another refugee from Kalifornia

[nurseJT]

Just beginning to make plans for the move to Wyoming, figure I can stand it here for 2 1/2 more years or so.
I am a registered nurse, been a school nurse the past 10 years.
Been a member of the Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue unit going on 15 years now.

Anybody on the list know how the employment picture looks for school nurses?
Plan to visit a few places in WY this summer, again in the winter and spring before settling on a location.
Grew up in snow country, my last winter before Kalifornia was in Illinois where we went 42 days before temp got up to freezing.
Didn't care too much for that, but figure I can make it through WY winters, even though my blood has thinned out since moving to the desert.

Would prefer to buy land, build a house, etc. but all that will depend on the economy between now and then, so may wind up a renter.
Only 17 more alimony payments before I can start to squirrel away some cash every month, hope to accumulate enough to make the move & have time to get settled in.
Was in Worland a while back, and love the fact that the city park has a 1000 yard rifle range.
Lookin to get settled in amongst like-minded folk and live in freedom.
From what I experienced on my initial trip, that would be anywhere in the great state of Wyoming.

Take care,
JT

[colonial shooter]

Last I heard they need nurses. Brandy probably has the current situation. I recall them hiring traveling nurses at the hospitals. Welcome to the forum.

[nurseJT]

Thank you Colonial Shooter.
Glad to be on the forum, looking forward to the physical relocation.
Ouch!! Traveling nurses get paid way more than school nurses here in CA.
If the schools are short handed when it comes to nurses, that is good news for me.

Have a wonderful day of giving thanks and feasting with your family and friends.

[MamaLiberty]

WAHHH-HOOOO!! Another nurse for Wyoming. Can't wait to meet you.

[MichaelNotMike]

Welcome!

My wife and I left SoCal 5 months ago, left everything behind and moved to Casper. WE LOVE IT! It's the best thing we've ever done.

In Wyoming, there is no state income tax, people are much more polite than in California, there aren't many democrats, you can carry a gun openly on your person and in your car (and buy a gun without a waiting period!), and people are, in general, more self-sufficient and far less "someone should solve all my problems!"

I'd recommend moving sooner rather than later, even if it's a bit of a hardship. (We cashed in our all of our savings to move here and get set up, and feel great about it).

California is only going to get worse. It's a sinking ship, and we're glad we were some of the earlier fleeing cats. We landed on the shores of Wyoming, licked the California muck off of our fur, and have literally been happy almost every moment since. (Mileage may vary, no guarantees!)

I know how much Californians (at least us) value "visualization" to help make things happen, lol, so here's some images that resonate with me:

Wife with the truck we drove here, just over the border into Wyoming:




Me kissing the ground just over the border into Wyoming:



Guns, art, cats and liberty!

--Michael and Debra

[Paul Bonneau]

there aren't many democrats

Unfortunately, there are far too many republicans. <sigh>   

[nurseJT]

OK, you guys have convinced me to move up my planned escape, if possible.
Many thanks to MamaLiberty for offlist info.
Will be sending off letters and resumes to those addresses you pointed me towards.

I have been holding off on the move out of concern re: alimony payments combined with uncertain cash flow/job opportunities and all those new home expenses when I arrive in Wyoming. So long as I can find steady employment, I hope to make the move next fall. Am under contract with current job until June. In March need to sign intent to return for next school year employment agreement.
Will see if I can get up to WY during spring break to look around for work and a new home, maybe job interviews.

Jeep has 245,000 miles on it (still going strong, but ...), so am looking for a late 60's to early 70's Chevy 4x4 pickup truck - something with no computers that I can work on. Is that something I should try to get before leaving here, or is the market pretty good in WY for such a vehicle?

Take care,
JT

[Jared]

Chevys seem to be more popular than Fords or Dodges at least in the NE area, so ya you should be able to find something like that here.

[nurseJT]

Thanks for that info, Jared.

Not a brand loyalty type of person, but have discovered that in the Chevy vs Ford debate, parts for Chevy are pretty standard and easily interchangeable even though many years separate donor and recipeient vehicle, whereas Ford parts may have to be from the correct six months of the year in which the vehicle was manufactured.

Looking under the hood of modern trucks, it can be difficult to see the ground. Sure do miss my 63 Chevy truck. It had enough room that I could stand between the wheel well and the motor and even pull the hood down part way when the rains came so I could continue wrenching.

[MANUMIT]

Older trucks are quite evident in Wyo...from "my baby" project trucks to everyday transportation.  Worked with a guy who had a '67 international baby blue ran like a charm...sans power steering though but once you got used to it was awesome.

I am currently eyeing a early 80's suburban...for the clan.  IMHO due to the hands on climate, virtually ALL vehicles have been taken care of and with continued upkeep will be very good options.  Unless you found a smokin' deal in Kali from someone looking to pay rent...waiting wouldn't pose a serious issue on the truck front.

Re:  Nursing...in spite of the slowdown, there appear to be regular postings in newspapers etc. for RN's...pick your county flavor (poorer, rich, trees, flat, no stoplight, mini-metro, etc.) and go from there.  Here's the list the first scroogle.org search link opened up...  http://www.nursingjobs.org/wyoming/

A better option might be to just get hired ANYWHERE in the borders ASAP on a short-term contract and see if you like that area.  If not, try another...

MANUMIT

[nurseJT]

Thanks for the tip, Manumit.
I did not know of that employment listing resource.

re: short term contract
I would rather find a place to stay for at least a year than frequently move my furniture, tools, gun safes, ammo, several months worth of food, several thousand books, dogs, etc.
Definitely will be thinning out the belongings before the move, but still ...

Am hoping for a school nurse job - anywhere in the state (asking now how to transfer/get credential, license, etc.).
I figure once I am settled in I can always travel around to get a feel for the other side of the fence - in all 4 seasons.

Thanks again, I am overwhelmed by how helpful people have been to a stranger.
More and more it is looking like Wyoming is inhabited by my kind of folks.

Take care,
JT

[wyomiles]

Howdy Nurse JT, welcome to FSW!

[socalserf]

Howdy NurseJT.

[nurseJT]

Howdy right back at ya, WyoMiles and SoCalSerf and thank you for the welcome.
If the job thing works out for the best, I will be relocating to Wyoming sometime this summer.
In the meantime, I am glad to be meeting so many friendly and helpful people of quality on this forum.
Looking forward to meeting up with some of y'all during a recon trip, or after the move.

Take care,
JT

[wyomiles]

Nurse JT, Maybe you can make the get together this spring? It is a good way to meet up with a lot of FSW people all at once.