I’ve been in Denver since the end of June and I’ve been loving it so far. Though I haven’t had a chance to go out to the mountains yet, I’ve seen a few events in downtown Denver such as a Pokemon Go festival and Octoberfest.

Everyone asks, “Why Denver?” The answer isn’t that simple. I find it hard to break down all of my reasons into a simple, bite-sized anecdote. The most accurate answer and probably the top reason is that I had to get out of Florida. Being in my parents’ house for six months earlier in the year was difficult. But thankfully, I now have a remote writing job that pays all the bills.

The landing was bumpy. I ended up staying with two good friends—a married couple—for about ten days in the northern suburbs. After that, I found a cheap place in Aurora but it smelled weird, there was a fly problem, and there was no internet or air conditioning. Luckily, my current place is a big step up but I’m back in the northern suburbs.

Denver itself isn’t that big compared to metropolises like NYC and LA, but it has a bustling downtown scene consisting of trendy bars, cool dispensaries, and top-notch Mexican restaurants. Most people live somewhere in the metropolitan area and commute into Denver. Rent is crazy expenses and living quarters are not easy to find.

Colorado is a place a lot of people desire to live so be prepared to meet tons of transplants. Native Coloradans are proud of it and won’t miss an opportunity to tell you they were born here. People are also incredibly nice here; definitely nicer than folks on the east coast. I’m still trying to get used to it.

All in all, Colorado is a great place to live. The weather is decent, people will go out of their way to help you out, and there’s no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy. I’ve yet to go snowboarding or skiing but I’m gonna try it this winter. I’ll probably fall on my ass a hundred times but hey, winter sports are a big thing here.