[Tonchi]

I haven't visited Mancos since the awful forest fires of several years ago, but I know what you mean about the housing situation. Fortunately most of those Hollywood types went to Telluride instead of Durango (fools! that place is impassable most of the winter) but since the place has been growing for 30 years now I'm sure the prices are higher all the time. Remember that many people have CABINS up the Animas River Valley, and most of the year they stand empty. They will let reliable people live in them for free, and be in charge of the maintenance and security of their investments, and all you have to do is go check into a hotel at their expense when they are in town. People with no more than a carload of possessions and a kitty will not have nearly as much trouble finding non-conventional housing.