Moving to Colorado fromCalifornia but we dont know where to move to, any suggestions?? (Denver: houses, high school)

[CosmicWizard]

Market Mama

you wrote: The Colorado you are dreaming of doesn't exist any more. They've paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

First, I wonder how you assume to know anyones dream when they haven't shared it with you???

Second, I agree with vfrpilot who wrote: Maybe CO isn't the same place it was years ago, but you can still find lots of affordable, beautiful, friendly areas with decent schools. It actually is the place I dreamed of. Not perfect, but a pretty great place to live. Everything is relative I guess, so I understand why long time residents lament the days before major development changed the landscape of many cities.

Even though Colorado has lots of space, let's not fill it up. If/when you come, please buy an already existing home. Welcome to Colorado.

regards...Franco

[jazzlover]

Originally Posted by Market Mama

Friendly? Since most of the people here now are actually from somewhere else, there's no local social patterns any more (except in the small towns where there are no jobs). You'll have to deal mostly with people who also came here to escape the same things that are driving you from California. So instead of native Coloradoans, you'll be meeting people from New Jersey or other overcrowded urban areas. Unfortunately, they usually bring their rude, snobby attitudes and aggressive driving habits with them.

You'll see a popular bumper sticker that says "Don't Californicate Colorado" because those of us who remember what it was like here 30-40 years ago are grieving over the fact that Colorado is being transformed into the very thing you are trying to escape. The Colorado you are dreaming of doesn't exist any more. They've paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

Amen! It's not just happening in Colorado, either. You can add Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, Idaho, and Montana to the list. The long-time residents of all of those states are lamenting what an influx of outsiders with the spoiled yuppie suburban attitude are doing to those states. I asked one of my Wyoming friends why native Wyomingites have such an attitude about "greenies" (people from Colorado). His answer was, "Well, most Coloradans are from California, New York, or Texas. Now that they've screwed up Colorado, they want to move up here."

[treedonkey]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

"... an influx of outsiders with the spoiled yuppie suburban attitude..."

That sort of statement just sounds ignorant.

[CosmicWizard]

a friend of Jazzlover said:

"Well, most Coloradans are from California, New York, or Texas. Now that they've screwed up Colorado, they want to move up here."

and I say....that is one narrow minded way of looking at things!

[jazzlover]

Well, if you think that is narrow-minded, consider the bumper sticker I saw in Durango a few years ago: "If Texas is so @#$!!! great, why are you up here?"

I'm not saying that I necessarily agree with such brash statements or generalizations, but the fact is that the constant influx of new residents to this region--who often bring their attitudes and expectations with them--does not set well with a lot of long-time Rocky Mountain residents. Many of those long-timers have made significant personal and financial sacrifices to remain in the Rocky Mountain region through times that have not always been as "flush" as they are now. So, when Johnny-come-lately's come in droves, assault the landscape, and change the social-economic mix in whole communities, it's not surprising that comments can get a little "shrill."

And, if anyone thinks my comments on this subject are "radical," I'm a lightweight compared to some people that I've run into. They are downright rabid about it. They can't say the name of certain states without some form of profanity or obscenity in front of it. Something must really be hitting a nerve with them, for them to be so "twisted off" about it.

[treedonkey]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

...They can't say the name of certain states without some form of profanity or obscenity in front of it...

That sounds like the same kind of thinking that gets us foreign wars. Not to mention bar fights. Both senseless.

[Tom Emmerling]

I think you will be very suprised at how friendly people are here in the midwest compared to CA. Yeah we have our bad eggs but for the most part people are very approachable and friendly. I am a big fan of the FT Collins area, specifically Wellington which is a smaller town 10 miles north. There is easy interstate access to get to Boulder, Denver, Cheyenne etc. I believe Boulder is only an hour away. As far as cost of living you can get more bang for your buck here compared to Boulder. It is a great place to raise your kids also. I am always seeing ads for apartment managers in the classified section of our local paper the coloradoan. As far as your husband goes there are lots of sales jobs but if he is looking for a change he might want to check out the city web site or the larimer county web site for jobs. That is what I did when I first came here and I got a high paying job that got me by until I found something I really liked. By the way there is a new elementary school in Wellington and from others in my neighborhood they really like the school here. Good luck to you.

[Katarina Witt]

The long-time residents of all of those states are lamenting what an influx of outsiders with the spoiled yuppie suburban attitude are doing to those states.

(Referring to Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Montana)

We came here as newlyweds, eager to work and integrate ourselves into the community. We had 2 cars: a ten year old Chevy Camaro (rear-wheel drive), and a two year old Ford Fiesta (no longer being imported or probably even made, it was such a lemon!). We also had some savings, the clothes on our backs plus a little more, a bit of furniture (not enough to furnish an apt) and our educations. Does that sound like a "spoiled yuppie" to you? This is getting old.

[CosmicWizard]

Jazzlover wrote:

I asked one of my Wyoming friends why native Wyomingites have such an attitude about "greenies" (people from Colorado). His answer was, "Well, most Coloradans are from California, New York, or Texas. Now that they've screwed up Colorado, they want to move up here."

Even though I disagree with jazzlovers friend, everyone is welcome to their opinion!

[Sarah Goodyear]

I moved to Fort Collins about 9 years ago from Houston, TX and I love it here! Yes, it's true there are those Coloradoans that don't appreciate the growth they are experiencing. However, the people here are very friendly. In Fort Collins we have the best of both worlds, we have a decent economy and a sense of community. We have low crime rates and good schools. Also, housing costs less here than in Denver or Boulder.

CSU is here so property management jobs are definitely around. I actually have worked in property management for the last 5 years and also have been selling real estate. If you need to move in 30 days you definitely need to find a place soon because it takes that long to close on a house once it gets under contract. Let me know if I can help you out in any way.