Denver is only a 30 minute drive away from Boulder, which is often ranked as the healthiest/happiest city in the U.S. It seems that a lot can change in just 30 minutes. Most people seem pretty happy here, but healthy? Err, not so much by my standards.
I've been spending my days walking a lot as I get acclimated to the altitude (more on that later), and I've noticed one majorly disturbing thing about the people I pass by -- about 1 out of every 3 is smoking! Gross. People walking are smoking, people riding their bikes are smoking, people taking a break from a pick-up game of hoops are smoking, even people driving by me in their cars are smoking so much that I can smell it as they pass. Super gross. With all this crisp mountain air to suck up, why would anyone want to replace that fresh goodness with nasty cigarette smoke? Blech. Thankfully, smoking is banned in restaurants and other indoor public spaces, but seriously, Denver people, get it together and quit that disgusting habit already. It's hard enough to breathe up here without that smoke drifting from every direction.
On a more entertaining note is that fact that marijuana is decriminalized here, so there is an official dispensary within spitting distance of wherever I am. At least it smells better than cigarette smoke, but I'm amazed at the amount of stoned out people sitting on their porches at 10am; come on people, don't you have to go to work? The prices and strains of ounces are advertised in the local papers, in the back along with escort services and music show listings. It is surreal.
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