Thinking About Relocating To Denver Metro...... (Parker: insurance, low crime, house)

[BabyBoomers2]

For anyone wanting to visit the Denver metro area and thinking about moving here later, read this:
A lot of people from the "warmer" winter climates of the U.S., such as So Calif. or Florida, should make a visit here during our winter months. Making a visit during the summer months is very nice, but if you're not sure about the winters here, come here when a good snow storm is starting. When you have to drive thru "white-out" conditions, have to put the old snow shovel to use, have to sprinkle salt on the driveway to melt the ice (so you don't slide all over the place) and have to dawn that winter parka. Drive on the freeway when it is very slick from ice/snow and see if you can handle it. Yes, visit here when a nice snow storm is beginning and then make a relocating decision.
If you grew up in one of the "warmer" winter climates, a Denver area winter could really be a shock to you. Yes, there are days that we have "summer like" weather during the winter here, but then there are days that Old Man Winter can really turn your day into a "white, cold and icy" one.
We already knew what winters were like, being raised in Indiana & Michigan, but we now have to leave because we can no longer handle the so-called "mild" winters here.
We absolutely love Colorado and where we live, but are bodies are saying to us "you must move".

[2bindenver]

Hopefully your property will sell quickly and you will be on your way to a happier life.

"We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails," says Dolly Parton.

[xxman777]

Unfortunately a visit usually won't give an accurate picture of what a Colorado winter is like. Last year I spent one week in Denver during December. It almost never stopped snowing, I spent a lot of time bundled up and shoveling snow. The winter before I also spent one week in Denver. It was in the 60's every day, not a cloud in the sky and I never wore a jacket during the entire trip (even when going out at night). There is nothing typical about Colorado winters and a week or two is not enough time to get an accurate picture of the weather. You need at least a year or two to really understand Colorado winters. With that said, I miss them, I wish I was in a Colorado winter right now.

[BabyBoomers2]

Boy are right here! This last Spring, it was snowing fairly hard in Parker (where we live) and sticking to the yard/street. It think that was happening on a Wednesday and the predicted temperature for the following weekend was to be in the lower 80's.......which it was. On that afternoon it was snowing, nobody what have thought about putting a boat on Chatfield or Cherry Creek Reserviors. But, we stopped by Chatfield that following Saturday afternoon and there were boats all over that lake in 82 degree weather.
Unfortunately, due to: our age (58/59), our bones/muscles now that ache from cold temps, my hip replacement (aches during real cold temps) and my costly (even with insurance) shoulder surgery from a falling in snow/ice just before Christmas, we have to sell our house and move to a "less" winter climate. I just can not afford another fall and I don't want my wife to fall.
Even though we DO love Colorado and Parker, our health has to come FIRST.

Originally Posted by xxman777

Unfortunately a visit usually won't give an accurate picture of what a Colorado winter is like. Last year I spent one week in Denver during December. It almost never stopped snowing, I spent a lot of time bundled up and shoveling snow. The winter before I also spent one week in Denver. It was in the 60's every day, not a cloud in the sky and I never wore a jacket during the entire trip (even when going out at night). There is nothing typical about Colorado winters and a week or two is not enough time to get an accurate picture of the weather. You need at least a year or two to really understand Colorado winters. With that said, I miss them, I wish I was in a Colorado winter right now.

[BabyBoomers2]

As a current resident of the Denver area (last 5 yrs) and the writer of this Thread, I still think that ANYONE who is considering a move to this area should read the Thread.

[GiaSmith]

I completely agree with you! I am native to So. California, and love it here, but want to leave because I can no longer afford to live here. It is hard to decide where to move, because I've never even been in snow (don't laugh!), so I don't know what to expect if I had to live/drive in it. But is it worse than living in a place like AZ, where it gets to 110 degrees? Or Texas, where the humidity is disgusting? The heat in Cali is a dry heat, and can get to well over 100. At that point, I'm none-to-happy. But I've never delt with humidity or snow. Which is the worse of the 3 evils...snow, heat, humidity? And there is trying to find a place with the right weather, yet has affordable housing, good job market and low crime. Denver seems to be where my research keeps taking me, but that whole "snow thing" keeps me from being 100% commited to the idea.

[BabyBoomers2]

Read my reply under the Thread that you done about weather.