To the Editor:

Re “College Grads, Consider Rural Life,” by Samuel J. Abrams (Op-Ed, July 22 ):

I’m a homeowner in a small city in rural western Colorado, with two master’s degrees. We’ve had two booms and three busts since I moved here in 1978; we are only now returning to pre-Great Recession conditions. With each bust the more recent and well-educated, often progressive residents move out, while the born-here and less educated, less progressive, remain.

Your article describes circumstances in a frothy economy, when the financially secure and mobile urbanites seek more family-friendly environs in rural settings like mine. I welcome them and wish they would stay.

To those would-be transplants in Denver and beyond: Know that another bust will come, and at the worst possible time. If you’re smart, have an exit plan in hand. If you stick it out through the busts, prepare to roll up your sleeves to do dubious battle with archconservatives — you’ll be on their turf, and they are hellbent to defend it.

Benton Crowell

Grand Junction, Colo.

To the Editor:

Colleg e grads tend to marry other college grads, and it seems safe to assume they’ll try to maximize work opportunities for both partners as well as live together. As soon as one spouse lands a rural job, the partner spouse often must pursue a much wider-area job search in his or her profession than would be the case in a city or suburb. The resulting long commuting distances can unpleasantly burden young couples, especially those with children.