Why I like living here in Boulder, Colorado
Okay, so this is a bit afield from my day-to-day challenges as a single dad, but I look at this as optimism therapy. Ya good with that? i thought you might be…
Boulder, Colorado, looking West
We moved from the Santa Cruz mountains above Silicon Valley to Boulder, Colorado about seven years ago now, a bit after 9/11, though that wasn’t our motivation for moving. We’d loved living in the mountains and had a fabulous house on two acres, bordering a mountain meadow. It was quiet, peaceful and, well, not a good place to raise kids.
I fell in love with Boulder immediately, it was a perfect mix of college town and business, quaint, picturesque, with striking mountain views and all four seasons, mixed in with a whole lotta sun (300+ days/year).
The problem I faced for the first few years, just post the dot-com collapse, was that there wasn’t much in the way of business networking going on and the groups I’d researched and found before we moved, like the Internet Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Internet Keiretsu, all died within a year of us arriving. I swear, it wasn’t my fault!
The first two years or so were slim for me professionally, there just wasn’t much going on in the industry here and there was almost no startup/entrepreneur scene in Boulder/Denver that I could find.
Things gradually picked up, as new groups formed and the industry and economy began to improve again. Simultaneously we really were getting to know our neighbors well, the kids were integrating nicely into their school and our community and we were making friends too.
In the last few years our family has had a bit of a rough journey – and Linda and I are now divorced – but we’ve decided to stay in Boulder because we both still love the energy, the people and the physical setting of the city.
For me, the enthusiasm and zeal of the entrepreneurial community in the greater Boulder area, with breakfast, lunch and dinner meetups, meetings and lectures every week, is amazing. Lots and lots of great people thinking about how to improve things, how to save the world and how to have some fun in the process.
The Flatirons, Boulder’s most recognizable landmark
I wouldn’t be honest, however, if I didn’t say that there are three major problems I see living here in the so-called People’s Republic of Boulder: 1. the community is way too homogeneous for my tastes, 2. housing prices are insanely high, and 3. the granola bubble effect can drive me bonkers. Let me explain…
I used to work in downtown San Francisco and loved that at any given time I could see people from just about every possible ethnic and racial background, typically sitting at the desks or tables around me. In my circle of friends and acquaintances I had every continent represented, and I never recall walking into a restaurant, for example, and seeing just caucasians. Boulder is very different, it’s a very homogeneous community, and that’s one of its greatest weaknesses. But diversity is hard to accomplish when we have problem #2.
Problem #2 is, as I alluded to earlier, housing and general cost of living here. I have a 3bdrm townhouse, and it’s nice, but nothing amazing. Market value? Over $500,000. In this economy. What the heck? It’s very, very hard to get started living in Boulder for less than a huge chunk of cash or a tremendous mortgage, and I flat-out refuse to talk to my more distant friends who talk about buying 3000sf 1/2-acre houses for $150k or similar. lalalalalalalal I can’t hear you! More seriously, though, it is a problem and it’s a huge barrier to a much needed diversity of values and views.
Finally, there are times when the “crystal workshops” and “goddess seminars” and “alternative” stuff gets really old. A community that’s more concerned with prairie dogs than homeless people, more concerned with expensive house sightlines than low income housing, can get a bit weird. ‘nuf said about that.
Ahhh… a guy can dream, can’t he?
I’ve certainly toyed with the question of “if I could live anywhere, where would I go?” and short of the dreamy visions of a beach house in Hawai’i, there’s nowhere else I’d rather live and raise my children than here in the beautiful college town of Boulder, Colorado.
Yeah.. I have friends in boulder.. I did the Fort Collins thing.. Aurora, Denver, Thornton.. Silverthorne, Dillon, … I’ve played guitar at the Pearl Street mall just to see what it was like…
I dunno.. I kinda like the northern coast of San Diego County..
I do wish there were more shades on the faces around here, too..
Sometimes I really hope that, because I’m rather multi-cultural and I plan on taking my children a lot of places, that it can help compensate for hopefully raising kids here and living here the rest of my life. I’m still young and not sure where I’m headed, but it’s hard to think about leaving Boulder. Why leave? This place is great.
However, you have a lot of good points, and I agree quite a lot. Guess you can’t win ‘em all, though.
Let’s hope people don’t start throwing rocks at you from now on. You even sold your Prius, which makes you even more of an outcast.
Having lived in a melting pot like Los Angeles I have to agree with you on the homogenous issue. My wife is Persian and I love the cultural diversity in our house. I wouldn’t have found her in Boulder.
Without the University the town would be pretty much dead. Granola eating potheads and therapists would be all that’s left.
One of us needs to run for mayor. First course of action: We need some exchange programs with some sister cities from around the world to get some fresh blood into town.
Second: Limit the number of therapists to one per three citizens (right now it must be about equal).
Third: Install a temporary high emission power plant in the middle of the city. This will help to correct the real estate market.
All problems solved. Time to move on
I just started reading…so much goo reading here! I love it! Thanks!
Ahh, yes, we lived in Santa Cruz for 10 years, currently in Blacksburg Va and are moving to either Denver or Boulder. How do I decide? Any guidance – nervous about Denver, so big. Love Boulder, but worried about $$. Have 2 kids, 7 and 9. How are the schools. It would be great to bike more like I did in S.C. now have to drive everywhere. How does a gal decide?
