The cultural difference between mountain life and beach life is almost non-existent. For the most part, people have the same laid back attitude about life and a shared passion for the locale.
Many people from Colorado will argue endlessly that nothing compares to their mountain lifestyle and Californians have the same outlook -- nothing compares to their weather and chill beach life. What Californians and Coloradans don’t realize is the similarity between the two places.
Coloradans ask, “What do you do at the beach all day?” They wonder how lying out in the sun for hours on end, swimming in cold salt water, and the inevitable sunburn is fun. Maybe these activities aren't for everyone, but lying out is relaxing, the cold water is refreshing and sunburns, well, after a day or so they turn into a nice, natural tan.
Californians ask, “Isn’t it always freezing there?” No, actually, for the most part it is quite nice in Colorado. With an average of 300 days of sunshine you can’t really beat that. Sure, the winters get a bit chilly, but the access to the mountains here is unbeatable.
Many people from the two states that I live in have a hard time recognizing the similarities. People from both places are extremely passionate about their homes. Coloradans are passionate about their mountains, and their skiing and snowboarding. A majority of Californians are passionate about their beaches, weather, and surf. But, the cultures built around the mountains and the beach are surprisingly similar. People are relaxed and happy to be outside enjoying nature -- whether it is skiing or hiking in the mountains, or lying out or surfing at the beach. People in both places love the outdoors. The vibes on the mountains are the same as the vibes on the beach. People have a mutual respect for each other, you don’t cut someone off in the park, just as you don’t drop in on a wave someone has already caught.
There is also a stereotype of people in both states. Both are known for hippies and a culture built around marijuana -- more so in Colorado, these days. Also the people in both states are generally stereotyped into ski bums or surf bums. People from other places assume that Coloradans and Californians spend their entire lives on the mountain or at the beach, shredding the gnar in some kind of way. While there are people from both places that center their lives on the mountain or in the ocean, for the most part people consider skiing or surfing a hobby and a lifestyle, but not their entire life.
I often find myself saying that if Colorado had a beach, I would never leave. The more time I spend in Colorado, the more similarities I find to home and the more I love both places.
