Things I observed on my move from FL to CO

[Samurai_Writer]

Just thought I'd share a few things I observed on my 2,000 mile, 4 day trip from south Florida to Boulder, CO. I drove about 500 miles per day. I stayed in a hotel in Georgia, at my aunt's in St. Louis, and another hotel in Kansas along the way. I was driving a 14' Uhaul truck, with the cab packed with one ice chest, two cat carriers, a litter box on the floor of the cab, and yes, two cats.

Here are my observations:

I drove along all major highways. There was little traffic, and most of it was interstate truckers. This was during the work week (Tues - Fri) during the day. Anyone who says gas prices aren't affecting people are nuts. Most of the time, the roads looked deserted when not around major metropolitan areas.

People drive awful everywhere, no matter what state you're in. But they drive especially slow in Tennessee and Kentucky.

I was at the mercy of radio, since the truck didn't have a CD player. I was able to find at least one non-country, non-christian, non-rightwing talk radio station during my entire drive, except for western Kansas. More about Kansas later. Mostly I listened to classic rock, eighties, or R&B/rap.

There are hard rap stations in the middle of nowhere. Epecially in Georgia. I was really surprised by it.

Classic rock and eighties stations abound everywhere (except Western Kansas). They all play the same songs, too, so after a while, it got monotonous.

Driving across Kansas feels like it takes four days. And there was no cel service and no radio stations the last 200 miles of my trek through Kansas west to Colorado. For about 50 miles into Colorado, there was no cel service. Glad I didn't have a flat tire.

The St. Louis suburbs extend west for 100 miles. Or at least it seems like it.

Eastern Kansas is really beautiful. It's not relatively flat and full of wheat, like central and western Kansas is.

My uncle is an electronics and movie addict. Every room had a flat-panel, HD TV, and his DVD collection is at least 3,000 DVDs. Most of which have not even been opened yet.

The weather in Boulder is not as bad as I thought it would be. I've adjusted pretty well so far, but we have not had any snow yet. Just a couple of cold, rainy days when everyone else around us got dumped on with snow.

People ride their bicycles to work when it's 40 degrees and raining. I think Boulder is populated with a bunch of masochists. These bicyclists are everywhere, no matter what the weather.

I'm the largest person in Boulder that I've seen so far. Compared to the south, people here look TINY. Of course, Boulder was rated the 'fittest' city in the US, while I come originally from Houston, which was rated the 'fattest' city. I'm hoping all these healthy examples will give me the motivation to get more fit.

Anyway, those are the few things I've observed.

[El Fuego]

1. That's quite a trek

I know there are boring parts if you are driving that far, but I'd like to drive across the country sometime to see it all up close.

I've been to CO, and I love it there! Quite the opposite of FL.

Thanks for the report!!

(And I'm sure you're not the largest person in Boulder.)

[Samurai_Writer]

7. I am!!!

Well, so far, anyway. Everyone here is thin. And I mean THIN. But at least I have some natural insulation to keep myself warm!

[TK421]

2. I've always wanted to go to Colorado. I wish you the best of luck there

:toast:

[Aristus]

3. Sounds like an interesting journey, RadFemFL.

I hope you like Denver. It's gotta be better than Florida, and I know from personal experience that it is better than Houston. ANY place is better than the festering, toxic-waste poisoned, open sewer that is Houston.

Glad you made it there safely. B-)

[madinmaryland]

4. How did the cats deal with the trip?

That's a long time for them to be cooped up in the truck.

[Samurai_Writer]

5. They did remarkably well

Especially since they are older (10 and 14). And they have settled in nicely to their new place, too. Once all my stuff was unloaded from the truck and placed into the apartment, they pretty much had the attitude of "Oh, so this is where we are living now. OK."

They are really enjoying the windows (which I leave open except at night -- weather has been great!) and seeing the wildlife outside... HUGE squirrels, birds, deer, a fox and a coyote so far. Plus my roommate's dog who comes over to the window and says hello.

[Taverner]

6. Did you go through Iowaaaay?

If so, did you notice how much more upbeat people are there compared to Kansas and Nebraska?

[Samurai_Writer]

8. No, didn't go through Iowa

Went through Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado.

I have noticed people in Boulder are super nice, laid back, and non-judgemental. A lot of eastern religious influence here.

[GOPisEvil]

9. Boulder is one fit city.

I'd say the average body fat is less than 10%.

But...it really is gorgeous there.

[Samurai_Writer]

11. Yes, and a very young population too

I went from living somewhere that the average age is 60 (at least, it felt like it), to where the average age is 28. So that's another adjustment to make. I'm liking it a lot more than being around a bunch of 65+ year olds (one of my neighbors in FL was 92!).

I think it's going to be a positive change all around. I'll become more active because of the weather and amenities here (hiking trails everywhere, and lots of indoor pools open year round!), and there's more arts and entertainment than where I was at in FL.

[underpants]

10. Bob Seger is evil

:bounce:

While we were moving into our new rental house I had CLASSIC RAWK playing on a boom box. It took me several months to get the Seger songs out of my head. They seem to play it on a loop.

[Richardo]

12. Boulder is beautiful - I'm envious

If I ever returned to Colorado to live I'd want to line in Boulder.

:thumbsup:

[Samurai_Writer]

13. It is beautiful -- but expensive!

I went from a 2BR, 2BA apartment in FL, paying $685 a month (which was cheap, I admit), to renting 2 rooms and a bathroom in someone's house for about the same amount ($675). I have a basement/garage apartment, basically, in a split-level ranch house. We share the kitchen (upstairs) and the laundry (downstairs, off my rooms).

Food is also much more expensive here, although gas is not. I don't think utilities are more expensive either. But they do have state income tax, I believe, and car registration is expensive.

But you get what you pay for, I guess. Boulder is awesome, and I love it here so far!