Grand Valley potential residents
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1/20/2010
I was born in a small town and have lived in Colorado for over 30 years. Most of my childhood/high school life was in rural/farm/ranch communities. And most of my adult life was spent in suburbs of Denver. Since about 1982 I have wanted to move to Grand Junction where my folks live currently. Denver is great for large cities and a lot to do, but being raised in the country and getting married and wanting to start a family I thought it would be nice to do it there. So in 2004 we had a chance to do this. We picked up , sold everything and moved to GJ. I have visited/vacation in GJ for years prior to this move and was excited. Too excited maybe that is my problem. I still love the valley over all but there is more to it than that.
Pros. Great outdoor access, maybe not too much right here, but very close. Great size of town, just about everything you need. Great weather 9 months of the year. Hot in the summer but not too hot at night. St. Mary's is a great hospital, one of the best in my opinion. Good state college (minus the principal)
GJ On paper is perfect.
Procon: Short but cold winters.
Cons: Drugs are a huge problem. Crappy schools, (Fruita is Okay) lazy or poor customer service in many industries, horrible restaurants. Local Government is really kinky, they do a lot of big time Washington style politics in this town. A lot of under the counter kinda deals go on, my buddy gets the perks type of thing. This does not effect me that much but I still do not like that kind of garbage. What does effect me though is that this is the most unfriendly town to new residents I have ever seen. Of course not talking about everyone, but enough to really notice. And from what I have seen, it does not change until you have been here a long time. I hear the same thing from other people that have been here longer than I and shorter than me. "Born and Raised here" is a big deal here. You hear businesses bashing people from Denver and other parts of Colorado all the time. I lived in Denver, but I am not from there. I here "You big city folk" and stuff like that. I say uh, My father was born on an Indian reservation, and I was raised in rural farmland, I am not from the city. I ask: Where were you born? Denver. But I have lived here for 20 years. Very discriminating, not racial, or if it is I do not notice it.
Over all a very negative atmosphere for new residents. The longer you are here the easier it gets though. Our intent was to retire here, but we have decided to move prior to my newly born son entering school.
Evan | Loma, CO