Adjusting To Life in Colorado

If you’ve been keeping up with the blog, then you know that last month I moved to Denver, Colorado. I believe this amount of time makes me uniquely qualified to discuss the similarities and differences between Colorado and Michigan. I want to assure you, loyal reader, that the fifteen years I spent in Michigan, as opposed to the month spent in Colorado, will not sway my opinion favorably towards the Midwest. I am truly the image of unbiased observation.

In the one month I have lived in Denver, I have attended a baseball game and trivia nights, shopped at farmers markets, gone to a very swanky mall, and started my grad program. But the most impactful experience of all is always the drive to get anywhere. You’re probably thinking that this is because of the Rocky Mountains that are in full view any time you drive South, West, or East from my apartment. But it is not the picturesque view. These memorable journeys are because people here genuinely do not know how to drive.

I mean this in the nicest way possible. Every driver on the road in Denver drives like they have never before seen a car, or a road, or a stop sign, or a red light, or a blinker, or a turn lane. They act like never before have they heard of a little concept called “right-of-way” (not the bikers though, they think they’re king of the crosswalk). Here, and here alone, have I witnessed vehicles accelarate to pass me all so that they can speed by and run a red light. But you know what, I digress.

First, let's talk similarities. Denver, Colorado, much Like Grand Rapids, Michigan, is obsessed with beer and breweries. It's actually really sad to know how many people in the country suffer from truly terrible taste and personalities as dry as the IPAs they spend 12 dollars a pint on. Personally, I like a fruity little drink cuz I can’t shoot whiskey. But when forced I will try a beer, and say something inane and dull like “Ooh yum, yeast” and my roommate will roll her eyes and glare at me because she is determined to make me like beer. Unfortunately for her, I am a youngest child, and I am determined to NOT like beer.

Another similarity between Denver and Grand Rapids is the atmosphere. Now, Denver has a truly earth-shattering high cost of living so that is not a similar energy. But, Denver has a lot of college students, and so does Grand Rapids. This creates similarities in activities (trivia nights and student discounts) and similarities in restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings and Insomnia Cookies. It also means that the dating pool is almost entirely comprised of students in some graduate, medical, or law program. Partly because the school I go to alone has about 12,000 students, but also because there are so many schools in the Denver area.

So what makes Colorado so different from Michigan? For starters, Denver gets approximately 300 days of sunshine annually, while Grand Rapids, Michigan gets about 70. Technically Grand Rapids got 66 days of sun last year.

Now, I’ll admit that when I first visited the city, it was monsoon season (allegedly, I don’t know that I fully trust men in airports). So I was less than excited about moving to the Mile-High city. But the last month has been nothing but bright warm sunshine. This does throw a wrench into my fall outfit plans but, I will simply have to table my Christian Girl Autumn itinerary because 4 weeks of vitamin D is an easy disappointment.

Another interesting difference in Colorado is the mind-boggling presence of something E-85 gas. If you like me did not know what this gas is before now, allow me to explain. E-85 gas contains up to 85% ethanol (that’s a lot) and is marked as regular unleaded gas, you just have to check the number on the pump. Now, this gas can really only go into hybrid cars (like a Prius, not a Volkswagen), and because it will actually damage the engine of a regular car.

Now friends, when do you think I discovered what E - 85 is and that it can’t go into my car????? Yes! *ding* *ding* *ding* That is correct!! After I filled my car’s tank with it. Did you know that your car’s check engine light will immediately turn on if you put this in your car?? Well, now you do.

Fret not, after a hysterical and sobbing phone call to the dealership, it was established that my car would not explode (like Reddit suggested) and that my car (and I) would, in fact, be just fine.

Special shoutout to the mechanic who answered my call because all he said was: “Uh huh”, “huh”, “ oh, yeah”, “never put that in your car”, “oh you already did” (apparently it’s hard to accurately express chronological order while violently sobbing, SORRY JERRY), and “is the light blinking and your car smoking”.

Due to the lack of violent shakes from my poor car, he calmly went from ‘it's terrible and can’t go in your car’ to ‘eh it’s probably fine’. So, did I cause irreparable damage to my engine? Who can say?

I know I said my next post would be about my degree, but I felt that this mental breakdown had to be commemorated. Fear not! I love grad school, and am not overwhelmed or stressed at all!!!! (sometimes, I sit and look at the drop button and fantasize about emotional and financial peace).