Where to move? Help me decide! (Cheyenne, Pine Bluffs: hotel, homes, transfer)

[Earniefan]

Wow are you sure you undertstand the culture shock you're in for?? Okay here's the deal if you choose to live where there's the least culture shock then you're in for the shock of your life as far as weather goes. Laramie is great if you have some money in the bank, but you can get stuck in Laramie in the winter alot or stuck out depending on where you are when the weather hits. And the wind is awful. Cheyenne actually has the worst wind in the state. We lived 14 miles west of Cheyenne for 3 years, the butter in my cupboards would be frozen in the winter the water in the toilet bowl would go in circles and our beautiful 500 sq. ft. deck got used about 6 times a year, due to the wind. We live in Rock Springs now what we consider to be the armpit of Wyoming, because it's a roughneck town and there aren't enough people to fill the positions at the low wage jobs in town. The nice part about RS is that the wind blows a lot less here than the south eastern part of the state. There are no trees though, none. Rawlins isn't much better. I don't mean to sound discouraging, I'm just confused about your choices. Sheridan is beautiful, but from what I've heard the economy is slowing a bit. Cheyenne also has new houses sitting, so for buyers right now is the time to hit there. Some of the places you have mentioned like Rawlins may not seem like they are in the middle of nowhere but trust me when the winds kick in and blow the snow you can't get to Laramie because of Elk Mountain, and it's a 4 1/2 hour drive to slc so?? I hope I've helped you understand where it is you're wanting to move to. Wyoming is beautiful and if you're an outdoorsmen then you'll love it but it's rough country and not over populated for a good reason. Good Luck!

[ElkHunter]

There's no culture shock by moving to Wyoming. We're the same as everybody else. We have a theater, no not to watch movies, but to watch actors on a stage. Culture shock? Are you ready for -40 degree temps? Are you ready for your neighbor coming over to check on you because they haven't seen you outside lately? Are you ready for your postman to knock on the door because he hasn't seen you outside lately? Are you stable enough to have a neighbor come over and want you to go to the local grocery store. And you go just so you can help her carry in her grocery's?

Have you ever started shoveling snow and ended up shoveling the neighbors walk? I have. The next week, that 70 year old woman shoveled mine. haha

Up here. We have neighbors. We judge based on that. You want to be a neighbor move in next door. You're welcome to be here and we encourage it.

Culture shock? You damn becha. Your going to be among neighbors, no matter where you choose to live in Wyoming.

[lilypad]

I lived in Cheyenne for three years in early 90s and loved it, except for the hip deep snow and wind! My male coworkers would ski into work, then come and get me in the company SUV! Summers great, hiking and scenery unmatched. Went over to Cody, WY for a month and visited the most beautiful place on earth (with exception of Glacier Park in MT or Denali in AK), Yellowstone.

Have been back through several times since, Cheyenne is growing, still beautiful and livable. I recommend it, especially if you are an avid outdoors type.

[Earniefan]

Obviously you took offense to my post, that was not how it was meant. To say that Wyoming is the same as everywhere else is discrediting to Wyoming's unique sensibilties. Every place is different, different doesn't have to mean bad. I am a transplant and I just wanted him to be aware of what he was getting himself into. Some people on here were talking about Hannah and Rawlins like they were just normal small town a few minutes from a metropolis, which isn't so. I didn't mean to offend you the people of Wyoming are great, and we care about our state very much(as long as they're not in the oil or gas industry and just here for a short time, which is the downfall of Rock Springs and a few others). Some people just don't seem to understand the weather and such, one guy actually compared California's winds to Wyoming's. Anyway, my point is when you are used to conveniences such as having shopping minutes away and a wide variety to choose from, all super Wal-mart's are not created equal by the way, it is a shock to suddenly be in the middle of nowhere all of sudden. Good grief I moved from Cheyenne and experienced it. That's all I meant.

