This is a question I ask myself regularly and it sometimes depends on the mood I am in. I’m sure many FC residents have asked themselves this at one time or another, especially for someone who has lived here their whole life prior to graduation. For me, my personal answer usually mirrors the weariness of my current mental state, and friends’ opinions seem to heavily influence my answer.
I’ve been here for 20 years and I have made more acquaintances than friends, some of whom are still part of the daily conversation two decades later. If you’re a person who can’t stand being around someone even though there’s no bad blood between y’all, then this is not a great place to live. In fact, if you don’t want to be constantly surrounded by strangers everywhere you go, then Fort Collins Colorado may not be the place for you. But if you like spending time with your family and/or can make new friends easily; maybe Fort Collins is just right for you!
One friend said she’d give up her rights as a US citizen just so she could leave this town and never come back. Another has said he’d love to live in Fort Collins if it wasn’t for the weather, especially coming from a place with four distinct seasons such as Boston. And I know several people who are now fighting an urge to buy land elsewhere because they’ve grown tired of living here.
To be fair, I have enjoyed my time here; but only when I make the effort to get out into nature or meet new people willingly. Fort Collins is not a very intimate kind of place if you want to keep your social circle small and private. It’s easy for me to red flag a person as judgmental or snooty by merely being able to discern whether or not their Instagram feed consists mainly of photos from their backyard.
Perhaps I have a warped perception of my surroundings, but if you don’t like crowds and want to be able to relax with your whole family whenever you like, then this may not be the place for you. If Fort Collins is way too formal and uptight a town for your taste, then moving here will make little difference in that regard. There’s also the intense competition that comes when trying to secure a home prior to graduating from CSU/CU, but I digress…
I welcome all comments on this subject matter that are respectful of others’ opinions as well as insightful in nature. I’m sure there are many residents out there who would love nothing more than to enjoy their time in this city without having to sacrifice a rich social life as well. Nor do they want to sacrifice the things that make Fort Collins a great place to live such as high-ranking schools, community events and festivals, plenty of open space to enjoy recreational activities in such as biking and hiking, etc.
Every time I complain about how this town has changed for the worse over the years, I realize I am mostly upset about what has been lost rather than what is still here; specifically around Old Town where many non-residents work but have little loyalty or connection with it or FC residents. So perhaps there is no way you can live in Fort Collins without being accepted into local circles? Perhaps it’s OK that we’re all strangers from different backgrounds who get along enough to get by but not enough to be considered “friends”?
Because Fort Collins is not a very intimate kind of place if you want to keep your social circle small and private. It’s easy for me to red flag a person as judgmental or snooty by merely being able to discern whether or not their Instagram feed consists mainly of photos from their backyard. Is this city right for everyone? According to my own personal experience, no; but then again, I just might need a visit from some other friends!
https://www.google.com/maps?cid=8046977890329494778