CO wins - moving back to Chicago in a week (Denver: neighborhoods, university)

[AmFest]

Wow I can't believe these are descriptions of Colorado and Denver. It sounds almost like people were describing Seattle. I have found people here to be very friendly and easy to be friends with. Most Denver residents are from out of state anyway, which explains their willingness and desire to make friends.

[JWEvergreen]

We had no trouble making friends when we moved to Westminster from Orlando. Our kid was a HS athlete, so meeting all the other team parents made it easy. Plus our neighbors were super friendly. All you had to do is crack open a beer and go sit out in the front yard on a Friday afternoon, and the next thing ya know, everybody was out there!

On the really snowy days, the shoveling wasn't done until everyone was dug out. We watched each others kids and pets, met up at restaurants once in a while, held block parties, several of our neighbors borrowed our sound system for their own family parties - were we "besties"? No. But still friends. We've since moved about about 45 minutes away from Westminster, but last Halloween we took our youngest down there to trick-or-treat. So much fun to see the old neighbors again!

It's a little more difficult where I live now because everyone has acreage that separates us more. We made an attempt at Christmas time by delivering home made cookies and candies to the neighbors we had never met. It was an easy way for us to introduce ourselves. Each and every one sent us very grateful thank you notes. I have a feeling things will be even better once winter is over!

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by JWEvergreen

We had no trouble making friends when we moved to Westminster from Orlando. Our kid was a HS athlete, so meeting all the other team parents made it easy. Plus our neighbors were super friendly.

All you had to do is crack open a beer and go sit out in the front yard on a Friday afternoon, and the next thing ya know, everybody was out there!

On the really snowy days, the shoveling wasn't done until everyone was dug out. We watched each others kids and pets, met up at restaurants once in a while, held block parties, several of our neighbors borrowed our sound system for their own family parties - were we "besties"? No. But still friends.

All of this is very typical of Denver, people will chill out together here and there. I don't really call that friends, that's a passerby type thing.

Friends make time for each other, they go riding every weekend, see movies together, go on camping trips... you know... "real buds" type stuff. I cannot count the times that I have met a parent/colleague/neighbor where we both like to snowboard or mountain bike, exchange #s to ride ...only to never see it actually happen.

I haven't gotten used to that level of flake.

[oping00]

Originally Posted by Mach50

All of this is very typical of Denver, people will chill out together here and there. I don't really call that friends, that's a passerby type thing.

Friends make time for each other, they go riding every weekend, see movies together, go on camping trips... you know... "real buds" type stuff. I cannot count the times that I have met a parent/colleague/neighbor where we both like to snowboard or mountain bike, exchange #s to ride ...only to never see it actually happen.

I haven't gotten used to that level of flake.

They must be from California.

[Count David]

Originally Posted by oping00

They must be from California.

Right?

Then I wonder why Mach and I complain about this very thing.

Signed,
The Californians.

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by oping00

They must be from California.

You paint a broad stroke with that statement. Exactly what do you mean by that? Californians are flakes? Nope, I don't think so. Tell us more how you dislike Californians because that is what I assume after reading your comment.

[Rainbow Demon]

What we have experienced over the 30 years we've lived here (resort town/in the mountains) is that folks simply come and go...and that makes it hard to have long term friends. We've certainly hung onto a few of them....but for the most part it's like school/your childhood neighborhood...folks hang...then scatter...and only a select few will truly remain in touch/be folks you can COUNT ON for years to come no matter how large the distance between may be.

Oddly...our best/long term friends are California flake transplants. LOL

[Mach50]

Originally Posted by oping00

They must be from California.

Nope. This is not a California thing, yeah Californians will most likely be late (called Mexican Minutes)... but we will show up. Especially if it has something to do with "toys" like surfing or riding...if you don't show up you are a punk.

Here in CO, people just seem to think it is too hard to synch up with other people... everyone is in their own little world.

[ayoitzrimz]

Maybe you guys just aren't that much fun to be around. Ever consider that little nugget ladies and gentlemen? I have made better friends in CO personally than ever in NYC so I can't complain. I am also selective with regards to who I am friends with. Life is short, time is your most valuable asset - so why waste time on someone who just isn't a good fit for friendship?

Consider also that most people aren't really in the market for friends. They have their spouses and kids, full time jobs, and life chores that take up time. In their leisure they might have a good circle of friends that they meet with regularly and just don't have time for new ones.

[denverian]

Originally Posted by Mach50

All of this is very typical of Denver, people will chill out together here and there. I don't really call that friends, that's a passerby type thing.

Friends make time for each other, they go riding every weekend, see movies together, go on camping trips... you know... "real buds" type stuff. I cannot count the times that I have met a parent/colleague/neighbor where we both like to snowboard or mountain bike, exchange #s to ride ...only to never see it actually happen.

I haven't gotten used to that level of flake.

Hmmm.... being married with children, I never hang out or go do things with anyone alone. I hang out with my spouse/children and do things with them, and we have couple friends who have kids and we'll all go do things together (eat out, go to a movie, go to the mountains, etc.), but is it really common for married men to go hang out alone with friends? Or married women? I wouldn't have the time to maintain a 1:1 friendship with anyone.