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

[KurtR]

People will be warned this, and think they know better. I know of people who drove to the airport in the middle of the night after 6 straight days if brutal wind in January, got on a plane and flew back to California. Called their realtor in the morning and told her the keys were on the kitchen counter. They lived here less than 4 months.

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We had some California people buy a house in a little town north of me sit in seen. They left the second week of January after temps didn’t make it above 0 and wind was blowing . It was an easy winter we didn’t even have hardly any snow. They complained when it was a 100 in July told him give it six months it will be 100 degrees colder haha.

 

[IdahoBeav]

Seems like May-Nov in WY and the rest of the year in FL is a decent plan

 

[Blandry]

Seems like May-Nov in WY and the rest of the year in FL is a decent plan

I grew up in FL/LA and south TX...enjoy the heat, humidity, and rain. No thanks. It's 200+ days of sun and 6k+ plus feet elevation for me from now on. Not to mention freshwater fishing and large game. I'll never go back to hurricanes.

 

[jmez]

Seems like May-Nov in WY and the rest of the year in FL is a decent plan

June-Oct would be a much safer bet

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[IdahoBeav]

June-Oct would be a much safer bet

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I'd rather suffer a little extra WY than replace it with FL humidity.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

I will not disclose the exact area, but will say it's one of the most desirable areas in the state.

Factors;

1. The wind will drive most people into a mental institution.
2. Water for a well is scarce, and you could potentially need to bring water in and live off a cistern.
3. Predators. Legitimately not safe for my kids to play outside unsupervised due to prevalence of G Bears, and even though mountain lion attacks are rare, they are there.
4. Snow drifts. You need to own equipment to clear snow drifts if you aren't on a country road otherwise you will be literally snowed in.
5. This is the biggest factor.....the people. While there are some great people in the community, the majority are complete and total assholes. They are miserable, they hate everyone and everything, they despise new construction even though their house wasn't always there. Literal acts of vandalism, draino in the generator gas tanks, slashed tires on trucks, nails dumped in the driveway. All because someone bought a building lot in a subdivision and decided to build a house on it. Want to build a new garage on your property? Neighbors will go to the county to protest it. I could go on and on with specific examples, but no one knows how to mind their own business.

People move to Wyoming and then turn around and move back to where they came from all the time. This is not me making the conclusion because of an isolated incident. Talk to realtors. You can see it in the market. Same house will change hands 3 times in 3 years. Wyoming is a wild brutal place. People visit in the spring and summer and think they have an idea what's it's like. But in reality they have no clue.

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I'm not asking for a street address...closest town on the map would do...Im assuming northwest region due to mentioning grizz.
Not to discount your experiences at all...but people are nosey assholes everywhere... and in my experience is its far worse between the Mississippi and east coast than it is going west until you hit Utah.
You wanna hear about dealing with assholes I can give you stories for days...weeks...I run an auto repair shop and we are currently putting up the biggest commercial building to go up in this small town in near 20 years...dealing with assholes, pricks and nosey people is second nature to me at this point in life. Security cameras go a long way in curbing vandalism or putting them in their place, well versed in dealing with that BS too. People suck everywhere, not sure where you were before wyoming, maybe an abnormally nice place

I do appreciate your input and not trying to sound condescending...You just seem a bit excessively biased by a bad situation that I'm sure would have that effect on most people.
I dont have any intentions of buying a subdivided lot and will not build/live anywhere with any HOA...Getting away from people is one of my motivators. Outside of work I don't have much social life or network. As a family we can get along with about anyone but are just fine keeping our own company the vast majority of the time.

As for the bears, not too seriously considering anywhere Grizz are prevalent other than perhaps western outskirts of Powell and lions aren't a big concern.
Water issues are all over in the west and something we will pay close attention too.

I have equipment for snow.

Realtors...thats a real mixed bag to get good info on anything from unless your close with them personally... My wife is a licensed Realtor as was I for few years before my current auto repair endeavor came to fruition and sucked up all my time and energy... but with property transfer records not being public information like they are here, we are working on making some contacts and friends in that department.

 

[grfox92]

I lived the first 34 years of my life in NY in the suburbs of NYC. I know how it is elsewhere and how people behave.

I'm not looking to debate my reasons either. You are doing exactly what people who currently live in Wyoming are all saying in this thread. Ignoring the warnings of the people who actually live here and the issues that cause people not to like living here. The title of the thread is "Tell me why I shouldnt move to Wyoming." I'm telling you why you shouldn't move to Wyoming and you are telling me that the reasons you shouldn't, aren't real.

I moved here from NY with my wife and 4 kids. We love it here and are never leaving. Some people do exactly what we did and can't leave fast enough. Different strokes for different folks.

It sounds like you made up your mind though, and nothing brought up in this thread is going to change that.

