Considering a move from Indiana to Southwest Colorado

[carlhungus]

I know this is off subject and I also posted this in the four corners regional section, but I really need advice and thought somebody out there may have answers.

My wife and I are from Indiana and were at TBF from 2008-2011. We haven't been able to make it out the past 3 years because I went back to school and we basically had no money. I'll be graduating in May and got offered a job in Cortez. I have been through the town a couple times and it seems pretty innaresting. I have a wife and daughter and we are thinking of living in Mancos. We are usually pretty good doing our own thing and really enjoy all the outdoor activities as well as the archaelogical history in the area, but are a little concerned that we will be leaving a place with lots of family and friends to a place where we know nobody. Does anybody that knows the area have any advice on what life is like and if there is any hope of making new friends.

Cheers and Good vibes!!!

 Listening to: stovetop fan drowning out all noises

[jpec]

first of all, congrats, sw colorado is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

cortez is an ok town, very conservative, and kinda rough, however Montezuma county, with mancos and dolores is awesome. i'm not sure i would send my kids to school in cortez, and i dont know much about mancos schools, but you could open enroll your kids in durango schools, but north of mancos is pretty cool. mancos is a cool little town, not much going on. its a one gas station type of town. there is a great breakfast spot though.  pretty much the gateway to mesa verde and the la plata mtns. GREAT outdoors stuff, especially mtn biking,  if you're into that sort of thing, and only about 2 hrs or less to telluride, and less than 2 hours to get up on red mtn pass.  pagosa is about 2 hours too. moab 2 hours.

its a really great place to live, and you're lucky to have stable work out here. lots of folks don't have other family out here, so people get together for holidays and stuff.

also worth considering, lots of people who work in cortez live in durango. its 60 miles or something, but only about an hour to get there, even less if you live in hesperus or durango west. durango is more expensive, but not hesperus or Dwest. the schools are way better.

[completejohn]

Don't know about skools & other stuff like that, but southern Colorado has great skiing and fabulous fly fishing.

My suggestion is to buy a pickup truck in Indiana, because eventually you'll want one and the supply and demand curve make them a little more expensive out here.

[FaceOnMars]

Also agree that SW Colorado is a great place!

Mancos is a very nice area, but can't really speak to what it's like to live there.  I pass through it a lot on the way to Durango and occasionally stop for bite to eat (there's a great health food store).  It is a small town and my suspicion is that it's probably a very close knit community.  Seems you could live in "town" or a little off the beat and path.  I think it's almost equidistant to  Cortez, Durango, and Dolores ... so it is centrally located.  However, if you're into being very close to city life type happenings, I think Durango will far exceed all of the above.

If you're into being off by yourselves on a couple of acres of ranch land, you might also find a place to live north of Cortez  (south of Dolores).   I suppose Rico is also a possibility if you're able to commute 45 minutes to work.

[Mark of Bloomington]

My wife and I just moved from Bloomington, Indiana to Longmont, Colorado just northeast of Boulder.  We considered moving to Durango or Pagosa Springs.  Durango, we decided was too expensive for a couple of retirees.  We have friends in Dolores, which seems nice and affordable.  As it happened an old friend offered me a hobby job in his wildlife genetics lab in Boulder.  That made the decision for us.  Be ready for some super sticker shock.  This ain't Indiana house prices out here.  You may send me a message off line, if you want to follow up.

[Auntie Hope]

Mancos is the way to go if you'll be working in Cortez. Small town, as stated. Last I was there was 2009. Two  East/West roads in town were paved, and their connector road. Walk to the post office or library,  no problem from anywhere in town. 7,000 ft. above sea level.

Folks are very, very nice. Cindy Lou took me to one party and I made friends for life. Family oriented was the impression I had as I drove away.

Funny: Stayed in an alley house there. I woke one morning to a sound I knew, but just could not place. It was a hissing, and became louder and louder. I jumped from bed and ran outside... to discover hot air balloons hovering right overhead. So close that someone in the basket told me to go back inside and at least put some socks on my bare feet. Another voice reminded me to grab my camera. 8 - 12 HAB's flew over, with everyone hamming it up for the camera.

Only one better way to wake up on a chilly morning....and that's when your first thought is "Dang! Is that pickin' circle still going from last night?!?!?

It was less than a 30 minute drive from Mancos, through Cortez and out to Cindy and Dan's, and that was in rush hour traffic with Hwy. 160 the only route I knew at the time.

Bonus: There are many Festivarians that live in that area. 

[carlhungus]

Thanks for all the advice, I can't wait to come out to Telluride again!

One complicating factor in this whole thing is that I also have offers in Indiana and we're trying to decide if what we gain will be worth what we lose. I suppose that goes with any decision, but this is probably the biggest one we've ever had to make.

[Hot Sugar]

It wasn't Colorado, but my parents moved to Montana from Indiana in 1990. They both had lots of family in Indiana and knew no one out west, but they have never once regretted their decision.

I'm incredibly thankful they moved when they did and that I got to grow up in the mountains with great hiking and skiing all around me. It didn't take too long for them to make some great friends, and we still managed to see our family somewhat regularly. My mom's mom even followed us out to Montana in 92 and then my dad's mom followed in about 96 or so. I'd take growing up in the Rockies over Indiana any day.

 Listening to: Keller Williams

[The Goat]

It wasn't Colorado, but my parents moved to Montana from Indiana in 1990. They both had lots of family in Indiana and knew no one out west, but they have never once regretted their decision.

I'm incredibly thankful they moved when they did and that I got to grow up in the mountains with great hiking and skiing all around me. It didn't take too long for them to make some great friends, and we still managed to see our family somewhat regularly. My mom's mom even followed us out to Montana in 92 and then my dad's mom followed in about 96 or so. I'd take growing up in the Rockies over Indiana any day.

Growing up in rural WV was pretty awesome. However, we moved to CO when I was 17. I miss the rain occasionally, as it's pretty dry out here...but it's amazing how quickly 300+ sunny days a year makes you get over that. ;-)

Welcome Home!

[Valerie]

It wasn't Colorado, but my parents moved to Montana from Indiana in 1990. They both had lots of family in Indiana and knew no one out west, but they have never once regretted their decision.

I'm incredibly thankful they moved when they did and that I got to grow up in the mountains with great hiking and skiing all around me. It didn't take too long for them to make some great friends, and we still managed to see our family somewhat regularly. My mom's mom even followed us out to Montana in 92 and then my dad's mom followed in about 96 or so. I'd take growing up in the Rockies over Indiana any day.

I've lived here in the midwest (OH, MI, KY, and now IN) my whole life... and I would do just about anything to live in/near the Rocky Mountains.  You never know... I may end up out there eventually