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Post by cweston on Jan 28, 2020 15:12:04 GMT -8
My take is that individuals can have a significant impact at the local level if the conditions are right. Often, the aren't. It often comes down to money. Conditions being right in local matters often includes a dedication on all sides to keep local politics as non-partisan as possible: often, local issues have relatively little to do with the small number of hot-button issues that define the left/right spectrum nationally. But this seems harder and harder to pull off, as culture warriors have frequently made a deliberate effort to "win" on the local level with these issues in recent decades. It's actually one of the more depressing aspects of the state of our politics, in my opinion. To take rangewalker's example, who cares if recycling is "liberal" or "conservative?" The question is, is it the best path for our community.
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marmotstew
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Post by marmotstew on Jan 28, 2020 16:11:56 GMT -8
Moved to Denver 20 years ago from the Midwest. Came here for the outdoor stuff and better quality of life. A mountain town would have been more ideal for that but more jobs in the city and I like city life. Interesting to watch a city get “Flipped” and housing prices quadrupling. For some reason the natives are still mad about that.
Life’s too short to live somewhere that sucks. I know with kids and family it’s hard to just get up and go. Cool thing was my family and friends encouraged me to get the hell out of the region.
Hey give it a try. If things don’t work out you could always move back like you said.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jan 29, 2020 6:01:15 GMT -8
you know landfills are conservative, and recycling is a liberal thing." You can't make this chit up...
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Post by bradmacmt on Jan 29, 2020 6:02:02 GMT -8
Maine is still a captivating area but no longer a desired destination. Dreaming of living on the rocky coast is a dream that's not feasible any more. Why isn't it feasible?
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Post by autumnmist on Jan 29, 2020 10:07:40 GMT -8
bradmacmt, it's no longer feasible or realistic primarily b/c I haven't put in place the support mechanisms, and at this time, I'm not sure I want to go that route. I had thought that by this time I would have, if not thriving, at least a successful home business arising from art and garden related pursuits, part-time teaching (which I could still do), but over the years I've seen that so many who have artistic dreams face highly competitive challenges. That didn't bother me when I was young. At my age now though, I want something that's more certain to provide reliable financial supplements. I'm past the starving artist stage. In addition, I dreamily and probably unrealistically wanted to build my own home, even cutting my own timber. As I segue into old age, that's becoming less realistic. That's not to say it can't be done, but I'm not sure at this point in my life that I would want to rely on pursuits that are so nebulous and uncertain.
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Jan 29, 2020 10:12:33 GMT -8
I know one place I don't want to live - where they get hung up on the semantics of whether something's wild or feral.
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reuben
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Gonna need more Camels at the next refugio...
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Post by reuben on Jan 29, 2020 10:25:30 GMT -8
I sowed some feral oats back in the day. And as a recovering vegan I still don't eat wild salmon, but I'll eat all the feral salmon you can put in front of me.
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Post by cweston on Jan 29, 2020 10:25:52 GMT -8
I know one place I don't want to live - where they get hung up on the semantics of whether something's wild or feral. LOL. I have a friend who lives in Boulder, CO. Speaking of local politics, he's pretty engaged with the local city council. He's definitely not a great fit for Boulder, politically. But he tells great funny stories about some of the ridiculous things the Boulder city council argues about. From his descriptions, the great wild vs feral debate would be right up their alley. Speaking of choosing places to live, even though I'm a pretty left-wing person, politically, I don't think I'd ever want to live in a super-granola place like Boulder. Or other playground-of-the-rich Western cities like, say, Santa Fe. They're nice places to visit, but I think they'd get old really fast if you lived there. I might be able to handle Crestone, CO--there seems to be a more authentically counter-cultural spirit in a place like that. I used to aspire to Taos, NM as a retirement goal, but I think it's crossed too far over for me now, too.
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swiftdream
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the Great Southwest Unbound
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Post by swiftdream on Jan 29, 2020 12:07:16 GMT -8
Life’s too short to live somewhere that sucks. you got that right. I was dragged all over creation in my formative years but left home at 16 and lived where I wanted ever since. The southwest offered what I wanted and needed on all levels. Remaining in a dull place was never an option.
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Hungry Jack
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Living and dying in 3/4 time...
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Post by Hungry Jack on Jan 29, 2020 14:19:05 GMT -8
My take is that individuals can have a significant impact at the local level if the conditions are right. Often, the aren't. It often comes down to money. Conditions being right in local matters often includes a dedication on all sides to keep local politics as non-partisan as possible: often, local issues have relatively little to do with the small number of hot-button issues that define the left/right spectrum nationally. But this seems harder and harder to pull off, as culture warriors have frequently made a deliberate effort to "win" on the local level with these issues in recent decades. It's actually one of the more depressing aspects of the state of our politics, in my opinion. To take rangewalker 's example, who cares if recycling is "liberal" or "conservative?" The question is, is it the best path for our community. Agreed. The mere framing of the recycling problem (ie, how can most effectively deal with our community's solid waste issue?) as "liberal" or "conservative" is about as idiotic as it gets.
