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Why do you live in CO?

Tom R · · Denver, CO · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 140
J Miles wrote:After reading through all of these awesome posts and comparing CO to upstate NY the weather seems to be the most important difference for me. Looking at weather data from sites like city-data.com the weather doesn't look that different, but I have a feeling that I'm either missing something when looking at the data, or the two are actually closer that I think. The biggest differences that I see is that CO is less humid and has more sunny days (temps seem comparable). Can anyone who has spent a large amount of time in both areas let me know how the two compare? Also, what % of the time do you find yourself staying inside because of the weather due to rain, sleet, heat, humidity...? A good follow up to this question is how tolerant are you to these adverse conditions (if you don't mind the rain or heat then you will obviously be outside more than those who do)? Thanks again everyone!
Humidity makes it feel alot hotter or colder.
45 degrees and sunny=climbing outside in a tee shirt.
45 degrees and cloudy=climbing in the gym (unless you have a high tolerance for cold, I don't)
I get out about 150 days a year and climb almost every weekend in the winter (many of those weekends in a tee shirt). In Delaware, where I grew up, that would be unheard of.
Brandon Howard · · Denver, CO · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 25
Ian Stewart wrote: When there's humidity and you're all sweaty and sticky, human, skin-to-skin contact is the last thing you want. When the humidity and sweat drop, the lovin goes up.
+1
Easily the most important point yet.
Joe Huggins · · Grand Junction · Joined Oct 2001 · Points: 105
David Sahalie wrote: colorado is great for east coast transplants. new mexico sucks.
When you guys get an economy, it'll be paradise. Oh,wait; forget I wrote that.
ErikaNW · · Golden, CO · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 410
J Miles wrote:Also, what % of the time do you find yourself staying inside because of the weather due to rain, sleet, heat, humidity...?
Honestly, sometimes I find myself wishing for a rainy day so that I'm motivated to stay inside and get some work done! My body gives up way before the weather does these days!

I grew up in Colorado and after a 9 year stretch in Illinois and Ontario was able to come back for good 3 years ago. I was shocked in the Midwest to discover combined heat/humidity could make exercise dangerous in the summer (one heat stroke helped me figure that out) and that 40 degrees with 80% humidity makes being outside pretty unpleasant too. I also felt claustrophobic all the time with the absence of long views/vistas - it was very disorienting for me for the first couple of years.

The climate here is as perfect as you will ever find. Too hot? Go up in elevation. Too cold? Put on a fleece. I never owned a true, heavy winter coat until my first Illinois winter. It just never gets that bitterly cold here - as you will get very tired of hearing... 'It's a dry cold.'

Salaries in my profession are about 20% lower here, but the lifestyle is worth it. Things I miss - easy gardening and large bodies of flat water for sculling. Those are pretty easy to live without given all of the other options.

Good luck!
Mike Wysuph · · Broomfield, CO · Joined Dec 2007 · Points: 5

Found a campsite last summer where you could boulder, sport climb, trad climb, hike, mountain bike, road bike, paddle whatever you wanted, swim, fly fish......all within walking distance from our pop-up.

err, what a sec, what am I doing...Colorado sux!! The lack of moisture in the air makes my hair frizzy.

J Miles · · Queensbury, NY · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 15
Mike Wysuph wrote:The lack of moisture in the air makes my hair frizzy.
This is something else that I was worried about :-).

Almost completely off topic...do most of you rent, own a house, or own a town home? How do you like your current living conditions?
Michael Schneiter · · Glenwood Springs, CO · Joined Apr 2002 · Points: 10,406

It's different for everyone, based on priorities and such, but I love Colorado and specifically, where I live in CO (Glenwood Springs) because of what I get to do on a daily basis. For example, Tuesday I finished work, picked up my wife from home and within minutes of our place we were mountain biking single track. Then, minutes away again, we climbed half a dozen sport pitches before finishing the day at the Brewpub for dinner.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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