Where in Wyoming is this? (Cheyenne, Casper: 2010, Home Depot, find a job)

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by 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.

Thanks, imbobbbb. I was just looking at Dubois. Job situation not very good there? I'm not ruling out having to get a conventional job. If the economy gets worse, freelance writing will be an easy expense for people to cut out, so I just might need one.

I agree, the pictures of Dubois that I've seen were just stunning.

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by 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!

I'm a ruddy law-abider. I like having a clean conscience. I don't mind paying the sales tax, especially since it's lower than what I'm used to! I like buying local to help my local economy whenever I can. Besides, like you said, not having a state income tax is better than having to pay sales tax.

Frankly, I have no problems with sales tax. Being taxed on the services you use and the products you buy makes sense to me. Being taxed for things like the New Minnesota Twins Stadium when I'll never step foot in it is what really burns my buttons.

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by janb

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.

Great post! I'd rather help someone and ride off, too. I certainly don't do it for a reward. It's just being neighborly.

Thanks for the information on Star Valley! I saw posts where people mentioned it but I couldn't find it in my Atlas. It's a RandMcNally but, since there are no cities in Wyoming, it doesn't give a key (or a clue) as to where to find them!

Ideally, what I want may not be possible, but I can dream and look for now and then let reality sink in later. I'd like a rural place that's very scenic and mountainous with lakes and rivers. Not too far from a town in case I need to find a conventional job. Renting at first but then I'd like to buy.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

...
Thanks for the information on Star Valley! I saw posts where people mentioned it but I couldn't find it in my Atlas. ...
... I'd like a rural place that's very scenic and mountainous with lakes and rivers. Not too far from a town in case I need to find a conventional job. Renting at first but then I'd like to buy.

I liked the area between Montpelier, Idaho and Afton (in Star Valley... west edge of SO WY) quite scenic and remote. Finding a job might be a challenge... but... there is a casket liner factory !! (Burial vault). I made the trip through to pick one up while transporting my dad's corpse from WA to NE for burial (an interesting but good trip)

You might make a good renter for me (but I don't have a spot yet...) I'm looking for 3 places across the US that are scenic enough to live, in 'No-Tax' states (or low property tax)., and within one hr of an airport and city big enough for a job market and a community college (tough order for WY, tho maybe Powell). They will ideally each be self supporting from rents and have a separate entrance with an apartment or guest house for me to stay when I'm in the area. I may need to buy commercial properties to get them to cash flow, as homes are just getting too expensive. A storage unit, retail center or campground (as long as it is not near a "free-camping WalMart...) would probably do.

FWIW...
If you are entering Real Estate mode... I would recommend commercial props, as you can often get them at a better value than a house. The rental management is much easier, tenants have to care for their business location, AND you can get them out FAST if necessary + they pay taxes, insurance, utilities. most repairs and renovation costs. If I had my house equity invested in a commercial place, it would be paying me ~$5,000/month today, and not just costing me in taxes, as a house does.

knowing what I know now... I would have been retired (writing, traveling, volunteering) YEARS ago, with paid off commercial properties feeding me and paying my rent (or house payment if I was still insistent on having one). It would have all been possible on the same cash I've been feeding this house. (and my ~ 10 previous ones)

Good luck, You need to get out and try a few spots. See if you can find a couple 'guest homes' to stay in. WY listings are very sparse in my directory, but their are other ones that may have WY listings, or you could write ahead to the local rag. These are private residences that do hosting as a ministry / way to meet folks. They cost ~ $20 a day, you meet real people, and share in their lives. They donate the proceeds to charity. It really makes my vacations a rich experience, and you find out how good you have it when you see the struggles of others. (health, kids, finances, tough careers (dairy farming...trucking, caregiving))

[tekape]

I really don't think it matters where you go in Wyoming....it's all small-town feel. I was born in Wisconsin (right across the inlet of Lake Superior from Duluth, MN)....so I know what you're talking about (although I realize that Duluth/Superior isn't the Twin Cities).

I think you just need to come out here and check out a few places....drive all over the state and see what "feels right" for you.

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by tekape

I really don't think it matters where you go in Wyoming....it's all small-town feel. I was born in Wisconsin (right across the inlet of Lake Superior from Duluth, MN)....so I know what you're talking about (although I realize that Duluth/Superior isn't the Twin Cities).

