Looking for a reason: (Laramie, Evanston: home, transfer to, buy)

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by RockyMtnr

... (bring shopping catalogues please).

or a big 'sail' to mount in the back of the pickup, and scoot you over to Sidney, NE. I seem loose my mind (and wallet) in Cabela's, especially the 'outlet' section. Pretty good place to spend a few hrs, it's nice they have food, and I even 'nap' on occasion upstairs on the balconey. They seem to 'do-it-right'

[RockyMtnr]

Originally Posted by janb

or a big 'sail' to mount in the back of the pickup, and scoot you over to Sidney, NE. I seem loose my mind (and wallet) in Cabela's, especially the 'outlet' section. Pretty good place to spend a few hrs, it's nice they have food, and I even 'nap' on occasion upstairs on the balconey. They seem to 'do-it-right'

Ah, Cabela's - reminds me of LL Bean. Pardon me a sec while I rant jan - I don't mean no harm
In Wyoming, it's the real Rockies. This stuff they sell at yuppie-central might do you some good in Wisconsin or Texas but in Wyoming, the bulk of it is only good for sitting in the truck or perhaps a nice, summer day-hike through the grasslands. Years and years of mountain-work taught me that you need Levis, gaitors, Sorrels or Grizzly Boots (made to fit in Anaconda MT) and clothes to fit the upper body in layers. A long-sleeve Tee for winter and a short-sleeve for summer. A flannel-shirt worn outside the tee on not-so-cold days and under the tee on colder days - and a windbreaker. Keep the neck, kidneys and head covered in cold. Fleece works extremely good here as the cold is dryer - as is the snow - but wool does not as if you sweat, it sags. Change socks. Tennis shoes with ankle support will get you thru most of the summer months. Soft-hikers at the most.
However, if you want to look good in your Yellowstone pics or on the side of a cliff or on your two-day hunting trips, Cabela's will serve you well as will REI down in Salt Lake (I prefer Kirkhams).
Now, janb, as I say, I mean no offense because many folks can get by on the "often-expensive always good looking" gear - but it depends on what your needs are. I stopped lookin' good over a decade ago.
I didn't know Cabela's had food - I'll grab some next time by.

[RockyMtnr]

And now that I feel I posted extranneously (sp) regarding clothing choices for the Wyoming survivalist, let me just add that, if you have an outdoor job here and do not have to move around hardly a bit in the cold, Carhartts work extremely well. However, if you have to move around the least bit, you'll sweat to death - and sweat is the big enemy in these parts during winter. It's part of the dillema. Can't dress too warm if you'll be warming up by activity - can't underdress - and so, (janb) for the outer-shell, cabella's or LLBean makes some fine garments!

[ElkHunter]

outtasightouttamind, you originally asked why we moved here.

I moved here for a lot of reasons. First was for a job many years ago. I lived in South Dakota and was making $1.19 an hour drawing blueprints for homes. I quit and come over here and started at $4.35 and hour as a laborer.

Schools here are terrific. Best thing is they don't draw on your personal property taxes. Really good medical depending on where you live. Wide open spaces. I've recently driven from Sheridan to Gillette and met 2 cars on the interstate. Lots to do where I'm at.

Here's the biggy's. Lots of hunting and fishing and camping actives to enjoy. But I live in Sheridan and it's up against the Big Horn mountains.

We're just 2 hours from Billings Montana that has excellent Medical and excellent shopping.

I used to live in Colorado for a while. They taxed the crap out of us. But that was a lot of years ago, don't know how they are now. I can tell you that so many people moved there, it's one big city from the Wyoming state line all the way to Colorado Spings. few sparce areas in that corridor but it's filling fast.

Hope that helped.

[sunsprit]

jgussler ... I know you've got a dude ranch job waiting somewhere as a "local character" to "spin yarns" for the guests .... it'l probably pay more than that job you mentioned on the ranch by you, too.

We just drove the loop today to FCollins and around to the Greeley Farm Show. From the Wyoming border South to Wellington there is NOTHING, and Wellington qualifies as being almost as desolate as a lot of Wyoming. South from there another 9 miles is the North side of FCollins, which is several miles to the West from I-25. It's pretty open country, for the same reasons that SouthEastern Wyoming is sparsely populated ... high altitude desert prairie/plains, dry, windy, no trees, minimal water availability ... a very harsh place to live. Driving East to Greeley from I-25 has a little development along the highway, but ... again, for the most part ... it's pretty sparse there until you reach Greeley proper.

