Have you been "moved by the mountains?" Many people dream of giving up the city life, and moving to a ski town. What are the practicalities? Can you make it work?
Moved By the Mountains
As I awaken each morning and go to my window, I wonder what
the mountains will wear today. They like to change their colors with their
mood. Sometimes they dress in purple. At times they dress in green. As autumn
approaches, the aspens turn golden, reflecting the bright Colorado sun. They
embellish the mountain like ornaments on a Christmas tree, reminding the locals
that winter, their favorite season, is on its way. Then, surprise, Santa comes
early, and we get a September sprinkling of snow. The town reverberates with
joy and anticipation.
As night falls, the colors of daylight blend slowly with the
darker colors of the night. I am living in a watercolor painting. But this
painting is my reality.
Welcome to Summit County Colorado.
It had not always been this way. Most
of my life has been spent entrenched in the grayness of cities. I grew up riding subways, talking street
talk, in the heart of New York City. I
was raised in a city that never sleeps. Neither did I, for the most part. I
used to think that this was normal. I knew the score. I’m a native New Yorker.
As a freelancer, I spent a good deal of time underground, in
the bowels of the city. A few times a
day I would descend into the underworld surrounded by some of the most peculiar
specimens of humanity.
Once I thought I'd never leave New York. When it became too
stressful, I settled for Boston, but while living in Boston I learned to ski.
The rest, as they say, is history.
In July of 2004, the mountains decided to move me. They enticed me with the promise of a kinder,
gentler life, seduced me with an invitation to feel the ever-present sensuality
of existence that city dwellers rarely experience. They knew that this is where I'm healthy.
This is where I'm happy.
I accepted the invitation, and made the necessary
sacrifices.
We loaded up the van with fitness equipment for my new
sports training studio. The box on top was stuffed with skis and clothing. There was just enough space for our greyhound,
Giselle, to sleep on the floor of the car. Many things that I once found
important were left behind. This was a
time for simplicity.
After the fourth day of travel, I began the first day of the
rest of my new life. That night, for the first time in years, I fell asleep at
10:00 PM.
As a newcomer, I'm well aware that at present, I am viewing
this world through the proverbial rose-colored glasses. Perhaps, in the future,
the lens may crack, and I will begin to show some cynicism. For now, I will not
suppress my joy, but I will do my best to exercise objectivity.
Have the mountains called to you? Are you tempted to give up
the financial security and predictability of your current lifestyle? Do you love skiing, boarding, mountain biking
so much that you need to be close to it year-round? Or maybe you think you've
fallen in love with someone who lives here. If that's the case, please ask
yourself this: "Is it the person, or the mountain life you've fallen in
love with?"