Move to Colorado or Arizona?

[theMayor]

Californians move to Colorado and don't try to assimilate. Instead, they are trying to turn Denver into "Little L.A." That's why they are hated.

Oh, and 98% of the cars in accidents on Colorado highways in the winter have Cali plates.

 

[Gunslinger-13]

I'm actually curious why you think this. Most people who move out of California do so because they don't like what it's become (or becoming) and they share the same political philosophies as the places they move to. My friend who gave Colorado a go leans pretty far to the right (anti-tax, pro-2nd Amendment, etc.).

Admittedly, I was painting with a broad brush, something I don't regularly do.

However, I've been experiencing what Californians have been doing to Colorado for quite some time. And it really sucks.

Sure, there are folks who share CO values, moved here for them and assimilate, but they are definitely the minority.

I see it EVERY effing DAY, literally. Hear the BS progressive nonsense about how CO needs to do this or that to "catch up with civilized places like CA or NY..."

My "representatives". Ha! When people like Michael Bloomberg can inject millions into the coffers of my "representatives" to get them to vote on bills that the majority of the state doesn't want- they aren't representing me.

When the people from CA vote and get involved in local politics in CO it is NOT anything resembling Conservative or even Libertarian principles, it's not even Liberal- it's progressive nanny state socialist light nonsense that has no place in America let alone CO.

I don't have the time to write everything I e seen and heard from the morons who move here from CA, NY, the Mitten, Pennsylvania...

Suffice it to say there is a very reality based and valid reason CO natives are pissed off and not ashamed to let others know- it isn't ignorance or hate or bias like some will posit- it is purely a reaction to the perversion of our once great state our way of life and pride in our home.

I've got several friends who moved from CA who are conservatives and pro 2nd amendment and mostly assimilate to CO way of life, but they still have some CA retarded political indoctrination baggage they brought along and it is tiresome.

Not to mention the crime that has migrated here from other states. It's bullshit.

I'm super friendly to everyone until they give me a reason not to be, every transplant I've come in contact with, including the ones I've befriended- says dumb shit about this state versus where they came from and it is insulting as FVCK- but just fine and dandy to them and shouldn't bother the natives for some reason.

 

[No Name]

"...hated.

Yup...

 

[BrianSD_42]

Seems like everyone in Colorado wants to keep everyone else out.

"Hey bro, sounds like an intersting plan but you should consider moving to X instead"

 

[5ontheFloor]

Seems like everyone in Colorado wants to keep everyone else out.

"Hey bro, sounds like an intersting plan but you should consider moving to X instead"

Its like tx, we dont want anymore people its too crowded esp Austin

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[AKmoney]

I've got several friends who moved from CA who are conservatives and pro 2nd amendment and mostly assimilate to CO way of life, but they still have some CA retarded political indoctrination baggage they brought along and it is tiresome.

I'm not sure if it was your intent or not but the strong language in your post goes a long way towards validating one of my friend's observations about people from Colorado:

narrow minded people? most Coloradans perceive CA as hell, even though they've never lived there or eve been there. they all blindly [and wrongly] assume that our lives must have been miserable there.

One of the cultural differences I've noted over the years comparing people from CA to people from states like CO and TX is that CA natives show very little sense of pride. We don't get all bent out of shape if someone from out of town disses us or our state. In fact, we may actually agree with them, but overall we're usually too busy enjoying our year-round 70 degree weather to care.

My own personal take: The political situation here is insane. Our governor just shoved a new gas tax hike through the legislature. A gallon of gas here was already a buck a gallon more than in Arizona and now it's gonna be even higher. This is a problem, but it's not so serious for me that the situation is dire and I need to pack my bags tomorrow. I still make more money here than I would anywhere else in the country, enough to more than compensate for the way the government here taxes it. I just like to keep my eyes open for potential places I might want to wind up later in life once I decide to check out of the rat race. If and when that happens, I'll probably wind up being one of those stupid ex-Californians driving up real estate prices wherever I wind up. Sorry about that.

 

[RedSled]

Admittedly, I was painting with a broad brush, something I don't regularly do.

However, I've been experiencing what Californians have been doing to Colorado for quite some time. And it really sucks.

Sure, there are folks who share CO values, moved here for them and assimilate, but they are definitely the minority.

I see it EVERY effing DAY, literally. Hear the BS progressive nonsense about how CO needs to do this or that to "catch up with civilized places like CA or NY..."

My "representatives". Ha! When people like Michael Bloomberg can inject millions into the coffers of my "representatives" to get them to vote on bills that the majority of the state doesn't want- they aren't representing me.

When the people from CA vote and get involved in local politics in CO it is NOT anything resembling Conservative or even Libertarian principles, it's not even Liberal- it's progressive nanny state socialist light nonsense that has no place in America let alone CO.

I don't have the time to write everything I e seen and heard from the morons who move here from CA, NY, the Mitten, Pennsylvania...

Suffice it to say there is a very reality based and valid reason CO natives are pissed off and not ashamed to let others know- it isn't ignorance or hate or bias like some will posit- it is purely a reaction to the perversion of our once great state our way of life and pride in our home.

I've got several friends who moved from CA who are conservatives and pro 2nd amendment and mostly assimilate to CO way of life, but they still have some CA retarded political indoctrination baggage they brought along and it is tiresome.

Not to mention the crime that has migrated here from other states. It's bullshit.

I'm super friendly to everyone until they give me a reason not to be, every transplant I've come in contact with, including the ones I've befriended- says dumb shit about this state versus where they came from and it is insulting as FVCK- but just fine and dandy to them and shouldn't bother the natives for some reason.

