Colorado

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Gentelmen,

My wife and I have been very seriously considering moving to Colorado, likley the Colorado Springs area.

Can any of you fine folks from Colorado give me a quick and dirty run down on the gun laws in there? I'm born and raised in Kalifornia and this once fine state is circling the drain. So since we are looking to put down roots and start a family, Colorado is looking enticing.

Also, how welcome are Kalifornians in Colorado?

Thanks for any insight.

PF
 
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Gentelmen,

My wife and I have been very seriously considering moving to Colorado, likley the Colorado Springs area.

Can any of you fine folks from Colorado give me a quick and dirty run down on the gun laws in there? I'm born and raised in Kalifornia and this once fine state is circling the drain. So since we are looking to put down roots and start a family, Colorado is looking enticing.

Also, how welcome are Kalifornians in Colorado?

Thanks for any insight.

PF
 
I cant speak for colorado, but we moved here to utah from california four years ago. These days I think it isnt much of a factor where you are from as it seems everyone is from somewhere else anyway.
We did have a interesting conversation with a girl friend a few days ago. She seemed surprised that we are republicans as she thought everyone from california were democrats!
I know that some places like oregon are slower to get with the program and years ago I also experienced biggitry in the south, texas etc, but its getting to be a thing of the past.
The funny thing is that when I moved to california from wisconsin in 1965 it was hard to find a native californian that was really born there!
Its like you tell somebody that you are from california they right away imanage you are from LA, frisco, (or san clemente) and dont seem to realise just how much desert and rual country there is there!
By the way I had a aunt and uncle that ran the park cafe in south san clemente since war two. Its that small bike shop now.
 
Sir, click the link for FAQs on Colorado gun laws. http://www.rmgo.org/faq/

Colorado Springs is a funny place. Politically, what Boulder is to the Left, The Springs is to the Right. (That's not necessarily a good thing.) Lots of pretty country close by, good airport, easier traffic and slightly lower cost of living than Denver. I don't know what the job market's like there lately.

There are Coloradans who don't like Californians. There are Californians who are hard to like. Shrug. Be nice and you'll get along fine.

BTW, I spent a bit of time in San Clemente when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton. Nice place in those days.

Hope this helps, and Semper Fi.

Ron H.
 
...Colorado Springs is probably the most conservative large city in Colorado...the state unfortunately took a left turn in the last election...Democrats now control both state houses and the Governors office. Many here blame that on the number of Californians that have moved here...there are A LOT...change your license plates quickly and don't mention where you're from. The gun laws have always been favorable here...that may change if the political climate doesn't...below is a link to the current laws...

CLICK HERE



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Many here blame that on the number of Californians that have moved here...there are A LOT...change your license plates quickly and don't mention where you're from.

++1 on that.

I moved to Louisville, Colorado (just outside Boulder) in 1987, for a job offer. Change your plates as soon as you are able. We get blamed for everything (justified sometimes) and the cops will love to pull you over. I lasted three winters and then remembered why I left Montana.
Colorado is an absolutely beautiful state, especially up near Estes Lake and Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park.
One of my biggest thrills was picking my kids up at middle-school and saying to myself, "my God, look at all those tow-heads!"

Bruce
 
I don't live in Colorado. I just visit it every year, sometimes more than once. If I didn't have so many grandkids where I live, I'd move. I've loved the place since we went on vacation there in 1965. But realities of life sometimes keep you from doing things you want.

Out on I-70 there used to be a sign "Don't Kalifornicate Colorado." If you show lefty leanings, most people there will hate you. The Springs is home to a huge number of Air Force personnel. It does flavor the town somewhat. On any Friday afternoon, you also see a lot of locals abandoning the place, heading up thru Woodland Park and heading into the mountains. For whatever reason, Pikes Peak doesn't seem to qualify. They head west toward Bueny (Buena Vista without a mexican or spanish flair.)

Most people in Colorado are open minded. Right up to the point where you try to change how they live. Then they'll hate you. Texan's are often disliked because in economically depressed places, they are offended by $100 bills being tossed about.

One of my favorite Kali/Colorado migrants story's was from about 24 or 25 years ago. A friend who I'd met several times was missing from our annual spring jeeping event, but his brother was there. I asked about him and was told he was moving. He'd worked for Lockheed since the early 1960s. He had the American dream. He and his new wife got a nice house in Kali and a good job. She left him, he got the house.

Over the next 25 or so years he'd dutifully made the payments. Worked at his job and kept to himself. He'd noticed his neighborhood changing, but didn't pay a lot of attention to it. Then one day he was out in his drive, wrenching on his ratty old Jeep. Up pulls a guy in a big glitzy Caddy and wants to talk to him. He told my friend "the neighbors wanted me to talk with you about selling and moving."
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Kind of an offensive start, but looking up the street he realize everyone else had foreign cars, expensive ones. Then the point was made that he was the only "non-professional" person living there. He drove a ratty old pickup truck and a worse condition Jeep.

He was vaguely aware he'd paid $30,000 for his house when he got it, only had a couple of years left to make his outrageous $100 a month mortgage payments, and wasn't planning on anything changing. Well, except he was eligible for his retirement and a buyout.

So instead of crowning the real estate agent with his ratchet, he asked him what he was offering. The agent said with a little luck, they should be able to get at least $600,000 for his property! So he said he needed to think about it for a week or two. Then he took vacation, and headed to Colorado.

