Review: Living in Colorado

When I tell people that I moved to Denver from Las Vegas, the first thing they ask is, “What brought you to Colorado?” Well, it certainly wasn’t work related, which is the common reason most people move for. In some ways the answer is simpler–even if it isn’t the typical reason. I moved here for the weather and the beautiful outdoors.

Growing up, my family move a lot–over 27 times before I even graduated from high school. My father worked as a mining engineer who’s job was to get the mine built and up and running for the actual mining to be done. The process of taking a site from nothing to a functional, productive mine shaft take about 18-24 months. Typically we would follow the same pattern each time my father started a new job. We’d move to a new small town like Meeker, Colorado or Grants, New Mexico. Often there was a flood of new jobs in the small town, so we’d rent a house or trailer home for six months. After six months, we’d move again to a better location as the first place was just temporary while we shopped for a good home. Often we’d live in this second location until the job ended, or several new shafts would open and my father would feel it was time to buy a home–which would result in our third move. So, I moved a lot and one of these moves was to Lakewood, Colorado.

Just after high school, my family moved to Lakewood, Colorado where I fell in love with the nearby mountains, as well as the close trek down 6th to downtown. I felt it offered the best of both worlds and I had some of the best times of my youth in Lakewood even though I only stayed for about 9 months. After that I started my education. During the whole time, I considered Lakewood my home which I would someday return to. However, it wasn’t until many years later that I actually was able to return.

In 2007 I was able to sell my house in Las Vegas for a pretty good profit during a real estate bubble. I then rented for six months as the economy plummeted and housing priced dropped. It was at this bottom that I purchased my current home in Lakewood, a beautiful mid-century modern home that I love.

One of the things I love about Colorado is the weather–I love having full seasons. The winters, for the most part, are rather mild where many days I can actually go out in a light jacket to get my mail. I just love it. Friends comment that I get this goofy look on my face as I’m driving around Colorado. I gaze out my window at the white puffy clouds and I’m in heaven. You see, for the past 17 years I’ve been living in Las Vegas without clouds and for some reason, the Colorado clouds make me think of home and the great times I had here when I was 19. Driving up through the mountains is a similar goofy experience. I get all giddy and silly. I want to stop and just gaze and rocks and waterfalls or drive through little towns. It’s just a happy zone for me that I’ve craved for many years. I’m just ecstatic to finally be living here with an awesome house and wonderful friends. I love beautiful Colorado!