I was born and raised in Westminster, Colorado, a city 20 minutes outside of downtown Denver and in a house with a backyard view overlooking the mountains. 19 years in that house had me pretty set in my ways, often taking things for granted. When I packed up and moved to Sioux City, Iowa to attend Morningside College, the realization hit me that there are some things in Colorado that Iowa just cannot live up to. So here are a few things from my home state that I took for granted, and didn’t know I would miss until I spent a year away from them.

The mountains!

This one seems pretty obvious, I went from a house where I could literally see the mountains from my living room windows, to the “rolling hills” of Iowa. Sure, there are many parts of Colorado that are just as flat as any other Midwest state, but you know that a short drive will bring you back in view of the mountains, while in Iowa, you have to drive long and far to see any type of major incline. When I lived in Colorado, the mountains were just another thing that I saw every day, and they became more of a backdrop to my life. But as I drove along the highway after my first year of college and the big, blue beauties came into view, I realized that the Rocky Mountains deserve to be so much more than just a backdrop in anyone’s life.

The sunsets

Nature really has treated Colorado with some of the best views. Although I am told that the colors of the sunset are caused by air pollution, there is nothing quite like looking at an orange and blue sky atop the Rocky Mountains.

The drinking water

Another thing that I believe many people take for granted is the ability to walk to a faucet and get a glass of water. The fresh mountain run-off makes the best drinking water I have ever had. It was a bit of a culture shock to walk up to a water fountain in Iowa and nearly choke on the taste of the water. A water filter is a must-have for anybody who was raised spoiled with the Colorado water.

The sports

Colorado has a professional team for every major sport there is. The Broncos, the Rockies, the Avalanche, the Rapids, the Nuggets, the Mammoths and Tthe Outlaws, all sports teams that any Colorado resident can rally behind! While other Midwest states are forced to cheer on their closest college sports teams, we have the pleasure of being able to do both.

The people

Maybe it’s the fresh air, or the views, or all the “touristy” attractions that surround us, but people who live in Colorado usually seemed to be in a better mood than the people I encountered elsewhere.

I understand that Colorado isn’t the only place to see mountains (heck, it isn’t even the only state to see the Rocky Mountains), it’s not the only place where the sun sets, where the water tastes good, where there are good sports teams, or where there are nice people; but it is the only place that I want to call home, and all these things are just some of the reasons why I might always be stuck here.

All in all, and this goes for anyone, Colorado resident or not, do not take anything for granted, enjoy the little things in life, stare at the stars a little bit longer, because when something you love that much gets taken away from you, you may never look at it the same way.