Vicki, in the last year I have spent a lot of time in Denver and there is an extraordinary variety in the different communities there, ranging from the expensive modern areas to old, established communities that feel like 1950s midwest to scary tough neighborhoods that haven’t enjoyed any of the benefits of an up economy but are instead suffering even more from the downturn. In short, it’s like any midwestern city of a decent size.
The good thing about Denver, particularly when compared to Boulder, is that it’s very diverse both socially and economically. Go out in Denver of an evening and you’ll see a wide variety of races represented. Go out in Boulder and you’ll be surrounded by a sea of rich caucasians.
Boulder has very good schools, both public and private, while Denver is more mixed, with some good school districts and a fair number of poor communities with tougher, more urban school environments.
And housing price-wise? I believe that Boulder has the most expensive average home price in the state of Colorado. But there’s also a great range in housing and if you can accept that the baseline price is about $300k there’s a lot of variety at just about any range above that.
Best is probably for you to come out and visit both cities, Vicki, and see what ya think. We’d love to have you here, especially with your bicycle and children!
Dave you raise many (+/-)points that have been around since I got here as a wide-eyed college student many years ago.
I cannot argue with your first point. Having seen the town mature through time, it is becoming more culturally diverse.
Thought off the top of my head, could be a perception problem outside of CO. My coastal friends all think it is cold and snowy here. An inhospitable place to live due to the great skiing proximity. This is a phenomena that the CO tourism board eagerly promotes. Many culturally diverse people are not familiar with the truth and may not look further.
The cost of living issue is something that I have had to contend with as a recent grad desiring to stay in Boulder as opposed to moving to a nearby “L” town. There is a way if there is a will. The up side of this is that no matter what the economy is doing you can sleep easy knowing property values in Boulder only flatten out. I have yet to see a deflation in the market. Sure it sucks for noobies, but once your in you can move around.
Having said all that, what I really love about this town is that is like the “land of misfit toys.” 90% have come here from somewhere else and have colorful stories/past experiences. We are all glad to be here and to have found kindred souls. This realization sets up the unique environment where people are generally willing to go out of there way to help others. (‘cept on powder days).
Having pondered the ideal location I too come back to Boulder hands down. Problem with an island is you are limited to its geographic boundaries. At least in Boulder a short drive allows you to experience a different reality. (e.g. outside town limits)
Highest average home price in Colorado: Aspen.
I am very happy in the northwest suburbs (Arvada, specifically). Not a bad commute southeast to Denver or northwest to Boulder for either work or fun. Home prices are reasonable, Jeffco Schools good, crime rate low, and good ethnic restaurants and live music venues are close by, if you know where to look. Bike paths everywhere — it’s easy to bike or bike/bus to either Boulder or downtown.
The best part is a $900 mortgage that will be paid off in nine years.
Hi! I love that Hawaii photo above. I know exactly where that hammock lies on Kaanapali. I live on Maui, in a beach house on Front Street and am thinking about re-locating to Boulder or Denver. Since I have never been to these places I am completely unsure where to live. The grass is always greener I guess! I have lived on Maui for 4 years and love every second of it. But being a young professional its hard to grow and buy a home, etc. If you ever get tired of the mainland, Hawaiian living is the best!
Aloha
I have wanted to move to Boulder for years already but ended up in Plano Texas! I still want to move to Boulder I don’t like Texas, there’s not much to do besides shop and eat so all this information is great! I hope to move there sooner than later. I grew up in Northern Cali and love the Santa Cruz Mtns, so if you love Boulder I’m sure I would too.
Thanks for this post. My husband and I are desparately trying to move from LA to Boulder. We are so sick of traffic, smog, and high prices. Of course, there is still traffic and high prices in Boulder, but you people don’t know either of those until you live in LA. I love the West side of LA, particularly Santa Monica, but even a run-down 2 bedroom condo in SM will run you around 500K, so a 3 bdrm rundown house for 400K sounds great to me
And, I love the idea of biking everywhere. I so hope to make our dream of moving a reality this winter.
This is a great blog! I am too trying to get out of LA county. My boyfriend and I and our Weimerainer are looking to move. We live in the art/culture/music community of Long Beach, CA. We live two blocks from the ocean near downtown. We are renters with alternative lifestyles and jobs. I am a freelance photographer and he manages the most successful bike shop in the area. We are outdoor enthusiasts in our late 20′s early 30′s.. I run LB’s only bike advocacy organization. Biking education, policy, infrastructure… and awesome rides and events. recycle, compost, grow, eat, music… Any thoughts on how we would fit in in Boulder or Denver? Minus what all of you have mentioned in the previous posts (which are great!) Many thanks.
Bernadette
Thanks, Bernadette. I think you’d enjoy Boulder, but I worry a bit that your enthusiasm for bicycling would be no big deal here and it’d be very hard to create a popular bike shop as we already have so many really good options. We also have at least one bike advocacy group that I know of! Figure that out, though, and I’m sure you’ll be welcome additions to the ‘hood.
Hi Dave. Thanks for keeping it real! I don’t like sugar coating the realities, so I appreciate your input. Funny…You hit the head on the nail with your thoughts of me wanting to make difference in bike advocacy (or not
and Shawn does aspire to have his own shop. Do you mind answering a couple questions on the next reply?…you having such great first hand knowledge. Let me know, I have a few topics I would love to discuss and I really like your perspective thus far. Do you mind going into a little more detail on this part of your original post,
“Finally, there are times when the “crystal workshops” and “goddess seminars” and “alternative” stuff gets really old. A community that’s more concerned with prairie dogs than homeless people, more concerned with expensive house sightlines than low income housing, can get a bit weird. ‘nuf said about that.”
