Peaceseeker (Casper, Gillette, Sheridan: university, living in, shopping mall) - Wyoming (WY) - City-Data Forum

Malin Foster · 02-04-2012, 04:22 PM

I'm considering a move to Cody. Lost my wife of 35 years to ALS 5 years ago and retired three years ago. Spent 42 years as a newspaper reporter and editor mostly in the Rocky Mountain West, but also worked in Washington, D.C. long enough to realize it's no wonder we teeter on the brink of political disaster these days. I'm very tired of the rotten air, outrageous traffic, unplanned growth, and ticky-tacky shopping malls. I have no real problems with everyday Mormons, but their influence over government and politics in Utah is shameful. I hunt, flyfish, XC ski and am a dedicated black powder cartridge rifle nut. I'm also so healthy there's no hope of death very soon -- but I'm 74, so I could be wrong. I don't mind tourists (much), and I can stand wind as long as it's not like Casper. I've spent a lot of time in Cody over the years and have yet to find much that bothers me. Should I stay in SLC and die of pollution poisoning, or go to Cody and freeze?

SkunkApe · 02-05-2012, 09:29 AM

I vote Cody.

Happy in Wyoming · 02-05-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malin Foster

I'm very tired of the... unplanned growth, and ticky-tacky shopping malls.

Everyone here whom I know enjoys the lack of government "planning". We don't have shopping malls but I'm sure you'd find our tourist areas very "ticky-tacky".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malin Foster

I...XC ski... I don't mind tourists (much), and I can stand wind as long as it's not like Casper.

Cody has little snow; cross-country skiing is miles away. Cody is a tourist town. The tourist industry is to Cody what the coal industry is to Gillette. Cody is windy.

I almost always encourage people to move to the Cody area; but I know you would not be happy here.

jody_wy · 02-05-2012, 10:23 AM

did like how the streets run square in SLC one could find where he needed to go so he could get the work done then out of town as quick as possable... like when the wool wearhouse move to Toolie

NDak15 · 02-05-2012, 01:58 PM

Sorry to hear about the loss of your wife. I would vote Cody as well, or possibly Sheridan or Powell. For what it's worth, I have a coworker who has complained that Cody is also a very Mormon-controlled town. I don't get that vibe from that town however, and think Park County residents are the friendliest in the state. It's an area I wouldn't mine living in someday.

Malin Foster · 02-05-2012, 05:01 PM

WyoEagle,
Thanks very much. I've spent a lot of time in Cody and have never had the impression that it's an LDS-controlled town, but that's all relative. This is the LDS Mecca and there's nothing at all wrong with that. Mormons are great people. Their values are impeccable. I'm certainly not a Mormon-hater and their presence is certainly not a factor in any choice I would make for a home. I do object to government by scripture rather than by Constitution. I simply prefer small towns and SLC is by no means a small town. If I were to ever live in another big city it would be London. We lived there for a year while I was teaching at a university. Now, you wanna talk about wind? Go to London in winter and find out what wind really is, especially when it howls right off the North Sea, the English Channel or the Atlantic.

NDak15 · 02-05-2012, 10:13 PM

Their values are impeccable. I'm certainly not a Mormon-hater and their presence is certainly not a factor in any choice I would make for a home. I do object to government by scripture rather than by Constitution.

I agree with this 100%. This person I work with was a business owner and said her store was boycotted since they were not Mormon. I think this was also about 20 years ago and I would be willing to bet that Cody has changed a bit in this time.

ElkHunter · 02-06-2012, 08:12 AM

Malin,

Have you spent much time in any other towns in Wyoming? I've never been to Cody so I can't compare it to anywhere else, but I, personally, would want to get further away from the tourists. I have a cousin that lives there and she lives for the tourist season. haha I'm just the opposite, keep the crowds away.

There are a lot of places in Wyoming that wind is not a factor. Sheridan, Dayton, Ranchester, Story, etc... Nestled up against the Eastern side of the Big Horns, the storms tend to miss us and so does the wind. Buffalo is nice too, but does get a little more stormy weather then further North.

What's nice about the outlying towns, Ranchester, Dayton, Parkman, Story, is that you are away from the fast pace of tourists, however, only 20 miles or less from shopping in Sheridan or even major shopping in Billings is only 140 miles away (makes for a good day trip).

Malin Foster · 02-06-2012, 09:14 AM

Elk Hunter,
Yes, I've been to all those places and they are, indeed, nice. Thanks much for your comments.

Malin Foster · 02-06-2012, 09:42 AM

Thanks, everyone, for your comments. They're helpful and interesting. To recap my original message, I don't mind tourists, I can tolerate wind and Mormons are no big deal in my decision-making. I've lived much of my life around them and like them very much. Happy in Wyoming, ticky-tacky is in the eye of the beholder. Cody's biggest tourist attraction is the Buffalo Bill Historical Center. There's certainly nothing tacky about that. Yellowstone Park has become tacky in many ways, but it's still an incredibly beautiful place. Oh, and how, since you've never met me and gotten to know me, can you say I wouldn't be happy in Cody?