Tell me why I shouldn't move to wyoming...

[StuckInTheEast]

OP how many friends would your kids be leaving behind/what are their interests beyond the outdoors? Are they currently in public or private school? Homeschool?

That's a fair question.
Honestly, not many friends to leave behind for the kids. They are close enough in age that they keep each other occupied for the most part. I could count on one hand the number of friends each has that they ever really mention or see outside of school. They and we as their parents are not social butterflies and keep our circles small. He'll I don't know that I have enough friends to even call it a circle... but its not because I'm an asshole, I just prefer to do my own thing...and I dont drink so that made my group alot smaller when I gave that up. I'll still have a beer now and then, but most of the folks that used to make up our friends can't go their kids ball practice without spiking whatever is in their Yeti Tmblr...Im not judging, really I'm not, I just feel i need to set a different example for my kids.
Anyways, not many friends or even immediate family here for any of us. Both from small families. My wife has a shit ton of extended family here, but none we are very close too. My Dad retires next year and may very well follow us when we make a move or may go back to MN where most of his siblings are. My mom is a fixture here, lives with 1 of my brothers in Indiana...we see them on holidays couple times a year. Haven't seen my other brother in 2 years...not for any bad blood...just 50 miles away and not much in common.
Long of it short, we aren't leaving much here friends and family wise.
My inlaws would be the most missed, but they are retired and well off so they'll visit where ever we go and have room for us to stay here at times.
As for what they are into...
The youngest is all about football
The oldest is taking up guitar and does some things with groups in school.
Both take equestrian/western riding lessons and enjoy horses.
Both will ride/drive anything with wheels and I'm sure tracks too.
Both pretty content to watch as much TV or video games as we allow...which isn't much.
They both get into models/legos/RC cars/planes...
Essentially they are pretty good at keeping them selves preoccupied

 

[3325]

……hope you can avoid the assisted living community…….

It’s become something of a joke between my wife and me. Everyone needs a plan!

 

[OKHunter84]

Just to clarify as I see I failed on this detail...my wife has a good paying IT/Marketing job that is full time remote ALSO having her real estate license as a hobby and to help us in building a real estate portfolio and with flipping houses... She is also heavily involved in our schools and community which she would continue wherever we land...Im not worried about her...Im the slightly under educated idiot that decided to work on cars instead of finishing engineering school...Im going to have to retool/re educate a bit most likely and I'm aware of that hard truth. I'm 40, have a fair bit of college credit, 2 associates degrees and strong technical background...I can do alot of stuff and could finish a bachelor's in various different focuses in a short time.
I just have figure out what I really want to be/do when I grow up. Believe me, it's a bit of an inner battle I've been waging for awhile now and also part of what's pushing me towards this move.

I appreciate you input. We have been in the same semi rural, everyone knows everyone town for our whole lives, so I get the "Who the hell are these new people thing?"...and I'm sure it's an even stronger sentiment out there. Assimilation shouldn't be too much of a challenge though.

We do plan to take a trip out in the winter, like January/February once we narrow things down a touch more. I keep track of weather for most of the places we are considering. One thing we cannot take anymore is the humidity here. Hot/cold tolerance is not so much of an issue. Having just come back from high 90s in MT with low humidity to low to mid 80s with extremely high humidity...90-100 out there is more comfortable than 75-80 here...and I'll suffer the winters just for that.

One thing you could look at would be a partial travel job with your skill set. I know that's not ideal with your boys age but it could get you there sooner.
I work for a bottling company and started with the technical engineering team. You would have a travel day, 8 days on site, travel day and then four at home. I have a friend that does something similar in oil and gas and he's two weeks on/two weeks off. Might not be ideal but you can usually live wherever you want. They're usually looking for guys with mechanical or maintenance backgrounds.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

One thing you could look at would be a partial travel job with your skill set. I know that's not ideal with your boys age but it could get you there sooner.
I work for a bottling company and started with the technical engineering team. You would have a travel day, 8 days on site, travel day and then four at home. I have a friend that does something similar in oil and gas and he's two weeks on/two weeks off. Might not be ideal but you can usually live wherever you want. They're usually looking for guys with mechanical or maintenance backgrounds.

