Anonymous wrote:I live in a Denver suburb and I love it. There is nowhere in the US I’d rather live. It has grown quite a lot but there are some great tight knit communities and I find people to generally be laid back, kind, and friendly.

That said, wherever you go- there you are. You’ll still have to work through the trauma you experienced.

Is there any way you could do something like an extended trip and get a real feel for if you like it and could see yourself living here?

I appreciate you and your advice. I've always believed wherever you go, you take yourself with you so acknowledge that. But opening a new door can have a ripple effect.... Mom and dad snowbird so I was thinking of going for Christmas, and then again for spring break. Extended probably not. I used to visit Grandma and thought it was nice but boring, but she was super suburban. We'd be in Littleton near the downtown, which I think is fun and charming in it's way but appreciate your opinion. Can you tell me more about what you like? I'm social and easygoing (ie conversational , interested)- are there ways to make friends intentionally (like places to hang out or groups to join)? It may not come to this, but I'm guessing dating is websites unless you meet cute at the dog park? I'm middle aged - is it a young person's place, or is there stuff/a scene for entering the second half of life people? In DC I pretty much only meet people through work.... I have a nice crew here but took ages to build, but am hoping for other options. Sorry to pepper you with questions. You can ignore them too - just interested in what jumps out at you that you really like

Anonymous wrote:I would not go there because you might run into MAGAs out in that part of thr country

They're pretty virtue signally liberal in lots of Denver. It's fine. I am pretty quiet politically, live and let live.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Denver used to be great. The past ten years have been terrible. Too much growth. It’s lost its big small town feel.

Yep

This. I go there often. Denver has a lot of problems now.

Is it the MAGAs ?

I live in a Denver suburb and I love it. There is nowhere in the US I’d rather live. It has grown quite a lot but there are some great tight knit communities and I find people to generally be laid back, kind, and friendly.

That said, wherever you go- there you are. You’ll still have to work through the trauma you experienced.

Is there any way you could do something like an extended trip and get a real feel for if you like it and could see yourself living here?

Anonymous wrote:The title of the 90s movie 'Things to do in Denver When You're Dead" keeps running through my head On the other hand, Casa Bonita (great childhood memories) has been reconstituted by the South Park people. Yay!
I am from DC, but family in "the West", and have a love/hate relationship with my hometown DC.. basically, I love I when I leave and see the swooping shot of the Washington Monument in the movies haha. It's so beautiful! The green canopy! Monuments! Civic pride! But to live here... eh...daily reality is not that, right? Nice friends here tho, FWIW, none in Denver - just family. (Not "just", but just)
I have been through a lot of trauma in DC of late and putting in more of myself feels like, well, a grind , and Denver is a "fresh start" option. I keep telling myself aim going to "ski it out" (and I don't ski). I guess I'd have to learn , or some other outlet..when one door closes kind of thing??
One child, good school options in both places (private, nothing against public whatsoever, but child just happens to be on that track so would not likely switch over).
Appreciate thoughts.

You’ll probably like it! What’s not to like…colder crisp weather, skiing towns, range of mountains that you wake up to every morning in the distance, lots of outdoor activities, and housing is relatively decent.

Life in Colorado and/or any place in the Mountain West to California involves way less exclamation points than how you are presenting. You ready for that chill?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Denver used to be great. The past ten years have been terrible. Too much growth. It’s lost its big small town feel.

Yep

This. I go there often. Denver has a lot of problems now.

Anonymous wrote:I would not go there because you might run into MAGAs out in that part of thr country

LOL. Please get over it.

It is easy to romanticize a move. I lived there. It is so outdoorsy but I am not into skiing and most mountain sports. Things were very spread out, so much driving. I found myself missing more art and culture. The pace of life was so slow to me, I felt my brain was melting. I missed the ocean. It can very transient in Denver, almost feels like no one is from there but you get that in DC too.

Now it is so crowded, prices are high, the West is in danger of droughts. We are experiencing climate change everywhere but Denver can have a perfectly nice day and then snow or a tornado out of nowhere.

You should check it out, but see if you can live there long term.

I was visiting family in Denver in October and was dismayed by how bad the traffic was, even at non rush hour times.

Anonymous wrote:I would not go there because you might run into MAGAs out in that part of thr country

+1

Anonymous wrote:I would not go there because you might run into MAGAs out in that part of thr country

Like Boebart and company??

Anonymous wrote:I would not go there because you might run into MAGAs out in that part of thr country

Have you seen some of the people in and mostly around DC? drive just 20 min out of the city. -not OP

I think you’ll need to stay there for 1-2 months and hike a couple of 14ers. Denver and the alpine altitudes are not for everyone.
I do like the views and the air from the mountains, but I would never live there all year long. Many people moved back to low altitudes, near the ocean, because of health issues.
Good luck.

Anonymous wrote:Denver used to be great. The past ten years have been terrible. Too much growth. It’s lost its big small town feel.

Yep