I feel like what your getting at is first: the “hippie, eco friendly, mother Earth” type lifestyle statements that are irritating at times. I practice that lifestyle but in the comforts and private haven of my house and personal world, unless people are interested in the topic, than I speak up. I guess I have a filter of sorts : ) I don’t need to make a big deal about it or preach to people, I just do it. Although, I do think it is important to join a community that thinks similarly on the subject.
Secondly: When you talk about “Prairie Dogs and house site-lines” Do you mean people have their priorities mixed up? Refocus on the important things?…
Anyway, thanks for your thoughts!
B
Hmmm… I think my main take on Boulder is that it’s a great alternative community and we have a great quality of life, but that sometimes it feels *too* alternative, clueless about the realities of the modern world and contemporary culture. Yeah, I think that worrying about the safety of field rodents is less important than the quality of education our children are receiving, and I think that while it’s important for our community to have a homeless shelter (unfortunately: it’d be nice if all those homeless people had homes) I don’t get why our shelter is one of the nicest – and most expensive – buildings in the city. Your views may, of course, vary!
What can you guys help me out on with renting apartments. I want to move to Boulder and teach elementary school. I know I could never buy a house. Ideas, price range and location are important.
Stacia, the best place to look for apartments in Boulder is Craigslist, I think. We have our own: http://boulder.craigslist.org/ The local papers to check are the Daily Camera (major newspaper for the city at dailycamera.com) and the Colorado Daily (CU’s campus newspaper at coloradodaily.com).
Beware of places on The Hill or near the campus: you could be in for a lot of noise and late night shenanigans, unless that’s something you seek! Generally as you go further east you’ll find prices drop, and anything walking distance to downtown is going to be a premium price.
My wife and I are looking to escape from Southern California. We have two young daughters, young enough to have very little attachments within Long Beach- except some extended family. Moving to Boulder is a new option being considered.
Our priorities are life style, cost of living and the education of our children. We understand that Boulder has a very dynamic range of outdoor activities and athletic opportunities. This we look forward to a great deal.
Being that this option is new, we have yet to determine if there is much of a difference in cost of living. Thus far I have read contradicting information. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Most online comparison tools require a zip code. Can anybody describe to me what their zip code is like?
As for the education of our children; we have embraced the Waldorf teaching style and schools, however we are not restricting ourselves either. Does anybody have experience/advise with this?
Thanks,
Ken
Thinking of moving my family to Boulder…lived in Napa…then Austin…now Madison…love all those places, but could use more sunshine and a more beautiful backdrop…got a multi-cultural family so afraid of homogeneity of Boulder…work for myself, so don’t want too big a mortgage…love the woogie vibe as long as it doesn’t go overboard…got kids age 10, 6 and 3, so schools are of primary concern…always lived in the hip part of town but willing to sacrifice hipness for square footage and good schools…any insight anyone can share would be greatly appreciated!
Great Blog! I came across this blog on a google search, looking for townhouses in Boulder Co.
I live in South Carolina at the moment. After visiting colorado last year and spending time in Boulder Co, my husband and I couldnt stop talking about how wonderful Boulder is.
It is like a perfect peice of heaven that was designed for just us! We are both big into road & mountain bike riding, snowboarding and many other great outdoor activities. Boulder offers all of that!
I am aware of the high housing prices and cost of living, but actually that is another reason why I love boulder. Currently living in South Carolina, I live in a nice house in a nice neighbourhood, my house does cost half of what houses in Boulder sell for. But here in SC I dont feel safe or happy, actually ever day is stressfull wondering if I am going to get robbed, house broken into, or my car stolen. A short trip to the grocery store is a headache! Although I have a good job, I work in a “bad area”. For my age I am at a much higher stress rate than I should be. So It doesnt bother me that I’m going to pay out the roof for a rundown house in Boulder, I would pay that price for serenity.
Spending only a few days in Boulder last year, walking around at night, feeling completly safe, and you can feel the electricity in the air down town, Boulder has a great vibe, and everyone I met was so welcoming and friendly! all my life stresses were gone, my mind was clear and free.
I like the fact that Boulder residents care more about the enviroment and its wonderful creatures than homeless people, call me selfish all you want, but if I wanted to be around homeless people and the ghetto, I would stay where I live in South Carolina.
Boulder Colorado, you will be my new home for 2011, and I can not wait to live there!
Jack, your family should be fine here in Boulder. While we have less cultural and ethnic diversity than I’d like, it is non-zero and my take is that if people want to be part fo the community, then the community opens its arms to those people, adult or child.
In terms of schools, we have a wealth of great schools, from the Boulder Valley School District to lots of private schools ranging from the artsy (Shining Mountain Waldorf) to college track (Boulder Day).
Dawn, I can appreciate what you’re saying too. There are definite pros and cons to socio-economic diversity and I do appreciate living in a town where I can have big boxes with Apple, Dell or Amazon logos emblazoned on the side just sit on my doorstep for an entire day until I get home, without wondering if it’ll walk off courtesy of a light-fingered neighbor.