Noted. My primary issue is going to be sorting out work for myself. I think we can make the rest work out most places with proper investigating.
My hurdle lies in the fact I have zero interest in diagnosing or turning wrenches on vehicles other than my own or dealing with the general public any longer than I absolutely must at this point. That is one area I'm am a bit too hyper focused on presently so this is good food for thought. Travel for work is not out of the question so this type of work is worth investigating. This is by far the biggest piece of the puzzle. Alot of reading and soul searching going on in that department.
Appreciate the comment.

 

[Yooper]

Sounds like you've got a lot of time spent on this. I went through a lot of similar thoughts when I hit your age. Kind of mid-life crisis sort of feelings really. My only suggestion is to really make sure you're not trading one set of problems for another. Is fiscally responsible spending (or lack thereof) in your children's school district really a reason to move across the country? Seems like a bit of a reach, but maybe that's something you and your family are really passionate about.

Good luck in your search for what's best for you and your family. It's a tough choice, but things usually work out for a reason.

 

[wesfromky]

How do you feel about wildfires and smoke?

AirNow Fire and Smoke Map

This map shows fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from wildfires and other sources. It provides a public resource of information to best prepare and manage wildfire season. Developed in a joint partnership between the EPA and USFS.

fire.airnow.gov

 

[ElkNut1]

Seriously, if you have to ask you're not ready. You just do it!

I remember I told my wife (we had 3 kids) in 1979 that we were moving to a very small town in Idaho, we were from CA. I had less than a 1,000 dollars to my name, but I wanted to hunt elk no matter what. I didn't have a job awaiting me; but did rent a single wide mobile home before going. I was going to do whatever it took to live there no matter what. It was tough but zero regrets, we're still here. I didn't look for others approval, I had my wifes support & that was good enough! Nothing free in this world, no body ready to hold your hand, you have to grind it out & make it happen. Best decision I ever made! Good luck!

ElkNut

 

[ColoradoV]

My dad and grandfather were born in wyo… Soon after my father was born they moved to Colorado. A small “cheap” mountain town in the headwaters of the roaring fork valley! Fair to say a couple things (like ski areas) popped up since the early 50’s……

Best possible decision they could have made for the family as a whole in every imaginable way to get out of wyo!! It would be hard to leave here for a comparable place in wyo as most of wyo is windblown shat n meth.. The places that are not = well as expensive as the upper roaring fork valley here in Co.

Wyo if ya can afford the goods it is great the rest is well the rest.. Or how big is your bag?? Given I am spoiled and have to live not close to but in the mountains.

No conflict here glad to be where we are here in Co!! They say folks move to wyo for hunting licenses must not have figured out how lo tags work here in Co ‍ as I for one hunt every single year…

Or I guess I am sayin = if ya can afford it you would be stupid not to move wyo..

 

[StuckInTheEast]

How do you feel about wildfires and smoke?

AirNow Fire and Smoke Map

This map shows fine particle pollution (PM2.5) from wildfires and other sources. It provides a public resource of information to best prepare and manage wildfire season. Developed in a joint partnership between the EPA and USFS.

fire.airnow.gov

Yeah, Fires and smoke are a thing out there, always have been. That stuff all drifts it's way right here too on many occasions. Air quality around here doesn't look much of any better by that map. I do keep tabs on the fire situation. Not a whole lot anyone can do about that. It'll be worse some years than others just like the weather anywhere.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

My dad and grandfather were born in wyo… Soon after my father was born they moved to Colorado. A small “cheap” mountain town in the headwaters of the roaring fork valley! Fair to say a couple things (like ski areas) popped up since the early 50’s……

Best possible decision they could have made for the family as a whole in every imaginable way to get out of wyo!! It would be hard to leave here for a comparable place in wyo as most of wyo is windblown shat n meth.. The places that are not = well as expensive as the upper roaring fork valley here in Co.

Wyo if ya can afford the goods it is great the rest is well the rest.. Or how big is your bag?? Given I am spoiled and have to live not close to but in the mountains.

