Colorado And Wyoming Trip

ClassicRockr

ClassicRockr

Well-known Member
First, use to live in Colorado, apt. in south Englewood and then a house in Parker (28 miles south of Denver) from mid 2002 thru Oct 2007. Sold the house and left due to falling in ice and snow in house driveway. That fall required rotator cuff surgery. Never gave it a thought that either of us could fall wherever we moved to, and, by golly, we have both falled right here, with not snow or ice contributing to it. My fall required a rotator cuff surgery on my other shoulder.

Anyway, wife and I have been thinking about moving back to Colorado for the last couple of years, but a boat repair cost last year, stopped us from moving this year. We have been packing some things, like all of our pictures on the walls and doing some repacking as well.

Decided earlier this year to take a week of vacation and check out northern Colorado as well as go to Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. The trip was nice and the lack of humidity made it GREAT. We have been living in Jacksonville, Florida since January 2009. Been thru some tropical storms plus Mathew and Irma hurricanes.

Found out that there are plenty of Seniors that live in northern Colorado aka Loveland/Ft Collins area. We knew, in our minds, that we missed certain things about Colorado, but after seeing lots of corn fields, being able to wear our cowboy hats (and not be looked at oddly, like here), seeing Bull Elk Crossing warning signs on highways and roads, seeing Carter and Boyd lakes, going to the rodeo and on and on, we basically knew we HAD to move back. Jacksonville, Florida or the South, just isn't for us. There are those here that pretty much think we are nuts for wanting to move back to snow/ice and then there are those that understand why we want to.

So, will keep packing up things. Hopefully have a community garage sale this Oct or the Goodwill is really going to get some stuff, do more apartment research online as well as boat storage and regular storage and drive our Durango to either Loveland or Ft Collins to live.

Anyone here ever live in Colorado or Wyoming? BTW, I spent about 20 years with pro-rodeo as a roper. Cowboy hat or baseball cap and Wrangler jeans are just part of my attire, as it is my wife's.
 

I think I've mentioned that I grew up in Denver....born on a farm near Ft. Morgan, then my folks moved to Denver, where I spend all my childhood/teenage years. I've got relatives all over the Front Range, and were it not for having all my immediate family here, in Missouri, now, I would strongly consider moving to Colorado. Loveland would be among my first choices.
 

I envy you. I searched there for apartments 2 years ago in the northern suburbs and Loveland and never found one that was affordable with enough space for me. But if you have a larger budget than go move. The market is very tight and if you have a pet, prepare to pay more. I didn't like all the wood frame buildings and large condo communities (they are in Florida also except they are stone) that every building is identical.
I didn't see anyone with a cowboy hat or western clothes. I love Colorado, mainly for the mountains, but my health deters me from much hiking,
 
We took Toll Road E-470 around Denver when we went to Parker and back up to Loveland. Didn't go thru Denver at all. Parker has changed pretty dramatically. The two-lane main street thru Parker, is now a 4-lane and appears to be lots more houses in Parker than when we left in 2007. Definitely more traffic! Our house is still there and the development looks very nice. The development is run by an HOA that keeps the properties looking very good. Never had a problem with the HOA.

The Toll Road E-470 is being redone from the I-25 down thru Highlands Ranch. Took some driving skill to maneuver on it, but I did it. Got around Denver and onto the I-25 and all of a sudden, traffic started backing up. Thought it was "off work at 3PM" traffic, but nope. It was a monsoon rain! No thunder/lightning, but what a downpour. Wipers going full blast and going about 5 mph with darn near zero visibility. Was an accident on the southbound side, but the Colorado State Patrol couldn't even get out of their vehicle. It was reported that the rains really helped on the remaining fires in Colorado.

