Who has moved from Texas or is planning to?

[marysonthego]

36. Northern Colorado front range life

I moved from McKinney in the DFW area about 10 years ago and have never looked back. Yes, the housing prices are higher here, but it was a one-time hit and so very worth it! The Rockies sound cold, but winters are actually mild with short punctuations of snow which is usually gone within 3 days. The summers are glorious. 90 degrees is considered a very hot day by the locals - who have no idea. This is what is known as an 'alpine desert' with year-round low humidity, stable weather patterns, and gorgeous spring, summer, and fall evenings.

We have a progressive governor now, and have had one for the entire time I've been here. Colorado is about as blue as you'll get without moving all the way to the west coast. Here are a few of the amazing things I could never imagine happening in Texas that are commonplace here:

I've covered the weather, 'nuff said.
Nobody is banning books in the library.
Nobody is forcing reactionary Christian Nationalist views on school children.
Nobody is banning abortion, or even contemplating it (we are an abortion refugee state for Texans as long as the Rangers don't stop you for a pregnancy test at the Texas border.)
If you're into that sort of thing, recreational marijuana is legal.
The scenery is SPECTACULAR, and the wildlife is varied and plentiful. In north Texas, the 'wildlife' consisted of coyotes and copperheads.
This year and next, Colorado offers the most generous Electric Vehicle (EV) rebates in the country. In addition to the ~$7800 federal POS rebate (thank you Biden), there are a boat-load of state rebates (also at point-of-sale). I was able to buy a new EV for 1/2 the sticker price last month. No forms, no hassle, and I love my new EV!
Medicaid expansion. Colorado took it from the beginning, and that's a good thing for my son who has an expensive medical condition and has passed age 26. He can no longer be on my health insurance, but is covered up here by Medicaid. As they say in Texas, "Thank you Jesus!", since there's no way I could afford his care in that god-forsaken state.
Speaking of which, I have now been free of people thinking I'm grateful for their "I'll pray for you" for a decade now.
The one thing you should know before making the trek up here - you are required to own a dog, or at least love everyone else's! This isn't hard for me at all, and probably wouldn't be for you either.