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Post by burntfoot on Jan 29, 2020 21:12:24 GMT -8
I grew up in Wisconsin, where I did a little hiking, and a lot of canoeing. But, after working a couple of summers in Yellowstone during college, I knew I'd end up in the mountains. My first teaching job was on Guam, and I was there 5 years. I missed 5 winters, but hiked all of the island's trails 3 times and was ready to leave. After 3 years in Rangely, Colorado (middle of nowhere and 3 hours from a decent trailhead), I landed in Gunnison. From here, I am within reach of 6 mountain ranges for weekend hikes. But, the trade-off is the weather. I've been keeping track this year, and we have had 18 nights that have been at least minus 10 degrees. 5 of those have been at least minus 20. And, 1 of those 5 hit minus 30 degrees. It is 10 PM and, we are already at minus 5. So, that 18 will probably become 19 nights of at least minus 10 degrees.
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Post by bradmacmt on Jan 30, 2020 6:39:50 GMT -8
bradmacmt, it's no longer feasible or realistic primarily b/c I haven't put in place the support mechanisms, and at this time, I'm not sure I want to go that route. I had thought that by this time I would have, if not thriving, at least a successful home business arising from art and garden related pursuits, part-time teaching (which I could still do), but over the years I've seen that so many who have artistic dreams face highly competitive challenges. That didn't bother me when I was young. At my age now though, I want something that's more certain to provide reliable financial supplements. I'm past the starving artist stage. In addition, I dreamily and probably unrealistically wanted to build my own home, even cutting my own timber. As I segue into old age, that's becoming less realistic. That's not to say it can't be done, but I'm not sure at this point in my life that I would want to rely on pursuits that are so nebulous and uncertain. Autumnmist, understood. Maine is full-up with starving artists, and very few have the means to live on the coast. My father retired at age 60 and built a house on our property on the Maine Coast we'd had since the early 1970's. He'll be 91 yo next month and is still there 1/2 the year. Of course you build your own social network over time, but Coastal Maine can be a very transient place with an enormous portion of the population being part-timers. In many ways it's very much like ski communities of the West. I'll be 60 in just over a year, and I doubt I'd want to live on the Maine Coast. We may stay in Montana, or ultimately end up moving closer to wherever our kids end up. At the end of the day community is more important than place.
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mk
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North Texas
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Post by mk on Jan 30, 2020 7:28:18 GMT -8
the others seem to seclude themselves away in their houses. It's crazy, isn't it? My new requirement for people moving into the neighborhood is just that they wave when we are both collecting mail at the same time. How sad is that? We have a young couple with kids and dogs who moved across the street and down one house, and they haven't looked over or even acknowledged us in any of the many occasions when we were outside at the same time. They will not make eye contact. 18 nights that have been at least minus 10 degrees. Me, too. You might as well be in Wisconsin! We have a lake house there that I own with my brothers. Every time I consider going back there to live, I remember those many minus-30 mornings ...
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Hungry Jack
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Living and dying in 3/4 time...
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Post by Hungry Jack on Jan 30, 2020 8:09:48 GMT -8
For all those who lament neighbors not being neighborly, have you tried engaging the newcomers with some local hospitality? Bring them a pie or some choice libations, or maybe a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
I am very involved in my community, mostly through this kid park stuff, and now appear to have been anointed unofficial mayor with responsibility for the annual block party and its $10,000 budget, advising on local disputes (my neighbor is smoking pot!!!!) and being a source of information (trash pickup is Wednesday EARLY). Oh well.
Most people want to be part of a community. They just need some direction.
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Post by autumnmist on Jan 30, 2020 8:17:41 GMT -8
At the end of the day community is more important than place. Climate change notwithstanding, I'm realizing that more and more as I grow older. I still wouldn't consider moving somewhere along the lower Atlantic Coast just b/c of climate change. But finding a congenial community isn't that easy; I've not yet seen real estate ads for pleasant communities or neighbors. Perhaps researching the government sponsored activities, attending them, visiting parks, etc. is one way to scout out an area and get an idea whether the neighbors interact. My new requirement for people moving into the neighborhood is just that they wave when we are both collecting mail at the same time. How life has changed so much from when I grew up, and even more so from when my parents were growing up! My father grew up in a farming community in Midwest Michigan, and kept in touch with people he knew from childhood. My mother did as well, although she grew up in more of a suburban environment. I'd be surprised if people in my area, other than those who've been here for years, would even wave at all. And so many of them spend so little time outside that I wouldn't recognize them as neighbors if they did come by. The dog owners are different though; they typically stop and chat while the dogs make new acquaintances and enjoy being pampered. A few years ago I locked myself out of my car and house, with cell phone inside the car. I thought that one of the neighbors could call AAA for me; it's not a toll call, although I would have reimbursed them. The next door nurse wasn't home; I tried 6 houses all in all, could hear TVs on, saw cars in the garage, but only the old timers responded. The first was a woman with epilepsy; she understands the need for responsive neighbors. The other was a long time resident, who actually invited me in to wait until AAA came. (It was one of those upper 90's days with high humidity). I've often wondered if the local government contributes to this by encouraging neighbors to report potential code enforcements. I learned when I first moved in that it's one of the ways neighbors hassle those they don't like.
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