thinking of moving to ne.

[katrina_f_p]

I HAVE LIVED IN CASPER, WYOMING, MESA AZ, AND ODESSA TEXAS. HAVE BEEN THROUGH NEBRASKA MANY TIMES ON MY WAY TO VISIT MY MOM IN WYOMING SO WILL KNOW WHAT I AM IN FOR SCENERY WISE. MY DAD LIVES IN BRULE SO THATS WHY I WAS CONSIDERING OGALLALA. THE WAGE FOR MY LINE OF WORK IN THE HEALTH CARE FIELD IS COMPARABLE THERE. I AM LIKING WHAT I HEAR AS FAR AS UTILITIES AND STUFF GO. LOOKS LIKE I WILL BE DEPARTING THE 1000 ISLANDS OF NEW YORK FOR A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP TO NEBRASKA, ALTHOUGH I WILL MISS THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY HERE I AM NOT WILLING TO GO HUNGRY TO SEE IT., AND ITS ONLY GETTING WORSE HERE. OK NOW MY NEXT QUESTION, WHERE IS THE CLOSEST PLACE TO OGALLALA TO SHOP, PARTY ETC.? THANKS ALL FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, MUCH APPRECIATED!

[dbean]

Originally Posted by katrina_f_p

I HAVE LIVED IN CASPER, WYOMING, MESA AZ, AND ODESSA TEXAS. HAVE BEEN THROUGH NEBRASKA MANY TIMES ON MY WAY TO VISIT MY MOM IN WYOMING SO WILL KNOW WHAT I AM IN FOR SCENERY WISE. MY DAD LIVES IN BRULE SO THATS WHY I WAS CONSIDERING OGALLALA. THE WAGE FOR MY LINE OF WORK IN THE HEALTH CARE FIELD IS COMPARABLE THERE. I AM LIKING WHAT I HEAR AS FAR AS UTILITIES AND STUFF GO. LOOKS LIKE I WILL BE DEPARTING THE 1000 ISLANDS OF NEW YORK FOR A HOUSE HUNTING TRIP TO NEBRASKA, ALTHOUGH I WILL MISS THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY HERE I AM NOT WILLING TO GO HUNGRY TO SEE IT., AND ITS ONLY GETTING WORSE HERE. OK NOW MY NEXT QUESTION, WHERE IS THE CLOSEST PLACE TO OGALLALA TO SHOP, PARTY ETC.? THANKS ALL FOR ANSWERING MY QUESTIONS, MUCH APPRECIATED!

well, since you've been to NE, you should know of the low population density in Western NE, thus the lack of urban enertainment. I live in Lincoln currently, but have been through W parts of NE and I find it extremely boring compared to the metro areas of Lincoln and Omaha.

The only options for shopping/partying that are comparable to thoes of any urban area would be in Denver or maybe Kearney since it is a college town.

Other then that, your options are limited. If you looking to move to Ogalalla for shopping/partying/soil networking I would re-think your decision.

[tpabes]

You can get all you necessaties in Ogallala as they have grocery stores, Pamida and dollar stores. North Platte, 50 miles, east will provide better shopping with Wal-mart, Menards, Shopko and a small mall. Otherwise you'll have to go almost 3 hours to Denver and do major shopping and partying, that will be your best bet.

[IsThisOneTaken?]

Ogallala is dirt cheap compared to Omaha or eastern Nebraska. You can get a decent 3-4 bedroom home for $80-100K. However, utilities and property taxes are higher due to the smaller population to support the infrastructure.

Unfortunately, Ogallala is also economically depressed right now. Its major income source, Lake McConaughy tourism, is down due to the decreased water levels thanks to the 8-year drought. It is still a big lake (by Nebraska standards), and is on the rebound, but it will take years of "normal" before it recovers.

Healthcare jobs are there, but not too common. There is a decent critical-access hospital (managed by Banner Health, a big player in CO and AZ), one nursing home/assisted living, and a home health agency. There is a clinic at the hospital and one other private practice FP office. Specialists are travelers, so no local jobs with them. For perspective, a RN can make about $18-20/hour. Doesn't sound like much, compared to the $30-50 one could make in Denver, but again the cost of housing is dirt cheap and a definite buyer's market (just be ready to sit on your house if you have to move away and try to sell it).

Partying in Ogallala? That would consist of drinking Busch Light at the lake with the high school kids... Seriously, not much of a social/clubbing scene. You'd have to drive 3 hours to Denver for that.

Shopping is bland. You can get your basics, but you have to travel to North Platte (45 minutes-Wal-Mart, Shopko, small mall), Kearney or Scottsbluff (2 hours, Wal-Mart, Target, decent malls), Cheyenne (2.25 hours-Wal-Mart, Target, larger mall, lots of other retail) or Denver (3 hours-everything you can ask for) to get into any serious shopping. The further you go, the better your options.

[ehenningsen]

Isn't Omaha closer to Ogallala than Denver?

[tpabes]

IsThisOneTaken, welcome to the forum!

ehenningsen, actually no Denver is approx. 3 hrs (mapquest says 211 miles) from Ogallala and Omaha is approx 4.5 hrs (mapquest says 330 miles).

[IsThisOneTaken?]

Originally Posted by tpabes

IsThisOneTaken, welcome to the forum!

ehenningsen, actually no Denver is approx. 3 hrs (mapquest says 211 miles) from Ogallala and Omaha is approx 4.5 hrs (mapquest says 330 miles).

Thanks for the welcome!

Ogallala is much closer to Denver than Omaha. And, a car trip to Denver doesn't involve a time change.