I am SO glad I found this blog!! Like a few of you, I too lived in Santa Cruz, and graduated from UCSC as a proud Banana Slug! :+D I have been enthralled with the idea of living in Boulder, since I first looked into graduate schools.
Currently, my husband and I are at a crossroads. We currently live in San Jose, and are both very much ready for a change. We hate being married to our mortgage (although, it sounds like this might be the case if we moved out to Boulder), are tired of the rat race, commuting 2 hours a day, miss friendly people (like the ones I met when I lived in Santa Cruz and Monterey) and are looking for a better place to raise our children, ages 4 and 2. Our daughter will be entering kindergarten this fall, so we are trying to figure out our options.
And, like a few have mentioned, our family is multi-ethnic too. I am East Indian (born and raised in the Bay Area) and my husband is Caucasian. It sounds like there’s not much to worry about as far as racism or discrimination, but being that neither one of us have lived outside of the Bay Area, we are concerned about not being welcomed in a new community.
Let’s cut to the chase, though. Dave, or anyone else, can someone tell me what a realistic income a family would be able to live off of in Boulder? Our hope would be to able to live off of one income for the first year or so, while I work and my husband stays home with our kids to acclimate the kids to their new schools. I was contacted by a recruiter and need to get back to her on my salary requirements. I realize that the cost of living in Boulder isn’t as high as it is in Silicon Valley, but at the same time, it’s not as cheap to live in Boulder as it is to live in other nearby areas.
Any help that you could provide would be GREATLY appreciated! And I’m thrilled to have found this blog!!!
Yes, what a great blog!…and while I’m not talking about it right now, we’re big fans of attachment parenting…nice job on the blog Dave!
anyone care to recommend neighborhoods or a real estate agent?
nice blog posting!
Hi Dave,
I just came acroos your blog and am really enjoying it! I lived in Vail for about a year in 2000 and then moved back to CT after 9/11. My Dad lives in Longmont so I get out to CO once every year or two. I live in Fairfied County CT and am a private chef for a family in a town called Greenwich…..the land of all the hedge funders. I desparetly want to leave CT in the next two years and come back to CO. People there are so much more down to earth and pleasant then the east coast! I love boulder, it feels like home to me but am not cool with some of the politics. I totally agree about the prairie dog situation being a waste of time, money and energy! They are rodents for gods sake….that would be like people here doing the same thing for rats! Thats a bit over the edge for me! Prairie dogs are always going to be there, and if you kill them….well aanother family will soon move in. I do enjoy visiting the prairie dogs when i come out but can understand the rancers perspective too. I am surprised to hear that there is not much to offer for the homeless and hungry there! I am active in my community trying to donate food to the foodbank and getting involved with organiztions in CT helping the homeless. In the times we are in there are middle class folks eating at soup kitchens and living in shelters because they have lost their jobs or merly can’t afford to feed themselves, it is very sad. I am a chef and moved into the private sector because it is stable and more money then in the restaurnt enviroment. I need to move to a wealthy area so that i can be employed, where i live in CT is very wealthy and can support my profession. Is there that much money in the boulder area that supports my profession? Also, I am a renter, not interested in buying at this time, I am 34 with a dog and a cat. Are apartments pet friendly there? Here not so pet friendly.
Thanks for your note, Jen. I have never looked for an apartment here in Boulder, so I can’t really answer that part of your question, but yeah, I think there are definitely wealthy people here in Boulder who would be interested in a personal chef. I’d say you should focus on all-organic and alternative foodstuffs (like raw), and start thinking about whether you could use your own kitchen and deliver food daily/weekly to multiple clients, rather than a live-in situation.
since you mentioned it in your blog, you might not want to miss Hawaii in Boulder, coming in Sept 2010…check out the website, it’s going to be something else!!! aloha!
Just found this blog. I live in UK and my husband has just been offered a chance to relocate to Boulder, obviously MASSIVE move but we are really hoping it happens, and blogs like this encourage me even more! We have 3 young children (3yr old and 2yr old twins) and looks like a wonderful place to bring them up! So, fingers crossed we’ll be seeing you all soon!!
Awesome blog! I’m bookmarking it. I am considering applying to Naropa University next summer and am wondering if you know anything about it. According the the website, it’s tiny.
I’ll be a 26 year old grad student over the partying stage and into grassroots but in an intellectual way (like preferring education over prairie dog homes). I am currently a Texan and a little afraid of the snowy climate, but I’ve never actually tried it. Would I love it there? I went to college in Austin and loved it’s hippie feel, but I just don’t feel like I belong in Texas. Thanks.
Any ideas on homeschooling in Boulder?
Hi Dave,
nice blog!
What about a family from other country moving to Boulder? I’m on this situation now and there is an oppportunity for working in Boulder. Based on what I read here, I was wondering about adaptation of my children (different language) and cost of living. Any hints, recommendations?
Congrats for this blog.
hi i like your picture of the flat irons in boulder,colorado
i was wondering if i can use the picture for my school project
thanks chimi youdon
i can give you property rights if youd like
Dave,
I am interested in moving with my seven year old son to Boulder. I am looking for work and an apartment in a good school district. Do you have any suggestions for me to begin my search?
By the way, would love to hear more about co-parenting, especially if one lives in another country.
Thanks,
Monica
Dan, there’s a big homeschool community here in Boulder, actually, both families who are doing so for religious reasons and those that just believe in one-on-one lessons and group activities outside of the constraints of public school.
