Thermopolis

[Woof]

A welder can find instant work in Gillette, at high wages with lots of overtime. But the housing situation there is tough .... not expensive compared to CA, but homes are in short supply there. I'm thinking of going out there when the weather breaks, I don't have an RV and don't have enough money to live in a motel.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Well, after spending most of the day researching weather patterns, I have pretty much settled on the South central/western poriotn of the state. It seems the north and eastern parts of the state, have the type of heat, I am trying to get away from. I like parts where the record high is 100 or less, and the average is around 80ish.
Now if I will able to find work in these areas (don't mind commuting up to 1 1/2 hours though) I will be in good shape.

I'm not a certified welder, but I can stick/Tig/mig

[RockyMtnr]

Not a bad choice. Let me paint a little. Riverton & Lander are central with the Wind River Mountains surrounding west & south and the Owl Creek range to the north. Pretty isolated though and they're on the Wind River Reservation (Shoshone & Arapahoe). I don't know of a lot going on there though. Everything south is kinda of "badlands" terrain - not very mountainous again until you near the Colorado or Utah north borders. Plenty of work for welders and helpers as the area is greatly criss-crossed by natural gas pipelines. Rawlins is hopping but is not real scenic. However, there are a couple of towns nestled into the foothills south like Saratoga and Centennial. Rock Springs area is hopping - pop. ca27K. Housing is growing short and they're spilling over into Evanston, 3 miles from utah on I-80 - and housing is short here, too. There are also a few gas-rigs going in the area - drilling sites. If you have bucks, you can pick up a 1ton flatbed and outfit it for welding. Bring that vette and you'll have welders trying to trade their truck for it, I'd wager. Cold, as I've said ... and windy but you will find work. Prepare for drug-testing. Oh, there's not much ground cover like you may be used to so, you will get dirty and you must learn to protect your hands - dirt will dry them and sagebrush can give you nail-pad infections - but once learned, survival becomes second-nature.

[Woof]

Originally Posted by RockyMtnr

.....There's a mini-boom going on in the gas-fields of SW Wyoming ...I've lived all over the state, walked about every inch of it, lived my dream for a while (remember Grizzly Adams?) .....

Are there any places where you can live like Grizzly Adams - good fishing, hunting, nice scenery .... and also be near places you can pick up work easily?

[RockyMtnr]

Woof, that's a tough one. In Wyoming, the most beautiful spots are nearly impossible to live in for snow-depth, temperatures, access, etc. Star Valley, south of Jackson (Smoot to Alpine) is nearly idyllic - but if you want a job, you might have to go to Idaho. Down in Evanston, you gotta go down to SLC, UT (abt 85 miles). Neither has that much going for it compared to the real world. If you are well-connected and born into the dominant, influential religion of the area it gets better. If your family has been here for years and owns a ranch, it gets better. Cody is next and the area east (Powell, Lovell, Ten-Sleep, Buffalo) but still, way below zero in winter and not a lot of work - we're too sparsley populated here - A state the size of Colorado - but only a half-million residents! You often have to work to catch a fish - takes you half a day sometimes. Sadly, Grizzly Adams was a TV show (filmed mostly in Utah, south slope of the uintas). You still must buy new boots, new jeans, go to the dentist, doctor, etc so, from one who attempted escapism - it's really not a viable road to go down anyplace within 500 miles of here. Great place to visit - and everybody should - many times but good luck achieving the idyllic dream. We do have firewood though! I've lived in my tent at 45 below, sleeping outside by the fire on top of my sleeping bag! It's not the way to go long-term.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Thanks for all the insight RockyMtnr No way I will give up the Vette It is worth about 40K. I have wanted one since I was a kid (30 years ago).

Drug testing...no problem...in fact I don't even drink. By the time I get to WY, I will likely be looking for indoor work, as I will be pushing 50 years old, and won't want to be working outside in the weather. Any type of industrial/mechanical/electrical type of environment. Might even consider opening a car repair business. Don't know if that would thrive or not though. Is the commercial job market any good around there? Anything within an hour away?

[RockyMtnr]

I can't really speak on the extreme populated eastern part, ie, Gillette, Cheyenne but it seems in most spots like there's not quite enough of anything - however, there's not a large population base to support a lot of competition either. Our little (12K) area has a few body shops, several tire shops but only a couple of actual mechanic shops. They're pricey too. Here's a keyword to bear in mind -- "diversity". If you can launch more than one way of securing income, you'll do better. Lots of the trade-work slacks off in winter, some doesn't. If things are hopping - and it looks like they're going to in the areas you're narrowing down to, you'll be okay. You're coming up on my age ... and I'm looking to move but I've been here a long time - came from San Diego in my 20's to stay for about 6 months and I'm worn by the conditions - just time for a change is all. It's adventure, John. Don't be scart - sounds like you have what it takes to survive and get by well.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Thanks for the advice Where do you plan to go to?

[RockyMtnr]

We're looking at opportunities in Oregon for personal reasons (family). We're in property-mgt so don't have some of the housing/work problems but are dependent on where the assignment would be. Tried moving back east (OH) where I was raised but it didn't work out - too many changes - wasn't the same place I left and I've been pretty much "ruint" by Wyoming's particular uniquenesses (and Montana's) to go back and dance on that ice anymore! Come on up here when the thaw has come (April, maybe) - you'll never look at a sunset the same again after living here! I'd love to send you a pic I have of storms on the Grand Teton - but can't outwit the technology here yet.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

That's ok, there is lots of pics all over the web My wife and I will hopefully get up there sometime in summer, as we will have to wait for kids to be out of school, to make a 1 or 2 week vacation/journey. I might try to get up myself sooner, as I have a lot more vacation time available to me.