What I Love About Working in Colorado Springs Thoughts by Camryn Walton

I moved to Colorado by way of Indianapolis almost two years ago. After a year-long adventure, my partner (JJ) and I were lucky enough to be able to choose our next home. We chose Denver — just up the road from Keyhole Marketing in Colorado Springs — because we heard great things about the city, it’s close to a big airport, and of course…the mountains.

As we drove the moving truck up to our new home on the Fourth of July (I hadn’t even seen the apartment in person yet), my emotions were a mix of excitement for this new adventure and a level of newfound anxiety about the unknown.

Fast forward two years (which feels like two months!) and we have created a beautiful home for ourselves in Colorado. I have a community of people who support and challenge me, I’ve explored new interests of mine that I didn’t know existed, and I feel more connected to nature than ever before.

I’m so thankful to Joe for this space to reflect on my new home. Here are a few reasons why I love Colorado — both living and working in The Centennial State.

I was surprised by how hard it was to move to a new city where I didn’t really know anyone. I’m outgoing and love meeting new people, so I assumed this would be fun and easy. Real talk though, moving to a new place is lonely, even if you move with a partner. Making new friends is like dating, it takes time and energy and a lot of trial and error. It requires you to get outside your comfort zone over and over, which can be totally exhausting.

An abundance of people are moving to Colorado each month…which has its growing pains, but also means that everyone is new, so everyone is looking for friends! After about 9 months and many first “friend dates,” I found my people, my community, and the reason I now call Denver home.

This community is also the reason I found my amazing full-time job at a local non-profit working to make the neighborhoods of Denver more equitable for all people. If I hadn’t reached out to a random stranger (now good friend) online who seemed like someone I wanted to know — and if she hadn’t responded with nothing but kindness — I never would have discovered this organization.

I believe in the importance of pushing yourself outside your comfort zone in your personal and professional life, and moving to a new place is one way to do this. I’m excited for Joe and the Keyhole Marketing team to experience the growth that happens during these moments of discomfort, and then reap the benefits of the extremely welcoming community who are working in Colorado Springs.

Coloradans have a more diverse set of interests than anywhere else I’ve ever lived. I think one reason is because it has become a melting pot of people from all over the country. This brings a breath of fresh air in every new person you meet, each having a different perspective to offer.

Personally, I’ve found more people who are interested in my passions of holistic health and wellness and exploring alternative and sustainable ways of living. Maybe that’s just Colorado living! As a small business, I’m excited to see Joe and the Keyhole team expand its network, meet new prospective clients and partner with interesting organizations doing impactful work in Colorado.

After two years, it still hasn’t gotten old that we can drive 1.5 hours from our front door to some of the biggest mountains in the country. The peaks, valleys, aspen trees, high deserts, hot springs, and everything else this state has to offer is pure magic. It simply takes a 30-minute drive due west to feel the stress of everyday life melt away, and reconnect with our roots in nature.

It’s there when you need to retreat, seek inspiration, go on an adventure or simply experience the feeling of being in awe. We are in the mountains nearly every weekend, and it’s the one thing that made the initial loneliness seem okay, and it’s what will keep me living in Colorado for many moons to come. It never fails that every Sunday as we drive back to Denver, JJ and I look at each other and ask, “How did we get so lucky to live here?”

For these reasons, I can’t think of a better place for Joe, Lindsay and Quinn to start their next adventure. Selfishly, I’m thrilled to swap out our Skype sessions and phone calls for co-working at breweries and meeting up at a trailhead to catch up.

As entrepreneurs, community-minded individuals, and fellow nature lovers, I know the Dudeck family with thrive — living and working in Colorado Springs, and I’m so excited for them to settle into the magic of this beautiful state!