Thoughts on CO?

I'm originally from Kansas City, Missouri (lived there for 17 years) and have lived in Colorado (near Boulder) for about three years. I do NOT miss the craptastic midwestern weather, that's for sure. We have 300 days of sunshine out here, and the winters are actually pretty mild, contrary to popular belief. (At least I consider them mild compared to the ridiculous Kansas City windchills.) We definitely see cold spells and snow, but for example, today it is almost 60 degrees out, although it is supposed to snow tonight. The weather can be bipolar, but it's not horrendous like Kansas City. Summers are hot, yes, and very dry, but I'll take dry heat over the Kansas City humidifier any day of the week.

We have lots of hospitals in Denver; I'm just a student but it seems there's an opportunity for everyone out here. Plus, with your four days off per week, there's the mountains just a short drive away.

I also have a highly active, one-year-old German Shepherd dog who goes almost everywhere with me. We have amazing dog parks out here; something that Kansas City is definitely lacking. And of course there's all the open space and hiking trails. I definitely think my area, in particular, is quite dog friendly.

As far as the housing market, well, like everywhere, I think it's pretty much in the toilet right now--which makes it a great time to buy! I don't know much about Denver, but Boulder is insanely overpriced although you can find some nice stuff in the 'burbs depending on your price range and how big of a place you want. You'll definitely get way less for your money here then you would in Kansas City. It took me about six months of house hunting before I could actually tolerate looking at a price tag on a house and realizing what I could have gotten for that same amount in the midwest. It's kind of sick, but then again, this area has a lot to offer.

Hope that helps!

I live in Colorado Springs. I moved out here 3 years ago from Maryland, right outside DC. I do not care much for this area. It's very pretty and the weather is nice and there are lots of hiking trails. Colorado Springs does have a very conservative and very religious crowd here which is pervasive enough that I don't like it here. I'm not yet in the nursing field and find the job market outside healthcare is not great. The construction industry is seeing a lot of layoffs at current which is trickling down a little bit.

I love Denver. I find there is much more to do up there--resevoirs, parks, trails, a great downtown area, museums, shopping, etc, etc and the job market is probably a little better. We have two main hospitals in the Springs. Not sure about Denver but it's so spread out and vast that there are probably many. The Colorado Springs housing market is pretty decent as far as bang for your buck. But Denver is probably not bad as there are so many areas. Hope this helps some.

Hey there SLS7533. I'm with you on Colorado Springs. I moved out here from NJ almost three years ago and I'm struggling with this area. If we hadn't bought a house and my husband wasn't doing as well in his job, I'd be outta here. Very strange place. Trying to find my footing still. At least school is filling up my time!

If you want to see the opposite of Colorado Springs just drive 1.5 hours north to Boulder. Colorado Springs is so beautiful but I could not handle living there.

I will be moving to Aurora Colorado on April 2nd and am interested in working as an RN in LTC/Dementia care in that area...........I have 10 years experience. Would like info in both the good and bad.....you know ones to apply to and ones to stay away from.
Thanks

I was raised in Colorado Springs and would love to go back. However, I have reasons I stay on either the east or the west coast. I don't fit in with the conservative and highly religious areas. The weather in CS is great. I miss the hot summers. They're hot, but they are NOT humid which I experienced in NYC and it was awful. The winters are wintery and snowy. They're dry though, so not as bad. This year all my mom complained about was the constant snowfall and how she was tired of it. Apparently, this year Colorado was pulled out of their drought that they've been in for years with all the snowfall they've had this year. There is a ton to do outside. I miss heading to the rockies for a day of hiking....that is what I call hiking If you road bike like me, there is a lot of that out there as well. There's the short drive to Denver, Boulder and Vail. Not forgetting the other great cities in Colorado. Ie. Steamboat Springs, Cripple Creek (small mining town turned into gambling area)..
Hospitals I have looked into and sorry to say, are not a place I would like to work. Memorial Hospital. They pay $23 (now) for new graduates, they don't have a union and I hear the working conditions are deplorable. Anyhow, I wonder if things will change. I miss my parents and would love to be near my mom again. Although, I'm far too liberal/middle of the road in my thinking to be liked there. Kidding Focus on the family is there, so if you don't know, google it. You'll understand what I'm saying.
Anyhow...
I loved it, miss the summers and the thunder and lightening storms. Some of the best light shows I've seen in the country!

Good luck.

I've lived in more places than I care to count, but they include more than a decade in Michigan, a few years each in Indiana, Missouri, Texas, Virginia, New Mexico, and a horrid 14 months in Washington state. We've been in the Colorado Springs area for 6 months and, if I had my way and the Army didn't rule our lives, I'd never leave.

In 6 months I've gone without sun FIVE days and that's it. The snowfall where we live (different just 10 miles north I have learned) is piddly. I saw more snow in one winter in Missouri than I have here at this point in time.

While there have been things we've enjoyed about each place we have lived, Colorado takes the cake as far as we're concerned. After 3 years in Texas, we have said we would retire there. It's been 6 years since we moved away from Texas. After just two months in Colorado and a brief visit back to Texas, yea, we changed our minds and plan to make Colorado Springs our retirement place.

Everybody has their own things that they like or don't like. There is just no way to know what the area has to offer for you until you've been there.