He ended up buying an unfinished street! A builder in Junction (Grand Junction) had gone belly up with one finished house and 4 or 5 in various stages of work, with about that many more lots untouched. Kind of a swap, Kali for Colorado. He retired and worked on his other houses. Sold them at very nice profits.

Haven't seen him in a few years. Guess I need to spend some time this summer looking.
 
Gents, thanks for the insight. The last couple of times I was in Denver for work (many years ago), I remember seeing the "Don't Kalifornicate Colorado" signs everywhere. Thanks again.
 
Grew up there and hunted/fished all over. Stationed at Carson during the late 70's early 80's. Colorado Springs was and probably still is a drug-hub. If I ever moved back it would be away from the cities (Denver, Pueblo, Colorado Springs) and away from the ski areas.
 
There are lots of great places to live in Colorado, but Colorado Springs isn't considered one of them.

You might consider a couple of weeks visiting the area before you make up your mind. There are reasons that housing seems to be "below market" there. If you have to work, the front range is your biggest draw. If you're retired/ semi-wealthy, look further west.

FWIW, the military presence there is primarily from the Army-Fort Carson.
 
My sister used to live in Littleton and now lives in Bailey. They love it. I love it too and go out there whenever I can.

If you're serious about moving, consider renting for the first year until you really get your bearings. You'll have time to look around and really get to know places, prices, schools, etc.
 
lived in the springs 1963-1965 while stationed at fort carson.the springs was the place tolive population at the time around 80,000 today its around 400,000not the same place.go back every year for vacation.my choice today would be Woodland Park Co about 30 miles west of the springs or Canon City Co about 50 miles south of the springs both small cities
 
Originally posted by BarbC:
My sister used to live in Littleton and now lives in Bailey.

Interesting, Barb. I have two very good friends who have moved into that region over the last 2 years. One in Conifer (up on top of the mountain)and the other in Bailey. This year they're both complaining about the lack of snow!

Some things I'd like to do: Hike to the airplane wreck (google wreckchasers) on the north side of 285. Also live there for a few summer and fall months. The entrance to Red Cone peak is right there, and then on to Radical Hill. Also the view from the top of North Twin Cone is great.

The Baily and Fairplay Flume is an interesting newspaper. One columnist has a weekly hike, complete with GPS coordinates.

The Hike I'd like to take is up one of the small knobs south of Bailey, out on the ranchland. Maybe someday..... No one I know is willing to walk that far, or up that much.
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Back in the 90's I interviewed for a job in Colorado Springs. Was offered the job. On the way to and from the airport, I asked each cabdriver how it was around there. The one fact they said that stuck with me was because of Carson and the Air Force Academy, etc. around there the jobs for spouses was limited, tremendous demand, and turnover due to transfers, and low pay for the spouse type positions, male and female. That and other reasons not related to Colorado Springs led me to decline.

When I lived in California a neighbor up the road was a professor in accounting @ Cal Poly, Pomona. His wife was a private accountant. They moved from Running Springs CA., to Evergreen I believe, in the mountains above Denver. After a year they moved back to CA. The only thing I heard that made sense about moving so quickly was they ran into some friction from the locals? Only hearing one side always made me wonder, if they and the locals disagreed with hearing how CA. was great, better, etc. or something else.

As others have stated, if you do move, don't compare vocally to everyone about your previous place, change your plates as soon as you can, and give it a good honest chance.

Moving around a lot chasing various construction and design projects over many years, all around the country, I found that if you give a place and locals a fair chance, you can find a happy life anywhere, if you don't try, then you will be miserable in paradise.
 
My brother in law was a cop in monument colorado, about 10 or 15 miles north of colorado springs. He retired a year or so ago.
We drove back from there a few times through south central colorado. Sure is pretty.
 
Originally posted by feralmerril:
I also experienced biggitry in the south, texas etc...

Bless your little pea pickin' heart! The boys don't usually pick on yankees that's just passin' through. You didn't happen to give them any reason to believe that you were planning on staying did you? If so that would explain it.
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Smitty
 
to Evergreen I believe, in the mountains above Denver. After a year they moved back to CA.

...a lot of Californians don't do well driving on snow and ice...if they survive their flight over the cliff and down through the trees...some reconsider and go back to the coast...



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Smitty, I am from wisconsin, but when I worked down there I was a foreman for a company out of new york. At the time I had never even been to new york, but my company truck had new york plates. I once was pulled over in richmound/rosenburg area, not even for a ticket, but cop told me if he seen me in that area again he would jail me! I will admit I happened to be driveing in a "red light" section! That was back in 63 about same time kennedy was shot.
 
..a lot of Californians don't do well driving on snow and ice...

Running Springs is at 6000'+, and the commute up and down the mountain everyday to work in the lower elevations,taught them how to drive on curves, snow, rain, sleet etc. Still think it was the Colorado people got tried of hearing how it was better in CA.
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Also experienced similar sentiments about people from CA. when I moved to Oregon + the fact the locals complained that the ready cash Californians had drove up the real estate prices, etc.

People have to learn to find the good in areas when they move there, or keep their feelings to themselves, or leave.

"Evergreen has an interesting newspaper, too. You know what they have we don't? Mountain Lion stories!!!!

http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/c...90317180351036036036

From this weeks edition!"

Dick, lots of places have mountain lions
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, it is just that Colorado admits it!
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The DNR in many states says no mountain lions, even when they see the paw prints and then pictures!
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