Wyoming's "Way of Life" (new home, homeowner, interior)

[Bree1950]

I thank you for that, too..and yes I can be a softie too. but I was meaning that I grew up having to learn to take care of myself and not to have to depend on a man all the time. I have to admit that having you guys around is quite nice,though.

I didn't mean to come off brash but I didn't want you think that if I do get to come out there that I can't take care of myself either...I want to work beside someone not expecting to be taken "care of"..that's all..

I hope I didn't offend anyone..

[MRVphotog]

I think a 50 years ago Wyoming was mostly ranching and even today there are still many ranchers, wranglers other ranch folks but I think Wyoming is more diverse these days, especially in the larger towns. I lived in Laramie, Douglas, Gillette and Jackson. Plenty of bakers, social workers, journalists, miners, truck drivers...you name it.

Even in Jackson, which a large a part of the state refuses to accept as part of Wyoming you have families that have been involved in the ski business for several generations. If your in Laramie you have college students and professors, in Casper you have oil field workers and in Gillette you have many involved with the coal mines.

I don't think there is any one way you can describe life in the Cowboy State except to say the people are real, no BS and friendly. Alot like the people of Vermont.

[GingerSpice]

I moved to Wyoming from Texas. For some of you, that's enough said. We aren't looked upon as welcome most of the time. Well, at least not from where I hail, Rock Springs. We spend too much time saying "....and that's how we did it back home." I can understand where that would be a problem.

I try to mind my p's and q's for the most part. I keep my personal opinions to myself about the differences in Wyoming and Texas (where they still hold doors open for the lady folks...not because we can't open em ourselves but because they respect that we CAN be as tough as nails and wear our petticoats at the same time, that's no small feat ) I think that Wyomian's in the area could be more friendly if it weren't for the problems they have with a whole passel of newcomers runnin' into their territory on a daily basis. Most of the friendly stay-at-home moms that I've met have been from out of town also...we've had to bond because the close knit community is so close knit that they won't let us in...I mean there is something to be said for knowing your grocery store operator, your kids teacher and all your neighbors but I think there is more to be said when you can say that you treat strangers the same as you treat those folks. I know lots of bad have came in with the good...sometimes it may be hard to tell the difference but bein' one of the good folk ...I wish Wyoming would open up a little and let a new gal in.

[rain2day]

Thanks for a great read, you captured the essence of Wyoming.
I recently spent a summer and then a winter in Wyoming and not only do you have the beauty of the state but the true beauty are the people.

[HobbsResident]

Hmm... my family has been in Wyoming for 100 years - I was raised there. Can't really say that any of the people are as romantic sounding as some of these posts. To me (the men especially) they are rough, tough, rude and crude. Still love my Wyomin' though!

[j1n]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Wow, what a mouthfull. Wyomings way of life.

I look at my neighbor and think, this old woman come and shoveled my walk last year right after I got out of the hospital. I will now, shovel her walk the rest of my life when I'm able. She's in her 70's and come and shoveled my walk.

I will always go to the local market, where people say howdy, and they mean it. They're not just saying it because the "Company says to do it." They are really concerned and are friendly.

I know the guy that hauls my trash. I often go out and he'll stop and chat for a bit.

I know my grandson's teacher by her first name. I am envolved. She calls me when he's not up to par.

My grandson's day care has me on speed dial. He's allowed 15 minutes to get there, and when he's not, she calls me. I go out looking. Normally he's building a snow fort and just lost track of time.

I know just about every doctor in town by first name. They are our life blood.

I have no clue what political affiliation my neighbors are. Could care less.

I live free. I hike when I can, I hunt when I can. My neighbors have brought me Elk, Deer, Antelope, Pheasant. I have taken them the same. We share. Sometimes we have ups and downs. so neighbors are important.

I drive down the road and see somebody stuck. I pull them out. Sometimes they offer money. I tell them, just help out the next person you see stuck. Stop for the next person you see stranded and offer help.

I stop and chat with kids coming home from school. They are the ones that will carry on when we are gone.

I want my kids, and my grandkids, and their kids, to enjoy the wide open spaces of Wyoming. But more importantly, I want them to have neighbors that are neighbors, not tollerant people, but neighbors. Here, we take care of each other.

A few years ago, we had a bad blizzard that knocked out power. I had 21 people staying in my house because I had a fire place. Warmth. I walked up and down the snow banks to get them here. But together, we stayed warm. Cleaned out my freezer. But it was a small cost to pay.

I can't think of anywhere in Wyoming, that if I was stuck in a blinding snow storm, somebody wouldn't welcome me into their home.

That is Wyoming.

Sounds great! I was through Buffalo, Ten Sleep, Dubois, Jackson, and a couple other places this last summer. We were mostly camping, and away from a lot of interaction with other people. But I would say that there were some pretty pleasant folks that we did run into along the way. Dubois and Bondurant come to mind...really some nice people. ElkHunter, Would you say that your neighborly attitudes and outlooks are pretty across-the-board ways of thinking in WY?