[cjski21]

My advise, Stay away if you love the ammenities of the city/suburbs. Wyoming does not have cities. I know that alot of people are proud to call Cheyenne a city but it is not. It is a town of 50000 and has very few ammenities as far as dining and shopping. If I had to pick a place in Wyoming to live, it would be Cheyenne though. You will be 90 miles from Denver and all the the city has to offer. Being from Detroit, i can tell you that the wind and altitude will take some getting used too. oh, and the sub zero temps in winter. I liked Wyoming at first but now I am counting the days untill I leave. It takes a different person to live in these conditions and this solitude. Take it for what its worth because this is only one opinion. Alot of people move here to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and you will get away from it here.

[cjski21]

my experience is that people are just as withdrawn and recluse as the rest of the country. I have been in Cheyenne for four years and my neighbor has not even said hi to me. I have never had one of these experiences here and I find the people to be rude for the most part. What little traffic you do have contains some of the worst drivers I have ever seen, and I am from Detroit, the home of bad driving. People here are arrogant and dislike change.

[sunsprit]

to cjski21 ... and others reading this thread

Wow, that's the first time I've ever heard of problems that way with neighbors and folks in general here .... I don't know where you live in Cheyenne, but your experience is unusual, in my opinion.

I've been coming here since 1967 and bought my ranch outside of Cheyenne in 1999. I've always found the local people to be friendly; ask directions, ask to hunt/fish private land, even strike up conversations with locals at restaurants ... it's always been a pleasure.

We've met all of our neighbors, and many stopped by as we were moving in ... just to say hi, offer assistance, and get to meet each other; not nosy, just friendly. Those that didn't seek us out we met by getting on our horses and riding around the area to visit ... and we were always made welcome, even if just visiting "over the fence".

Except for a few individuals I've met who wouldn't get along with anybody, anywhere ... folks have been nice around here.

Yes, we do have some bad drivers. Some discourteous, some aggressive, some inept, some senile ... but most of the bad ones are new arrivals from out of the area. With the ability to normally get across town in about 5-10 minutes, most aware folks realize it's pointless to be aggressive and fast because the time difference is trivial. It takes awhile to come down to the pace of life here.

I have no problem yielding to someone who wants to tailgate me in the Dell Range or Lincolnway time trials ... I let 'em go and see them at the next stoplight. Sometimes, I don't. Same thing on county roads .... Life's too short ....

Keep in mind we've got a very small population density for the area roads, so there's virtually no traffic compared to other "cities". We had a federal survey call us a month ago and ask about our traffic and "rush hour". We reported that our "rush hour" traffic around here was about 5 or 6 cars going by in the morning to work from 6 to 7 AM. Even in town, "rush hour" is only a matter of a couple of minutes longer to get somewhere.

The worst jam I've ever seen was a neighbor moving his flock of sheep down the road between pastures and they had the road blocked for an hour. So I saddled up a horse and joined in the drive for a mile ... what the heck, they could use the help and my horse needed the job on a beautiful day.

[MHT]

Originally Posted by cjski21

my experience is that people are just as withdrawn and recluse as the rest of the country. I have been in Cheyenne for four years and my neighbor has not even said hi to me. I have never had one of these experiences here and I find the people to be rude for the most part. What little traffic you do have contains some of the worst drivers I have ever seen, and I am from Detroit, the home of bad driving. People here are arrogant and dislike change.

Wow. I agree with sunsprit. I am a transplant here also (3 1/2 years) and have never experienced anything like this. Just the opposite in fact! Ibroke my ankle last week and have horses and cows to feed. My husband was out of town. As I was struggling into my coveralls I heard a tractor - it was the neighbor. He did chores and left. That's what we do here, that's why I love it here. As far as the bad drivers go - there are bad drivers everywhere.

[ElkHunter]

Earniefan. No, I did not take offense to your post. Not at all. But I'm telling you that if you move up here, you'll have neighbors.

I'm sorry if it looked like I took offense. It's not that way. I judge people on how good of a neighbor they are. Pure and simple.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

This is an absolutely great thread. I had all but written off WY as an option, but now, am reconsidering it.