Relocation advice (Denver, Lake City, Rico: apartment, to rent, hotels)

[Reloclezzie]

I'm a relocating newbie and any advice will be so appreciated...

I'm currently living in Puerto Rico and I want to relocate because here the economy is bad and its getting worst (minimum wage is still $5.35 and they recently raised it from $5.15), I can't stand the heat and public transportation is beyond horrid...
The state I want to relocate to has to have the following:

-Moderate to cold weather most of the year.
-Be diverse or at least respectful of diversity (i'm hispanic and a lesbian, my partner is coming along for the move)
-Have a good job market
-Have good public transportation
-It can't be too expensive (rent for a 1bed/1bath pet friendly apt shouldn't go over $700 plus utilities and stuff)

I'm interested on Denver, CO but any suggestions will be taken in mind..
any advice if to rent before leaving or anything like that will be of great help.


Thanxs

[downtownnola]

Hi Reloclezzie...

Given your criteria, I would look at Denver.

1) In my opinion, the weather in Denver is fairly mild for most of the year. Of course, coming from Puerto Rico you may feel quite differently! The summers can be quite hot with daytime highs in the 90s. Winter temperatures vary greatly: it can be 60 degrees one day and 30 degrees the next. Denver gets quite a bit of snow, but it typically melts within a few days. Humidity here is generally low year-round.

2) I also feel that Denver is respectful of diversity. We have a pretty large gay and lesbian population. I would consider living in the city of Denver close to downtown, rather than in the suburbs. There's much more culture and more diversity in the city. I don't think many people, if any will care that you are a lesbian. Check the Capitol Hill area- I have heard this area referred to as the "gayborhood."

3) The job market here varies greatly depending on your profession. There are lots of hospitality, restaurant, tech, and administrative support positions in Denver. Check sites like monster.com or careerbuilder.com to see the availability of the type of job you are seeking.

4) The public transportation here is OK, but greatly improving. We have a light rail system that goes from downtown to south metro Denver. They are in the process of planning an expansion that will cover most of metro Denver. RTD Bus Lines run around the city but the closer you live to downtown, the easier it is to get around.

5) You shouldn't have a problem finding a 1br/1bath apartment for $700 or less.

Good luck!

[alexei27]

If you have not already, Salt Lake City, Utah would be an excellent. It is a beautiful, vibrant city with lots to offer. The job market here is booming, however, that is mostly for service industry jobs. There are literally 1000's of jobs for under $18/ hour.
The religious culture here is strong with the HQ of the LDS Church being right downtown. That can be a little oppressive if you are not Mormon, but overall it is a wonderful place to live!

Please PM me if you want any more help. Best of luck!

[Reloclezzie]

Well... i'm currently working as an interpreter(spanish/english) from home but I've worked mostly in customer service call centers and hotels...so any suggestions in regards to cities that may have my requierments and good job markets in those fields???

thanxs