Durango as a place to live?

[Tech Tonics]

Over the years I've recieved a ton of great advice about where to live...from Burlington to Denver, the maggots have supplied tons of wisdom about good locations.

I'll be done with grad school in a few weeks, and I have spent the last few months obsessively applying for every residency program in Denver/Boulder/Ft Collins (for my field, which is a pretty narrow scope...so that's maybe 5 positions total). I've had some great interviews in Denver and have been trying to get stoked on big-city living. But, none of the places are hiring...not that i've gotten shot down, but I couldn't figure out why none of the places were "pulling the trigger" and giving me a contract....just stringing me along while they figure out what to do.

but everything happens for a reason.

On Weds I got a call from a huge company that has offices in Flagstaff that I applied to on a whim and never heard anything for 6 weeks, so just forgot about it. The guy calls me and says that where the really need someone is in Durango. I just about shit myself right there on the phone.

So, I drove up there that evening, interviewed on Thursday and got an email yesterday (friday) saying he was going to corporate to get an employment contract and I should get it next week! Well that happened fast!

So, I know I love the town, i've never lived there but spent some time (paddling the animas, mountain biking both up on the passes and the stuff in town). I know I'm going to love the access to Moab/Canyonlands/SE Utah. The one thing I'm not at all concerned about is the access to outdoor activities.

but, i'm wondering if anyone has any input on other quality-of-life kind of stuff. I have two little girls (almost 7 almost 4) so we will be utilizing the Durango Public Schools, which all things considered seems pretty good. I'm aware of the cost of living, but after paying-my-dues as a resident (12 months) I should be making a living that can afford me a decent (albeit not extravagent) lifestyle there.

We're looking to move in late June/ early July and I'll start work August 1 (ish)

Anyone have any family-raising experience in Durango?
Specifically...

-One kid is in first grade and right now I'm shooting to be in Riverview Elementary...am I off here? Maybe Needham?

-The other has a year of preschool next year....anyone have any input here?

-Any Real Estate mags? Likely will rent for a year (unless our house in Santa Fe sells quickly) so anyone know any good rentals (3/2 min)

-i don't suppose anyone is hiring an acupuncturist that specializes in women's health?

-We'd prefer to live in town (over on the W side near Needham looks nice and in our price range...$350k-ish). Would prefer to stay away from Florida Rd, Florida Mesa, Durango West, Hermosa, etc.

thanks, and I apologize for the wanderly post. We have A LOT on our mind!

[concretejungle]

Nothing to add but congrats. Durango is an awesome place and if we could score decent jobs there we'd pack up and move in a second.

[Tech Tonics]

^^^ thanks, 'jungle

I always said I'd love to move to Durango, but always wrote it off as not a possibility. feel pretty damn lucky right now.

[tundra277]

Cool,,,I would be jumping up and down it I was in your shoes.

I grew up there, went away to college and then moved back for a few years in the early 90's and get back often as my folks still live right by Riverview (where I went,,class of 1978!!!!). As you know, Dgo is similiar to Santa Fe in terms of a tourist town, but it has great community as well. Both Riverview and Needam were very similar schools, but they totally rebuilt Riverview a few years ago so it is brand new. Florida Rd is just about done in terms of the construction and should really help out. When my daugher (now soon to be a Sr in college) was in pre-school I took her to the Luthern church across from Chapman hill and she seemed to like it.

As you stated early, lots of boating, good skiing, a real main street (even though it has lots of t-shirt shops) and as far I am concerned, good publik skools.

I would also stay away from Hermosa, Dgo West or anything farther out Florida Rd and try to stay in town around Riverview Dr, Delwood, Junction Creek or 32nd st.

There also are a lot of good Dr's and medical so there should be a fair amount of business for you there.


Hopefully in about 10 more years I will be back there.

Good luck!!!!!!

[jon gaper]

no reason to rush to buy a house

[Danno]

I don't know specific schools, but I do know Durango, and know that it's a great place to raise a kid. There are a lot of smart people there with smart kids, so I know that there are good options for education.

[iscariot]

You're new mayor is a hottie...

[Cyber Cop]

Congrats!!! I think you will be happy with the schools. Not to mention, after high school, they can stay home and attend the finest college in america! Go Sky Raiders!!!

[smmokan]

Considering I know you were looking at jobs in Denver pretty hard for the last several months, and now you have this potential opportunity, all I have to say is.... LUCKY BASTARD.

If I had the option to move to Durango, I'd do it in a second. It's a great town with so many outdoor options that you'll go crazy trying to figure out what you want to do each weekend.

