To Move to Colorado or to Stay? I'm so torn. (transplants, apartment)
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This place is Fool's Gold. I sounded a lot like you before I came out here and the first few months out here, but figured out that Denver is the creation of slick marketing. It is a very simple and slow place. It is a massive suburb with little to no culture. It is basically a high altitude, hipster version of Indianapolis with decent weather.
The truth is that this city is composed of Type B's that cannot handle big, international cities (NYC, LA, SF,Chicago, etc.) and people from rural areas that think it is a big city. That might be a good fit for you, and if so great, but I am on a different wave length from these people. I'm hurried and probably come across as rude because I am very direct. Nobody here speaks their mind and they plod around. It drives me crazy.
Traffic sucks because they don't know how to drive a car. It is even worse when it snows because 90% of the time they don't plow, so snow + bad drivers= hilarity and danger. The roads also frequently ice up. The Front Range mountains and the outdoor recreation are overrated and overcrowded (hiking with dozens, if not hundreds of other people ruins the point of hiking for me and 90% of the hikes are the same...up a hill/mountain...the good mountains are 3+ hours away). It is very much an employers market out here i.e. finding an entry level or even some middle level jobs that pay a living wage outside of the STEM industries is very difficult, and it is even tougher if you have a personality similar to mine because you'll be an outsider. The traits I have aren't shamed to the same degree back in Chicago. Also, rent is skyrocketing.
In general a good analogy to sum it up, you'd be paying porterhouse prices for top round beef. I know I can easily come across as cynical. I am not. I am being open and honest with the OP and anybody else that is thinking about moving out here.
This is very accurate.
Not to mention, Denver attitudes suck. Everyone think's they're God's gift to man and is very self righteous.
Not to mention, Denver attitudes suck. Everyone think's they're God's gift to man and is very self righteous.
I wonder why that is? Odd.
I do know that Colorado natives are a big bunch of stuck up snobs, driving around with their stupid "NATIVE" fake license plates on just so everyone can see theyre natives.
Hi caverunner 17,
I'm curious... Did you make the move & if so, what do you think of Denver? I'm considering a move to Denver from Indy. (Lived in Chicago- Lincoln Park- for 3 years a while back as well) I'm in a somewhat similar situation where I feel pretty settled here, even own a home, but love the outdoors & Indy doesn't offer what CO offers for outdoor activity. I telework & travel for my job, so wouldn't have to worry about making a change as far as that goes. Thanks for any input you may have (or anyone else)!
Hi caverunner 17,
I'm curious... Did you make the move & if so, what do you think of Denver? I'm considering a move to Denver from Indy. (Lived in Chicago- Lincoln Park- for 3 years a while back as well) I'm in a somewhat similar situation where I feel pretty settled here, even own a home, but love the outdoors & Indy doesn't offer what CO offers for outdoor activity. I telework & travel for my job, so wouldn't have to worry about making a change as far as that goes. Thanks for any input you may have (or anyone else)!
Caverunner17 did indeed move here. Hopefully he sees your post and can provide insight. From what I've seen in the Colorado forum and subforums he's enjoying it for the most part so far.
I do know that Colorado natives are a big bunch of stuck up snobs, driving around with their stupid "NATIVE" fake license plates on just so everyone can see theyre natives.
There aren't enough natives left in Colorado to make a difference. Most of us moved to California years ago. We have one of the lowest "native born" populations in the country. I believe only 34% of the total population was born here. Take away infants from that number and it's less than 20%. This is a VERY transient state. Unlike states in the east, nobody seems to be born, grow-up and retire here, generation after generation. Such is quite common as in the Southie area of Boston for example. I think that also impacts the "friendliness" factor of Colorado too. By the time you get to know your neighbor, they move.
I say, "Go for it." If after a couple of years of exploring and working here, you find you haven't made any friends, and you can't be yourself, you can go back to Chicago with plenty of stories to tell your friends.
I'm fairly introverted, myself, and I get along fine here.
I am torn about Colorado too. I love the mountains and the weather (all 4 seasons); however, people don't seem to be friendly in Denver and Boulder. The cost of living is rising.
I also love Minnesota but I don't think I could handle bone-chilling winters. Minnesotans are also friendlier but reserved compared to the southerners.
All places I like (Austin, TX; Pacific Northwest; and Chicago, IL) are either too far or too expensive. Sometime I feel like I am better off staying in Little Rock, Arkansas where pay sucks but we have one of the lowest cost of living in the country.
Last edited by SciFiNerd1; 02-22-2017 at 02:27 PM..
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