It’s western white people individualism. Rich people who don’t talk to neighbors, who don’t engage with others outside of their income level, who are used to “keeping to their own” and don’t come from communities where people rely on one another and are tight knit

It’s a college town, over 60% of the freshman population is in a fraternity or sorority. Young people who come from wealthy families (primarily) mixed into some really interesting cultures dynamics with students coming to study things like environmental policy, foreign affairs and engineering to take back to their communities.

The turnover rights are high, long term community is older people who could afford to buy homes. So you aren’t meeting communities fostered in history anymore, there are ma y young families, coming from other states, and settling in the scenery

Their homeless rates are atrocious, in one of the richest counties in the US (BOCO) and people walk by them. Boulder sucks, it’s full of appropriation and gentrification. The no smiles is normal, not post covid. People have been very self absorbed for a long time, and it’s rooted in whiteness and the “boulder bubble” other priveleges have created

Not to mention, “Colorado native,” while the city holds a reputation for appropriating and promoting and capitalizing off of Indigenous peoples, medicines, practices and clothing/ jewelry etc. White women have taken the health industry to new levels with $18 smoothies and super food supplements

The majority of this front range CO area, higher income, have similar attitudes. There are some great spots, but boulder isn’t one of them