No conflict here glad to be where we are here in Co!! They say folks move to wyo for hunting licenses must not have figured out how lo tags work here in Co ‍ as I for one hunt every single year…

Or I guess I am sayin = if ya can afford it you would be stupid not to move wyo..

Hunting opportunities are a perk, but a far cry from a primary motivator. Western hunting in general is a draw so anywhere not 24hr drive time away checks that box.
Colorado is one state we've not really considered for various reasons, but I'm glad it suites you. Demographics are changing EVERYWHERE out west last 10 years and last 5 big time. Nothing and nowhere is like it was 20-30 years ago, that's just the way things go...change is the only constant.

The affordability part goes back to real estate prices for the most part...and I dont care what part of the country your in, if it's not a sh#tty area it's gonna cost you big to get anything decent with any amount of land. Nicer, but not over the top by any means homes around here in the 2-3000sq. ft. with garage and 3-5acres or less are $600-800k plus all day long and don't stay on market but a few days.

The reality of it is we are tired of alot of things here and are drawn to the wide open spaces, mountains and more dispersed population of the mountain states. No matter where you go your changing one set of problems for another...everyone and every places has problems to sort out. That's just life. We would just like a bit different view off the back porch while sorting out the days problems.

 

[TaperPin]

Like many decisions in life there is a limit to how much good thinking about it, or reading about does. You’re at the point of needing to experience it and you can’t do that if you keep thinking in general terms - it’s time to pick a town and work out the details to make it real.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Seriously, if you have to ask you're not ready. You just do it!

I remember I told my wife (we had 3 kids) in 1979 that we were moving to a very small town in Idaho, we were from CA. I had less than a 1,000 dollars to my name, but I wanted to hunt elk no matter what. I didn't have a job awaiting me; but did rent a single wide mobile home before going. I was going to do whatever it took to live there no matter what. It was tough but zero regrets, we're still here. I didn't look for others approval, I had my wifes support & that was good enough! Nothing free in this world, no body ready to hold your hand, you have to grind it out & make it happen. Best decision I ever made! Good luck!

ElkNut

I'm glad that worked out for you in 1979.
Not afraid of work and bust my ass for everything I've ever had. Little bit different situation. You however right....Im not ready yet...hence asking questions and doing research. To each their own in that regard.
Not looking for anyone's approval or to hold my hand for anything, not sure where you inferred that from, but glad your happy with your place in Idaho

 

[hunterfisherman1]

So much great insight here. I live in CO but have been considering the move north...that wind sure is a killer tho.

 

[TaperPin]

Once you pick a town, go through the gymnastics to identify a realistic house that’s up for sale that you would hypothetically be interested in if you moved today. Go through the mortgage broker search - every small town has one person that does 80% of the mortgages. That helps it to become more real. 5 miles out of town, or 10? Where you are today stop going to your regular stores, and only shop 5 miles away, or 10.

If your family visits relatives nearby, those are a thing of the past. They can come visit you a few times a year, starting now.

If your wife likes fashion malls, no more. When you go out to eat, look at your new town and find something that looks interesting and find a similar to the new place in your existing town.

Get on the FB group for the new town and start living like a local - if Wyoming isn’t planting flowers until the end of April, don’t plant flowers until April. Get a weather app for both the new town and where you live now and every day go over the temps and wind. If your “new” house doesn’t have a garage to park in (I highly recommend it does) then stop parking inside now.

Develop a budget and detailed list of expenses as if you are moving today - there’s always time to update the list when you do move, but moving expenses are real and actually pricing things out is a good reality check - we moved our oldest from NC to the west a year ago, and while we knew it wasn’t going to be cheap, the kids were clueless.

Make a list of stops on your move - if you have pets, good luck getting a motel room - some that allow pets you don’t want to be anywhere near without a pistol. When you roll in at 10:00pm tired as hell, a crack head hooker asks for your help pushing her stalled out car to a parking spot - you help because her kids are in the car. The rooms are dirty, the sheets haven’t been changed - there’s boogers wiped on the walls and the bathroom door has been kicked in. A call to the front desk and they say, “Sorry our maid must have missed it - take it or leave it.” Obviously this room is for hookers and dog owners and probably gets cleaned once a week. Not a made up story.

