.....COLORADO!!  I'm a fickle gal sometimes, so I can't promise this won't change, but at the moment, Colorado it is!

So here's the low-down.  DH and I absolutely fell in love with Alaska 16 years ago when we spent the summer there on a short-term missions trip.  We have dreamed of going back, and once or twice actually started to formulate a plan to make it happen.

Then we had kids. 

I used to swear that having kids wouldn't change my dreams.  And it hasn't, for the most part, but it has caused me to make some adjustments.  Alaska is just too far away from New England for us to feel comfortable just packing up and moving there.  Basically it would mean saying good-bye to everything and everyone we know and not looking back.  Yes, we live in the jet age, but flights are expensive, esp. for a family of five.  The dream is still there, but we have decided to put it to rest for now and stop trying so desperately to get there.

Almost 2 years ago (it's archived somewhere here on my blog, I think) we were looking into finding a job in Christian camping.   We came oh-so-close to heading out to Colorado, but in the end we just couldn't be ready on their time-table and we had to pass.   But Colorado is still there, even if that particular job isn't!  It's not "close' to New England but at least it's still in the contiguous Lower 48.  It's got everything we're looking for - large cities to visit, expansive wilderness to explore, tons of "old West" history, Native American history, lotsof horses, and the unequaled backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.  I am starting to do some research on what it's like to actually live there, relocating from the northeast.  DH won't be looking for any very specialized type of job; he's in manufacturing now and wants out.  He much prefers work with his hand- and power-tools and enjoys construction and fix-it work quite a bit.  All I need is a stable to clean and I'm good!

If anyone reads this who is from CO, I'd love to hear your comments on living there!  Are you a native or did you move there from somewhere else?  What part of the state are you in and do you like it or would you prefer another location?  Anything!