So…Sebastian took a job at the Denver Airport and moved to Denver! It was all quite sudden. When we were in Oregon, Seb was still working at UPS Cargo in Salt Lake and trying to decide if he wanted to work de-icing again this winter. When some jobs came open at United in Denver, he applied just to see what would happen. He has wanted to work for an actual airline (they have better benefits than the contractors he's worked for) but it's hard to get hired here in SLC because they don't have as many employees here. He was kind of surprised when he got offered the job! He was considering it, talking over pros and cons with us, and then suddenly the next day he told me he'd accepted the offer! We were surprised and a little taken aback because it happened so quickly, and he would have to move in a month! But we were also glad he was being brave and moving forward. He'd been wanting to make a change for a while and this was a great chance for it!
Seb found some apartments for rent online, and we narrowed them down a bit, but felt like he really ought to see them in person. He had to go to Denver for a badging appointment and drug test at the airport anyway, so I decided to go with him for a quick overnight trip so we could check some places out. I felt sort of underqualified to help, since I have never apartment hunted before myself! I lived at home in college, then in London, then with Rachael in her grandpa's house while he was living elsewhere. And then I got married! So I don't know anything. But I could provide moral support (and the benefit of my years of wisdom of course🙄). Oh, and unlike Seb I'm old enough to rent a car. So that was something.
We were there such a short time, and mostly looking at rentals during that time, but it ended up being so good we went. Seb had been feeling understandably nervous after taking this leap, and after running into a couple scam apartments online, we were both wondering if anyone in the world could be trusted? So it was good to meet some actual people and see the actual neighborhoods he might be living in. We both really loved Denver! We found a cute little shopping center with fun food places, bookstores, etc., kind of an industrial/art deco vibe, which ended up being right near the place he chose to rent. And it just felt good to drive on the streets and get a feel for the place! Seb is so good with directions, he was driving around without map or GPS before the second day was even over. He was trying to explain it to me: "It makes sense. It's just like Salt Lake, except instead of I-15 and 215 it's the 25 and the 70. And then you've got that main artery, Colfax, cutting across the middle…" O-kay. Glad someone thinks that way.
We were super impressed with how many beautiful parks were in Denver! They were all over, even near all the places Seb was looking for housing (which weren't in fancy neighborhoods or anything😄). This park was a cool one that used to be the old airport, and they left the control tower there and put grass and bike paths along the runways. Kind of fun.
Denver isn't as close to the mountains as I'd imagined it (the mountains are actually much closer in Salt Lake) but we drove up along I-70 and were up into some beautiful areas in about an hour. We drove up one of the scenic roads Seb had found. The aspens were SO bright and it was gorgeous! So many evergreens too.
We drove up high enough to see a little snow!
It was still colorful up above the treeline. Just more muted.
I brought Milky with me, so we could take pictures for Clementine. She loves it when the bunnies travel :)
Seb got some good pictures, of course! These next few are all his:
Back in the city, we found the train line and figured out if it would be good for Seb to get to work on. (It is!)
Near the Denver Airport there is a huge wildlife refuge. The cute old couple Seb and I were staying with (we stayed in an Airbnb which was just two rooms in their house! We were like the "paying guests" in Wallace and Gromit) told us to go see it, so we took a drive through. It was really pretty! There are buffalo there, and so many prairie dogs!
We stopped and ate a picnic (bagels!) at this pretty pond.
Kind of cool to feel like you're in the wild prairie with the city close by!
Our flight out was pretty late, so we drove out to a field near the airport to watch the sunset before flying home. Such a beautiful sky!
We went home with a good idea of where Seb wanted to live, good feelings about the city, and his airport badge ready to go. Pretty good for a two-day trip!
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