Tell me about Wyoming
 

I've been thinking since long before Katrina about relocating away from the heat, humidity, and cracked streets of New Orleans. My criteria:

1) Not crowded
2) Low humidity in summer, and preferably less than 90 deg. F. on average
3) Has 4 seasons. I can handle snow fine, having lived in Denver for 4 years. Unlike rain and flood, snow doesn't come inside your car and ruin the electronics.
4) Not too expensive (and I warn you, I'm cheap)
5) No hurricanes or earthquakes
6) I couldn't care less about schools

Yesterday's NY Times ran an article saying that Wyoming is poised for something of a boom, thanks to high prices of natural gas, to the point where they are doing away with sales tax on groceries -- this, on top of having no personal or corporate income tax. I've done some research, and Laramie (elevation 7100 feet) sounds nice. It's the only town in the state with a 4-year college, and that's my current field, office manager for a private college here.

Anybody know anything about the place? Friendly people? Air conditioning in the summer? Cost of living? Quirks?

Ask Frank X. Morris about Payson, AZ.

Based on your criteria, Wyoming might be a good place for you.

I understand there are also a lot of fun things to do there if you are into winter sports.

I will say that when I was a freshman in high school I flew over part of the state in a small plane and it seemed the land was all scarred and torn up; this was evidently due to people mining for oil shale.

It was rather ugly, but I should think you'd never know from the ground. And the beautiful parts of the state probably more than make up for it anyway.

Nebraska sucks and Wyoming blows. There's a small town about 50 miles north of Cheyenne that was offering building lots for $100.

I've only been to Cheyenne (back when us college kids would ride North to drink liquor at 19). Low taxes is very enticing, just make sure the other cost of living expense don't outweigh that (like higher property taxes, etc.).

The only drawback is that there are no MB dealers around for miles......

Guess you could help them rape the landscape and work in a coal strip mine:(
If you appreciated solitude, and could be content with entertaining yourself with the eclectic beauty of the state, you would be fine.

That's a culture change NOLA to WY

I haven't been to Laramee but my wife's family is from eastern WY and we go up there a couple times a year. Yes it's cheap and the people are friendly. In the town she is from green fees are $7 and it's on the honor system. You put your money in a lockbox on the first hole. It will get a couple heat waves in the summer but generally you won't need AC.

It's probably 180 degrees different from N.O. but based on your criteria you might like it.

lots of empty
 

I grew up in Huntley, Wyoming (south of Torrington, on the east end of the state) when the population was 8 people (its now 1). My mom was the postmaster and my dad the Union Pacific station agent. I went to a consolidated high school in a class of 13 (6 boys and 7 girls). I would go back in a heartbeat. I would not trade the experience of growing up with a bunch of homesteaders, ranchers, and dry-land farmers for anything in the world. It is a great place, but if you need company, don't bother.

I think the way you approach it is to pull a camper up there and work as a “boomer”. That work will be out in the sticks anyway, and if it doesn't suit you, hook up the ole Airstream to your PU Truck (necessary) and move on. I think you'll be in the nineties, but if not your still at an altitude where you'll really feel the sun if you're out in it. The western part is fab for the outdoors. The women are nice and the cheeseburgers are handmade.

sounds like where my father in law is from, Albin. There is no there there.

Albin is big
 

it has paved streets (2 or 3 the last time i was there). We used to play them in basketball....they used to beat us a lot.

LOL, yeah, it's a bustling metropolis. Census says it's 120 people, I think they are counting the dogs too. My wifes grandfather used to own the cafe, had a couple pool tables in the basement. it was supposedly the place to be on Saturday night.:D

my mother in law is from Pine Bluffs, another big city

People from Wyoming might think Iowa is too crowded, but to me it's blissfully empty (I lived in NYC for a few years)

I put a plug in for Iowa because there isn't much traffic, even in bigger cities and there's quite a bit to do, but you can still live out of town in a quiet place relatively cheaply.

Pine Bluffs
 

played us as well.....happy to say we used to beat them regularly....but they had much better looking cheerleaders than we did......

Water is an impediment to growth in Wyoming, lack of water, that is. Land ownership is another, about 5% of the land is on the open market. 95% belongs to various government entities, mining companies, and the railroads.

I lived in two locations there for a total of about 7 months. It is not like wherever you are from. Many people move there, many move away again.

One day we drove 246 miles without crossing a paved road. When you leave a town, make sure the fuel tanks are full. Towns that are within 100 miles of each other are close. When you get to the next town on the map it may be a town and maybe just crossroads. If it has a gas station it likely has only one and it may or may not be open.

The capital city and biggest city is Cheyenne and it has less than 100K people. Many intersections in town have no signs and no clear way to determine who has right of way. It is not like wherever you are from.

They organized a fake gold-rush to get enough population to become a state. How is that for a conspiracy?

We have lived there twice so far and will be back. We like places that are different.