I'm not trying to talk you out of moving here. I'm responding to the original post you made asking why you shouldn't move here.



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[hunterjmj]

I cant believe people are so scarred of winter. It's about time to start ice fishing here with this cold snap. Getting a sxs im havnt been this excited for a while. Before i got married spent alot of time out in the horns sledding could not wait for snow. Summers down south suck way worse than winters up on the plains/mountains in my opinion

I want to go north in the summers. I don't get out much in the summers. Fall, winter spring is when we get stuff done around here. The heat just shuts me down. The older I get the more I hate the heat.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

One thing to consider- if you buy a property and STR it for a time, there is a really good chance you’re starting in a deep hole with the neighbors once you move in. Short term rentals have been one of many drivers of the problems in the west


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I'm aware...I think it's vastly blown out of proportion personally.
STR properties make up barely over 1% of housing units in the state...most of which are in areas near the parks...Jackson and Cody being prime examples...Both have passed legislation on the matter. In Jackson my understanding is you cannot STR a property unless you are grandfathered in and were doing so prior to the legislation or you do so in their designated STR zones...and you can probably guess what those places cost. Cody passed ordinance stating you can not STR a property outside its designated STR zones unless it is an auxiliary structure on property on which you currently are a primary resident or on property directly adjacent to property where your primary residence is.

The driver for this was people buying up the "affordable" housing in town for STRs and pushing out the work force that supports the town...I get that, you can't have every Tom, Dick and Harry with the means buying up every modest home in and around town to flip into vacation homes, community residents and workers shouldn't have to move 20 miles outside of town to find a home they can afford working wages.
However...Complaining about someone renting their plush $1mil+ second home on a larger plot or even a few acres saying they are driving locals out of "affordable" housing isn't much of an argument. Your talking about 2 entirely different markets. There is also the valid questions of to what degree should the public really be able to limit what a person does with their property? Atvwhat point is Zoning and over reach? What's the difference between a tourist staying in a hotel or someone's second home?
Its a very multi-faceted issue that I don't have any great answers or true grasp on yet myself.
Long of it short, I'd prefere not to go that route, but if it makes sense for us financially and logistically for a couple/few years, I'd entertain it seriously.

 

[philos]

I see you received all types of replies to your post-pro & con.

Many extol the virtues of Wyoming, but with caveats. Isn’t this the way it is with pretty much everything in life?

I’ll take a different approach from most others. You have done and continue to do good research; you have an idea of your financial situation and understand there will be challenges. If everybody on here tells you not to go for any number of reasons I think you should ignore us all and head west.

A man in his 40’s is, in my opinion, at his peak mentally, physically and emotionally. You sound as prepared as you will ever be. If you go and don't like it, you can always leave but if you don't give it a shot you will never get back the time lost debating yay or nay.

The most precious commodity we deal in is time. Take the leap and to heck with the naysayers. You can always say "I did it" instead of "what if"...

 

[3forks]

This discussion reminds of scenes from westerns and mountain man movies where there’s a guy about to embark on a journey west, and others are warning him about the perils he’s about to face.

Sometimes the guy in the movies and his family end up in ruin, and sometimes they prosper.

The only advice I have for the OP is for you and your wife to hold on tight to the mattress when you’re moving in so the wind doesn’t blow it across the prairie.

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Cost of living is skyrocketing in western towns. If I were you looking to move I’d think twice.

 

[jmez]

The reasons are many and varied why people live it or hate it out here. Only one way to find out.

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[StuckInTheEast]

I see you received all types of replies to your post-pro & con.

Many extol the virtues of Wyoming, but with caveats. Isn’t this the way it is with pretty much everything in life?

I’ll take a different approach from most others. You have done and continue to do good research; you have an idea of your financial situation and understand there will be challenges. If everybody on here tells you not to go for any number of reasons I think you should ignore us all and head west.

A man in his 40’s is, in my opinion, at his peak mentally, physically and emotionally. You sound as prepared as you will ever be. If you go and don't like it, you can always leave but if you don't give it a shot you will never get back the time lost debating yay or nay.

The most precious commodity we deal in is time. Take the leap and to heck with the naysayers. You can always say "I did it" instead of "what if"...

This is very motivational and well said...although I'll be honest... right at 40 I'm feeling a fair bit off from peak mentally and physically...working on that too.
The time thing weighs heavy for sure. I feel like we are close...I definitely don't want to chalk up the west to the what if category.
We'll get the pieces together.