You are so caught up in the hate, it's hard for you to distinquish between the good people and the bad. Just because some folks come in from out of state does not mean they are bad people, true maybe they don't think like you, and i for one am glad they don't. I lived and worked, and paid taxes in Colo. For 11 yrs. yes i moved there from Cali. I loved it there, i had a house in the mountains, and had two children there. I never had a problem with any of the locals, so i am guessing i never met you. Life is short my friend, let some of the little shit go.

 

[Gunslinger-13]

Yes, finally you intellectuals in CA are getting it! Let's run with it!

Everyone in CO is a close minded hateful bigot redneck a-hole. The weather sucks! There's nothing to do! It is a terrible place!

Now tell all your friends and families this please!!!

 

[MtnT4R]

Seems like everyone in Colorado wants to keep everyone else out.

"Hey bro, sounds like an intersting plan but you should consider moving to X instead"

The population of Eagle, CO has tripled since 2000. Its an unstoppable flood that is destroying the character of the area in pretty short order. What was once primarily a ranching community is now indistinguishable from a denver suburb. The original inhabitants have almost no say in the new order and the direction of the town because they are effortlessly outvoted by 2/3 of the population that completely rewrote the demographics in only 17 years. I'm not sure anyone would like to see that happen to their home, regardless of where you live.

This is a story being replicated all over the state, and I don't know any natives or long time residents that are actually happy about it. Would you be?

 

[RedSled]

Lets face it guys, people need a place to live, the population keeps growing, and for right now we only have one planet to live on. Maybe a large meteor will strike the earth and wipe out half the population, but until then if my choice in relocating is Chicago, Detroit, or Colorado, guess were i'm going? But really, its happening all over. Things aint like they use to be, so suck it up Francis.

 

[Johnson51]

I grew up in Phoenix, lived in Flagstaff through college, and moved to Denver for the last 5 years.

Phoenix is very large and has anything one could want, plus its a good jumping off point to most anywhere. 7 hours to San Diego, 4 hours to Rocky Point Mexico or Las Vegas, 2 hours to Flagstaff... But be ready for the Heat and grouchy people!

Flagstaff is a nice little town also in reach of a lot of things. Only problem is that most of the things close by are the only things close by. There is one mountain, all the others are a little ways away and are nice but not epic.

Colorado, well it really has it all. Mild winters in Denver, as well as access to all the badass mountains and a TON of people who visit them. The problem with CO is how many people have moved there in the past few years.

I loved living in both states and I dont know where Ill end up when I return to the states! Good luck

 

[GangsterOfLove]

This is a cool thread. I'm personally eyeing Arizona as a longer-term, post rat race and/or retirement destination. I presently live in Southern California (OC).

I do too, and we've decided to move to AZ in a few years when we retire. Scottsdale, to be exact.

We have different priorities than a lot of the guys on here - and my T4R is 2wd to boot. I don't care much about guns either way, and I don't care much about politics either. When we visit the wilderness it's in a 25' travel trailer and the older I get the more I like hookups. I've done the backpack/tent off grid thing and while I enjoyed it I don't want to do it any more. I like central heat and A/C and I genuinely hate snow.

Scottsdale is a very, very nice town. Well planned, well kept. Clean. Maybe a little sterile but I like things tidy. Traffic isn't bad because of the way the street grids are laid out. Housing costs more than other places in AZ but not nearly as much as in the OC. Taxes are low. Crime is low.

U of A is close by which means there are all sorts of opportunities for things to do, and I believe that when you stop learning you start dying. There is a world class airport nearby, the medical system is good and in summer the town is half empty. Phoenix has all of the problems other big cities do and all of the advantages too. Sports, jobs, cultural stuff. You don't have to live there - you can visit. Lots of stuff for seniors too, and as much as it pains me to say it that is what we will be once we get there or shortly thereafter. Hell, that's pretty much what I am now.

It's damned awful hot in the summer. I've never much minded heat as long as I didn't have to work in it but there is no getting around it. We have kids in Ohio and figure to spend at least part of the summer there and perhaps do a bit of traveling besides.

Different strokes, eh? Everyone likes something different, which is why ice cream comes in Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry. One thing for sure, though:

I will never shovel snow again.

 

[AKmoney]

Yep, I'm familiar with Scottsdale. Just a stone's throw from Phoenix and all that entails.

Minor detail: The nearby university is ASU, not UofA. The Wildcats in Tucson might take offense.

Arizona locations I was considering were Prescott and Sedona. Both are higher in elevation than the Phoenix metro area so summers aren't nearly as brutal. Downsides are occasional snow in winter (especially Prescott at 5,000+ft elevation) and long distances from a major airport (PHX) make it tough to get anywhere if I want to travel. Sedona is spectacular but it's kinda touristy. It's like the Laguna Beach of Arizona. Still, my ideal retirement gig would be to be one of those guys who drive the pink jeeps tours. I'd get to drive cool trails while cracking stupid jokes and scaring the crap out of tourists... Doesn't get any better than that.

Last time I was in Prescott I couldn't help but notice how amazingly low the speed limits were set. Maybe reflective of area's average age...

Now I see the appeal of Scottsdale.

 

[GangsterOfLove]

Still, my ideal retirement gig would be to be one of those guys who drive the pink jeeps tours. I'd get to drive cool trails while cracking stupid jokes and scaring the crap out of tourists... Doesn't get any better than that.

Hmmm... I really like this idea...