Q: To Mr. Scott Seale,
Yo Scott, what’s shakin? I’m from Omaha, Nebraska. Probably shouldn’t have
told you that, but I want to be upfront with you.
A few years ago I visited
Colorado, and I had my mind set that I was moving there. Your state is so
much what I’m about. Preserving nature, sports, summer time heat, deep blue
skies and snow that doesn’t stick around too long.
Then I started researching Denver.
From the outside looking in, it looks
like a nice place to live. Big enough town with lots to do, yet still not
so big that it goes on forever.
Then I visited there last September.
The
traffic, the smog, the high cost of housing, the bums I encountered not only
in LoDo, but in Littleton too, hurt my argument to my wife that it’d be a
great place for us to live.
Almost a year later, I’m trying to renew my
thought process and consider moving to Denver again. I think I just need to
right frame of mind.
Obviously, it’s not going to be the same as Omaha. It’s
much bigger, for one thing.
You live there, Can it really be as bad as so many
people try to tell me it is? Please tell me it isn’t!!!
– Adam
SCOTT: Hi Adam. I came to Denver in the early ’80s, back when everyone used to say
“Denver’s gonna boom!”
I was ready, but it didn’t happen. Then the recession hit, and when the ’90s rolled around, the “Denver’s gonna boom!” catchphrase resurfaced. Nothing.
Then the whole Y2K thing happened and all of a sudden, Denver boomed. Many people relocated here from everywhere. It took like 20-something years but nowadays, when I’m stuck in traffic, I feel like
I’m in L.A.
The brown cloud has been here a long time but of course it’s
worse now that the population has grown so much. Denver is all grown-up now, and like any city, has its advantages and drawbacks.
But it works for me. My
only complaint is that there’s no beach here, but if some California
predictions come true, someday we will. So for now, I hop on a plane for my
beach fix.
In every other respect, Denver is a dream, and it has everything a big city
has to offer without being a big city.
And you’re right about the snow. I
travel a lot, and what I get all the time now is “How can you stand those
winters in Denver? All that snow!” Yeah, it snows in the mountains but when
Denver gets hit, 90% of the time it melts in a day or two and everyone’s
outdoors wearing shorts again.
Speaking of traveling, Denver’s a great base. You can get almost anywhere from Denver International Airport.
And yes, we do have our share of homeless
people here – or “bums” as you called them – but I was once one, so I think
we should help, instead of stumble over them on our way to Starbucks. But
that’s another column.
Sorry, I digressed a bit there.
Denver is a great place to live, and there’s
something for everyone here. I’m glad that it’s grown though, because it’s
much more sophisticated and diverse than years ago, plus there’s so much to
do: we’ve got good schools, it’s a great place to raise children and if
you’re into sports, mountains, rivers and parks, then this is the place for
you.
See you soon, Adam!
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