First Post--Some Questions

[Rickb]

This is my first post on here.  Here's my situation in a nutshell.  I live just south of Nashville TN.  I'm 31 and spent most of my time as an adult in the army Military Police.  I got out about four years ago and have since been doing security work.  That is the extent of my job skills, military, security.  Neither of which I wish to do any longer.

I've always wanted to move to Wyoming and consider myself lucky to have found a group of common souls who believe the same way I do about how they want to live their lives.  I make good money in my present job and that will enable me to save enough to get out to Wyoming and get started but not quite enough to buy any land.  I figure on moving out there in a year.  Unfortunately with my present financial situation, I am unable to reconnoiter the area through a visit so I'm going to have to just throw caution to the wind, pack up my crap and just head up there.  As so, I was wondering if anyone could give me a personal perspective on a few questions.  I've already researched much of what I ask tirelessly over the internet but that isn't saying much.  It's the personal information that would probably help me the most. 

I've been looking at either Gillette, Casper, or Thermopolis, in that order.  My problem is that wherever I land I want it to be the place with the best oppurtunities, if there are others I should be looking at please let me know.

Does anyone know what the apartment/rental situation is like in these areas.  I'll surely do my homework and probably even have something lined up by the time I leave but I'd like to know where are the best places to find a cheap apartment or trailer to rent and how much they usually go for?

Since I have limited experience and would rather not get back into law enforcement/security.  Where are the best places to start off with my new career?  Possibly learn a trade?  What are the employment situations like in these areas?

A job and place to live should start me out.  I'll also need a good church and hopefully be able to find a quality community. 

[manfromnevada]

Rickb,
I suggest you look around this forum for your answers. There are threads on jobs, real estate, housing, land, etc.
Most, if not all, of your questions have been asked and answered before!

You will find, however, that a lot of information you might have had access to online for other areas might not be available in Wyoming. Many papers don't have an online presence and people here don't much use Craig's List or things like that. More likely to see a sheet of paper thumbtacked to a grocery store's corkboard.

Mac

[Rickb]

Anything up there thumbtacked on the corkboard? 

More importantly to me though is your take on the recession and how its going to effect the mining industry there.  Are there any expected layoffs coming? 

I've been unable to locate a median renting price?  I know there isn't much to rent out there. 

Are there jobs for person's with limited job skills like myself?  Entry level jobs and such?

Just looking for your opinions.  Thanks so much everybody for all your help and support.

[MamaLiberty]

Just my 2 cents worth here... as one who sold a house, packed a truck and just CAME without knowing what I would find beyond the support of the FSW bunch - which turned out to be just what I needed!

If you are willing and able to show up each day, sober and ready to work, you can find a job here. If you are willing to learn a new trade, as you say, you can find a number of them here. The recession has not really affected us here yet, but it will. Those who are solid and reliable will have the jobs available, trust me.

Can you swing a hammer? Saw a board? Use common tools? The construction industry has been crying for help for many years here, and that's not apt to change soon. They are happy to train good workers. The oil fields and coal mines are still open and, though that may contract some, they are not apt to close any time soon. They will train you for most jobs, I'm told, and have trouble finding RELIABLE help.

And, if you'd like to work for yourself, consider studying small engine repair or any other field of repair and recycling of materials and machines. The one thing that remains in any recession is the need to repair and reuse, since buying new isn't as easy or attractive as it is in boom times.

But, just a hunch, don't totally discount your experience and expertise in security. While it might not be what you want to do ultimately, it might be a bridge that would give you time to develop other skills and build the life you really want and need here in Wyoming without waiting there any longer.

Just some ideas...

And welcome!

[biathlon]

Welcome here at FSW If I were a newbie and your age I'd seriously consider using my GI benies to get enrolled at one of the community colleges wind turbine maint courses. A strong future, good pay and benefits and probably some opportunity to travel the state courtesy of PP&L or one of the other large power companies. Laramie County Community College here in Laramie has some openings still and Laramie has a plentiful supply of(insert most young males #1 priority here) Are you single?

