"Land of Many Uses"

From 20090921 colorado

The Abstract Citizen household feels really lucky about having been out to Colorado three times in the past three years. It’s one of those places that is simultaneously way overhyped and completely underrated. We’ve been to the northwest corner (Steamboat Springs), the southwest (Mancos), through the Kansas-like southern plains, and into the craggly center of the state. We saw that Focus on the Family (aka, worst organization known to man) gets a brown highway sign in Colorado Springs, indicating that it’s a place of interest or of cultural importance. We’ve thrown snowballs in June and sat in steamy hot springs surrounded by old creepy men too happy to embrace the “clothing optional” rules. We’ve had chimichangas in Gunnison – well, everyone should have chimichangas at the Blue Iguana in Gunnison – and we’ve had deep-fried soft-boiled eggs at Kim and Garren’s.

One of the stark reminders you get that the West is not like the East is the fact that you’re basically free to die in any number of ways out West. A simple scenic overlook on the east coast would have tall tamper-proof child-safe fences and reduced speed limits. Out west, if you want to drive off a cliff, that’s your call. “Addition by subtraction,” said Mike. There’s something refreshing about a bunch of policy-makers trusting basic human instincts rather than trying to create barriers that dull self-preservation.

From 20090921 colorado

And I’m very aware of the fact that this is all totally cliché. It’s a big state, it’s less developed. This has tremendous upside, sure, but what about all the chain restaurants? The sprawl?

From 20090921 colorado

I don’t really know what to make of the state. It seems perfectly rorschachian, as the signs proclaim. “Land of Many Uses.” Overdeveloped neighborhoods, mountains, statues of Saint Mary, children named after Grateful Dead songs, culs de sac in suburbs named after parts of the wilderness, brewers, meth, dogs, mountains that never look as impressive in pictures, and peril in spades. It was not so long ago, Colorado.

From 20090921 colorado