Colorado: Making the Move

 
The New Year automatically comes with change.  Whether the change comes in the form of a New Year’s resolution or an enormous life altering decision, January of a new year seems to be the time to do it.  At the very least, everyone has to change their calendar.  In the coming year, the change for many people and families will be a big move to the state of Colorado. 
 
Thousands of people move to Colorado each year.  Moving to any new location involves planning and preparation; Colorado is no exception.  Due to the Centennial State’s landscape, climate, and culture there are things that the Colorado newbie ought to be prepared for. 
 
1.  A Piece of the West
 
People who move to Colorado have a reason for doing so, whether it be family or job related.  There are those who remember great Colorado vacations from their youth and come here to live as adults.  One very common reason for moving to Colorado is the idealistic vision of a Western life.  One AroundColorado regular credits the movie Shane with planting a dream of Western living.  While Colorado development, population and traffic are increasing, plenty of Western spirit exists.    
 
The West has always been romanticized in film and in people’s memories.  There is good reason for that, and it’s not just the notion of tearing down fences and riding off into the sunset.  However, you can’t believe everything you see in the movies.  If your dream is to move to Colorado to become a boarder 24/7/365, stop right there.  You can’t ski year round in Colorado.   
 
Housing prices are relative to where you are coming from.  Colorado natives are generally horrified at how much the cost of homes has skyrocketed.  People moving from large cities in California or the East Coast can’t believe how cheap it is.  Those coming from a state with a very low cost of living find they can’t afford a cabin 50 miles outside of a ski resort.  If you plan on buying a home once you live here, do your research to see where you can afford to move.  In both Denver and Colorado Springs, housing prices vary widely from neighborhood to suburb.  Buying a home in Aspen or Vail is pretty much out of the question for 99 percent of us. 
 
Unless you are independently wealthy, you will probably need a job once you come to Colorado.  The job market varies widely by industry. If you ask someone about the job market in Colorado, each person you talk to will have a different opinion.  A well-crafted web search should give you the answers you are looking for.  Lots of people want to move to Colorado so badly that they couldn’t care less about the job market…they will find one once they get here. 
 
Colorado does offer a piece of the West to those who live and visit.  You can’t say anyone comes to Jersey for the dreamy scenery and clean air. 
 
2.  What about the altitude?
 
Many people wrote to me after reading a previous piece I wrote on altitude sickness…I think I scared some people.  The majority of people won’t experience anything they saw in Vertical Limit.  A high percentage of Colorado transplants choose Denver or Colorado Springs, both over a mile high but still easy to adjust to.  If you are coming out to climb a fourteener, spend a couple of days in one of these “low” cities and see how you do before venturing to the top.  Acclimatizing to altitude and climate are dependent on the individual, and often has nothing to do with fitness or whether the person has lived here in the past. 
 
If you are worried about the altitude, you’ll get used to it.  Drink plenty of water, get enough rest, and eat well.  There are potions on the market that are supposed to help the adjustment, but I haven’t used them and can’t endorse anything.
 
Altitude presents problems that you might not think of.  AroundColorado member “Daners” remembers accepting a job with Vail.  As she drove through the Eisenhower Tunnel on I-70, she heard a loud bang and couldn’t figure out what it was.  Thinking a tire blew or something, she pulled over.  Suddenly the smell of coconuts wafted through the car.  It turns out that a high-pressured bottle of tanning lotion had exploded under the seat. 
 
If you buy groceries around 6,000 feet and drive them up past 8,000 feet, be prepared for possible surprises.  Bags of salad look like balloons.  Canisters of cake frosting rarely seem to survive the drive from Colorado Springs to our home at 9,200 feet.  And be careful when opening potato chips or anything powdered.  Baby formula creates a sticky mess when opening, too.  These items are packaged at much lower elevations in this country, shipped to Colorado, where an unsuspected consumer opens them only to have them explode with a pop and a giant mess.
 
3.  Suddenly you are Really Popular with Friends and Family
 
If you are moving to Colorado and are having a hard time deciding between the two, three, or four bedroom house, go with the most room you can afford.  At the very least, get a pull-out couch.  Why?  Lots of people report becoming really popular with out of state friends once they moved to Colorado.  Suddenly the people you left behind have a free room if they ever want to ski or see a Broncos game. 
 
AroundColorado lurker Erika opens her home regularly to her Wisconsin family and friends.  In 2005 she hosted several young relatives and friends who came to snowboard and hike.  They camped on her floor and went through three large pans of lasagna. 
 
