Moving to Denver /Boulder from NYC - thoughts appreciated

Fwiw, it's zero degrees in my backyard right now :-(

So, what appeals to you about Denver? Do you love to ski or snowboard? Are you jonesing for burritos and chile verde?

I moved here 5 years ago because it was the first job I was offered in two years in my high tech field where I could mkae enough money to pay my mortgage. So I'm working here and paying a mortgage on another place I own with family members elsewhere.

I spent 8 years in Manhattan and loved the cultural life and the fact that NYC was a 24-hr town. Denver is not. It's hard to find a restaurant open after 10 p.m. There is a little bit of a live theater scene, but it's not even off-Broadway. There are some museums, sort of, but a New Yorker might not think so.

What Denver is about is sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It's very sports oriented and has a heavy blue-collar feel, even though there are very few blue-collar jobs left. Most of the downtown jobs are financial and high tech but the people are fairly mindless. If Denver was a movie or TV sitcom, it would take place in L.A. with Beverly Hills aspirations. Think Melrose Place. No Woody Allen or Seinfeld in view anywhere.

It's a very young skinny place and is starving for young skinny women. If you are one and really like to party, you will have a ball here but you need to live downtown in a loft. SW Denver is kind of like Westchester but the IQ is 25 points lower. There's money, but it's older and more quiet.

I wouldn't even consider moving here unless I knew someone.

If all this doesn't sound like you, think Northern California -- maybe San Francisco. If you have some money or are over 40, Santa Barbara is paradise (even though it's farther south). I'm an old high tech hippie and absolutely loved Santa Cruz. As a matter of fact, I'm considering moving back -- earthquakes be damned!

But wherever you go, remember that you take yourself with you. And the people will be just like those you left. Sort of.

Pay much lower than in New York. MUCH lower.

Yes, another weird thing about Colorado as a whole. Housing is way expensive relative to pay. Just the reverse is true in Austin TX, for example.

But, forgive me, OP. I didn't read the rest of your posts before I started in. If you're looking for alternative energy work and that kind of lifestyle, Boulder is definitely the place to be. It's like northern CA without the ocean and with lots of cold air and beautiful mountains. Think Westchester with an even higher IQ and more of a social conscience. Canislatrans is right! You could have a great time there. Hard to believe that Boulder and Denver are in the same state.

Sex, drugs, rock n roll... thats everywhere, I think its the choices made of who to associate and resonate with that will make ones own circle world be what it will be. Definately not a 'party girl', or a sports fan (i realize that is a big thing there), gave that up years ago, and as far as blue collar, grew up blue collar, AND, I don't go the way of men, not my cup of tea... women are, and have made headway into LGBT community there which is thriving beknownst to others who may refuse to see it or are bigot. Their problem, not mine.

My last shot before returning to major house organizing...

Given this info, Boulder is definitely your place! As you may have discovered, there's a huge LGBT presence in both Denver and Boulder (my middle stepson is heavily involved in the Denver gay community; on the other hand, the younger one is a lap dance afficionado -- something for everybody). I think this area is the most gay-friendly of any between both coasts; more than Ann Arbor MI even.

With your alt energy interests and all else, you should have a great time here. I wish you godspeed and hope you find everything you are looking for!

Be sure to go to the Red Rocks Grille in Morrison and have a chicken burrito for me!


I was just there yesterday, ET. And I think they're freezing and microwaving em now! Or maybe the cook had the day off. Not too many harleys outside either. But then it was cold.

Man is it cold today!

I thought it was supposed to be snowing all day, but the sun is out up here in Boulder.

Man is it cold today!

I thought it was supposed to be snowing all day, but the sun is out up here in Boulder.

Man is it cold today!

I thought it was supposed to be snowing all day, but the sun is out up here in Boulder.


Hi canislatrans.. the more info on Boulder I find, and the likes of BluzGal last post, looks like Boulder might just be the eventual choice to settle. Hmm. Didn't realize the diversity it offers.

Diversity in Boulder? If you mean leftist, well to do white people, maybe. They don't call it the "People's Republic" for nothing.

Blacks & hispanics are very rare, unless they're in menial jobs. Even most of the menial jobs are held by white, well to do students, many from the east coast. It's what gives the place its charm.

Don't get me wrong, I like Boulder, and wish I could afford to live there. But it's not diverse.

Diversity in Boulder? If you mean leftist, well to do white people, maybe. They don't call it the "People's Republic" for nothing.

Blacks & hispanics are very rare, unless they're in menial jobs. Even most of the menial jobs are held by white, well to do students, many from the east coast. It's what gives the place its charm.

Don't get me wrong, I like Boulder, and wish I could afford to live there. But it's not diverse.

[link to i27.photobucket.com]
[link to i27.photobucket.com]
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[link to i27.photobucket.com]
[link to i27.photobucket.com]
[link to i27.photobucket.com]
[link to i27.photobucket.com]
[link to i27.photobucket.com]

plenty more where all these came from

btw, my real work is photography :-), but make the bread & butter in CEO administration.

btw, my real work is photography :-), but make the bread & butter in CEO administration.

I like photography as well, all the pictures above but 3 are mine. I'm not so great, but I crank out some good ones now and then. :)

hey Inanna..

my whole family lives in Colorado ..

they have been trying to get me to move back for years..

paladin


also the gold mines there are great..

you can take a few tours..

pan for gold also..

the water is cold......but the gold is great..

do not do it....you will get the gold bug...LOL

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[link to img515.imageshack.us]

If you live in the suburbs of Denver or Colorado Springs, or in one of the mountain towns, expect to see a wide variety of wildlife in your backyard on a day to day basis - deer (scads), skunks, mountain lions, bears, foxes, coyotes, hummingbirds, racoons, rabbits, and the occasional bigfoot peeking in your window or rummaging through your trash.

[link to img515.imageshack.us]

[link to img515.imageshack.us]

Those are good shots. :) I am lame and usually stick to scenery shots, I should broaden my skills!

[link to i27.photobucket.com]

Regarding wildlife, I was just talking to my sis today and she was telling me about the racoons? cyotees? hanging around from time to time, so have to be careful with my cat in the back yard.