Why the "split" between "old" and "new" Coloradans . . . (ski resorts, home)

[ryanek9freak]

The Colorado accent is sort of a cross betweer west virginia, and california. LOL!!

[kalipsoh]

Born & raised Coloradan (35 years). I think it's more of a "remember when" nostalgia rather than a "remember when it was just 'us'" without the transplants. With Colorado being on the I-70 corridor, the nostalgic era (which I LOVED your list!) has always been a mixture of natives and newbies. I think the things we love about Colorado are from how life here has developed over the past century and was influenced by those who moved here from other states.

My nostalgia (for what it's worth at my age) - which has all changed because of progressive development, not just transplants. I know a lot of natives who bought homes in Highlands Ranch and contributed to the insane need for cookie cutter houses.

When I was 16 I worked at Hugh M Woods lumber yard on Arapahoe & Dayton. The kids from Parker used to come work there because that was the one of the closest businesses for them to even find a job - it was soooo rural there!

When the water park opened in Thornton - to us Denver kids we might as well though it was in Wyoming!

There was nothing east of Stapleton except Kansas.

Monument was a gas station town, not the next Castle Rock (now) which was (then) the place you stopped for gas when you drove between Denver and the Springs.

Daniels Park was a park and not a housing development.

Everyone blamed the traffic on those Californians and Texans who didn't know how to drive in the snow - oh wait, everyone still says that

[ColoradoHereWeCome]

I understand completely what you all are saying about Colorado being basically ruined by newcomers, but must you all really try to make us feel unwelcomed to your state? This is America, we are free to roam as we please, and we will. I just wish you all didn't have to be so hostile to people who want to love your state like you do. Some of us "outsiders" are nice people, too. We don't want to make Colorado about big WalMarts and Corporate America, we want to keep it beautiful and enjoy it with you. Some college students from Cali and Colorado moved to Albany this year and we took them in and gave them a place to live for a few months. We didn't push them away, we helped them out. New York isn't as beautiful as Colorado at all, but what choice did I have to grow up here? None. Most of us don't want to change your lifestyle or take anything away from you, we just want a nice place to make friends, enjoy life, go to school, and raise a family someday. That's all. Think about it.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Katiana

Oh, for Pete's sake! The whole state went nuts! I thought it was silly myself. That post could have been written by me. In fact, I think it was written by me and somehow got attributed to this treyjay, who was quoting me. Anyway, I don't know how you know the ones who went crazy were non-natives. Re: the accent thing, this has been discussed on many other threads. Everyone has an accent! Some people find the Colorado accent kind of drawly.

I've moved back and forth between CA and CO twice and notice no difference in accent. The only people with an accent I hear in Denver are obviously from somewhere east of here. I thought Colorad was included in the whole "western U.S." accent as people tend to sound the same all over the West.

Oh - the stupic Krispy Kreme craze was all over - it wasn't just a CO thing. I don't like donuts, so I didn't get it.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by ColoradoHereWeCome

I understand completely what you all are saying about Colorado being basically ruined by newcomers, but must you all really try to make us feel unwelcomed to your state? This is America, we are free to roam as we please, and we will. I just wish you all didn't have to be so hostile to people who want to love your state like you do. Some of us "outsiders" are nice people, too. We don't want to make Colorado about big WalMarts and Corporate America, we want to keep it beautiful and enjoy it with you. Some college students from Cali and Colorado moved to Albany this year and we took them in and gave them a place to live for a few months. We didn't push them away, we helped them out. New York isn't as beautiful as Colorado at all, but what choice did I have to grow up here? None. Most of us don't want to change your lifestyle or take anything away from you, we just want a nice place to make friends, enjoy life, go to school, and raise a family someday. That's all. Think about it.

I was born and raised in Kansas City and left right after high school. I always wanted to live somewhere else and still don't care for it or the MidWest. My attitude is, you can't choose where you were born, but you sure can choose where you die! (no, this isn't a suicide note) I picked Denver for various reasons and enjoy it here. I don't feel like an outsider since almost none of my neighbors and friends are native Coloradans. Plus Denver was originally in the Kansas Territory, so I feel a little native.

