Texas or Wyoming?

[nmkid]

I'll quote what the WY ranchers wife (where I deer hunt told me), the good think about is living in WY is that there aren't very many people. The bad thing about living in WY is that there aren't very many people.

I live about 50 miles south of the WY border. There really aren't that many cities to choose from. Casper is the largest city and the capital. Sheridan is just south of the MT border and where Weatherby is moving to from CA. Basically in the Big Horn Mountains and very pretty. Gillette is booming due to the oil and gas work.

I lived in DE prior to moving to CO. I would have lived about anywhere that fit my criteria. I wanted a smaller city (50K), within a couple of hours of a larger city (sports), and "high and dry". About anywhere out west was dry. So I wound up in the Fort Collins/Loveland area. But we have 2 liberal counties that basically control the state now.

Good luck, but expect the weather to be quite different than you are used to.

When did Casper become the capital of Wyoming?

 

[jepp2]

When did Casper become the capital of Wyoming?

OOPS...

 

[odie]

I'll quote what the WY ranchers wife (where I deer hunt told me), the good think about is living in WY is that there aren't very many people. The bad thing about living in WY is that there aren't very many people.

I live about 50 miles south of the WY border. There really aren't that many cities to choose from. Casper is the largest city and the capital. Sheridan is just south of the MT border and where Weatherby is moving to from CA. Basically in the Big Horn Mountains and very pretty. Gillette is booming due to the oil and gas work.

I lived in DE prior to moving to CO. I would have lived about anywhere that fit my criteria. I wanted a smaller city (50K), within a couple of hours of a larger city (sports), and "high and dry". About anywhere out west was dry. So I wound up in the Fort Collins/Loveland area. But we have 2 liberal counties that basically control the state now.

Good luck, but expect the weather to be quite different than you are used to.

The capital is Cheyenne not Casper. FYI.
The great thing about Wyoming is there are not many people. The best thing about Wyoming in there are not many people!

 

[Chris Covell]

I love New Braunfels Texas. Great shooting at the Dietz range.

 

[lawman29]

There is essentially no public land in Texas.

 

[6xcshooter]

I'll quote what the WY ranchers wife (where I deer hunt told me), the good think about is living in WY is that there aren't very many people. The bad thing about living in WY is that there aren't very many people.

I live about 50 miles south of the WY border. There really aren't that many cities to choose from. Cheyenne is the largest city and the capitol. Sheridan is just south of the MT border and where Weatherby is moving to from CA. Basically in the Big Horn Mountains and very pretty. Gillette is booming due to the oil and gas work.

I lived in DE prior to moving to CO. I would have lived about anywhere that fit my criteria. I wanted a smaller city (50K), within a couple of hours of a larger city (sports), and "high and dry". About anywhere out west was dry. So I wound up in the Fort Collins/Loveland area. But we have 2 liberal counties that basically control the state now.

Good luck, but expect the weather to be quite different than you are used to.

Welcome to Colofornia! Getting pretty disgusted with how this state is going. Been here 65 years and hate seeing what the democrats are doing to it.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Winter is our secret weapon. Word. Sno-mobiles.. Seriously I love Wyoming. My family has been here since before it was a state. Might find work around Rock Springs. Trona mines, coal mines a fertilizer plant a power house all provide work.. Rock Springs is surrounded by jillions of acres of BLM land among other things.. So there's that.

 

[snert]

Buffalo Wy in summer (July and august) Arizona rest of the time...

 

[Evan]

Yeah, the wind in winter is no joke. You don't know what a white-out is, unless you've been in a Wyoming blizzard. Can't hardly see your own hood out the windshield the wind is so strong. You get caught in it, you stop the car and hunker down otherwise you might just be driving straight off a cliff for all you know. Just like the honest Colorado mountain folk, you keep food, water, and warm clothes in your car at all times.

I liked Lander, but I've not been there for years (edit: just counted 15 years, yikes!) and I've heard it's got a lot bigger. The Wind River and Popo Agie wilderness is very very beautiful.

I'd also add in that you need to go visit Wyoming. Drive all over. Stop in towns and talk to people. A large chunk of Wyoming feels very barren and desolate and in a lot of places, folks are struggling to make a living. It's not a prosperous state, as a generalization; there's a reason that there aren't many people there. Most young adults leave their home state to find work in adjoining states, like Colorado.

 

[Bc'z]

Ok if Wright Wyoming is not quite right for you, check out Bill Wyoming

 

[people]

There is essentially no public land in Texas.

This is a huge one.

The other key differences. Lower paying jobs and colder in WY and better paying jobs and warmer in TX.

