It is true, you give up things moving to the mountains. 

I cannot jump in my car easily and go to a movie, and cultural events can be a little hard to find.  It is hard to find presents for a friend's baby shower, or too many gluten free or organic options for my newest revitalizing diet.  I cannot visit Tattered Cover for an afternoon spent with my favorite authors without great planning, and I do miss the eclectic coffee houses and dinner parties from time to time.

But, I can wake up, cross country ski from my house, teach my son to pull a sled surrounded by incredible views, have musical jam sessions inside by the fire with friends, learn to use a crock pot to cook just about anything, create an adorable diaper cake despite my husband's comments of being white trash (photos to come), and spend time at the new rec center (which makes us feel so uptown), all in 24 hours.

It really does not seem like I have given up that much, when I think about all that I have gained.

It's better you learn that now, rather than later. 

J.D. Salinger

Despite barely being able to balance on his own, my son tried skiing to the chairlift by himself.

I might be in trouble.

While we fight on one side or the other of separation of church and state, we wake up and realize that the more important fight was separation of corporation and state. 

OOPS, too late on that one.

Sorry, Isaac, no more government for the people, just the rich ones, so you better get a job, start your company and learn to be greedy now.

I thought we'd seen enough of what greed can do, but I guess there are some who want to see more.

I guess we have not seen enough dollars spent in the wrong place yet.

The art of Won Park, Master of Oragami.  (And no, despite rumors, and how cool it might sound, he does not live in a revamped gargabe truck.)

1) I cannot find a single decent priced bedspread that does not have Spongebob, Superman, Diego, Dora, Sesame Street, or some other cartoon character with a tie-in to a bizillion items on the shelves of the nearest store.

2) I cannot find any party decorations without the aforementioned commercial tie-in either.

 Can I not spare my son, not even three, from the commercialization of childhood for now?

 I thought I was safe with only a crappy Alco, but no such luck.