As always, thanks for the input good and bad folks. I hope Ive not come off as argumentative in countering some negative input, more trying to note I'm prepared or capable of sorting out said obstacles.
Hopefully start planning our next trip out for spring before too long and get to nailing down hunt plans for Sept/October soon as well.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Seems like May-Nov in WY and the rest of the year in AZ is a decent plan

Fixed it

 

[wyosam]

I'm aware...I think it's vastly blown out of proportion personally.
STR properties make up barely over 1% of housing units in the state...most of which are in areas near the parks...Jackson and Cody being prime examples...Both have passed legislation on the matter. In Jackson my understanding is you cannot STR a property unless you are grandfathered in and were doing so prior to the legislation or you do so in their designated STR zones...and you can probably guess what those places cost. Cody passed ordinance stating you can not STR a property outside its designated STR zones unless it is an auxiliary structure on property on which you currently are a primary resident or on property directly adjacent to property where your primary residence is.

The driver for this was people buying up the "affordable" housing in town for STRs and pushing out the work force that supports the town...I get that, you can't have every Tom, Dick and Harry with the means buying up every modest home in and around town to flip into vacation homes, community residents and workers shouldn't have to move 20 miles outside of town to find a home they can afford working wages.
However...Complaining about someone renting their plush $1mil+ second home on a larger plot or even a few acres saying they are driving locals out of "affordable" housing isn't much of an argument. Your talking about 2 entirely different markets. There is also the valid questions of to what degree should the public really be able to limit what a person does with their property? Atvwhat point is Zoning and over reach? What's the difference between a tourist staying in a hotel or someone's second home?
Its a very multi-faceted issue that I don't have any great answers or true grasp on yet myself.
Long of it short, I'd prefere not to go that route, but if it makes sense for us financially and logistically for a couple/few years, I'd entertain it seriously.

Short term rentals in Jackson itself isn’t the issue, it’s the region. Big driver of home prices where most of the actual people live, which are also pushing people out of the area. Lots of towns in Wyoming where people hate short term rentals, not all centered on the parks. I bought a second place out of the area so I’d have a place to get away from Jackson some of the time. Plan was to short term rent, but it became clear pretty quick I wasn’t making any friends in my place to get away. I had every right to do it legally, but decided it wasn’t worth it.


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[nksmfamjp]

Here is the plan for success.

Move into a family ranch community. Buy up a big ranch. Cover it with no hunting signs. Complain to the state that you need all kinds of concessions…..public roads closed, etc. complain that the elk and deer are eating all your crops. Sell off to an out of state outfitter. Make sure they offer luxury hunts!

Then shoot yourself and demand you not be arrested. Finally run for governor or senator with like 90% or more out of state funding.

Are you a Navy Seal? I hear that helps.

….oh wait, you said Wyoming not Montana. Well, it should work there too. The locals love to be told what they are doing wrong!

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Short term rentals in Jackson itself isn’t the issue, it’s the region. Big driver of home prices where most of the actual people live, which are also pushing people out of the area. Lots of towns in Wyoming where people hate short term rentals, not all centered on the parks. I bought a second place out of the area so I’d have a place to get away from Jackson some of the time. Plan was to short term rent, but it became clear pretty quick I wasn’t making any friends in my place to get away. I had every right to do it legally, but decided it wasn’t worth it.


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Its a slippery slope. I get the stigma, but I see the property owner side too. It's a legitimate business and investment strategy....but it does require some regulation to avoid conflicts especially in higher demand areas. I stand by my blown out of proportion overall comment though. At under 2% of the housing and with regulation coming into place i don't think STR is quite the devil many feel it is. However as you said, if people feel that way regardless of its actual effect, if any, on them...it certainly could make for rubs between niegbors.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Here is the plan for success.

Move into a family ranch community. Buy up a big ranch. Cover it with no hunting signs. Complain to the state that you need all kinds of concessions…..public roads closed, etc. complain that the elk and deer are eating all your crops. Sell off to an out of state outfitter. Make sure they offer luxury hunts!

Then shoot yourself and demand you not be arrested. Finally run for governor or senator with like 90% or more out of state funding.

Are you a Navy Seal? I hear that helps.

….oh wait, you said Wyoming not Montana. Well, it should work there too. The locals love to be told what they are doing wrong!

I'm not extremely up on this subject...are you talking about Sheehy or an episode of Yellowstone I haven't seen yet?
Either way, no Navy seal(couldn't pass a hearing test to get in the service...tried 3 times)...and no family money or ranch with bunch of elk and deer to whine about so not sure this plan has much chance of success for me...but thanks for the ideas

 

[LFC911]

I am not sure if you said you were going to home-school your kids or if they were going to public schools. Either way I asked my nephew this past weekend why he moved to Bridger MT, vs a town in WY from a small town in KS. He is a sheep/cattle farmer. He was probably in his mid 30's and had young kids who went to public school. He said the reason that he didn't consider WY as much is that it was so remote. Meaning that if the kids had a FB/VB/BB game, they would have to go 3-4 hours to the away games in less than ideal weather. In Bridger he contrasted it was maybe 1-2 hours to the furthest competition. Just something else to consider. I too have dreams of moving to WY when i retire in 5 or so years.