Yukio, I don’t think you’ll see any issues with your children being accepted by the community: the only issue I can recall in the last few years are some racist threats from a student at Boulder High, but my impression was that it was just kids being stupid, not a serious threat. The rest of the campus promptly rejected the racist sentiment, btw.
In terms of the cost of living, well, be prepared. Housing is pretty expensive in Boulder, no two ways about it. Depending on where in town you’d want to live, a relatively modest house could run $500,000 or more. Everything else seems to be pretty typical.
Chimi, go for it!
Monica, not sure how to answer that. What kind of work are you seeking? The paper of record is the Boulder Daily Camera and Craigstlist is also a popular place to find job listings. As far as I am aware (my kids are in a private school) Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) is considered a very good district. And co-parenting? That’s hard at the best of times, I would think that transnational parenting is super hard. I am guessing that your son is just about always with you?
And one more resource for you, Monica: The site http://www.thehomeschoolresourcestore.com/ is run by a Boulder-based home schooling mom too, and I can connect you two if you have any specific questions for her.
Dave,
I’m very thankful to have found your blog as well. My husband has been offered a job in Boulder and we”d be moving from Los Angeles.
Having lived in Berkeley/Oakland for a while, I did grow a little tired of some the “alternative stuff” as you paint in Boulder. What are your thoughts on nearby areas like Superior, Louisville and Lafayette or even Broomfield? Seems the schools there are good as well. Is it any less “granola” over there? Is it feasible, do you recommend it or recommend against it? Real estate prices are definitely lower, any insight??
Thanks!!
Pilar
i am interested in finding out more about the air quality in boulder. there are plenty of sights and facts but i am wondering what it is like on a daily basis as a local. do you notice the air pollution …have improvements been made?
Pilar, Boulder is definitely a bubble in terms of the organic goddess natural athlete culture.
I think you’ll find the surrounding communities have a lot less personality and verve, however, so it’s definitely a tradeoff.
Kristi, never really thought about air quality. My experience has been that I’m always glad to get back and breath the mountain air of Boulder after traveling.
Hi there,
We are a family of five and live in the north east my husband has always wanted to live in boulder since I met him. My only worry is that feeling of being land locked! I love the big sunny skies I lived in new Mexico for 9 mos long time ago found myself traveling to Mexico a lot to the water!
Arecthere enough lakes to subside the panick I feel?
Thanks!
Tasha, well…. uhm…. no, there aren’t really a lot of big lakes in the greater Boulder area. We have a small reservoir, but you have to pay to swim/kayak/hang on the beach, even if you’re a resident. There are some pretty nice lakes up in the mountains and a few in the greater Denver area, but I too really miss the ocean x100
I’m another LA chick trying to escape the high prices and go somewhere more funky. My guy is a musician/web designer and I work in advertising. I’m afraid I will miss living at the beach but I won’t miss the prices….
What a GREAT blog and sooo informative! We are a couple with 2 dogs, a Golden Retriever and a Boxer. Living in NJ, DC, and now NC we are looking for a “crunchier” area with great people and a good place to raise children and settle. We want to become business owners too. Is there hope for opening another Yoga Studio in Boulder? Denver? We are into biking, and hiking, and walks with our dogs. We love the summer and are afraid that CO winter might be a bit unnerving. We also want to be close to an airport for traveling. Being that we are from Puerto Rico we also would enjoy being accepted and interested in diversity. What do you think?
Shawnee, don’t be fooled: if you want to live in Boulder proper, the prices are not a lot cheaper than Redondo Beach / Santa Monica / etc. A typical 2-bedroom townhouse is at least $300K unless you want to be a few miles – or further – outside the city limits.
Mia, another yoga studio? Well, I think the key is to have a different spin of some sort: if you’re just going to do Bikram or some other “typical” yoga, you’re going to have a lot of competition from well-entrenched instructors. Having said that, I think there’s space, especially if you’d want to rent out your studio to other instructors when you weren’t booked up…
In terms of Colorado winters, they’re really not too bad. Typically we see no more than a week or two of sub-freezing weather, and even when we get a heavy snowfall it’s almost always sunny and melting away within 24-48 hours.
Finally, Puerto Rico? I think you’ll be warmly welcomed!
Hi,
I’m not a blogger though I’m playing one on here and what struck me is your Boulder photo front and center.
I grew up in a bubble of allergens and Asthma north of nowhere Minnesota then moved to Estes Park after I retired from a sport I now miss, and then rock climbed for years after that.
Now I climb in a gym like some tragic zoo animal.
Colorado is the only place I can breathe with no Asthma and allergies.
Lived out there for 13 years and am stuck in Milwaukee and now need to get out and back to Colorado.
Unfortunately humans live life is sets of comparisons and as much as I attempt to not participate in this, it’s just plain difficult when I’m living in the 2nd grayest city (next to Buffalo New York)in the states, 2nd most racist city (next to Detroit) and one of the most segregated cities in the states.
Depression here is quite high due to D3 deficiency and messed up minds of circular insanity run in steady flows.
I understand your frustration with belief based alternative world of crystals and “We are the Women of Wizard like Magic” cause I work in a scientific evidenced based field and talking to these people would sometimes feel like a nail was slowly being driven through my skull.
I also lived in Vail and Golden when my former husband was at “Mines” finishing his grad work which sadly unraveled the demise of our marriage once we left Colorado for a Chicago job 5 years ago.
