Where in Wyoming is this? (Cheyenne, Casper: transporting, renter, insurance)

[lovethewest]

Originally Posted by jazzlover

Not to put to fine a point on it, but the last time I checked the Snowy Range is EAST of Saratoga, and the Sierra Madres are WEST.

Wow, I feel like an idiot! Thanks for pointing that out. And just so you know, I knew that, I just wasn't typing it for some reason.

[GEORGIAINMT]

Lake and Fishing Bridge are not towns. They are on the maps as points of reference within the park and do have some amenities, such as camping, some lodging, fuel, convenience store, etc. There are not any "towns", so to speak right in Yellowstone, but there are some just over the border or not far into Montana, Wyoming, Idaho. Some of those are Gardiner, West Yellowstone, Cooke City, etc. The people who actually live within the park are usually park employees. I don't know where Valley is.

Powell is not a typical "college town". It has a community college with a lot of the students being non-traditional old folks like us!!! I haven't noticed a lot of the party scene, etc. there. It is a farming community.

As for your question re: West vs. East side of the mountains, I guess it would depend on what mountains you are talking about. Wind varies in different parts of the state. There are notoriously windy parts of both Wyoming and southern Montana.

Don't worry about bombarding us with questions. If we didn't enjoy doing this, we wouldn't be responding & wouldn't be on these threads to start with Bring it on!!!!

Georgia

[Simple Living]

Thanks, Georgia. I just can't get over my excitement about Wyoming. It seems too good to be true. I know it's not perfect. Nothing is. But this seems about as close as a place can get!

I appreciate the info about Yellowstone. The Atlas made it look like those places were towns. I just thought they had really interesting simple names. Actually, I like most of the town names I've seen.

Like I said, I'm hoping to be able to make my living as a freelance writer, but, with the economy going the way it is, I need to be prepared to look for conventional employment. That makes the tourist and retail industries rather sketchy during hard times I would imagine. Being in Corporate America right now, I'm not sure where I'd fit in employment-wise. Most of my job background is in banking (currently at the Fed Reserve) and I'm not eager to continue in that. Being debt-free by the time I get there will help, though, I'm sure.

I'll have to see what apartment rents will be like. I live very simply and a studio apartment is all I'll need. At least until I'm ready to buy some land and build my cabin.

[HighlandLady]

As Georgia stated...don't apologize for asking questions. It is why we are here. You seem to have a sound head and the ability to fit in well here in Wyoming. You are most welcome!

[Simple Living]

Thanks HighlandLady,

It seems I've always had a bit of Wyoming in me. I just had to have my time running around the world to get this "people" fad out of my system.

In the Atlas, the towns around Sheridan all look awfully close together. I'll have to visit and check it out. I want to come out for two weeks this fall and really get a feel for the areas I decide on.

Without paying income tax, do people often go to Montana to buy things so they don't pay a sales tax, too? What is the sales tax in Wyoming these days? (This isn't a big deal to me, it just occurred to me while I was typing.)

[imbobbbb]

since you wont be looking for a 'conventional' job you should check out dubois,very pretty,not cheap for realestate,but there is 'some' stuff sometimes that isnt super high.sundance and hulett...in the blackhills in the east are nice also.

[HighlandLady]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

What is the sales tax in Wyoming these days?

Here is the basic breakdown for you...

Wyoming State Sales Tax: 4%

Wyoming State Lodging Tax: 2 - 4%

Municipalities are allowed to impose their own tax up to 1 - 2%

[GEORGIAINMT]

Yes, a lot of people choose to shop in Montana to save on sales tax, especially for higher cost items, bulk food, etc. I guess you are "supposed" to stop at the Port of Entry to pay taxes when you have a large purchase aboard, but I don't know if many do. Many Wyoming towns (Northern Wyo) are closest to Billings anyway for a larger town to shop in, so it works out well for them. One misconception some people not familiar with the area have is that if you live in Wyoming you could buy a vehicle in Montana and not pay sales tax. Not so. You pay tax when you REGISTER the vehicle in the county of residence, so it doesn't matter where you actually buy it. Speaking of which, I think Wyoming license plates/car tags (whatever you want to call them) are pretty inexpensive compared to a lot of states. As for the sales tax, I would personally rather pay sales tax than state income tax. I didn't mind paying a little extra at the cash register, but when I moved from Wyo. to Mont. I sure didn't like paying state income tax!

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

...Also, for being a writer, I'm rather partial to the town called "Story."

interesting you should mention that... I think it is a great place

~ 30 yrs ago on one of my many motorcycle trips I went out to the Wagon Box Fight location, quite near Story, ~ sunset & there was a VERY old lady and her gentlemen friend who were out there with a flat tire... They were in no shape to change the tire and so thankful we came alone. We got them all fixed up and she told us her father had been an officer that fought there, and she was a historian and writer. She wanted so bad for us to follow them into Buffalo where she wanted to give us an autographed copy of one of her books. But.. being the "then came Bronson types..." We rode off into the sunset (always regretted that...)

BTW you will probably be much more inspired and content to live in the Big Horns or the Star Valley (south of Jackson). The people are more "real" and your life will be richer and you will be too (not spending the fortune on food and lodging it would cost to live in Jackson / Yellowstone area). You can visit those areas off season, and probably find an affordable way to do so.

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by HighlandLady

Here is the basic breakdown for you...

Wyoming State Sales Tax: 4%

Wyoming State Lodging Tax: 2 - 4%

Municipalities are allowed to impose their own tax up to 1 - 2%

That's not bad at all, compared to what I'm used to. Minneapolis has income AND sales tax.

State sales tax is 6.5%
on top of that, include the following...

Lodging tax is 3%
Liquor tax is 3%
Restaurant tax is 3%
County tax is .15%
Transit tax is one quarter cent. (A penny on every $4 spent.)
Stadium Tax is .15% (to help pay for the new Twins Stadium! Grrr...)
Minneapolis city sales tax is an additional .5%
Entertainment tax is 3% and may be due with the restaurant tax
- The entertainment tax applies to:
* the use of amusement devices and games.
* food, drinks and merchandise sold in public places during live performances.
* short-term lodging within the city limits.
* club dues and memberships

The following was printed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune on February 28, 2008 in response to a question a woman had about the amount of taxes she was being charged on her bill, which is listed below:

In downtown Minneapolis, the following taxes are included when purchasing food and or drinks.

• Minnesota state sales tax: 6.5 percent
• Minnesota liquor gross receipts: 2.5 percent
• Minneapolis local general sales tax: 0.5 percent
• Minneapolis downtown food and alcohol tax: 3.0 percent
• Hennepin County Tax: 0.15 percent
• In the case of live entertainment at a Minneapolis venue, there is also a 3 percent entertainment tax.

In other words, you'll have about $5 in tax on $12.50 for food and $38 for alcohol.