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Greater Boulder Area, CO. _If you can survive the winter_ - It's college town with good departments (talks and other activities). - Decent startup scene - S

Greater Boulder Area, CO. _If you can survive the winter_ - It's college town with good departments (talks and other activities). - Decent startup scene - Some research orgs exist (NCAR/NREL) - Local incubator - Options to pursue an active life

kpennell 8y ago
I lived in Boulder from September 2014-July 2015. I lived in Denver for 7 months after that and then moved to Oakland, California after that. Boulder is the most frustrating and disappointing place I’ve lived. I tried so many different things to make friends, date, build community, or simply have a good night out but just couldn’t make it work there. For a place with such a good reputation around the western US, it was such a disaster for me. Moving to Denver felt like waking up after a long strange dream. I organized a river float trip on the first weekend (via meetup, couchsurfing, and gociety) and immediately had friends to hang out with in Denver (people who actually wanted to hang! Which I could not find in Boulder). I’d go out to shows, chat up the occasional lady and have a date the next week. I’d go out by myself and often strike up conversations with friendly strangers. The Denver Cruiser ride was a ton of fun. I can see why so many young Americans are moving there. Boulder is really good for young attractive college students and families who have old wealth or a couple exits to be able to afford property. The OP question is good intellectual environment...I highly recommend you don't go to Boulder. edit: Boulder is really beautiful and amazing for biking. But I found the people really private/cliquey and a strange mix of wealthy/snobby and provincial.
- czbond 8y ago
  I agree here. Dallas,TX transplant to Denver. Boulder seems to be where you get either: college students, families with some money, and pretty introverted "doing my own thing with my own small group" older singles. On the flipside, there is nothing intellectual about Denver..... great people, love the outdoors, but having intellectual conversations not involving Broncos or Rockies doesn't happen.
  - kpennell 8y ago
    Yeah, agreed. I heard Colorado summarized as a place where people prioritize their outsides vs. their insides.

kpennell 8y ago

I lived in Boulder from September 2014-July 2015. I lived in Denver for 7 months after that and then moved to Oakland, California after that. Boulder is the most frustrating and disappointing place I’ve lived. I tried so many different things to make friends, date, build community, or simply have a good night out but just couldn’t make it work there. For a place with such a good reputation around the western US, it was such a disaster for me. Moving to Denver felt like waking up after a long strange dream. I organized a river float trip on the first weekend (via meetup, couchsurfing, and gociety) and immediately had friends to hang out with in Denver (people who actually wanted to hang! Which I could not find in Boulder). I’d go out to shows, chat up the occasional lady and have a date the next week. I’d go out by myself and often strike up conversations with friendly strangers. The Denver Cruiser ride was a ton of fun. I can see why so many young Americans are moving there. Boulder is really good for young attractive college students and families who have old wealth or a couple exits to be able to afford property. The OP question is good intellectual environment...I highly recommend you don't go to Boulder. edit: Boulder is really beautiful and amazing for biking. But I found the people really private/cliquey and a strange mix of wealthy/snobby and provincial.

czbond 8y ago
I agree here. Dallas,TX transplant to Denver. Boulder seems to be where you get either: college students, families with some money, and pretty introverted "doing my own thing with my own small group" older singles. On the flipside, there is nothing intellectual about Denver..... great people, love the outdoors, but having intellectual conversations not involving Broncos or Rockies doesn't happen.
- kpennell 8y ago
  Yeah, agreed. I heard Colorado summarized as a place where people prioritize their outsides vs. their insides.