On jg's 1999 purchased $26,000 house (shrewd buy, jg), taxes would be very low. But, for someone buying in the area today, the tax bite might look a little bit stronger with a comparable house being in 6 figures (which will be assessed in it's first tax year at the sale price). In our county, the schools are the biggest single line item tax mill levy.

Overall, however, the property tax burden is low in Wyoming because we don't provide a lot of services or infrastructure, and a large portion of the state income comes from the Mineral Severance Tax levied on the extractive industries here. Wyoming, so far, has invested and saved a lot of that income to create an investment pool, recognizing that ... someday ... the source will run out. But the legislature is looking at spending a lot more of that current income now, and someday, residents will have to make up the shortfall to operate the state.

The big thing ... which jg has really understated ... is the outdoor recreational experience here. You can camp out and still see the stars at night without city light pollution to mess with your view ... or from your back porch, too.

Must have been a long time since RockyMtnr had been to Cabela's ... I've been flying to Sidney for 20 years and we've always stopped for soup and a sandwich. Met some of my flying buddies there last Wednesday for lunch to check out the remodeled store. (Cabela's runs a shuttle to the airport on demand for those of you who are flying in; the FBO is super, Ed/Kelly/Chris are the nicest folks you'll ever meet on a ramp. Fly in early on weekends, or you'll find the ramp full).

And, you can buy Carhartt, Filson, Woolrich or other "serious" outdoor clothing and boots there, too. I got my "windstopper" vests and jackets from them and wouldn't be without in our Wyoming breezes to cover the insulation layers underneath.

[RockyMtnr]

Sunsprit - I drive past Cabela's with surprising frequency. I just haven't stopped in since ... '91?, as I'm always trying to make either York or, when returning, Cheyenne. I no longer work the mountains and am still surviving on leftover togs from "the days" or whatever I can piece together when I need to go up the hill. However, I'll be sure and stop in next time which might be this year - with your menu suggestions in hand - Thanks!
Now, this being said, I must mention Kirkham's Outdoor Products on State St. in SLC. They are the makers of "Springbar" Tents. I've lived in tents, tepees and lean-tos out here - and the Springbar withstands almost all winds and is comparatively light for travelling and ez set-up ... not backpack light ... but trunk or back-of-the-truck light. My last had a living-room, bedroom, party-room, two closets and a hallway and fit easily in a footlocker in the back of my truck - and set-up took about five minutes total.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by RockyMtnr

...for the outer-shell, cabella's or LLBean makes some fine garments!

Actually, I would stay away from the trendy stuff, but they have some quality and good fitting hunting gear, especially for those days when you're semi-submerged in a duck blind, busting ice from around you... (I find that is a bad place to wear my work clothes...)

Actually the kids bought me my first Carhart garment for Christmas... They are way too spendy for me... I just had to convert another of my High School shirts (circa 1970) into a rag yesterday. (I'm cheap... drive a $35.00 car)

I don't do overhead welding while laying in the slush under the semi in my Cabella gear, but it is one of the few places that has quality boots that aren't made from Chinese molds, and heavy gauge material for outer gear.

BTW, there are some nice sets of Cabella field archer camo at the Pendleton Woolen Store a few miles from me... regular price $200 for $58.

Wy - another reason; free thinkers...; but 'get-r-done', and get on with it... Tomorrow will have adequate battles to fight.



jb

[RockyMtnr]

Originally Posted by janb

Actually the kids bought me my first Carhart garment for Christmas... They are way too spendy for me... I just had to convert another of my High School shirts (circa 1970) into a rag yesterday. (I'm cheap... drive a $35.00 car)
Wy - another reason; free thinkers...; but 'get-r-done', and get on with it... Tomorrow will have adequate battles to fight.
jb

Oh yeah, janb, you've got Wyoming written all over you!! Right on!
Now, just to add a note - $35 cars are one thing ... but finding a decent used-truck in Wyoming is very hard because trucks here - get used!!

[MHT]

RockyMtnr - Grizzly boots - the only way to go! We (my family) wouldn't wear any other kind.

[azwyo]

I know what you mean about getting out of the heat. My husband and I are from Arizona. As we get older the heat just gets harder to handle. We are moving to Buffalo, Wyoming in a few weeks and cannot wait. Once you visit Buffalo/Sheridan area you don't have to be talked into moving there. It's a great place to live. We have vacationed there 3 times and the locals are very friendly.