Have you ever wished that you could have been born in a different era? Every now and then, I find myself thinking about what it would have been like to have been a cowboy or a rancher back in the late 1800’s. As such, I love the Western movie, “Lonesome Dove.” As a real estate broker, I would love to create several short videos that capture the cowboy spirit and lifestyle as well as this movie does.
The movie is loosely based on the story of the legendary cattlemen, Charles Goodnight and Oliver Loving’s creation of what became known as the Goodnight-Loving Trail around 1886. Eventually the trail ran from Texas, through New Mexico, Colorado and up to Wyoming. In the movie, two former Texas Rangers, Woodrow Cal and Gus McCrae, decide to leave Texas and move to Montana with a herd of horses and cattle. Both Loving and the movie character Gus die as result of wounds from an Indian attack. Both Goodnight and the movie character Cal return their respective friend’s body back to Texas for burial.
A couple of weeks ago, I drove from Texas through New Mexico into Colorado. I went through the Palo Duro Canyon, the Raton Pass and Pueblo, Colorado – all areas frequented by Charles Goodnight. As I topped hills, rounded turns and went through the Raton Pass, I considered how much has changed in the last century. I also considered how much has stayed the same. Although times have changed, the reasons that some people move out West have not changed all that much when you consider the lifestyle.
At the beginning of Lonesome Dove, Cal and Gus seem to be content with their life in Texas. Jake, an old friend shows up and starts talking about his travels. He says Montana is a “cowman’s paradise with lots of grass and water.” Cal starts thinking...... I’m like Cal in this movie. I was content living and working in Texas. However at times, I would sometimes yearn to do something a bit more adventurous.
Both Cal and I, rationalized that leaving Texas would provide us with the chance to make more money.
In the late 1800’s, there was money to be made in both gold and cattle. In 2014, a competent real estate broker with good work ethic can make a nice living selling real estate in Colorado. To be successful, both us need to find people that are interested in the Western lifestyle.
How did Cal convince himself and the others that they wanted to leave Texas and move? He sold a change in lifestyle.
He asked:
- How about Montana?
- Don’t you feel restless?
- Is there anything fun to do here anymore?
- Wouldn’t you like to make more money?
- Wouldn’t you like to see a part of the country that hasn’t been spoiled by man yet?
- Wouldn’t you like to acquire a ranch before developers get a hold of it?
Cal promised hard work and an adventure. I can promise today’s buyers that Colorado offers both challenges and adventures. I can also promise that there will always be hard work associated with ranches, rural properties and livestock.
Many people talk about aquiring a legacy ranch. I'd like to quote Gus, "It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's living."
Sincerely,
Sondra Meyer Peterson, CPA
Colorado Horse Property Specialist
Colorado. See It. Experience It. Live It
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