Why the "split" between "old" and "new" Coloradans . . . (Denver: 2009, live)

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by CosmicWizard

jazzlover wrote:

That just depends on what part of the state you happen to be in. In the metro areas, where most of the residents are from somewhere else, the attitude is different than in many of the non-resort communities in the rural part of the state. In some of those, unless you are a third generation resident, you are--and always will be--considered an "outsider"--and treated accordingly when it comes to things like employment, etc. This is not unique to Colorado, by any means. If anything, it is stronger in some of the surrounding states--Wyoming and New Mexico being two with which I have a lot of familiarity. In some communities in those states, unless you are related or married to someone in the community, you might just have a rough time living there or getting a job there.

This is absolutely true for EVERY state and province that I've lived in having a large metro area and smaller rural centers. Generally speaking, the metro centers tend toward the liberal end of the spectrum and open mindedness, while the rural centers tend to be more conservative and suspicious of anything outside the box. One thing that is markedly different is that rural Colorado seems to be much more open to outsiders than the rural areas of Pennsylvania where I grew up ( 50 mi NW of Philadelphia ). During 3 years in PA in the late '80s, my wife who grew up in Arizona, frequently commented that the locals ( my relatives included ) related to her like she was from Mars. Neither of us have encountered that kind of attitude anywhere in Colorado travels and day to day expereince. Back in the mid 70's my girlfriend from Saskatchewan was with me in PA, and this girl commented that she felt like she was back in the dark ages from a social perspective. On our travels thru other eastern states she felt much the same, though PA was the worst. On our westward journey, Texas was the first state we travelled thru where she felt she was treated like a human being.

Many people in Pennsylvania have families going back for generations, on both sides, that live close by, in some cases next door or down the street. This makes for a certain degree of insularity. There are people there who have no interest in making any new friends, as they have their families, and their friends since first grade. My brother still hangs out with some elemenatry school friends, and he is close to 60. However, in the Pittsburgh area anyway, there is not such overt hostility to outsiders as I have seen in CO. No one runs for public office on the "qualification" that they are an nth generation Pennsylvanian. Outsiders aren't vilified like they sometimes are here.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Outsiders aren't vilified like they sometimes are here.

Not to start a flame war, but one reason is that something on the order of a million outsiders haven't moved into Pennsylvania in the last 15 years or so, as is the case in Colorado. Too much of anything isn't usually a good thing, and Colorado has suffered from too much growth for several decades now. I don't mind a friend or two showing up on my doorstep once in awhile, but if the whole town shows up in my yard at once--no matter how nice and sweet they may individually be--I'm not going to be happy about it.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Not to start a flame war, but one reason is that something on the order of a million outsiders haven't moved into Pennsylvania in the last 15 years or so, as is the case in Colorado. Too much of anything isn't usually a good thing, and Colorado has suffered from too much growth for several decades now. I don't mind a friend or two showing up on my doorstep once in awhile, but if the whole town shows up in my yard at once--no matter how nice and sweet they may individually be--I'm not going to be happy about it.

No, but that did happen between 1950 and 1960. That was my youth, and I do not recall a lot of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, in fact, growth was seen as positive. Right now, they'd be happy for some "explosive" growth, considering the western part of the state has suffered a severe recession from about 1980 to the present.

[Brill]

In my travels around the state I haven't experienced any hostilities from the locals. The only hostilities I've seen were from people on this forum who seem like they would "purify" Colorado given the opportunity.

[Sockeye]

Sorry...I just had to laugh.

[CosmicWizard]

Katiana wrote:

Many people in Pennsylvania have families going back for generations, on both sides, that live close by, in some cases next door or down the street.

You are describing the town I grew up in to a T! I left there on my 18th birthday. It's a nice place to visit, but I'm glad I don't live there.

[agatecab]

The sad thing is the whole world is changing! The creeks I fished at 18 are now private property, the habitat changes from encroachment year to year.I now live in Las Vegas to have a pension and be able to retire. When I wander into the great basin near Ely the FOR SALE signs are everyware. Vegas is stealing the water from around Wheeler peak and WE! do it for progress. Everyone should try a little high mountian solitude you will find a little peace. Do it before WE! kill it. looking for a place in colorado beauty beyond compare.

[zenkonami]

And if *everyone* looks for that place...?

[agatecab]

WE are all in the same big big world. Call some place paridise kiss it goodbye

[gross]

Change is inevitable, and sometimes good. My mother was raised in Powderhorn (or as she used to say it 'on the Powderhorn'), during the depression. She, her mother, and her sisters were so destitute that she had to move to California when she was 17 (about 1943) to work in the Richmond shipyards so she could support her family.

My Great-grandmother and her father and family emigrated to CO from Cornwall (as tin-miners?) in the 19th century. I suppose they were 'new', too, because they weren't native-born.

My mother thought the 'good old days' were just too hard and never pined for them. It's all about perspective. And just in case no one's noticed; Colorado does belong to the UNITED States of America.