[ColoradoHereWeCome]

Hahaha! Thanks actually great advice! It's just a little intimidating is all. Thanks for the response!

[rgb123]

Originally Posted by Rawlings

I'll agree with that! Hollywood liberalism is, at least, TRYING to come out even here. But I think there are too many values and decency-minded people in Colorado--and most of the country--to let that happen. I'm sure that in rural areas you probably do feel the negative aspects of modernization a little more. The suburbs are, well, the suburbs and they may change the least.

What I can tell you is that, compared to many other states, Colorado is still one of the more church-going, traditional, decent places you'll find. Studies show that despite the 'Californication' of the 90s, Colorado remains a great state.

I'll also add that many of the Californians who did come here, were actually conservative, Orange County families who followed James Dobson to the Springs. It's simply a lie that California corrupted our state.

I'm not ready to pull the panic lever yet. I can't speak for rural Colorado, but I can confidently say that most of the state remains a great place for families and Christians--one of the best around.

It's too expensive, too many illegal immigrants, and too many flakey people. But in spite of all of that--as traditional Christians, you and I can be proud of Colorado. Then again, that could simply be the notoriously sunny outlook of a 20-something.

I think a lot of people considering a move take this into account. I'm from Illinois and deciding where I want to make my next, more permanent move. I'm 31 and still single, but I want my next place to be a place I'd feel comfortable staying if I have kids. I'm leaning toward Colorado (even though I really like California too) because it seems a little more...well....Christian. At least, it just seems a little more like home to me with a little bit of a different backdrop, a major plus

So....I'd guess a lot of your newcomers take this into account and plan accordingly.

[rgb123]

and ps. Though it must be hard to believe with the influx of Chicagoans everywhere....I am also protective of my hometown in Illinois and have seen it change in my 30 years in ways I dont appreciate. Every place has changed (at least places near enough to cities). We all have that wistful.....remember when thing, if we were lucky enough to have a hometown.

I'll probably return to Illinois myself at some point, but its true that many of us are young and making our lives.....and can you really blame anyone for wanting to have that chance in life to live by the mountains!? you are only lucky to have been born there....

I believe in some sense westward expansion is still happening. You can't really stop it. There is still just soooooooooooo much more space as you go west. I'm third generation Chicagoan....that does not mean I have to stay there. It just means I'm the first with the ability or urge to really keep going, to choose where I want to be cause I can. My family landed here, I dont think it was their first choice. I think it was one of their only choices.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by rgb123

and ps. Though it must be hard to believe with the influx of Chicagoans everywhere....I am also protective of my hometown in Illinois and have seen it change in my 30 years in ways I dont appreciate. Every place has changed (at least places near enough to cities). We all have that wistful.....remember when thing, if we were lucky enough to have a hometown.

I'll probably return to Illinois myself at some point, but its true that many of us are young and making our lives.....and can you really blame anyone for wanting to have that chance in life to live by the mountains!? you are only lucky to have been born there....

I believe in some sense westward expansion is still happening. You can't really stop it. There is still just soooooooooooo much more space as you go west. I'm third generation Chicagoan....that does not mean I have to stay there. It just means I'm the first with the ability or urge to really keep going, to choose where I want to be cause I can. My family landed here, I dont think it was their first choice. I think it was one of their only choices.

Space does not necessarily equal adequate resources--especially water. That is one thing that so many newcomers don't "get." Everyone from east of the Mississippi River should read Cadillac Desert before they head west--then they might understand that, as empty as the West looks, it may already be overpopulated.

That may be the big split between old Coloradans and new ones. The old ones "get it" because they have lived with the region's realities and limitations for a long time--the newbies haven't.

[ryanek9freak]

LOL, my dad is an "old one" and he still hasn't gotten yet. I constantly yell at him for having grass, and sprinkler system. And if that weren't bad enough, he builds new houses in Pueblo. I keep asking him where he plans on getting the water from.

He always tells me to shut up and mind my own business.