I was born and raised in Grand Junction, but let me say, you'd be wise not to move here. These are my 10 reasons why you should avoid the place at all costs.

My family has lived in Grand Junction for generations. My grandparents were born here. While we love the valley, there are difficulties associated with living here. As a native, I've learned to deal with them. In your case, you have a choice as to whether or not you want to face these challenges.

These are my top 10 reasons why you should seriously consider not moving to Grand Junction.

  • Waylon Jordan
    Waylon Jordan
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    1

    It's impossible to decide which amazing trail you want to hike next

    Grand Junction and the surrounding areas offer an almost endless selection of incredible trails to hike and bike. The only difficulty is deciding which one to hike next.

  • Thinkstock
    Thinkstock
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    2

    It's hard to find flip flops which match your parka

    Grand Junction can put the fashion police on double-red alert. We enjoy going out in late December wearing flip flops, jogging shorts, and a parka layered with two sweaters and Bronco jersey.

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    3

    You can't decide which passion to pursue

    What do you plan to do this weekend? Mountain bike, raft, hike, arrowhead hunt (okay, it's a no no, but people still do it), skydive? We have an endless number of fun and interesting things which can be done year round. Deciding which one can give you a headache.

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    Dealing with the 7-minute commute to work

    On any given day, the drive from home to work takes a whopping seven minutes. Most people I know experience about the same travel time. Okay, my brother lives on Little Park and works at the East end of town, so he drives roughly 20 minutes.

    A friend of mine from Los Angeles says depending on what time he left the house, the drive to work could take anywhere from one to two hours. Ain't nobody got time for that!

  • Getty Images
    Getty Images
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    5

    Dealing with so many services close to your house

    My home is in a fairly "residential" area of the valley. Even at that, I can go to the grocery store, the gym, the auto parts store, and several restaurants, all without having to get in my car. Almost anything I need can be found within a few blocks of my house.

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    ThinkStock
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    6

    Some kids have to walk to school

    Yes, it's true. Some kids actually have to endure walking to school. It may have something to do with the proximity of schools, combined with our moderate weather and lack of heavy traffic.

    Families in some parts of the country cringe at the idea of a child actually walking to school. Here, it's a valid, and appealing option for some.

  • Brian Jackson
    Brian Jackson
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    7

    We don't have some of the things you'll find in larger cities

    That's right, we don't have the crime, congestion, and out of control housing problems found in Denver. We do, however, have access to all the great things Denver has to offer, such as concerts, arts, museums, and larger learning institutions. Yes, you have to make the drive over the mountain to get to them, a task which seems to take longer every time you drive it. Just the same, it's worth it to drive to Denver to catch the Keith Urban concert, and then head back to GJ and leave all the negatives behind.

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    8

    On a negative note - the cost of housing really does stink

    It's really a matter of the imbalance between the cost of housing and the average income level in the valley. They are incompatible, and cannot coexist. Rent is high, assuming you can even find a property. Wages are low, and a single person simply can't afford to live.

    In my case, more than 50% of my income goes to my mortgage and utilities. I wouldn't care, but I purchased one of the most modest houses on the market.

    You can rent a studio apartment, but don't be surprised to find and entire family living in the unit next door.

  • Waylon Jordan
    Waylon Jordan
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    9

    Hard to choose a favorite restaurant

    More and more options are springing up every day. If you're into the mom and pop restaurants, you'll find plenty of those. Perhaps you prefer chains. It seems Grand Junction has become something of a hot spot for the big boys. New franchises are moving into the Valley right and left. Now it's just a matter of making up your mind which one to visit.

  • Tim Gray, Townsquare Media
    Tim Gray, Townsquare Media
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    10

    Once you're here, you're stuck

    I was born here. In the mid-90s I hit the road with a country group out of England. Over the period of a few years, we played over half the states in the Union. When it was all said and done, I couldn't get back to Grand Junction fast enough.

    Take a look around. It's hard to find a better place to live. If circumstances required me to leave Grand Junction, the only places I could imagine living would be either San Antonio or Bismark. A friend has asked me to move to Las Vegas on several occasions. It's a nice place to visit, but I couldn't imagine living there.

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