There is still a magic in moving to and visiting the West, especially for those who have L.A. freeways and urban chaos in their nightmares.  Colorado offers something to those folks. 
 
4.  The Colorado Climate:  Am I Going to Need Five Winter Coats and Mountaineering Boots?
 
The record low temperature for Denver in July was 41 degrees. 1 That’s pretty cold!  However, the record July high for Denver was 103. 1   That leaves a wide range of potential weather.  Be prepared for anything, but don’t go overboard.   Layering clothing is important in Colorado.  The weather can change in a matter of minutes.  
 
If you are driving from Florida to Colorado, make sure you have warm clothing and coats accessible in the vehicle instead of deep inside an unmarked box in the U-Haul.  Do this even if your move is in July.  It’s best to supplement the basics once you live here, so you know exactly what you need.  Asking locals for gear recommendations is a good idea.  Purchasing a winter coat in a discount store in Colorado may save you money, rather that getting a Gore-Tex supreme in Mississippi where they don’t sell many. 
 
Scott, a forum regular, didn’t get much support when his Florida native family decided enough was enough and packed up the truck to move to Colorado.  Family members were generally unhappy about their move, planting winter horror stories into their heads and taking back heirlooms.  Undeterred, the whole family made their cross-country move to find out that they love it here. 
 
The Colorado winter horror stories are commonly spread by family and friends who “want to help”, but these tales are usually not realized.  Yes, there are very cold spells, but many Colorado newbies are surprised at the amount of sun the state gets.  Even if the temperatures are in the single digits or below zero, the sun is usually out.  If the temperatures outside are frigid, the right gear and warm socks will do a person wonders.  There is a reason that Colorado is an outdoor paradise.  The winters are great.  But don’t tell anyone! There is no shortage of bright, sunny days. 
 
On the flip side, Colorado offers a high risk of skin cancer.  According to the Colorado State Website, “Incidence rates for melanoma, the most serious and potentially deadly form of skin cancer, are significantly higher in Colorado than in the U.S. as a whole. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reported that the melanoma incidence rate among Colorado men was 38 percent higher than the national rate, and for Colorado women, 46 percent higher.”
 
5.  What About Driving?
 
A giant SUV or the best snow tires in the world won’t do a bit of good unless you use common sense and drive according to the road conditions.  Everyone has seen an SUV in the ditch, one that probably passed them in the left lane five minutes earlier going about 65 miles an hour on ice.  A lesson in physics – the bigger you are, the harder you fall.  Take it slow and leave plenty of space between you and the vehicle in front of you. 
 
You won’t require a four-wheel drive vehicle unless the road between your home and your job is a challenging one.  Four wheel drive vehicles come in handy to pull yourself out of ruts or for having fun on back roads.   Plenty of four wheel drive vehicles get stuck in the deepest snow.  If you do plan on using four wheel drive, learn the purpose and limitations of your vehicle.  Full Disclosure:  Both proprietors of AroundColorado have four wheel or all wheel drive and would not consider owning a vehicle without it!
 
6.  Miscellaneous Things to Remember
 
The AroundColorado boards are filled with new citizens of the Centennial State and many of them have their moves fresh in their minds.  These fine folks offer tidbits for you to remember.
 
-Sweet Tea is only a southern thing.  Here they will give you tea with a packet of sugar.  Save yourself the embarrassment – don’t order sweet tea.
 
-Alcohol is a lot more effective at high altitude!  If you drink alcohol for a while in Colorado, you can go back to visit your lowland friends and drink them under the table.
 
-People in the West are generally quite friendly.  Don’t be surprised if you have more neighbors and friends here in a week than you did before.  Of course, you get what you put into it.
 
-Seafood in Colorado is NOT the same as seafood near the ocean.
 
-Insurance rates for cars are higher in Colorado than a lot of other states.  This is probably due to hail, rocks hitting windshields, rockslides, and other natural hazards on Colorado roads.  Call your insurance company to check what your new rate will be before you move. 
 
-Nosebleeds are common for new Coloradoans.  It’s very high and dry throughout the state.  Humidifiers can help with this.
 
-Skin and hair gets a lot drier here.  Find a good lotion!
 
-Denver is overrun by bunny rabbits!
 
Nothing Stopping You?
 
Then your Colorado adventure is waiting for you.  If you have other Colorado questions, the regulars on AroundColorado.com are here to help! 

1.  According to www.weatherbase.com

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