Making friends in Denver.
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4/20/2007
Here's why it is hard for many people to make friends here. Let me first say that as a Denver native I am sorry if people have found us to be arrogant and unfriendly. I think it's hard to make friends wherever you live--but unfortunately it's amplified in Denver.
Here's why you might have trouble making friends...
1.) The city is VERY suburbanized. Often you don't know your neighbor because you are in a new subdivision and houses are coming up all the time and your neighbors are changing. It's like orientation at your freshman year of college. People simply don't know eachother and don't really care to--at least at first.
2.) The city is full of many transplants. It's a lot of strangers mixed into a big ol' pot of people and they don't always mix well together.
3.) The city is centered around a wide-variety of core institutions--usually church and family. In one sense that's a good thing because it makes this a great family values city with a very traditional, conservative culture. On the other hand it means that you have trouble meeting folks outside of those groups. If you don't go to church and don't have family in town you may have a tough time. My advice is to get involved in your church. You can also get involved in political groups or find groups or bookclubs geared towards folks your age. But church and family rule the roost in Denver and it's probably not gonna change.
I really do wish you luck in making friends in this city. With a little understanding and flexibility it can be done. This is not the most outgoing or open-minded city--to say the least--and you may have to plunge into a church group to really get comfortable. Good luck!
Bp | Lakewood, CO