Why I moved to Wyoming and Why I'm So Happy I Did:
I grew up in the midwest very close to Lake Erie and aside from hearing older members of my family chat about politics and politicians once in a while (about once every four years, close to the general election), we did not discuss politics at home. I've always known how I feel about particular issues and political figures, but I've not been open to discuss them with most people as those conversations generally lead to, well, nowhere. Double that for religious issues. I learn a lot by reading and listening to others' discuss politics, but I'm simply not interested in engaging in conversation on those two topics. I know how I feel and that's what matters to me.
For the last 11 years I traveled around the US and lived in a few different states, some of that time spent attending college... always sort of searching for two things: climate that suits me and the type of people I want to spend my time with. Most recently I lived in Colorado basking in the lack of humidity, almost year-round sunshine, and amazing opportunities to spend time outdoors in or near the mountains. However, I found that Colorado has way too many people and not enough fresh water.
I toyed with the idea of returning to my home state for only one reason: to be closer to a few very special family members and spend time with my nieces and nephew as they grow up. My home state is beautiful, to be sure, and I certainly have friends there I'd love to see more often. Thank goodness for letter-writing, email, and the occasional plane ride to keep in touch, but that particular state is not inhabited with (overall) the type of people I want to spend my time with (read: brainwashed politics and mind-numbing tunnel-vision choice of lifestyle). And, what "wide-open" spaces I enjoyed growing up are becoming more and more populated.
A few years ago my brother and sister-in-law let me know that they were researching the possibility of moving to a more rural, freedom-oriented and liberty-loving region of the US and I was overjoyed! I said, "I'll be more than willing to join you, as long as it's not too humid" (I'm easy to please, especially considering these are two very fine folks I'm speaking of). Imagine my excitement when I got a call earlier this year and they said "we've narrowed it down to Wyoming"! Well hot dang! Rural, freedom-oriented, liberty-loving, low humidity... honestly, what more could a girl ask for?
So, for me, my move to Wyoming is about (more) freedom, family, and meeting new like-minded friends and associates along the way. I had a chance to meet some pretty cool people at this years Jam and am looking forward to meeting more of you in person as time goes on. I was able to sign my SofI with ease, as I have always been and will always be a good neighbor. I like that this loosely-organized group is not a political organization and is, in fact, quite a diverse group of individuals.
Some of you reading this have been here a while, some are just checking out the website, and quite a few have been in the process of making the move for some time now. For the latter, I'll tell you it just happened to be really good timing for me to make the move and I'm quite accustomed to re-locating. I wish you the best in finding your way here as soon as you can.
I've been here ten days now and am thrilled I made the move. I found a place to rent in a superb little community in North Central Wyoming, with an upclose and personal view of the BigHorns. We have a post office, a gas station, a few bar/restaurants, a volunteer fire department, a few small churches, a vintage store, a general store, a coffee shop, LOTS of deer, and a couple of stop signs- but not a one traffic light.
Some of my favorite things so far: my dog hasn't been on a leash once in the last 10 days, the blanket of stars every night- and I mean billions of them!, chickens and roosters next door, horses and/or cows on just about every property, the slower pace of life gereral, the Cowboy on my license plate (yup, I said that), watching the wild turkeys fly up to roost every night just before dusk, I've had three offers to go out shooting already, for the first time in my life I will receive a paycheck with no state income tax witheld, and MOST importantly: the friendly and welcoming attitude of everyone I've met so far. Check this out- the day I moved here, miles before I even pulled into my new driveway for the first time people who'd never seen me or my truck before were giving me the ol' small town nod and wave as we passed on the street, and that's what I love. That's the America I want to live in.
Today I got a key to my place of employment on a silver keyring. The front has a Buffalo on it. The back says, "Wyoming- Where life's worth living."
I couldn't agree more.