Start looking into jobs in this new town - don’t assume you’d be a shoe in for every posting - many posted jobs already have someone that’s guaranteed the job, it’s just company policy to post them. You can make a list of businesses to contact when the time comes - follow those businesses one way or another until you move there. If you think a mine job 30 miles away is your jam, start driving an extra 60 miles a day now.

Real estate for agents new to town is tough. It shouldn’t be too tough to figure out an experienced/motivated agent that has moved to town in the last couple years and see what sales they have had. What broker would she work under if you moved today? Not every broker in a small town wants new agents that might not be around in a year. There’s a pecking order in Wyoming real estate offices, until the agent is big enough to make their own rules.

 

[medvedyt]

to the OP if you want to go there go and do not wait people to tell you about it. as some do not want anymore new people in there places and some are so jealous that they will never move.

if i listened to the people i will have never move to canada let alone the Yukon ... but we did it and very happy of it even if for some this is socialism lol ...

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Sounds like you've got a lot of time spent on this. I went through a lot of similar thoughts when I hit your age. Kind of mid-life crisis sort of feelings really. My only suggestion is to really make sure you're not trading one set of problems for another. Is fiscally responsible spending (or lack thereof) in your children's school district really a reason to move across the country? Seems like a bit of a reach, but maybe that's something you and your family are really passionate about.

Good luck in your search for what's best for you and your family. It's a tough choice, but things usually work out for a reason.

The school districts lack responsibility with our tax money is a peeve for most of the community that bothers to think about that stuff...the teachers are good to great for the most part and it's certainly not a pain point causing our desire to exit, but it's far from the same district we both grew up in so it's lost it's luster in that regard.

I expect problems where ever we end up. That's just life. As for midlife crisis......Doesnt really feel that way. More of wanting experiences and opportunities for my family that I didn't have. I want my kids to have the chance to live somewhere we are all more passionate about, even if they don't stay in the end. Perhaps theyll be more inclined than i was to really chase their passions wherever that may lead instead of just settling into south western Ohio life forever.

 

[el_jefe_pescado]

It sounds like you’ve made up your mind OP. Very excited to see where you and your family end up. Time to shift gears and take the plunge.


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[LittleLebowski]

You'd better make damn good and sure if your wife is the bread winner and needs great Internet, you have great Internet at the house you buy. It's feast or famine for Internet in Wyoming.

Not anymore with Starlink, I know from experience.

 

[LittleLebowski]

I moved back to Wyoming after 20 years or so of military and gov “service”. The locals are both friendly and a little distrusting of outsiders. Especially if you say don’t wear jeans and old shirts 24/7. Personally, I don’t give a damn, Wyoming needs all of the votes it can get to keep it the way it is, right now I’m watching a political race in the Casper area and I’m worried because Julie Jarvis, a “republican” candidate is absolutely and obviously a Dem running as a Repub, a liberal in conservative clothing. We CANNOT let Wyoming go down the road of Idaho, Montana, and Colorado. Make your stand here.

Oh, and I’m a special case. If folks ask if I’m around here, I explain that I just moved back, but my family has been here continuously since 1867. And (this is a very western/Wyoming reference), they really get quiet if I mention we’ve got 2 NFR champions in my immediate family and I’ve got a rifle on my mantle that spilled blood in the Johnson County Range War

 

[JeffRaines]

This isn't Wyoming-related, but I will say as a diesel tech myself... for my entire life I've wanted to live in Montana. With what real estate costs, it just isn't feasible and I say this with my wife being an RN with 14 years experience.

We would both need to work overtime to afford to live in Montana, and honestly that would take away the whole reason I wanted to live there. What good is living there when I would need to spend 50+ hours 6 days a week at work to afford it? Oh goodie, I can go out on my one day off. Vacation? You mean staycation or cashing in my PTO? I realize that "technically" this means I could afford it, but I'm a work to live kinda guy, not live to work.

We're both working class. We have some savings but nothing substantial enough to sway our would-be house payments. Perhaps if mortgage rates went down to COVID levels again it might be more realistic but with what they are currently(and what wages are there)... no way.