Where to go..... (Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins: real estate, college, camping)

[mariposa0902]

I am a 35 year old born and raised Texan girl. But I am ready for a change. It is too hot here to do the things we love doing as a family. We love hiking, camping, and really anything outdoors. I have never been to Colorado, but we are planning a trip to the San Juan Forest hopefully next month. After looking at several blogs and pics my mind is made up. I want to move to Colorado. I wish I could now, but my goal is to finish college and then make the move. I have 3 years to go.
So we are looking for a place more family oriented. We would like a few acres. And I will be working as a radiology tech, so somewhere near job prospects also.
I would appreciate any advice, because I have not traveled too far outside of Texas.

[Idunn]

The common wisdom might be don't make up your mind until you've at least visited Colorado.

Southwest Colorado is an often very lovely place, but without near the job prospects as the front range running between essentially Colorado Springs and Fort Collins. In the southwest region Durango is by far the largest town, and center of business. You might begin by looking there.

From Durango there is no shortage of beauty and good options in hiking and camping, etc. The catch for most people with such aspirations is finding a way to make an adequate living. Of late, meaning the last several decades, Durango has become all the more popular and grown. If that has added a few new jobs, commensurately the price of real estate has easily escalated to outpace that. While the area poses no danger to Aspen in outflanking it in cost of living, still one of the more expensive in Colorado when factors such as local wages, number of jobs, desirability and real estate are all totaled up.

I remain more optimistic than some others on this forum when it comes to personal initiative. With enough determination you may end up (and remain) in Durango, or maybe Rico or Ouray. But when finally out this way take some time devoted to sightseeing, and spend it instead on visiting possible employers, and getting a sense of what such a life would really be like. You'll find no shortage of those in Colorado looking at Texas a bit askance, readily agreeing with you that it is too hot, and a good many other questionable things. But they might also, in more sober and contemplative moods, admit that just existing in Texas is easier.

Unless, of course, you just happen to love mountains, then all bets are off. There is nothing easy about being where you do not belong or wish to be.

[wanneroo]

Originally Posted by mariposa0902

I am a 35 year old born and raised Texan girl. But I am ready for a change. It is too hot here to do the things we love doing as a family. We love hiking, camping, and really anything outdoors. I have never been to Colorado, but we are planning a trip to the San Juan Forest hopefully next month. After looking at several blogs and pics my mind is made up. I want to move to Colorado. I wish I could now, but my goal is to finish college and then make the move. I have 3 years to go.
So we are looking for a place more family oriented. We would like a few acres. And I will be working as a radiology tech, so somewhere near job prospects also.
I would appreciate any advice, because I have not traveled too far outside of Texas.

99 times out of 100 in Colorado where the jobs are is not where the mountain vistas and hiking-camping-biking-rafting-skiing is.

Most likely you'll be living in a urban area such as Denver and having to commute up to the mountains on the weekends to do such things.

Also keep in mind that the tourist or scenic areas you visit will most likely have few real locals, mostly due to remoteness, lack of jobs and harsh weather.