[Rickb]

I am single, though my "social" life is on the backburner for a while until I get established.  Wind Turbine maintenance, I've heard about that.  I will definitely do some research on that end.  Thanks also to mamaliberty for your great ideas.  Those ideas are exactly what I'm looking for.  It's nice to finally have a community of people that I can go to and chat with about this.  I've known that I was going to move to Wyoming, I think ever since the first time I drove through the state.  I've been doing serious research for a while now but that is from a distance and is no match for the thoughts and experiences of those of you who have already experienced it.

Biathlon, I do have some of those good ol' GI Bill dollars left (I've already done about seventy hours at a university) and that wind turbine maintenance may be just up my alley.  I should definitely take a closer look at Laramie.

Thank you all so much and if anybody has any information that can help me, please don't hesitate to let me know.  I'm concerned about whether I will be able to find a place to rent when I get there, though I'll probably have that set up before I leave, at least I hope to anyway.  I perused the message boards and didn't find much that I could use on the topic but I've got plenty of time to work that business out.

[MamaLiberty]

Unfortunately, there really isn't much for rent in Wyoming - though that may ease up if employment figures go DOWN, actually. The reason is that Wyoming is in a constant flux of boom and bust, so we have lots of temporary workers come in during the boom who leave when the bust comes. This means that very few people are willing to make the investment to build permanent rental housing because much of it would stand empty at various times.

The solution a lot of folks have found is to buy some sort of RV vehicle or trailer and live in that while they look for a regular rental or save up enough for a down payment on their own place. If you buy the RV where you ARE, you can probably save a bundle because I understand that many people are having to sell stuff because they have lost their jobs, etc.

Take a look at the ads in your local paper and surrounding areas and see if that might not be a better answer for you than trying to rent something here long distance. You would also be far more mobile and could always look for a better job wherever you found one as you gain new skills.

[manfromnevada]

Rickb,
Here's the link to the Gillette paper. You can look at the classifieds, then rentals:
http://gillettenewsrecord.com/

The Casper paper:
http://www.casperstartribune.net/

And Cheyenne:
http://www.wyomingnews.com/

Mac

[Big Ugly]

A friend of mine had his travel trailer up in Gillette for a while, to use while he was out in the field. He has it for sale now. If anyone is interested in purchasing this trailer for a 'domicile' PM me and I will get you the contact information.

[biathlon]

Mat and June are the best time to find rentals in Laramie. The entire rental scene here changed dramatically after a lot of speculators over built the place. It is definetly a new market with the advantage being yours.

[Rickb]

Thank you all for the wonderful advice, especially manfromnevada for the links, they will help me out immensely.

Also thank you Biathlon for putting me onto the wind turbine maint.  It is something that I've started looking at and am now putting Laramie on my list of possibles because of that.  It looks like an interesting career.  What do you think the market for that type of thing will be like in the foreseeable future?

[biathlon]

Huge! It is a serious future here. Google up Laramie County Community College and ask them about it. I believe it is a 2 year associate program.

[manfromnevada]

Yeah, it'll be huge with the backing of the Obamites!
It's a totally non-competitive energy source, but if the feds throw enough taxpayer $$ at it thru "tax credits" and in turn add huge disincentives to fossil (carbon) based energy thru "tax and trade" legislation, it becomes "the future of our energy"!!! Imagine that! Like taking a sow's ear and turning it into a silk purse.

But since the feds are pumping all this money into it, it may well be the wave of the future.

My only concern is if Congress enacts a "cap and trade" with the birds that might hit the blades. The power companies will have to buy "credits" from other companies which decrease bird deaths by planting trees and killing house cats. Then and only then would the turbine companies be "allowed" to leave a larger than normal "bird" footprint. 

Mac

[Rickb]

It looks like the boom now, depending on how long that lasts, I may be able to make a career out of it.  If the libs get their way it will last a very long time.  The irony is that I hope the libs DON'T get their way...LOL 

Still, I think Laramie's going to the top of my list of possible places.  The renting situation seems better there than in a lot of other places and the job situation doesn't look too shabby too.  Any thoughts?