I think you just need to come out here and check out a few places....drive all over the state and see what "feels right" for you.

That's my plan for this fall. Hopefully I can narrow down some places before I go or two weeks isn't going to be nearly enough time to see all the places that interest me.

[RangerDuke08]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Another good town is Buffalo. It is again, right next to the mountains, very little wind. 32 miles from Sheridan. But the population is slightly over your request. It's 3800 people.

A home depot and 2 grocery stores, that's all you need.

Elkhunter, what would be a good town for a summer home? With the mountains but lil wind, maybe a lil more population than that 3000 mark somewhere South of the buffalo, north of Cheyenne but close enough to the I-90? How are the tourists in summer in Casper? Thanks.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by RangerDuke08

A home depot and 2 grocery stores, that's all you need.

Elkhunter, what would be a good town for a summer home? With the mountains but lil wind, maybe a lil more population than that 3000 mark somewhere South of the buffalo, north of Cheyenne but close enough to the I-90? How are the tourists in summer in Casper? Thanks.

ahhhh, there ain't nothing South of Buffalo. Bought 40 miles out of town is the end of the world. haha

I-90 goes East out of Buffalo and the next town is Gillette. Not what I would consider for a summer home. East of that is Sundance or Newcastle. Either one would be excellent for a summer home. Short trip into Rapid City for big ticket items and major shopping/medical.

I-25 from Buffalo South toward Cheyenne you'll come to Kaycee, not good for summer home. Then Casper, you can read about that all over the forum. Then Douglas, Glendo, Wheatland, Chugwater, then Cheyenne. Wouldn't consider any of those for summer home.

We have users on here that know more about Saratoga and that area that could help. That area would be excellent for a summer home.

But most of those areas are real nasty in the winter so a person would want to migrate with the birds early.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by RangerDuke08

A home depot and 2 grocery stores, that's all you need.

Elkhunter, what would be a good town for a summer home? With the mountains but lil wind, maybe a lil more population than that 3000 mark somewhere South of the buffalo, north of Cheyenne but close enough to the I-90? How are the tourists in summer in Casper? Thanks.

what access do you need for summer home (airport, freeway?) Where will you be coming from? (Fuel is getting kinda spendy...). I noted you had some Colorado posts, so... a good WY spot close to Colo is Wood's Landing, west of Laramie. Not north of Cheyenne, but it was nice last time I was there, I had a neighbor with a very nice summer cabin in Wood's Landing when I lived in Masonville, Colorado, my childhood home. I intend to check it out next trip.

[WyoMama]

Newcastle is OK - not much left for somebody who has to find a job - and the refinery stink can get PRETTTYYYY bad...I have fam there & go there a lot. But I'd pick Sundance first. Biggest prob by the Black Hills (my FAV place to be in the US) is they are becoming SO populated & the ppl are sneaking their way from Rapid City down to Custer & straight into Newcastle. But eastern Wyo gets a lot of snow & the 'nados, which I hate, personally. I lived in Wheatland for 7 years in the 1980's & is a nice, clean town with definite Christian values/morals - at the time I lived there had more churches per capita than anywhere in the US. And the population was high because they were building the power plant. It is now about 4000 or so ppl, great schools, along I-25 so is 1 hour north of Cheyenne & 3 hours to Denver, but if you travel in the winter (true for most of Wyo) be ready to spend some time where you are going because you don't REALLY know you are going to get home that day - or week. But Wheatland is a great little town, very little franchise biz. And you can DEFINITELY make great use of wind & solar energy. THAT is the windy part of Wyo but always cool at night. Newcastle gets hot as hades during the days & the breeze does not always come up during the evenings at all - more times not than does. Wheatland ALWAYS cools down in the evenings, unlike Guernsey on US 26 about 25 miles up on the Platte northeast of Wheatland. Laramie River runs very nearby & are several reservoirs for recreation (great ice fishing at res #1) & only about 20 minutes to the mountains. And like most of Wyo, the roads up there are not paved. And has a shortcut (hwy 34) down to Laramie going thru the Medicine Bow range over Morton Pass. I see this is an old post - did you make a choice? Are you now in Wyo?