[Tech Tonics]

thanks smmokan. yeah, if somehow it ends up being Denver then so be it...we will be happy about it. there were a lot of aspects to Denver we loved (music and food, mostly).

but, how often does someone get an opportunity to live and work with a real job in Durango?

Holy shit i'm unreal stoked. just got an A- on a final exam about 13 minutes ago and now drinking a fantastic IPA and looking at Durango houses online.

goddamn life is good.

[grskier]

Nothing major to add except I've always enjoyed that town and if the local resort was a little better I'd probably be down there. Good luck and enjoy!

Oh, and try to get onto the Glacier Club if you're a golfer... wow what a beautiful course.

[Lev]

There also are a lot of good Dr's and medical so there should be a fair amount of business for you there.



Good luck!!!!!!

What's the big hospital in that area?

[Tech Tonics]

Mercy Regional is the big new one outside of town a bit. There is a smaller hospital called Animas Surgical Hospital also.

[beaterdit]

Spent ten years in Durango, got a house against the Soccor fields at Riverview elementary. Animas Surgical is a great joint, had both my knees done there. Mercy is a decent gig too, know a few nurses and Docs over there as well, will prolly work there myself one day.

Durango is a great place, pretty close to paradise IMO. Only thing missing, like grskier mentioned is resort skiing. BUT Silverton is an hour, Wolf Creek is an hour and a half, and T-ride is two, so you can still get your fix. Purg is OK for some before/after work turns and gets a decent amount of snow. If you're used to a real mountain you'll find it lacking though. The real potential is in the backcountry, it's everywhere, it's big, and you'd be surprised at what you can actually get on in spite of the notorious snowpack.

If you're into cycling or boating you'll be in heaven, great community and locale for both. Some decent live music, not a whole lot though. The climate is as good as it gets, not too hot, not too cold. Moab is two and a half hours, Indian Creek is closer. I'll move back there some day, when I've got my fill of Snowbird and maybe Jackson and I'm ready to tone down the resort skiing a bit in favor of strictly earning my turns.

Congrats, you're stoked. If you need a realtor I can hook you up.

[Tech Tonics]

thanks foxy

got an email today and things are still looking very good. trying not to 'count my chickens before they hatch' but so excited i can hardly contain myself. to have an offer for a "real" job in Durango? fuck yes! STOKED

[telepow]

Wait till you ski Silverton! I'd recommend a season's pass even if you've never been. Congrats on the move

[Cyber Cop]

Silverton is so over rated. If any of you gapers knew a thing about jibbing you would appreciate the awesomeness that is purgatory. Seriously...

[PowderHorse]

I loved living there! Happy people & active kids, sorry I can't offer much on the schools. I learned to ski at Purgatory and had a blast up there. sure it's a bit more family oriented but that would be about right for your stage of life.

Enjoy your new opportunities!

[Cyber Cop]

anyone remember 2 scoops? Is he still one of Durango's finest?

[Tech Tonics]

yeah, i'm aware purgatory isn't the greatest resort...but they do get a lot of snow (compared to NM) and it seems like a great place for my kids to ski. Silverton ~1 hr away and all the b/c of the san juans...not to mention the huge storms that Wolf Creek gets means I'll be a happy skier. For the next few years I'll basically be a weekend-warrior anyway...

[Cyber Cop]

I was being serious TT. I love purgatory. You just need to get a board and learn to surf. Purg has some goods, you just have to know where to look. I haven't ridden there since they gladed 8, but the good shits not on 8 anyway.

[Cyber Cop]

btw, you are going to want to find a place by august. Once the college kids get back in town it can be hard to find a good rental. If you need to talk to someone on the ground I can hook you up with a friend to get some beta.

[Cyber Cop]

and you know what the coolest thing is about the four corners, and no one ever mentions it... Navajo Lake. Worse thing for me about santa fe is the lack of a good lake.

[Tech Tonics]

Navajo Lake is cool? really?

yeah, we'll get a house in June, likely, maybe starting July 1st or something.

[Danno]

anyone remember 2 scoops? Is he still one of Durango's finest?

damn, "two scoops" is not something I have thought of in a long time. For some reason, I am recalling that he got arrested for something or caught doing something bad and is not on the force anymore, but that could easily be 100% incorrect.

And yes, Purg isn't the greatest resort but it's still fun and has some hidden goods and if you like catching air there are more headwalls to do that at Purg than just about anywhere.

And Navajo Lake can be a blast. Cliff jumping on hot days in summer is sweet. That said, our car got broken into while we were at the cliffs. Fuckers.