My life turned in ways I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
Yeah I agree that Boulder is filled with a culture of dichotomies and here’s what I’ve learned since I’ve been away:
1. A city can only succeed when the very core of people who run the city are accountable for their decisions that involve both humans, other species and environment.
Anything less than 100% accountability will in fact be a set up for failure and this will be evident in the entire chain from utility companies, industry, business’s and finally families and how humans and other Earthlings are related to.
All these habits and patterns are then passed down to our kids; so choose and decide with deliberation and methodical logic based on facts where you’re gonna live and be assured that this will effect your children and their decisions of cognitive thought later on in life.
2. Milwaukee sits in the middle of much industry and here accountability is frighteningly low.
When it rains too much, the city simply opens the culvert doors to allow sewage to freely flow into Lake Michigan as oppose to backing up too much into peoples homes and streets.
Correcting this problem costs money and this city is far too busy repressing a lower social-eco class of darker pigmented skin humans by dumbing them down in a public school system that no longer retains school libraries and out-sources education to most anyone who can complete a 501C3 form.
3. Air quality here will always be a problem cause this part of Lake Michigan is an inversion which is exactly where the city was built.
The inversion traps Chicago and farm pollutants inside this vortex of Gotham City.
4. Factories can open and close without accountability to E.P.A. and O.S.H.A.
They simply leave their high volume of toxic cocktails behind then bolt to set up shop somewhere else.
5. Religion and state have no boundaries here cause charter and choice schools are mostly run by religious figures who use this program to recruit new members.
What I’ve experienced and witnessed here is just plain sad and deplorable in terms of accountability for anyone involved leaving no room for a joke.
I tried escaping Gotham City with my daughter in the summer of “09″ by moving to Santa Cruz right before Arnie declared his state bankrupt.
Had a house on the Milwaukee River and was flooded 3 times in one year.
A Frank Lloyd Wright House on 2.5 acres that’s now worth less than $190,000.
Lost everything including my standard of life that seemed a near illusion and I’ve promised myself I’ll crawl through broken glass to achieve and live this standard again.
Rented a house in Aptos bout half a block off the beach and watched myself swing on some pendulum back and forth between the 2 extremes I moved away from and was now living in.
Who woulda thunk it…that Santa Cruz and Aptos people actually drive multiple hours to work in San Jose waaaaay up that freaky winding hill for 8-10 hours and then repeat this pattern again?
I’m a simpleton and have zero abilities to negotiate complicated life such as this.
Which is harder? The rock or Michels’s head???
My daughter and I did all sorts of cool stuff in the summer and my former in-laws live in Santa Cruz so it was alright.
We grew closer and I faced my mirror in different ways then her older sister who’s now off in university in Israel.
I lived next door to the God-Dess house of hash where Berkeley post-docs procrastinated finishing their psych-cases so they can attend Burning Man on school loans.
Headed back to Milwaukee by reason of “familiarity” which can be euphemism for insanity then found my job to be extinct so now I’m in the middle of modifying my career and will be moving back to Denver/Boulder/Golden by next summer.
Northern Colorado region is the only place my daughters and I can breathe and this is the only place where I’ve been able to thrive in my life.
It’s quite impossible to place any monetary value on life in the mountains simply because the mountain is always there to remind us that our lives are fleeting and when we’re gone, the mountain remains static and unchanged.
My older daughter reminds me that I was happiest in Golden, and for a kid to have to reach back in their memory to when their parent was “happiest” is for me a most absorbing and prolific message.
I’ve taken up alot of space here and will stop blah blah blahing for now….
Your blog finally got me writing again….
I’ll struggle for awhile after we get back out there, but struggling to thrive is what used to keep me alive.
As oppose to merely functioning and yearning what’s it’s like to breathe again.
thanks Dave and everyone who’s contributed to this blog. This has been profoundly encouraging to me.
p.s.
Regarding vaccinations: Making informed decisions based on facts and logic is quite healthy, however be cautious of where you’re getting your information as well as it’s context and the accountability of the context.
What’s taken out of context in the link of DPT vaccinations is the other half of the information regarding efficacy which is 70- 90% with “Whole Cell” DPT. This information is absent in the link source.
Please quantify information in your links.
Reliable sources such as:
1. CDC.
2. NIH.gov
3. WHO.org
4. Bandolier.ox.ac.uk
5. Niigata University Japan
6. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00048610.htm
http://www.medicine.ox.ac.uk/bandolier/booth/Vaccines/noMMR.html
Scientifically speaking in terms of facts:
There’s only ONE disease that’s been “cured” and that is a simple bacterial infection that can be cured from antibiotics…..till the genius of a bacterial life viral life and even merging of both that’s been around for 4 billions years and is highly intelligent morphs mutates and forever changes to keep itself alive and thriving.
Seeing a child and children suffer with these diseases because parents chose not to vaccinate leaves an imprint in the mind that always remains. Likewise seeing in far less numbers a child suffer from a serious reaction from a vaccine leaves an imprint in the mind that always remains.
When virus’s and bacterias decide to remain doormat, it’s because they’re DNA is busy replicating and mutating itself to insure it’s survival.
Just because we come up with a portion of a killed pathogens structure only means that we stand a higher chance of not being permanently altered by that disease.
No one wants to see a child suffer not from disease and not from vaccine.
We cannot control much and much of our control is simply illusion.
