Do Colorado natives have a right to whine about transplants? Yea or nay?

I moved here when I was 8 years old. My very first memory of Denver was driving down Monaco Parkway—a magical street with a greenbelt in the median—out by Stapleton International Airport. I remember being smitten by gorgeous trees with golden leaves hanging over our heads as we drove. The next day, when the moving van arrived, it snowed. And already, in just two days, I had experienced the glory of two Colorado seasons—and more beauty than I could remember in eight years of living in Texas. I was hooked. I was home.

Image courtesy of redbubble.com

So what’s the big deal about “transplants” in Colorado? Nowhere else in the country seems to have high-horse “native pride” quite like native Coloradans do. I mean, we can’t control where our mothers birthed us. We can only control where we decide to spend the short lives we’ve been given. And if we’ve chosen Colorado, then doesn’t that mean we’re smart? What we choose says so much more about us than the choices that were made for us.

How long should someone be considered a transplant? At what point are Coloradans obligated to extend some graciousness and welcome them into the fold? We asked you to weigh in on our social media pages, and the issue is truly polarizing—“Colorado natives” are genuinely angry about people moving here from other places! A couple of people even suggested building a wall around the state! *snicker*

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Image courtesy of southpark.wikia.com

I mean, of course, transplants can never call themselves “natives,” by definition, but you’d think there’d be a point when the roots have grown deep enough in the soil to allow the transplant to thrive and bloom and call the place home.

How many state taxes does a person have to pay? How many Broncos seasons (both losing and Super Bowl-contending) must a person suffer through? How many snowy sidewalks must a person shovel? How many over-priced dinners at Casa Bonita will make a person a "true" Coloradan?

Here’s the thing. A pond becomes stagnant and murky when there’s nothing flowing in or out of it. It needs movement and a source of fresh water to be healthy.

Not to overdo the analogy, but “transplants” from other states bring fresh blood and new ideas to Colorado; transplants stir us up, make us better, round us out, make us more complete. They make our state healthier overall.

As one commenter on Denver Now said,

"Let's start with the fact that humans are nomadic by nature. Since the beginning of man we have moved for not only survival but comfort as well. But most importantly if people remained where they were born, the economy would crumble. Everyone holds different skill sets. And they move to where their skill set is needed. While Native Americans are native to this country even they aren't native to one spot. They traveled for survival as well.”

Let’s think about some famous “transplants” to Colorado:

The Coors Family. Arrived in 1872 ... and stayed. Molly Brown. Arrived in 1885 ... and stayed. Tom Shane. Arrived in 1966 ... and stayed. Jake Jabs. Arrived in 1968 ... and stayed. John Denver. Arrived in 1972 ... and stayed. John Hickenlooper. Arrived in the early 1980s ... and stayed. John Elway. Arrived in 1983 ... and stayed. The Lumineers. Arrived in 2009 ... and stayed. Peyton Manning. Arrived in 2012 ... and stayed.

Each of these transplants made our community better in their own unique way. They came here for various reasons, recognized the inherent value and merit of the state, and then put down roots. And Colorado is better because of it.

Image courtesy of colorado.com

And can I be real for a sec? With the high cost of living, if a transplant doesn't like it here (or can't cut it), they'll move away soon enough. We'll keep the cream of the crop. And with the legalization of pot in multiple states now, the marijuana draw will soon become a non-issue anyway.

So let’s stop wasting all this energy fighting over whether or not the newbies belong. Yes, choosing to move here made them transplants. But choosing to stay here and contribute to this community? Makes us all Coloradans.