New Places

Looks like buying a car, driving to Denver, finding an apartment, getting the car temporarily registered, doing (and passing!) emissions/inspection, flying to OK to truck up our stuff (I forget we have more than 2 suitcases of possessions sometimes), finishing up school, getting a license renewed, moving in and starting a new job really is doable in 2 weeks. Though I wouldn’t whole heartedly recommend trying it unless you were in a time crunch like we were. What I am trying to get to though is that we are now Denver folk these days and even have the address to prove it:

7805 Allison Way #107
Arvada, CO 80005

Okay, so I suppose we are technically “Arvada” people since we chose a place halfway between the city and my job in Thorton. Still, I have to say that this area offers some nice rolling hills that can’t be found too central or East of city centre.

The drive over on Sunday was actually one of our easier days. We only had to complete one pretty straight forward goal that day as opposed to all the other days that were full of bureaucratic catch-22s that befall anyone ambitious enough to try and get legit enough for employment and housing after not living in the country for the last year. That said, we tried to take it in stride and appreciate all the sites of Wyoming along the way – especially while having our lunch snack of Appleauce, Cheeze-Its and Red Cream Soda (nothing like eating like the locals:)...

No doubt you have road tripped through Rawlins, Wyoming. Is it not the most poetically sad Western spots you can think of? That sky! That landscape! All those out-of-business hotels – can’t help but think of the poor housekeepers that once tried to keep the place tidy and neat looking...

Needless to say it was nice to see the geography change to the familiar Rocky Mountain fare that looks like the homeland. It was funny to me that I am moving to Denver for a couple of reasons. First, I realized that I had always lived in a capital (Salt Lake City, Austin, Edinburgh, now Denver). But what struck me as funny when driving in past the skyline that normally gives me a thrill when going to a new place is that I didn’t know what this place was all about. It seems like when I have moved to a new place in the past I have always thought that I would be taking in a new, unique, rich culture. SLC – the Mormon culture! Austin – the liberal, hippy Texas culture! Edinburgh/Scotland – just about the richest culture you could expect for a place that size. But when I think of Colorado my mind just goes blank. What does Colorado do exactly? Aside from mountains – what are they known for? What do they eat? How do they talk? What offends them – other than all the general things that would offend any other average American? Although, I did get my first wee taste of the flavors I might get here while at the pool last night swimming laps. A mother called to her daughter who was swimming about, “Aspen! Don’t go that deep!” So they name their kids “Aspen” here. Now that is something unique. We will see what else unfolds…

The lack of cultural identity I perceive Colorado has is not at all to say I am not keen on being here. All I seem to hear every time someone figures out I am moving here (whether past or current locals) are all kinds of great reviews. Oh the recreation! Oh the fun things to do! Oh the sporting events! I am hanging on firm to all of that right now because I keep reverting to the dangerous but tempting practice of comparing everything to Austin. I must be careful that nostalgia doesn’t ruin the great things of now. It can be a damaging exercise to indulge in, if not kept in check. Must let this place grow on me instead of wishing it was someplace else.

So I think my Matt and I are up for the new experience (or perhaps less new and more just easy and familiar as it may be) that this Colorado place has to offer. I have said it many times since my big move of ’08 – the more cities I go and stay, the more I realize how many great places there are to live. Though, there are some exceptions…and I think one of those would have to be poor Rawlins Wyoming.