looking for the right (left) little town

[jazzlover]

to mhouse 2001,

Like you, I once had the vision of living in a small mountain town that would be a safe haven from the perilous times ahead. I actually lived in an area of Colorado that was pretty rural for many years. But then I figured out that those beautiful little mountain towns were at the very end of the distribution chain and had largely abandoned any kind of productive economy (ranching, farming, logging or mining) and concentrated on a recreational economy totally dependent on excess wealth and resources being available from the outside for survival.

Those beautiful areas have boomed and filled up with people from elsewhere because there HAS been excess wealth and resources to do so. The day of reckoning that I envision is when those resources are no longer available (probably starting with the end of plentiful and cheap oil). Then, the very things that make such places attractive today--isolation, lack of industry, distance from cities, etc.--will make them very UNDESIRABLE places to be. Mountain Colorado (and other Rocky Mountain states) have boomed because of cheap transportation--the end of cheap transportation will end the boom.

A friend who endured the Great Depression as a child in one of the most beautiful mountain areas of Colorado told me once, "Yeah, it was beautiful place, but you don't notice the beauty when you don't have enough to eat." It was that bad. They moved into the midwest, where his family could at least grow a garden and there were a few jobs to be had.

[mhouse2001]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

to mhouse 2001,

Like you, I once had the vision of living in a small mountain town that would be a safe haven from the perilous times ahead. I actually lived in an area of Colorado that was pretty rural for many years. But then I figured out that those beautiful little mountain towns were at the very end of the distribution chain and had largely abandoned any kind of productive economy (ranching, farming, logging or mining) and concentrated on a recreational economy totally dependent on excess wealth and resources being available from the outside for survival.

Those beautiful areas have boomed and filled up with people from elsewhere because there HAS been excess wealth and resources to do so. The day of reckoning that I envision is when those resources are no longer available (probably starting with the end of plentiful and cheap oil). Then, the very things that make such places attractive today--isolation, lack of industry, distance from cities, etc.--will make them very UNDESIRABLE places to be. Mountain Colorado (and other Rocky Mountain states) have boomed because of cheap transportation--the end of cheap transportation will end the boom.

A friend who endured the Great Depression as a child in one of the most beautiful mountain areas of Colorado told me once, "Yeah, it was beautiful place, but you don't notice the beauty when you don't have enough to eat." It was that bad. They moved into the midwest, where his family could at least grow a garden and there were a few jobs to be had.

I understand that too, which is why I'm concerned about the land I buy being at least somewhat agricultural. I have often thought about abandoning my love of mountainous seclusion and going back home to the Midwest to be surrounded by cornfields like I was in my youth. A small worm is gnawing its way around my brain now.

[I_LUVNM]

Wow! I am taken aback! How we all, liberal and conservative actually are on the same thinking path! I actually agree with all of your posts. I am a liberal but I agree with you all. I hate how our politicians and talking heads are always playing us against each other, rather than tackling the issues in America and actually doing something about it. I am tired of both sides at each others throats. I want to see a good education for our kids. Many can not even read anymore or even know where America is located on a map! That is terrible!

The mega giant gas companies are squeezing us dry while they profit in the billions every month and nobody on both sides are doing anything about it. I would vote for anybody, liberal, conservative, green, yellow, orange, whatever, if they would just do something about these greedy gas companies, and do something about crime taking over cities. All these gangs putting people in fear and taking the lives of young innocent kids, killing them when they arent even gang members, but were at the wrong place at the wrong time. And harsh time for drunk drivers who kill people. How do these drunks keep getting out time after time, some many, many times having had their licenses revoked, still getting arrested and released and yet still end up killing people? How about keeping them sober by hard time in a labor camp? Keep them too busy to kill people.

I am also mad that big business is bleeding dry our natural resources. I mean how are these coal plants, known for all the brown smog they belch out are still being built? Wolf Creek still being built for some 10,000 plus rich people - pristine beautiful land, some of the most beautiful land you will see anywhere, being plowed under for thousands and thousands of homes and that area is one of the snowiest places in the USA - I dont see it being a real community, just a millionaire playground.

I applaud Durango for taking changes. They just voted out all the city council who thought they were shew ins and replaced them with more green environmentalists. Not extremists, but they know that green space matters and is important to keep pristine land pristine and ridgelines natural. I hope others all around Colorado will do the same. Get rid of anyone who holds on to "sprawl is the way to grow rich". Lets say adios to greedy politicians -whoever they may be. "Greedy people, dont let the door hit you on the back of your head on your way out of Colorado" the slogan. Really refreshing to know we are all on the same page!