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by j1n

Sounds great! I was through Buffalo, Ten Sleep, Dubois, Jackson, and a couple other places this last summer. We were mostly camping, and away from a lot of interaction with other people. But I would say that there were some pretty pleasant folks that we did run into along the way. Dubois and Bondurant come to mind...really some nice people. ElkHunter, Would you say that your neighborly attitudes and outlooks are pretty across-the-board ways of thinking in WY?

Depends. haha I'd say that my attitude are pretty close to the folks in towns and around towns. Not the same with the old blood ranchers. Don't get me wrong, they've got the same attitudes, but with neighbors they know. Not so much with strangers or just folks. In some cases, I think they've forgot their upbringing. I know a few around here that were mighty friendly and we did a lot of stuff together when we were younger. Now that Daddy gave them 60,000 acres, their too busy to say howdy while at the feed store.

[emeraldsky]

Elkhunter, your words warmed my soul

A couple weeks before Christmas I was just about to leave the house to pick up my son from school when there was a knock at my door.

We'd been having problems with our rental home and there were 2 workmen outside fixing stuff. One of them had a few questions.

My dog started barking and lunging through the doorway (thinks he's such a ferocious dog), so I stepped outside in my socks and closed the door behind me to answer his questions. As he walked away I realized I was locked out (the worst feeling ever - stupid old door knob). Locked out in about 20 something degree weather, snow on the ground, in my socks, no coat, no cell phone, no car keys. And we lived on the outskirts of the city so it would have been a bit of a walk to anywhere. Sometimes life just sucks.

(Three deaths in our family this year, 2 moves, a job change, flooding in the basement of our rental twice, filled with boxes of pretty much all we own - sometimes things start to wear on you, even if you're an optimist at heart...)

Trying not to cry, I asked this man (a complete stranger) before he rounded the corner if I could borrow his cell phone. Without hesitation he hands his over, realizes my situation. As I'm trying to reach my husband this man is trying to find other ways into the home, front door, back door, garage door, but unsuccessfully.

So I can't get a hold of my husband, my little boy is getting out of school at any minute, and even if I did get a hold of my husband we only have the one car anyway that I have at the house. Which doesn't always start right away so I knew too I should have been making sure it was going by now.

Anyway... as I'm standing on the plastic shovel at this point, starting to shiver, I get a hold of my husband's coworker. Good man that he is pulls my husband out of a class he was in, graciously drives him to the elementary school, and then brings my son and husband home to me with the extra key.

Meanwhile, the other good man who lended me his cell and tried to help me get into the house, he tells me they're pulling the truck around for me and he wants me to get in so I can stay warm. And I just have to say he opened the door even. They had the heater blasting and the country music turned on even. I sat in their truck for almost 30min and they were so good about it. They could tell I was feeling stupid about it all and like I was putting them out, but they reassured me more than once that it was okay and I could tell they meant it.

After they finished their work they got into the truck too (what cold weather they have to work in) and even though I wanted to get in the back seat, they insisted I stay put and the one guy pushes over all his tools and stuff and gets in the back seat instead. Wyoming Gentlemen for sure. Both these guys have been in Gillette for most of their lives (we talked about Gillette for awhile). And they didn't want any thanks. Pretty much had to shove the boxed chocolates at them before they left. All I could think of to give them in thanks. My husband and I were just so grateful to them and his coworker.

Also, we just moved less than 2 weeks ago (from rental to 55 year old home) and my husband's coworkers volunteered to help us move. I can't tell you how nice that was. That's the first time we've ever had any help other than the one time we were by family. (We never ask for help, but it was sure nice to have people just want to.) His job here is so different. It feels like community. He loves going to work here.

p.s. My husband always opens the car door for me, and he's a Wyomingite now. (Though Colorado raised. )

[rain2day]

Even my post sounds romantic, lol - but I truly believe the beauty of Wyoming are the people. I have lived in almost every state in the USA and there are places that give off a vibe of "unfriendliness".

You should check out the forum about the city I currently live in and you will find post after post of "unfriendly, don't fit in, too many cliques in the town, etc". I don't even know who my neighbors are, they just keep to themselves and don't want to be bothered.

There are good and bad everywhere but I found more good than bad in most parts of Wyoming.

[StillwaterTownie]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

I don't know all the answers. But I bought my house in 93. I have yet, to lock the door. Matter of fact, I don't know if I have a key.

It's hard to believe there's really a place in this country where people don't lock their doors. Way back in the early 60's in Oklahoma when my parents moved from the country to a fairly small town in Oklahoma we continued with our habit of never locking our doors. But after only a few years all that had to change. A woman and her little daughter were both murdered in cold blood in their home on the other side of town. Ever since then my mother insisted that the doors of the house be locked every night before we went to bed. Bear in mind this was back during the 1960's!