When we were visiting with my sister, brother-in-law, and nephew in Seattle this last weekend, we had a number of conversations about nothing and everything. At one point on Saturday night, my brother-in-law asked Barb a simple question: "Do you like Colorado?"
We both immediately responded with a loud "Yes!", and that got me thinking about what it is I like about Colorado. I know that places like Seattle and San Diego have their charms; I love visiting the West Coast cities for their proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the great seafood restaurants. The East Coast has the grandeur of Manhattan and the historical charm of Boston. But at the end of the trip, I'm always glad to be back home in Colorado.
The reasons I love this state?
The long sight lines. What I'm talking about here are those many clear days when I can look from my office window and see Pikes Peak, over 70 miles away, or when I can practically see as far north as the Wyoming state line. In many places in the Eastern and Central U.S., sight lines are blocked by trees next to the road, so you don't get that beautiful long distance view of everything. In those areas where the trees are thinned out, you usually have hazy skies that keep the views to a short distance.
The climate. Most of the year, it's wonderful here! Some people think that we are always buried in snow, just the way that many people believe that it's always raining in Seattle. The truth is that we can have warm and dry days in the winter months, and cool days in the summer. It's not the Great American Desert here 365 days a year. Barb and I love to eat outside as much as possible, and most restaurants are willing to accommodate al fresco diners.
The beer. Between the megabrewers (Coors and Anheuser-Busch) who have facilities in this state, and the hundreds of microbrewers, I think we're one of the top brewing states in the country, if not THE top state. The Great American Beer Festival is in downtown Denver every fall and New Belgium has their Tour de Fat in multiple Colorado locations every year. What's not to love about beer?
The economy. Other than a period in the mid-80s when the oil and gas business was reeling, our economy has remained very strong. Right now, we have a lower-than-average unemployment rate, and the state is a wonderful location for tech startups. There seems to be an entrepreneurial spirit in Colorado that doesn't exist elsewhere. I think it's because so many of us want to be our own bosses so we can spend more time out in the wonderful countryside.
The people. Yeah, we have our whackos just as much (or more) than any other state, but for the most part people here are friendlier, happier, and nicer than the majority of folks in the many places I visit every year.
It's just a little bit wild. I love being able to lay in my bed at night listening to the coyotes singing. A few weeks ago we had a brown bear wandering through the neighborhood. We see deer, antelope, and elk on a regular basis. I can recall seeing a full-grown mountain lion from about 10 feet away when I was hiking in Boulder Canyon in college. There's a herd of buffalo living about five miles south of my house. That's just plain cool.
The mountains. My Dad, who grew up in western Washington state and Minnesota, spouts off that the only "real" mountains are those that start at sea level and go up from there; Mount Rainier is a perfect example. While those stratovolcanoes are impressive, I love seeing the Rockies rearing out of the Colorado plains into the skies. They begin subtly in the foothills just west of my house, then pile up in impressive form for about 250 miles until they shrink down into the high plains of Utah to the west.
The lack of oxygen. Even on a 100-degree day, if a little bit of wind stirs things up, you get that feeling that you're at altitude. It cools off quickly most nights in the summer, and it's fun to drink flatlanders under the table since we're used to the effect of altitude on alcohol consumption.
The conservatism. Except for the City and County of Denver and Boulder, most of the rest of the state is moderate or conservative. That's another reason why I tend to have conservative leanings; I grew up with it. If you ever wanted to draw a line in the sand between the liberal whackos and the rest of the state, you'd probably draw it at County Line Road, just about a mile north of where I live. Many Coloradans are of the "Republican in name only" camp, and would rather have as little government as possible. Robert Heinlein, one of the godfathers of Libertarianism (although a "flaming liberal" in his youth), lived in Colorado Springs for many years with his wife Ginny.
There are probably a hundred more reasons why I love this place. Every time I walk outside or glance at the mountains, I'm reminded why I want to live here for the rest of my life. I know it sounds stupid and trite, but John Denver's famous song "Rocky Mountain High" captures a lot of the feelings in the lyrics...
...the shadow from the starlight is softer than a lullaby...
...talk to God and listen to the casual reply...
...I know he'd be a poorer man if he never saw an eagle fly...
I could go on for another thousand words, but let's just put it this way; once you've lived in Colorado for a while, it just gets into your blood, your heart, and your soul.
Saturday, June 27, 2009 at 4:17PM |