Greetings FSWers!,
I see this is the place to introduce ourselves and it's a pleasure to do so to the folks
of FSW, in particular.
First things first: Even with a magnetic history towards WY, solidified with a half-dozen
camping trips with my dog after my father died in 2000, it was the persuasive logical vision
laid out in Molon Labe that's resulted in feeling a bit like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters,
lately. Thankfully, the modern version of mudcakes of Devils Canyon in the living room is Google
Earth Fly-by's, distant stares at the dinner table and stealing away to the rifle range on Sunday
afternoons. All good fun.
Frankly, I thought the locational aspects of Freedom were nailed in 2000 when moving to
Nevada: Bought a house, started a business, setup shop. It's been OK in terms of taxes
and privacy. But, I can't bring myself to take the next step and buy land, here. There's
no community, business taxes are creeping and now quarterly entity reports (Super annoying).
Gee, not so funny, now, that Corporate laws helped narrow the choice in 2000 between
Nevada and Wyoming and, uhm. . .well . . .my bad, as the kids say.
Other countries? Well, after FINALLY finding Isabel, the love of my life, in 2006 a 3-week vetting
of all countries on earth was instructive. Here's my summary: . . . .Nope! (As an interesting sidenote,
you can be relatively free in a country where everything is prohibited and nothing enforced, but, good
luck finding a community of people you can trust).
So, it boils down to ID, MT and WY (So long, NV).
Now, to my way of thinking, delete ID and MT because they are not FSW. Being one
prone to endless Optimization (Of everything) it's best to recognize that it's the people
that really make the place. Anyone who would read ML and vote for Freedom with their
feet has got my full attention and respect. I thought I did the same in 2000, but, alas,
further work is required.
Blah, blah, blah, so here's my pledge(s):
-- That I will cease vetting all but WY for our future home and state of residency.
-- That I will prioritize consideration of FSW's preferred counties as laid out
in ML (Crook, Weston, Niobrara, Hot Springs, Sublette) or, speak up, I'm all ears.
-- That each day I will take one step towards the pledges, above, with this (2nd) forum
post being perhaps the 47th step taken towards the same.
-- That I will take the true FSW pledge as soon as I can keep it as my word.
Preaching to choir, here, but, by way of introduction I'm a shoot off the porch, landing strip
on the property, what time is church, how can we help sort of guy (Uh,hem. . . Family).
Practically speaking, I've got a complex family situation here, folks: Bed-ridden Mother, Mother
and Father-in-law living with us, two-year old and wife with a great non WY-job. That's a reach
out to others who may have similar issues, not a complaint. It's my role as a father to the 2nd
love of my life (Timothy) to forge the optimal environment. It wouldn't be the first time that a worthy
goal required hard work.
To the ladies of FSW I proudly introduce my wife, Isabel. She's more than able/willing to speak
for herself, so, I'll just say, here, that her husband absolutely adores her! Her Mother's day request
was for her own LTR, so, we may end up with another Riflewomen in-house, after all.
My strategy is to use scouting trips to WY to further introduce my wife to WY and the logic of securing a
retreat, which will become our home. A pending house sale will assist in funding.
Conservative financial predictions have come true and built trust with my wife. I'll be building
on that trust, here, with Isabel. I'll build the retreat as our home and make ready. Gentle prodding
and correctly predicted circumstances will intervene and persuade where my words fail.
You want honest? That's honest. A fully functional, physical retreat built to become
the next home for my family. No timing predictions to make me a liar since any number
of family members could make me a liar which is really only a delay.
Physical trumps intentions, desires and goals and I wouldn't insult anyone on this
forum by claiming otherwise,
Terence
