As a fourth generation Coloradan, you can imagine the abject horror my family experienced when we announced we were moving our family, not just out of state, but out of the country.
We loaded up the fam, the dog, the bikes, and our junk, and made our way to a little beach town in Costa Rica. Two months have flown by, and while life at the beach is pretty darn great, I have to admit, there are a few things I miss about my hometown and the Centennial State
Those Rocky Mountains – I’ve traded the mountains for beach. Don’t get me wrong, the beach is amazing, but I do miss peeking at Mt. Evans from my office every day.
Springtime in the Rockies – Oh, those tulips and daffodils with the promise of spring. Only to be blanketed in snow. It’s a constant joke in Denver; it goes something like this: “don’t like the weather? Wait five minutes.” It’s never as true as in the spring. Believe it or not, I actually miss our crazy spring weather when its flip-flops one day and snow boots the next!
Outdoor Fireplaces – Is there anything better than sitting outside around the fire with a glass of wine after putting the kids to bed, even if it means wrapping up in a blanket? I miss those beautiful Denver days where it’s warm during the day and cool at night.
Daylight – We’re living just 9° from the equator, which means the sun rose today at 5:15 am and set at 5:45 pm, which it does at roughly the same time 365 days a year in Costa Rica. That means no extended sunlight in the summer…a real bummer. That extra daylight was always my favorite thing about summer.
The Parks – Being a Denver native, I’ve taken a neighborhood park for granted. That little oasis down the street where friendships are started for both mom and littles…yep, I miss those rusted out monkey bars more than I thought I would.
The Library– I’ve always been an old fashioned paperback girl, but I’ve had to convert to ebooks. Man, do I miss going to the library, browsing all of those books, judging them 100% by their cover, and taking home three or four just because I could.
Our Neighborhood – While I love our community in Costa Rica, it’s no Southmoor Park. Our little community with all of it’s flaws is pretty darn great. I miss the parks, the pool, the restaurants and of course, the people.
My Tribe – My friends and family who I’ve come to rely on over the years are perhaps the thing I miss the most. They make up a tribe I’m working to replicate, but will never be able to recreate.
Sports – The Nuggets and the Avs are in the playoffs. Joe Flacco is a Bronco. The Rockies are swinging bats…and while I can follow them thanks to the internet, nothing beats the energy in our thriving sports town!
Chipotle, Noodles, Wahoo’s – That’s right….I even miss good old fast food. But it’s not the food I miss- it’s the efficiency – the ability to get in, feed your family and then get out. Trust me, you don’t miss it until its gone.
I-25.- Now, hear me out. While Denver’s traffic is terrible, at least there are multiple lanes to choose from, and they’re all paved, which is more than I can say about my current situation.