We can only examine and evaluate then hopefully analyze the evidence before our eyes.
Great blog, Dave! I stumbled upon it while researching Colorado as place to raise my boys. I am currently living in south Florida and I am ready to run out of here. I actually cannot believe I have waited so long. Boulder seems like an amazing place-I love its beauty and the sense of progressiveness and conscientiousness. I am a single professional mom, Peruvian by birth, raising two wonderful boys. I love everything I hear about the school system in Boulder and the general feeling of community that seems to be part of this town’s great identity. I have one concern, however. I know there is a more open attitude towards drugs, especially marihuana. And while I am someone who believes the legalization of marihuana may be sensible, I don’t particularly want my boys exposed to widespread use. Of course, I am also concerned about hard-core drugs. I understand that we will find this anywhere. As a father, do you feel this is an area of concern? I would love to hear your input!
Thanks for your note, Patty. I have to say that Boulder definitely has its share of drug problems, including rich disenfranchised kids who have the time and money to get into trouble. Still, it all seems relatively benign compared to a lot of what I read about in major urban centers (including Denver). Ultimately I think that children need strong parents (including a Dad, though of course I have no clue about your own situation) who have a clear moral compass and talk with the kids about what’s right and wrong. So yeah, there’s probably the danger of drugs here, but that’s a parenting challenge, not a regional one. Good luck on your decision. Enjoy the beach while you can if you are going to move here!
I truly appreciate your input, Dave. I agree that strong parenting is the single biggest contributor to raising children of good character. Living in an environment where much attention is paid to material posessions, I thoroughly agree that sensible parental guidance goes furthest in offsetting some of the less than desirable societal values.
My boy’s dad is only peripherally involved (sees them about once every few months. But given his job portability I am encouraging him to come along and live nearby, nevertheless, as my boys do love the time they share with him and he is a great dad when he is around. He is also ready for a change, so hopefully he will decide this is a good move for him as well. If not, we may be moving much closer than CO.
It is great to hear your perspective. It rings so true and makes me feel more at ease with this issue. Boulder does sound like it would fit us like a glove. Thank you!
Nosara, Costa Rica (actually, ALL of Costa Rica) –where our family relocated to 5 years ago from Wisconsin–seems to have a lot in common with Boulder, starting with: it’s a place in which a lot of people seem to dream about living. Including me now!
It’s time to leave Costa Rica–boys are 12, 13 and 16. We love nature, the outdoors, the environment, outdoor activities. We’re casting about to see where in the US suits us now. Boulder has had an allure. But after reading your blog and others’ comments, I’m wondering if Boulder is maybe TOO similar to what we’ve just done–mono-culture, small community, more fauxgis than true yogis, everyone from somewhere else and with a story to tell (“the wanted and the unwanted,” as we like to say here in Costa Rica…). Thoughts, anyone?
Hi Dave,
Thank you so much for attending to the many inquiries on this thread. I’ll try to keep mine short and sweet and hope to hear back from you.
I am looking to relocate to Boulder. I live in Los Angeles currently and run my own freelance tutoring business. In LA, the need is great. I have a bustling, full-time business and a hefty waiting list. Parents are relieved to have an established, in-home tutor available to provide support for their children, both remediation and enrichment as needed. I wonder if a smaller market like Boulder could support my work? I plan to come out personally to investigate, but any feedback you have would be appreciated.
Do you think parents of elementary and middle school level children in your schools and districts would be interested in having a professional, accredited tutor (as opposed to a college student looking for part-time income) available for their students’ needs?
Thank you for taking the time to answer questions and to encourage so many nomads to explore your city!
Thank you so much for this site!!
My son and I live in W. Seattle, for now. He is on the autism spectrum and in a wonderful 5th grade inclusion program here at Schmitz Park Elementary. We have been practicing attachment parenting since he was born at home in Portland almost 11 years ago.
Because he’s been at Schmitz Park for the last three years, I’ve reassured him that he would finish his time there and then the next natural step would be middle school.
I am considering the possibility of attending the North American Institute of Medical Herbalism there in Boulder, starting next August and lasting for 1.5 years.
While I have considered having Noah stay here in the metro area with his dad and step-mother, I don’t feel it is the healthiest choice for Noah or our bond.
I read an article in the Denver Post dated July 25, 2010 that inclusion classroom programs would soon begin there.
Do you or any others have feedback on how this is going for all involved?
Thanks for any feedback and for advocating for our bond with our greatest teachers – our kids.
Hi Dave & and other readers! Well, my boyfriend and I just returned from a week long adventure in Colorado. Of course, we spent 3 days in Boulder, picking through it with a fine tooth comb, but making time to have many yummy beers on tap from Mountain Sun (brewery)! Dave, your information thus far has been right on! Your perspective turns out to be very similar to mine and Shawn’s. Not to trump you in anyway, but if anyone is curious about our adventure, let me know and I would be happy to share some other details that Dave has or hasn’t touched upon : )
Thanks for continuing this blog Dave!
**Also explored in our adventure was Louisville, Denver, Golden and Ft. Collins
Bernadette
Dave! Great blog and very insightful. Like so many other people, my wife and I are thinking about relocating to Boulder. We are in the coffee house/cafe business, as well as a marketing company. Can you give me your take on how those two businesses would do in Boulder?
Also, any other info on where to live- preferably rent/lease a townhouse and where a coffee house/cafe would do well, etc.
