Reflecting on a year in Colorado
Through a series of weird events and some good fortune, I found myself leaving my home of Texas to move to a place I’ve never visited and only heard good things about–Colorado.
It was a 2-day drive over 950 miles to leave home to our new home. And, it’s been over a year since that epic, memorable journey. I’ve learned a lot about myself and learned new things about myself from this move. And, the thing that I appreciate the most in living in Colorado is the sense of slowing down, enjoying the sights and greenery, and just enjoying exploring new places.
Altitude Adjustment: One of the most noticeable differences is the altitude. Many places in Colorado are over 5,000ft above sea level, which was a big shock to my system. The max altitude in Austin is around 1,000ft. The first month was not fun trying to figure out where everything is while feeling a bit light-headed or winded as my body was adjusting.
Climate Shift: Colorado’s climate is a big change from Austin. We actually get Winter here. It snows! It snows a bit too much at times. I had to learn how to scrape the snow off my car and how to drive in snow and ice. Then again, I do not miss the hours long, flooding thunderstorms and the constant unbearable humidity making most days feel like a sticky oven.
Outdoor Paradise: Even after driving to work, I still get taken back by the view of the Rockies. It really does look like a painting every time. It’s also amazing to see how many parks and outdoor spaces there are. One of my new favorite things to do is find a park to drive to and see what I can find while playing Pokemon Go.
Cultural Vibes: The cultural scene in Colorado is different from Texas in too many ways to count. I was really shocked to see such a large Korean, Chinese, Nepalese, Russian, and Jewish populations. There is a different mix of people here. But it’s been comforting to see how different yet interconnected everyone is–similar to life back in Texas.
Cost of Living: Coming from Austin, the transition here was not as much of shock as I anticipated. Sure, it costs more to live here and now I have to pay a State tax, but it also is cheaper to run utilities and a vehicle–cooler weather means less spent on running AC all the time. Plus everything near Denver is packed in close. Near our home there are multiple places to eat and get groceries. Food costs a bit more. But, I rather pay a bit more than spend the cost of gas/AC for 20 minutes during the some just to go to HEB.
I miss HEB so much. Over the past year I have seen a lot more people from Texas moving in. Hey HEB if your listening…I am just saying if there was just one HEB location here, yall, much like Bucee’s, would always be busy.