. Once the kids are in school and I go back to work we'll be good to go, though.

[GearJammerOne]

Originally Posted by AwayfromOC

I'd appreciate any advice and by the way I am a registered Democrat. Will I be run out of town?

Hahahaha! Here we go again! Another Californian that desperately wants out of that state, and they want to bring their liberal agendas with them! It's funny how they want to get away from something that they helped contribute to. I am not trying to pick on this poster, but historicaly what I've seen is that the Californians come here, bring their ideas, opinions and morals with them and want to change our state and make it a "California east". Well...this is not California East...this is Colorado! We have our own attitudes, ideas and opinions. It just proves my point because you seemed to think it important to let us know that you were a registered Democrat. Who cares??? We have a good mixture of Republican/Democrat/Independent voters in Colorado. Did you think that because we live in the mountains that we were a bunch of yokels? I suppose you could call me a yokel, but I also have tolerance for the other side.
Let me give you a word of advice. If you seriously are considering our state to reside in, you will be welcomed. BUT...don't come here trying to push on us your California ways! This ain't California! Other than that, we hope you enjoy it hhere if you decide to make Colorado your home.

[AwayfromOC]

rkb0305

It's so smart of you to stay home with your kids. Yes, they need you when they're young but I almost think they need you even more when they're older to help keep them on the right path. You won't regret it. I'm a graphic designer and a lot of my work of done at home through the years. Some of my clients are local but the big ones are national corporations. I'm hoping when we move that I'll be able to live off just doing my graphic design at home and not having to have a secondary job. My daughters are 15 and 17. I've almost always been able to be home for them at least in the afternoons. Trust me, it makes a big difference.

[AwayfromOC]

Hi GearJammerOne,

I live in Orange County California, probably the most conservative section of the state. My entire extended family is highly conservative and spend most holiday gatherings trying to convert me and tell me how I am wrong. It would be refreshing to live in a state where people respect each others political views. I haven't much experience that where I am from.

My extended family doesn't believe that man contributes to global warming. I'm planning on buying a GM-Volt when it comes out after they've worked out the bugs and my uncle thinks I must be a little retarded for doing so. (Yes, he called me retarded.) Just out of curiosity, what's your take on that subject? Does man contribute to global warming?

[CosmicWizard]

GearJammerOne...It seems to me like you mis-interpreted AwayfromOCs post.

She never stated any of the things you seem so fearful of. There was nothing in her post to suggest that she is bringing a liberal agenda along with her, nor did she call anyone a yokel. It's all in your head. Get out into our wonderful Colorado mountains and relax a bit. Enjoy the holiday weekend!

[AwayfromOC]

Vegaspilgrim,

Well, I don't know if Coloradans are nice or laid back. That's why I am asking. My husband and I just want out of CA and are looking at other states. Fortune/Money magazine puts out a "Best Places to Live" in the US each year based on the area's economic opportunity, affordable housing, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a sense of community. Several towns from Colorado made the list year after year: Fort Collins, Louisville, Parker, etc. That's why we're looking at CO. We are also looking at Portland and Seattle; however, I don't know if I could handle so many days without sunshine in those cities. I've heard over and over again that there are about 300 days of sunshine a year in CO and apparently that is more days of sun than what San Diego, CA receives. Is this true or is that tourist trap talk? Are there lots of sunny days in CO?

PS- I'm thinking that Coloradans are probably not all that laid back since they're really into the second amendment. We are licensed gun owners, so we're okay with that.

[CosmicWizard]

Some people in Colorado are laid back. Some people in Colorodo are uptight. We are as different as night and day. Any type of person you encounter in California, you are likely to encounter in Colorado.

I lived in the San Diego area ( Murrieta Hot Springs near Temecula ) in the mid 80's. Unless my memory is playing tricks on me, I'd say that San Diego is sunnier than the Grand Junction area of Colorado, but not by much. Summer temperatures are hotter here than I remember them being at Murrieta Hot Springs. In Murrieta, the summer mornings were cooler than they are in Grand Junction.

