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.

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?"

Both can break your heart. Can you handle it?

How much would you sacrifice to be here?

Get a Job

Reality check. It may be hard to find work in ski country. While you might find some sort of employment, keep in mind; it may not be in your chosen field. For the most part, people who live in or near ski towns are both overqualified and underpaid for their work. If you are a ski or snowboard professional, you may be in luck. But what will you do for the rest of the year?

The following types of work may also be available:

• Contracting work
• Landscaping
• Restaurants or fast food establishments
• Hotels
• Real Estate
• Retail
• Selling ad time for newspapers or radio stations
• Bus driver
• Housekeeping
• UPS
• FedEx
• Teach School
• Work in a bank

If you have a particular skill or craft that you feel would benefit a mountain environment, you might consider starting your own business. But please be aware that many people are not thrilled by the massive growth and development in this area. Franchises and chain stores distract from the mood of the town. You may need to rethink the idea of opening up another Summit County McDonalds.

Even if your plans for moving to a mountain community involve starting a business that relates directly to the needs of snow sport enthusiasts, you may find that the local planning board favors franchises. If you were not active in local politics in your hometown, as a businessperson in a mountain community, you may need to have your voice heard. Otherwise, those that wish your town to become a mini replica of a big city will win out.

You will probably not get rich by moving out here, and most likely, you may spend some time being a bit poor.

However, that all depends upon what your definitions of rich and poor are.

Can you make the sacrifices in order to afford this lifestyle?

All I Want is a Room Somewhere

Finding affordable housing near a ski area can be a challenge. As a general rule, it's usually best to avoid the actual ski area town. For example, in Summit County, housing in Breckenridge is more expensive than housing in Dillon. You also need to consider the non-stop nightlife during the winter. While others may be on vacation, you still need to get up and go to work.

While housing might be even less expensive if you choose to live about 30 miles from a major ski area, it's important to keep in mind costs of gas and transportation. Summit County does have a free bus system. It might not run as frequently as a major city transit system, but it can provide a financial savings for those on a tight budget.

If you have grown accustomed to using your vehicle for very short distances in areas that are pedestrian friendly, please, don't do that here. Less traffic is healthier for all of us. Besides, you'll save gas money. You will need to. In most ski towns, cost of living is affected by the cost of trucking goods to the area. You may find that groceries and other items cost a bit more than what you're used to.

If you're not discouraged, read on. For many people, the lifestyle in ski country is as important as the skiing itself. If you've spent most of your life in big cities, expect to see a dramatic change in your interactions with other people.

You've Got a Friend

For the most part, no social interaction is a simple one. Expect to get into long, friendly conversations, at the post office, supermarket, etc. People will ask your name and they will remember it. You will probably make many friends, very quickly. Expect to spend a good deal of time with groups of people. Your new friends will be willing to help you with anything you need done. People go out of their way for each other. It's almost Utopian.

What about romance? My single friends tell me that if you're a guy, you don't lose your girlfriend, you lose your turn. Local writer Beth Jahnigan once noted that for girls, "the odds are good but the goods are odd." Guys will probably not find their perfect Betty Crocker wife out here and it's unlikely that girls will find a wealthy corporate lawyer, but as the stress of city life begins to dissolve, you will find yourself becoming more attractive than you've been in your entire life. People will notice this.

Since we're talking about dating, what can you do at night?

In the off-season, there are many free concerts and art shows throughout the towns. The free entertainment, combined with the expanded group of friends can help you appreciate a simpler, less expensive lifestyle. You need to look at the living experience as a year round event. While you probably will get in a many ski days, you can't ski all year round. Most people participate in other sports, such as biking, hiking, canoeing and kayaking. The mountains in the summer are breathtaking. A common saying out here is "I came for the winters but stayed for the summers."

Are you still enticed? You are? Then please remember that the mountain is not the city. It has its own quirks and inconveniences. Mail comes to the post office, not to your door. There are no all-night delis, so if you get hungry at 11:00PM, you have to deal with it. If you've fallen in love with mountain life, treat the area as you would a lover. Respect and accept it as it is, and don't try to change it into something it's not.