As to dealing with the cold. Get a better coat. The heat just get a second air conditioner system for your home.

 

[ttfreestyle]

Ok if Wright Wyoming is not quite right for you, check out Bill Wyoming

Shhhhh!!

 

[joshb]

Thanks guys for the great responses! I’ll give you more details. I’m retired. We get hammered here with income tax on our investment income so we’re looking for a place to live at least 6 months and a day to establish residency in a tax free state. The savings over 5 years could buy us a nice little house. We’ll keep this house because we like the Winters here. They’re not too bad and we like the change of seasons. My wife and I love the mountains but I’d rather not spend days on end blowing snow. We have family in Texas but that can always go two ways if we moved there.
Last night, we decided to spend two weeks driving around Wyoming this summer. Then we’re going to Florida for two weeks in the fall. Florida is not on “my” list but my wifey wants to look.

 

[KMart]

I have lived in Texas all of my life. If I was going to move out of an overpopulated area to get away from all the pitfalls of overpopulation, I would seriously look at the areas in and around San Angelo and Abilene. Both places are bigger than towns and smaller than cities. Both places have Air Force bases and as a result, have all the infrastructure to support those things. Both areas have 4 year colleges and most likely have the medical facilities to care for us aging folks. A lot of military folks retire to that area. They are far enough from the border so you don't get caught up in that mess.
I don't think you can buy snow shovels or snow blowers in either place.

 

[Tommie]

The liberals are pushing some new gun laws thru, here in Delaware.

Since political climate is an important factor for you I’ll add that Wyoming’s registered Democratic voters account for a whopping 16% of the electorate.

I moved to Casper about nine months ago. No regrets. Wyoming’s economy revolves around two industries: livestock and energy. I’ve been told that cattle outnumber people here. Summer is glorious. Winter is cold and very windy. The lack humidity makes temperature extremes much less brutal than the east coast.

 

[nmkid]

Winter is our secret weapon. Word. Sno-mobiles.. Seriously I love Wyoming. My family has been here since before it was a state. Might find work around Rock Springs. Trona mines, coal mines a fertilizer plant a power house all provide work.. Rock Springs is surrounded by jillions of acres of BLM land among other things.. So there's that.

Green River ain't bad either.

 

[Evan]

Last night, we decided to spend two weeks driving around Wyoming this summer. Then we’re going to Florida for two weeks in the fall. Florida is not on “my” list but my wifey wants to look.

Driving around Wyoming will be a wonderful way to spend time, regardless of what you decide. It is a really beautiful place. Make a point of going to the Grand Tetons. I think the best approach is via Lander and Dubois. You are winding through this gorgeous forest and then you just start to catch glimpses of the Tetons. It's magical! I never understood why people are so excited about Yellowstone with the Tetons right there, but maybe that's the mountain boy coming out of me.

 

[butchlambert]

There is essentially no public land in Texas.

How do you figure that? Are you speaking of public hunting or parks and camping. I believe a search will show different opinion on that.

You might check on Decatur, Texas. Both far and close enough to the DFW metroplex and a small town country feel with most of the conveniences. My brother is the Economic Director and can help you with shop space and other help.

 

[moondog]

I'm 1 hour from Wyoming and belong to a private range up there that goes out to 1000 yards. Horribly expensive though, $85 a year
Super nice people. The only time you notice the wind is when it stops!

 

[Bbear]

Native Texan here. Raised in Bell County, about 60 miles north of Austin. I've noticed when folks move to Texas they seem to think it ends around I-35. No idea why.
Kerrville is getting expensive to live compared to some other towns of similar size. Folks from Austin and San Antonio are pushing the prices up. You can go another 45 or so miles west on I-10 and be in Junction. Nice little 'undiscovered' town. State park just upstream on the S. Llano River holds more than 2000 turkeys during the winter months. Fly-down is incredible. Puts you about an hour out of San Antonio and a little over an hour from San Angelo.
San Angelo is nice. 100K live here. Housing isn't ridiculously priced and available. Little bit of bump from the oil field to the west. College and AF base here and a decent regional airport that can take you into DFW.
Plenty to like about it once you get west of I-35.
Summers are hot. 95-105 isn't uncommon. Winters aren't bad either. Some days below freezing here and a 'heavy' snow is 3-4" that's usually gone by the next day, if not that afternoon. Couple of lakes nearby if you enjoy fishing/boating as well.
Oh, here in San Angelo, we have a rifle range to 500 yards with another range there that goes to 300 as well as about a dozen pistol bays. Nice range.