There is sufficient sunshine during the winter, that by opening the doors of the solarium, the heater doesn't run from about 10 AM to 5PM even on the coldest winter days.....as long as it is sunny, our home stays warm and toasty with FREE heat from the sun. Most days are very sunny! Also, no expensive energy consuming AC is required in the summer. We cool our home with a swamp cooler which requires only about 20% of the energy it takes to run an AC. Don't waste your money on AC. There may be 5 or 10 days humid days in the summer when you wish you had AC, but it's not worth the extra expense. I've been only very slightly uncomfortable. There were more humid days in southern California. I remember some downright nasty humid days in SC, almost as bad as the east coast, but nothing like that in Colorado.

[GearJammerOne]

Originally Posted by AwayfromOC

Hi GearJammerOne,

I live in Orange County California, probably the most conservative section of the state. My entire extended family is highly conservative and spend most holiday gatherings trying to convert me and tell me how I am wrong. It would be refreshing to live in a state where people respect each others political views. I haven't much experience that where I am from.

My extended family doesn't believe that man contributes to global warming. I'm planning on buying a GM-Volt when it comes out after they've worked out the bugs and my uncle thinks I must be a little retarded for doing so. (Yes, he called me retarded.) Just out of curiosity, what's your take on that subject? Does man contribute to global warming?

HI OC! Let me step back a moment and say that my post was in no way meant to offend you. Please understand that we Coloradoans have just seen a great California escape overwhelm us. Please forgive me if I offended you. To answer your question: Absolutely not! Man does not and cannot be held responsible for any"global warming" that Gore claims to be happening. It is very arrogant for those that believe that we can control the environment with that kind of impact. Don't get me wrong...I am a conservationist that knows we should care for our natural resources, but I am certainly not an extremist. To me there are 2 catagories in this area. A conservationist believes that we can use the resources that we have available responsibly. A Preservationist believes that we should not use any natural resources...period. I am weary of the environmenatl extremist that believe that America is the big bad polluter of the atmosphere and that we are the ones that need to realign ourselves with those thirds world countries and be subjected to the U.N. and the world community. Does anyone believe for one moment that the growing economies of China and India will consider what there industrial revolution is doing to the environment? No way! I digress...LOL.
As far as the Second Amendment that you mentioned. I congratulate you for not only holding those rights sacred, but for owning a gun...I call you a friend. I too..believe that it is another constitutional right that is being eroded away by those that have agendas to disarm America to further their cause. Again I mention the U.N. I also have to mention that many gun opponents hail from your state, and that is why I sometimes become sceptical of anyone moving here from California. I certainly do not mean to throw a blanket over all the people of California...it is just from prior knowledge of those that I met, seem to be the majority.
Again...if you decide to move to our great state...we welcome you but we also charge you with the task of keeping Colorado great!

[1AngryTaxPayer]

What I liked about CO

Tons of stuff to do out of doors.
Friendly people.
Awesome Mountains.
The Broncos

What I disliked about CO
Tons of Mesquites.
Extreme cold. Sometimes snow-ins that last days!
Extreme heat.
Tornados.
Hail.
Extreme wind.


I lived near Aurora and the McMansions and there is a very large share of Joneses, many of them from CA that transplanted so don't think you can outrun it. Just pick a hood that isn't all glitz!



What I like best about S Cal near the coast

No skeeters

[AwayfromOC]

NewAgeRedneck-

My parents just moved to Temecula. You'd be surprised how much it has grown... you wouldn't recognize it if the last time you were here was the 80's. Wow, you are almost in Utah, right? How's the humidity where you are at? And if you know, how is it in the Denver area? To me, that's what makes the difference when dealing with high temperatures. I think you or maybe someone else mentioned earlier that it is pretty dry there. So I would imagine when it gets hot going to a shady spot would help to cool off. It's not that way here. Stand in the shade if you want but you're still going to sweat and sweat. The idea of cold doesn't bother me as much as too much heat. I think my parents are a little crazy for moving to Temecula. It's way too hot for me there. I have a fairly high metabolism and don't do well in the heat.