Moving. Mountain biking. Backpacking. Camping. Whitewater. Snowboarding. (Aspen, Vail: apartments, condos)

[movementarian]

Originally Posted by coloradoboundboy

Hello, im 24 and my gal is 23. We are looking to get out of St. louis, and come to the great CO this summer of 2011! I've been there 3 times and love the place. Not so much denver though. Denver was too city like. We want to be close to some mean mountain bike downhills/trails. Whitewater and some really good hiking and camping. Snowboarding as well. I would like to be 15 minuntes away from the mountainbiking and whitewater. A little further from the hiking and camping would be ok, but if all together, even better. Would also like to be close to the ski resorts. Need a decent size city for job reasons but want that outdoors feeling where we live (not like denver, been there and was not a fan). Loved boulder but its expensive and The more I read, the more bad things I hear, some good, seems more bad than good though. I didnt really notice, but i was only there for a week. Would like that outdoors feeling where we move. Have two dogs, pitbull and bulldog. A house for rent would be nice with a fenced in yard. Can afford about $1200.00 a Month in rent. Let me know if you need any more information. Thanks for your replies!

Dude, let me know when you find that place here because it sounds awesome.

[ragerunner1]

I think Durango might come the closest to your list, but probably not for that rental price. But, you could check.

[NW Crow]

Based on current ads you can get a rental house with a yard for $1200 or less in Canon City, Woodland Park, Durango and Montrose. Whether you really like it or find it acceptable depends on how hard you work to find that place and the person. Glenwood Springs itself you aren't going to stay under $1200 for a house with a yard. But you can do it in Rifle. probably Silt and maybe if you are lucky or good at looking / negotiating in New Castle and commute... as a start.

[bongo]

My first thought reading the OP's title was immediately Durango.

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by bongo

My first thought reading the OP's title was immediately Durango.

Except that there are practically no jobs in Durango that would support him beyond subsistence.

[Idunn]

• Mountain Biking
• Whitewater Rafting
• Hiking/Camping
• Snowboarding

= Summit County. Other locals would meet this criteria, and some better in some areas, such as whitewater rafting. But all in all, you would be hard pressed to find anywhere in Colorado with more of this on tap.

As for the practicalities involved, everyone here pouring cold water over your head is right. Such a place is desirable and expensive. Summit is actually one of the better mountain locals from an employment standpoint as it is a relatively large market. However that is relative to other more isolated places, such as Crested Butte, not Denver or Boulder. Moreover, chances are that Colorado in general, and some of these mountain locals more so, will witness an overall decline in population and economy. Or make that economy and population. Either way, the dynamic is going to be quite a bit different than when this Ponzi scheme of our national economy was on fire. Or smoldering, now on fire.

That said, I'll return to what I've said elsewhere, namely the biggest part of such an equation, meaning you or anybody else living the mountain dream of Colorado, is how bad they want it. Some people live there, and make a decent living of it. Others only hanging on, and possibly soon gone. Many want the white picket fence, not as many with the wherewithal and will to make it happen.

Activities such as snowboarding are like breathing in Summit. You'll find many people out bike riding on one of the beautiful trails, or with skis in the closet at home no longer used as much as they once thought to. Their job is something else. Also the same for the tourists who pay big money to visit, with such dreams realized for a week or two. They tend to have more money than actual idea of what exists or how to realize their dreams.

That is where you might come in, maybe. If your life is mountain biking, etc., as in your love, then you might have a chance. Not that others do not, but someone with a real passion for such things could prove a valuable scout and resource for tourists seeking such assistance, and guides, etc. I throw this out there as one idea, and certainly not matched to just anyone. Only a few can excel at such things, or much of a living made otherwise.

If one's passion or interests lie elsewhere, then they will be best realized in Denver, or maybe Iowa. Then dreams of mountains can be more of longing, of what might be and maybe would, but not now, or in this life. There but a poster on the wall and mountain bike leaning against the bedroom wall as reminders.

[benji73]

To the OP: I had this same dream when I moved to Colorado. I'm orig. from Indiana. We outdoorsy people tend to!

Here is what the hubby and I do to try to make it happen. We live in Colorado Springs (my opinion~liveable medium sized retail city that has a lot to do for families, salaries are not great, housing is a little bit high...acreage???? not really happening unless out in Falcon/Peyton, then why move to CO?). Every weekend we drive farther and farther to explore Colorado. It is expensive, maintaining 4WDs, gas, outdoor equipment etc. The population gets bigger each year and the jobs are/have been thinning out. During the week, we don't do much (rarely eat out or go out) in order to save up for the weekends. We have beautiful views, live in a small apartment, and have decent vehicles.

It can be done...I think what the other posters are saying is come with your eyes open, ready to compromise (sacrifice) in order to make it. We all would be living the dream if we could. It seems the people that actually do, have some sort of help. (inheritance, family money, family property). This seems to be a trend in the Wild West. It's always MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE than you think possible because of the average salary versus average housing cost. Our running joke is there must be a lot of pimps and drug dealers in the springs since you can make $13 an hour to buy a $300k home!!!

Another thought: We have lots of friends who are snowboarding/ski instructors in ski resorts...they make very little $$$ but get free lift tickets and get to live in the beauty.

[mizzile]

Originally Posted by coloradoboundboy

Mizzle, My dog is a lover.

That's what my neighbor said, even after his pit attacked my other neighbor's dog right in front of my house. I will never like or trust any pit. They are unpredictable and are nice dogs UNTIL they snap and when they do, it's devastating. No, thank you.

The general trend in Colorado is to ban pits. The more populated areas already have.

[mizzile]

Originally Posted by bongo

My first thought reading the OP's title was immediately Durango.

That's the town I was hoping no one would mention. Already has enough jobless young people and pit bulls in it.

[yellowone]

Originally Posted by Idunn

Such a place is desirable and expensive. Summit is actually one of the better mountain locals from an employment standpoint as it is a relatively large market. However that is relative to other more isolated places, such as Crested Butte, not Denver or Boulder........Some people live there, and make a decent living of it. Others only hanging on, and possibly soon gone. Many want the white picket fence, not as many with the wherewithal and will to make it happen.

There have been many discussions about how expensive it can be to live in the mountain. What would be a reasonable salaries earned for my wife and I to live decently in Summit? We are not into having material things or the latest gadgets or eat out all the time. 3 meals a day, having a 2 br, 2 baths house/condo and 2 used cars is fine by us. Is 100k/ year enough? 200k/ yr???