6 Pros And Cons Of Living In Gypsum, Colorado
Are you ready to make a move to Gypsum, Colorado, and want to know what it's like to live here? In this video, I'm going to share six pros and cons of living in Gypsum to give you a good idea of what this Vail Valley gem is all about. We'll discuss everything from tourism to local wildlife to see if you're ready to call Gypsum home.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Apr 23rd, 2024)The Pros And Cons Of Living In Gypsum
If you’re thinking about moving to Gypsum, this information is for you. We get calls and messages from people just like you that are considering relocating to Colorado, specifically in the Vail Valley here in Gypsum. They all have the same question: what is it really like to live here?
My wife Britt came up with this list after talking to some of our friends, family, co-workers, and past clients that have lived in the Vail Valley for upwards of 20 years. We're going to look at six pros and cons so you can get to know Gypsum and make the best choice for you and your family.
#1: Tourism
The first pro and con here in Gypsum is tourism. The con of tourism is that sometimes things just get overcrowded. If you’re local here, you probably get annoyed sometimes when tourists don’t appreciate the beauty of the Vail Valley - and Gypsum in particular - the same way a local would. Sometimes those people bring overcrowding and trash with them.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Apr 23rd, 2024)However, the Pro to that is they bring their hard-earned money into our local economy. This can give us a boost in our sales tax revenue.
#2: Dry Weather
Pro and con number two is the dry weather. Holy smokes is it dry here. The pro is that it's amazing for a variety of people with some common ailments, like rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory issues, Crohn’s, and other autoimmune diseases.
However, it can be difficult if you’re not prone to drinking enough water daily and taking precautions from the sun. So just use sunscreen, wear hats, and of course, reapply. The funny thing is that with over 500 breweries and distilleries combined across Colorado - paired with the average elevation of 6,800 feet across the western part of the state, including Gypsum - hangovers and premature aging can loom large.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Apr 23rd, 2024)So never underestimate the appointment of H2O, especially when mixing your spirits with elevation.
#3: Trail And Slope Overcrowding
The next thing you'll need to be aware of is trail and slope overcrowding. The con, of course, is that in many seasonal times we have to share the roads, slopes, and trails with our visitors. Unfortunately, this can be annoying when those newbies don’t know where they are. They stop and stall on the slopes and on the trails, and they have no idea what they’re doing. This can cause some physical accidents as a result.
And let’s be real: the more visitors from various locales bring their bad habits along with them, the more often they litter in disrespect of Mother Nature. However, as mentioned in the first pro and con, there is a pro. With so many visitors coming in for ski season and hunting season, locals can take the opportunity to venture off somewhere new.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Apr 23rd, 2024)Maybe you can try out a new trail that you've been wanting to explore or tackle the list of adventures you've been wanting to take. This way, you can avoid those crowds when they inevitably come.
#4: The Weather
Pro and con number four is the pretty unstable and unpredictable weather patterns that we can have here in the mountains. The con, of course, is wildfires. There’s also been flooding there and, of course, blizzards in the wintertime. These are just a few of the unpredictable weather events that this state in the Valley has to offer.
The pro that comes with these weather patterns, of course, is when it rains a ton and it snows a ton. You can get out and enjoy some skiing, and when it rains a lot in the summertime it helps extend the rafting season. If you haven’t been rafting, it is by far one of the coolest things you can do - though it's a little dangerous.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Apr 23rd, 2024)The nice thing about the unpredictable weather is that if you want to get out of your comfort zone a little bit, there is a ton of activity that you can find anywhere in Gypsum to do. Whether it’s four-wheeling, off-roading, fishing, shooting your gun, hunting, or all the stuff that comes with living in the mountains, having unpredictable seasonal weather makes you prepared for anything. In my opinion, this is a pro.
You'll never get too comfortable with venturing out and saying, 'It’s 80 degrees, I’ll be alright.' Rather, you have to be mentally prepared for anything, which does help you in other parts of life. The ability to plan ahead is always a good skill to have. Here in the Gypsum area, we have a combination of a high mountain range, high desert, the arid plains, and the alpine forest up the Valley.
#5: Wildlife
The fifth pro and con is the wildlife. The con is that wildlife can often create a potential disaster for visitors and people who generally are new to mountain living. Everyone should take advantage of the immense beauty that Mother Nature brings to Colorado, but we also have to respect it and be knowledgeable of our surroundings.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Apr 23rd, 2024)Make sure to brush up on your local wildlife before you decide to venture in and become a resident. One thing you should do is never try to encounter wildlife up close and personal. Be mindful that we do have elk, bear, and mountain lions here. Another con is that we do have a ton of highway driving at night - and a lot of those are our residents with big trucks. You do see destroyed animals and destroyed vehicles on the side of the road pretty much once or twice a week.
Sometimes, it's just unavoidable. Elk might run right out in the street in front of the car, so be mindful. Of course, the positive to this is that you get to see all kinds of wildlife. I walk the dogs every day right down the path by the house. About 200 yards away we have a creek that runs through the neighborhood, and there are deer there all fall long.
Once the snow starts to come down from the mountains, the elk are also nearby - which is pretty cool. You'll also see all sorts of eagles and raptor-type birds. It’s really neat to be able to go right outside your back door and see wildlife up close and personal, especially if you've never lived in an area where you could see that. Here is another quick pro tip for you: the aerial views across the Eagle Valley might shock you. You can see mountain lions galore. If you spend enough time enjoying the outdoors here, there’s a very solid chance that a mountain line has seen you closer than you might think.
Verify your mortgage eligibility (Apr 23rd, 2024)#6: Cars VS Trucks
As we round out our pros and cons list, let's look at the last thing you'll want to know about Gypsum: driving a car versus a truck. The con is that, if you are a car person, you better have four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive on your vehicle. When we first moved here, we had a Honda Accord; while it was very nice, we had to put on our chains and cables three different times in our first winter.
Trust me: it is not a pleasure when you’re putting your cables on your car on the side of the road, while other vehicles are sliding off the road because of the snow piles that are building up. Because of the terrible weather conditions on the road in winter, you'll want to get cables if you have a car. You’re going to have to brave the elements, get underneath your vehicle, and put them bad boys on in the wintertime.
Alternatively, the con of having a truck is that gas is expensive. I'm getting about 14 miles a gallon for my 12-year-old truck - on a good day. That’s a definite con. However, this is coupled with the positive of having the ability to throw your skis and camping gear in your truck and go on adventures. If you have a car, the pro in the summertime is that it's awesome to rip around mountain passes in a vehicle that can take the curves. So if you’re one of those people that has a Porsche in the driveway or an SUV in the garage, keep that for some summertime driving.
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I hope you enjoyed these 6 pros and cons of living in Gypsum, Colorado. We get calls and messages every day from people just like who want to get the process started in moving to Colorado. So if you'd like help relocating, be sure to fill out our contact form and we'll get right back to you.
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