Life is full of defining moments. But ironically, verity provides we can be ignorant of their existence in real time. Sometimes it takes years to absorb the true significance of events that change the course of our experience.  

Conquering the bowl together reinforced the notion of predetermination. It required we look fear in the face, set aside any apprehension, and just start walking. Doubt would have derailed us. There was one way down, and that was up. 

I can’t help but equate our challenge to the issues we face today. On the national front, inflation, higher interest rates, the stock market, and slower home sales are feeding fears of a recession. In our little bubble, it’s locals vs. tourists, development vs. preservation, bridge vs. preferred alternative, new ideas and progressive leadership vs. the old guard kicking the can down the road.

A poignant op-ed in Outside magazine this month provides a more thoughtful perspective that skillfully lays out the lament, chronicles Aspen’s golden “gonzo” years but concludes, sadly, the area’s unique character has indeed changed and likely for good….No matter how tough it is to see the landscape and, perhaps, the experience change, we can’t waste any more of our intellectual, political, and financial capital in an attempt to turn back time. 

The rub is the commissioners want to eliminate the mansions these TDRs make possible. They cite their excessive energy use. Officials are set to amend the land-use code next year and have been clear they plan to reduce the current allowable square footage maximums. Those same bureaucrats have decided TDRs are the culprit.

Joy and peace are elusive on a hamster wheel, the destination rather than the journey often the misguided goal. So, my wish for me and mine, for you and yours, this holiday weekend, is clarity, enlightenment, the here and now, with an optimistic eye to the future.

We locals have no shortage of pursuits, and those activities are usually gear centric. And, like children who never want playtime to end, we wait because we don’t want to miss a single, waning day of fall should the weatherman get it wrong. I love that about us! But, the same thinking can just as easily catch us by surprise, leaving the procrastinators digging the grill out of the snow.

I couldn’t help but equate the process of buttoning up, taking cover from the coming cold, and storing and protecting our gear to the sudden and recent shift in the housing market. By now, experts, buyers, sellers, and prognosticators agree we are in new territory — coming as weather predicted, if not already upon us.

But, clearly, there are ways to come together as a community and as individuals to tackle some of the problems we face for the foreseeable future. While they be only stop-gap in nature, they could give us the time we need to come up with more long-term solutions.

A week ago last Thursday, we were abruptly reminded there may not be another day, that every experience and adventure is not guaranteed. Life can end in an instant; one breath, one laugh, one experience can be the last without warning or reason. The sudden, tragic death of an Aspen High School student hit home hard, bringing his family and friends to their knees in grief.

No one wants to contemplate their own demise or that of their loved ones. Around here where we tend to live life “full send,” the very idea of “the end” is not just a buzz kill but an annoyance. Live now, don’t think about tomorrow is our mantra. Perhaps we cling to that view, as it’s difficult to imagine an afterlife that beats the mountain paradise we’re living right now.

Ask any local or frequent visitor to the valley why they live or vacation here — natural beauty is the No. 1 answer. Snow-covered peaks, turquoise and high-alpine lakes, fall colors and our endless, colorful vistas are literally baked into our name! Not far behind is lifestyle, which usually equates to all of our awesome outdoor year-round activities. People the world over flock to our state to enjoy biking, camping, fishing, floating, hunting, outdoor concerts, and although it’s still a few months away, skiing and other winter pursuits.