The CFD rodeo was ok. It would have been better if the rough stock riders would've rode better and much better times in the timed events. Not only that, many more folks there that had never been to a rodeo and probably won't go to another one. Some of the ladies in the stands were turning their heads back when some of the events started. A young lady in front of us was doing just that and leaving her seat often. Her girlfriend told me that she is an animal lover and pretty close to being an Animal Activist against rodeo. I was told the only reason she went is because her boyfriend likes rodeo. But, she sure didn't and anyone could tell that.
Numerous folks in shorts and tennis shoes, while the "real" rodeo fans were wearing cowboy hats, Wrangler jeans, Ariat or Justin Hiking Shoes or Roper boots. I had to give my old Ariat Lace-Up Ropers to the local Goodwill, because, after having them for over 18 years, they were just too tight on my feet. Ended up buying some very cool looking Ariat Hiking/Walking Shoes that felt much, much better on my feet. Got them at Ft Collins Boot Barn.

Another thing here...….don't know if it's due to the legal MJ, that we didn't smell at all or see any stores that sold it, or what, but cities along the Front Range have really increased in population. Years ago, Loveland had a population of around 13,000, but today it is 76,000 and Ft Collins has gotten some what populated as well. The population explosion didn't hit the towns on the Eastern Plains areas, like Buyers and Strasburg, but along the Front Range...…...WOW!

But, people do drive much better there than here and somewhat more courteous. It was strange, but very, very nice to drive in.
 
Victor said:
I envy you. I searched there for apartments 2 years ago in the northern suburbs and Loveland and never found one that was affordable with enough space for me. But if you have a larger budget than go move. The market is very tight and if you have a pet, prepare to pay more. I didn't like all the wood frame buildings and large condo communities (they are in Florida also except they are stone) that every building is identical.
I didn't see anyone with a cowboy hat or western clothes. I love Colorado, mainly for the mountains, but my health deters me from much hiking,
Click to expand...

The western attire isn't as popular in Loveland as it is in Ft Collins...…..we noticed that. But still, Loveland has some, whereas Jacksonville has NONE. Ft Collins also has Centennial Livestock Auction right next to the I-25 and Ft Collins can be much more "western" than Loveland. Actually, there is a pro-rodeo going on at the Bud Center in Loveland this coming weekend. It's part of their Larimer County Fair.

On the Saturday we arrived in Loveland, we drove up to the Sundance Bar & Restaurant in Ft Collins. Definitely western wear in there! The Boot Grill in Loveland would be a nice Friday or Saturday night outing also.

BTW, I didn't buy the Ariat Hiker/Walking shoes for hiking. Bought them, because they go very good with Wrangler jeans or shorts. Seen some guys my age and older wearing them at the rodeo.

There are apts. in Loveland that were above our budget, but did find one that was right at it and it was nice looking and in a nice area, just a block south of Eisenhower Blvd and Wilson St.. From a Ft Collins app I have (The Coloradoan), we will investigate apartments online.

There are some medical things, like a colonoscopy for both of us and cataract surgery for me, we will get done before our move. After our move, I will no longer be on Medicare or my supplement and drug plan, I will be back on VA Medical fully (to save us some money).
 
Hoot N Annie said:
Sounds like you had a good trip! Hope it works out for you.
Click to expand...

Even with the winter months, we think it is much better than where we live now. Can't say we didn't try to live here and give the area and Florida a chance, because it's been almost 10 years since we moved here. Actually, we made a mistake in moving here. Should have never left Colorado in the first place, but...………

Florida isn't for everyone, except for those that have a summer home somewhere else. Thing is, not all Seniors can afford that lifestyle or even want to. Just like not all Seniors can stay on the same job for years upon years and get a nice pension per month for doing that.

The Rocky Mountain States and High Plains States aren't for everyone either. As for us, we love driving down the freeway, or even a county road, and see fields of corn, wheat and soy beans growing. Seeing rolled bales of hay in a field or a cattle hauler drive by.

It's a totally different atmosphere there than here. I truly believe that 99% of Florida people would never/ever move to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, the Dakota's, Nebraska or Kansas.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top