A millennial who moved from Texas to Colorado says the quality of her new life is worth the higher rent

Joey HaddenFeb 3, 2021, 01:53 IST

Since moving to Fort Collins, Colorado, Nika Canlas Potts has been spending more time outside.Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

Millennials across the US are uprooting their lives to start over in Colorado, Insider reported.
Nika Canlas Potts is a political organizer who moved to Fort Collins from Denton, Texas, in 2020.
Despite a higher cost of living and unexpected dangers like wildfires, Potts prefers her new life.

When Nika Canlas Potts moved from Texas to Colorado in 2020, she started worrying about wildfires and spending more money on rent. She also started spending more weekends outdoors watching the sunset in front of mountains.

Potts is one of many people who moved to Colorado last year, as Insider reported the state has become "a haven for millennials" during the pandemic.

After relocating to Fort Collins - a town an hour outside of Denver - Potts has had to deal with new challenges, like extreme weather and a higher cost of living, but she says she'd move to Colorado all over again for its outdoor perks.

Nika Canlas Potts said she and her partner have wanted to move to Colorado from Denton, Texas, for years. In August 2020, they made the jump.

Nika Canlas Potts and her partner at Guanella Pass in Colorado. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

Once it was decided, Potts began looking for work. While she had experience in retail and customer service, Potts went for something different: politics.

Potts' home office in Fort Collins. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

Potts' new house in Fort Collins, Colorado, is older and more expensive than her place in Denton, Texas.

Potts' living room in Fort Collins. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

When moving to Colorado, Potts said she didn't expect to be so close to wildfires.

Potts captured this photo while on the road, showing ash and smoke on September 7, 2020. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

One day in September, Potts said she and her partner drove from Fort Collins to Boulder to escape the smoke.

An ash veil over Fort Collins, as seen from the I-25 on September 7, 2020. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

But when there's no smoke nearby, Potts says she spends more time outside than she used to.

Potts on a Zoom call with her family in her new house. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

Back in Texas, she said it was too hot to be outdoors all the time.

Part of a paved trail in Eisenhower State Park, Texas, where Potts cut her hike short due to the blistering heat. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

The heat often spoiled her outdoor plans on weekends.

Lake Ray Roberts in Texas in 2019. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

Potts lived in Denton for 10 years, and she misses the community.

The inside of Golden Boy, Potts' favorite coffee shop in Denton, Texas. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

In Fort Collins, the weather is cooler, and Potts and her partner spend most of their weekends exploring natural areas.

Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

Being outdoors has helped Potts feel less isolated.

Walking through Red Fox Meadows, a natural area near Potts' Fort Collins home. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

Despite the fires and more expensive housing, Potts said she's happy in her new home.

A smoky sunset over Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins, Colorado. Courtesy of Nika Canlas Potts

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