I have lived in Colorado since 2002, six years now. I tell everyone that I came here kicking and screaming because I thought I couldn't drive on ice and snow. Guess What!

I can drive on ice and snow! It's not that hard especially since they do such a great job of clearing the roads. You would have a very hard time prying me away from Colorado now. I love it!

I love the recreation opportunities. With trails everywhere, I can walk, run or ride my bike anytime I want. Recreation centers and parks are quite numerous and one seems to always be nearby. I have lived in three houses since I have been here and each one had a park either across the street or down the street a block or two. For a little more adventure it is not a far drive to find one of the hundreds of places to hike, rock climb or fish. I love whitewater rafting. It's about an hour and a half away. I don't ski or snowboard, but, if I did, I would be in "heaven!" Horseback riding and camping areas are always near, also.

I love the weather. Even with the extremes of hot and cold that we have here, they don't feel either as hot or as cold as the same temperature in other areas because of the lack of humidity. In summer when it does get up around 100 degrees, we still have cool nights. We have four definite seasons which is nice. And we have a lot of sunny days in Colorado.

I love the wildlife and the open spaces. Colorado residents work hard to preserve the natural open space areas we are so lucky to have. Thus, we will always have natural areas to enjoy and use for participating in some of the recreational items I mentioned above. Because of this preservation of natural open space, we also have an abundance of wildlife. Around my house, besides the hundreds of rabbits, I have seen foxes, coyotes and geese. In the Highlands Ranch/Castle Pines area I have seen all of those plus prairie dogs, a mountain lion, deer and elk. I have not yet seen a bear and I hope I never do! Bears have been seen as close as the Ken Caryl and Castle Pines Village areas.

I love the beautiful natural scenery and views. I can sit in my home and enjoy the beautiful mountain range views to the west or I can take a drive that direction and within half an hour be winding through the foothills along side a rushing creek created by melting snow. Drive a little farther and catch glimpses of mountain tops while passing through some magnificent forests of evergreens and aspens. Within a couple of hours I can be at the top of one of the 14,000 footers taking in the panorama of hundreds of miles of Colorado and its breathtaking Rocky Mountains. I'll likely see quite a sampling of wildlife on my drive, deer, elk, mountain goats and more. I can also head southwest and take in the beauty of the cliffs outside Cortez or relax on a scenic ride on the Durango/Silverton railroad. That is, if you can relax while glaring down the cliff beside your train that drops hundreds of feet to the canyon and river below!

Colorado, what a magnificent place to live!