Thanks again for your blog!
Thanks for your note, Terry. At first I was thinking “another coffee house? In Boulder??” but then I realized that a coffee shop is about two things: culture and location. There are definitely a lot of coffee shops in the downtown area that have nailed both of them: I can think of six extremely successful and surprisingly different places all within five blocks of each other, for example.
On the other hand, the slightly further afield areas definitely have a lack of decent coffee, and they’d likely be less expensive to create because of lower leases and taxes once you’re out of Boulder City proper. So, yeah, I think there’s always space in the community for a new *good* coffee shop.
In terms of marketing companies, oh yeah, there are tons of startups and small to medium size companies that call Boulder and its neighboring communities home, and they’re always looking for new, cool, hip marketing help.
In terms of specific areas, you’ll need to balance what all us Boulderites do: desirability of neighborhood vs. cost. Oh, and let go of any idea of a nice ethnically diverse area. We don’t have any of them, unfortunately.
Quality blog indeed!
We (wife, myself, and 2.5 yr old daughter) have lived in South Florida for just 1 year already from LA, CA. Moved here to be closer to grandparents, but are not comfortable with Florida’s legislature/government, cultural misconceptions, laziness, and a sub-par education system that trickles through entire communities and back up the civil service system. There are upsides, but I am not here to make such a point.
We are seeking a place to raise our family, play outside, breathe a clean breeze, and continue my education.
With so much information willingly shared, I have but a few random questions.
1. What is the traffic like in Boulder?
2. How ofter per season does it snow?
Otherwise, I am kindly informed and we will be visiting in the spring…
speaking of, when would be the ideal time to visit in Q2?
Hi Aaron, thanks for stopping by. This is garnering quite a discussion isn’t it! Interesting to hear your experiences in South Florida.
In terms of Boulder, hmmm…. traffic is pretty light, but there are times it takes a while to get from one side of town to the other. There is a definite traffic pattern on Hwy 36 too, the main artery between Boulder and Denver: in the morning it’s every heading into Boulder, and in the late afternoon, the opposite, people going back to the “bedroom communities” and into the city.
Snow per season? Dunno. Seems like about a half-dozen storms each winter, but we get lots of sunlight (over 300 days of sunshine/year) so even when a storm comes through, within a day or two it’s sunny and things clean up. It’s pretty mild though, well, it ain’t the weather you’re enjoying in South Florida!
Best time to visit in April-June? Anytime could work great, it might be raining, but generally the weather should be lovely. You might check the community calendar at http://calendar.dailycamera.com/ to try and schedule your trip during a CU home game, a festival or similar.
Hi,
I too live in South Florida/Miami area, and my husband and I are tossing up the idea of moving to the Boulder area. We love the outdoors, and have lived in some of the ski towns in Colorado during the summer months.
I do love the diveresity in Miami, have lots of family and friends here, and find there is great work opportunity for me (I am a photographer/film maker). I haven’t seen Boulder yet, but I keep hearing pros and cons to living there. If anyone has relocated from Miami, I would like to hear how they like living in Boulder. I have two elementary age children as well, and I am looking for great schools. Thank you!
Thank you for the response Dave. It looks like I am pursuing a job offer in Denver. What should I be expecting in terms of commuter jamboree during the prime-time commute? G-maps claims 45 mins or so; could I use this as a rough estimate? Additionally, where in Boulder (very general and subjective, i know) should we consider renting until we gather our bearings that has a cosmopolitan vibe, great restaurants nearby, close to CU, and just an overall swell family neighborhood? If you have a few recommendations or none at all, I always appreciate your insight.
thanks again,
aaron
Hey Dave!
Fantastic blog!
I know you’ve been getting a lot of hits on this site, but I was wondering your thoughts on the the subject of massage therapy. I am a 23 yr old massage therapist from Hawaii looking for a change of pace. I’ve been told by several friends that I would love the Boulder atmosphere. However, Someone posted earlier that the ratio of client to therapist is almost 1 to 1. This post was almost two years ago. Has the ratio changed since then? I’m afraid I will be stuck jobless.
Thank you kindly for your time!
Hi,
I came across this site browsing for ideas as to what people are thinking of Boulder these days. I am close to a native – moved to Boulder when I was 3 until 18 then left for college and adult life. I haven’t lived in Boulder for 15 years, but feeling homesick and considering moving my family back! The home prices are high, but the sun and the quality of life seem priceless. As far as the hippy vibe, I think a lot of that has past. I remember the Rainbow Family gathering decending on the Pearl Street Mall in the 80s and 90s as kid, but also remember that Boulder High School raised money for sports by serving food for the Promise Keepers events! And, football was a big deal! A lot of times it felt like what I imagine Texas to be like! Because Boulder is in Colorado, there are a lot of right wing / fundamentalist Christians just around the corner. I’ve also heard about a surge in ESL programs in some schools. The University brings people from all around the world. Anytime you need some grittiness, head down to the 16th St. Mall in Denver!
I have been traveling around with a coed group of 6-10 other mid 20 year olds. We are all post college, looking for either grad school or full time work, and have decided to find a city we can all move to together. We are Huge music lovers, social workers, out door fanatics, teachers, and artist…so obviously our budget is very small Boulder seems too white (considering I currently live in Chicago) and far too expensive. Does Denver sound more like the city for us? Or somewhere in between? Any suggestions