I live in Boulder, CO. It’s my adopted hometown, and I like it. I enjoy the active culture, and the access to outdoor activities. I enjoy the attractive people, and the attractive places they congregate. I enjoy the hot tech scene, and the group of friends I’ve developed through it. I enjoy the sunshine.
It’s no surprise these attributes have caught people’s eye, and it’s no surprise that with people like Andrew Hyde repping the town so fervently, that it’s grown a significant following of its own. Megan Soto’s recent blog post and the comments therein are but the latest example. Just Summize ‘Boulder’ and you’ll get another.
My point here is not to discourage Megan - she’s a friend - nor to discourage others who dream of living in Boulder some day. In fact, I encourage them to come visit, live, and enjoy what we have to offer.
Rather, my point is to try and paint a more realistic picture of the city. Because frankly, while Boulder is nice, it’s no paradise.
There are dirty people here. There are too many bikes, and they run too many stop signs. There are mountain lions, and they eat humans. There are college students, and they don’t act like humans. There are 12,00 foot peaks, but they’re far away. And fuck, there’s not much water here. Or nice trees.
Minor quips aside, the bigger point is that in imitating paradise, Boulder misses out on the one thing I think makes a place divine: reality. There’s an undeniable lack of real-ness here in Boulder. Therefore the city is pleasant, but only for a little while, and only in small doses. To me, it’s rarely fulfilling, or truly life-enriching.
In fact, after an extended piece of time here, I’m readily willing to trade its comforts for everything a less comfortable place has to offer. On a Friday night lately, I’m more apt to go bowling in Longmont with all my toothless brethren than I am to sip $7 drinks in one of Boulder’s bars.
I could just be one reality-starved country boy stuck in a city that’s getting old. Or I could be highlighting an important reason why a city full of promises will fail to deliver on all of them.
Which one is it?
You tell me.
{ 31 comments }
