Tell me more about Denver (Vail, Georgetown: home, schools, to live)

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by N610DL

I'll try to help out here as a former resident:

1. There is absolutely no way Denver is more reasonably priced than Richmond, VA overall. Sad, but that's the truth. In fact, many find that Denver comes off as way to expensive for what it is - especially when it comes to real estate.

2. I also *thought* I could be an outdoorsy person but my job and business travel schedule got in the way. I felt a mild backlash by thrill-seekers at times when I said I was more interested in my job than exploring mountains. That said, not everyone in the metro area of DEN is like that. It definitely has a better professional and college sports scene than Richmond as well.

3. In general, yes you'll absolutely need a car. Denver is a sprawling car city much like a Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas with an OK metro system. In terms of snowfall DEN doesn't salt roads, so some on here will be annoying about "getting the right tires" but its more than that. Avoid driving during and post snowfall for about a day until it melts (and it does melt fast which is good). Black ice is also not worth dealing with.

4. I had car insurance when I lived there and it was a joke. It's overpriced (I pay less in CA right now, LA specifically) and just seemed like a scam. Stick with the big firms, going small for me was a mistake.

5. The people I would say are for the most part basic and vanilla, very surface-based friendships. The dating scene for me as a single white man pushing 30 was a joke and I still don't have to try here in L.A. but out in DEN the women are picky. For the most part it was a lot of games and generic conversation.

6. It's also very transient as a city, not exactly a place where people set up permanent shop. I will say I have some amazing close friends I still keep in touch after I moved a year ago. Some also have moved to different places or are considering leaving as well. There was also a weird backlash against Californians (moved there from there and back) and East Coast people as well for being too direct (where I'm originally from).

To me, it would be an ideal city to move to with a great job and family to raise kids (as there are enough resources to stay grounded) but other than that, not my thing. Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta sound like larger better options. Unfortunately Denver is a hard city to get a read on, and that's with almost a dozen times before moving there. Good luck and PM me with any concerns.

You make many good points, but "they don't salt the roads here"? Well, it may not be salt, but they spread something on the roads that leaves your car looking crappy until you wash it. I remember decades ago Denver used to spread sand and maybe other abrasives. I think the resulting dust/air quality issues put the kibash on that method.

OP, where on earth did you hear that Denver metro is reasonably priced?? Maybe 10 yrs ago it was.

[COcheesehead]

I've lived in Colorado for 25 years and I never have had snow tires or studded tires and I have always gotten through storms fine. Even driven in some really good ones over Vail Pass and along I-70. Its skill over equipment.

[Va83]

Originally Posted by DougStark

You make many good points, but "they don't salt the roads here"? Well, it may not be salt, but they spread something on the roads that leaves your car looking crappy until you wash it. I remember decades ago Denver used to spread sand and maybe other abrasives. I think the resulting dust/air quality issues put the kibash on that method.

OP, where on earth did you hear that Denver metro is reasonably priced?? Maybe 10 yrs ago it was.

In comparison to coastal cities like DC , Denver is a steal. I looked at Realtor.com and found quite a few 1 bedrooms for $1100. That’s maybe $100 more than Richmond at the moment.

[Moonwalkr]

Originally Posted by Va83

In comparison to coastal cities like DC , Denver is a steal. I looked at Realtor.com and found quite a few 1 bedrooms for $1100. That’s maybe $100 more than Richmond at the moment.

Real estate is very location based. That price may be jacked up if you live closer to Short Pump vs North Chesterfield. Same in Denver, which is just on a bigger scale compared to RVA. People just don't sit on their porches in Denver (suburbs), if they even have porches, that's a totally south of the Mason-Dixon line thing. It's surprising to me given the mosquito free environment, but makes sense considering it cools off quite a bit when the sun goes down and people just go back inside to smoke their weed. The warmth and mugginess at night in the mid-atlantic forces everyone out onto their porches.

[TattedCOdude]

Originally Posted by Moonwalkr

Real estate is very location based. That price may be jacked up if you live closer to Short Pump vs North Chesterfield. Same in Denver, which is just on a bigger scale compared to RVA. People just don't sit on their porches in Denver (suburbs), if they even have porches, that's a totally south of the Mason-Dixon line thing. It's surprising to me given the mosquito free environment, but makes sense considering it cools off quite a bit when the sun goes down and people just go back inside to smoke their weed. The warmth and mugginess at night in the mid-atlantic forces everyone out onto their porches.

Lol! Made me laugh. I do enjoy sitting on my front porch here with a cold beverage during summer evenings, but I'm usually the only one. I live NE of Brighton which is semi-rural, nice views and peaceful though. As for the weed...yea I ride my bike most summer evenings, and I know which neighbors are smoking the wacky tabacy. Stinks all the way out to the street.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by N610DL

Oh God here we go again with the snow tires. Maybe Denver should smarten up and actually salt the roads like a normal city does.

To your point about "sitting outside" in the summer is relative as well. At night, yes it's ideal but during the especially in the sun it's stifling hot and it's extremely easy to get sunburned *badly* after a very short about of time exposed. And that's with sunscreen on and a lot of it.

Denver is not a bargain either. It's less expensive than the coasts (although IMHO not terribly less expensive than L.A.) but probably more expensive than cities in Texas at this point.

Magnesium chloride is a salt and they spray it all over the highways.

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by N610DL

Oh God ...

You called?

[DenverBrian]

Originally Posted by davebarnes

Spend 4+ hours here just reading threads. Random is fine.
At least one of the will cover Skydog’s love of winter tires.

Skydog's obsession with winter tires. FTFY.

[LHS79]

Originally Posted by COcheesehead

I've lived in Colorado for 25 years and I never have had snow tires or studded tires and I have always gotten through storms fine. Even driven in some really good ones over Vail Pass and along I-70. Its skill over equipment.

Valid points and I agree (grew up here). Front wheel drive and good all-season tires are fine.

What irks me is when the news says "The accident was caused by the weather...."

NOPE! The accident was caused by pi**-poor driving and NOT the weather.

Why did I make it to work during the storm but you got into an accident?

[davebarnes]

Originally Posted by Moonwalkr

People just don't sit on their porches in Denver

You are correct. We sit on our front patio and the first person out there attracts more. The record is 17 people. And, yes, alcohol is involved.