OMG! We have been discovered WYOMING the latest retirement mecca
I can only tout the virtues of this oasis amid the fetid festering teeming masses of say, Oh, wherever. Perhaps, the little lady would be interested in an outstanding locale aptedly named Baggs, Wamsutter (which I believe is Norweign for Warm Sitting - a veritable banana belt, for sure), Hell's Half Acre, Bill, Never Sweat (now Dubois - pronounced DoBoyz just to flame the surveyor who put his name there, and not some faggy french nasal name), Home on the Range (now thriving Jeffery City), Devil's Tower, Bitter Creek, Lusk, Chugwater, Eden (yeh, sure thing), Gas Hills (probably PC for fart), Red Desert, Muddy Gap, Popo Agie (nope, try again), Stinkingwater, Poison Creek, Rattlesnake Mountains (yep, sure are. . aplenty), or Casper the Friendly Ghost town Did I mention the winds?
Perhaps, she would find the skyline dotted by new and abandoned oil derricks, drilling rigs, compressor pumping stations to her liking. Or better yet the D9 re-contoured uranium reclamation sites - somewhat reminicent of a cat scratchings in a giant litter box. Of course, the kitty litter brings to mind the open pit bentonite mines, coal mines, throna mines, and abandoned uranium digs - entrepreneur ATV dreamland amusement parks waiting to happen! Or tour the "Jim Bridger" coal fired power plant. Ol' mountain man Jim would roll over in grave. Fortunately, the winds quickly disperse the particulates to SD, NB, and eastward. Did I mention the winds?
I've wondered why the non-boom town thriving metropolises are clustered either in the very SE corner or in the very NW corner??? Sort of like some lost and bedraggled miner dying of thirst trying to crawl off the WY map seeking refuge in the more hospitable climes of neighboring CO, ID, or MT. Probably just my imagination, though. Did I mention the winds?
One might wonder why the westward seeking pioneers quickly scuttled like stowaway brown rats across this utopia, bound toward OR, CA, or WA? Scuttled in a hurry I might add. Before winter's icy maw slammed shut trapping the less wise in Martin's Cove. Or left their carcasses to festoon the sagebrush landscape in quickly scratched graves soon plundered by scavenging wolves, coyotes, ravens and golden eagles.
Got to wonder how many of the 498,794 faithful are dwelling in the small burgs that line I80 or I25. Hawking their wares to the stranded, broken down, hapless, or those still scuttling through nowadays(factoid: I80 traffic is 56% tractor trailers - a shear pleasure to drive in the winter. Or perhaps a new winter sport, not that we are desperate for amusement. )
Why take Ten Sleep (probably cheaply too) for example. Even, the aboriginal americans counted this place as ten sleeps from more hospitable climes in the north and ten sleeps from more hospitable climes in the south. A stop over on their WAY OUT OF HERE. ONLY ten more days to GO... sigh. Perhaps, it was the winds, neh?
Of course, there is always the sly ones naming their chosen idyllic spots with such names as Pinedale or Big Piney to attract the unwary. One small problem, only thing I can figure is they must have burnt the last pines around there many moons ago... just to keep warm. Or maybe Alpine would be more to one's suiting. Just watch out for the numerous young and enthusiastic mormon missionaries clothed in white shirts and red ties careening about on bicycles. Not unlike the jackrabbits one might encounter blitzing across a Nevada two-lane on some moonless night. Not much wind here though! At least not until you are out of the canyon.
Undoubtedly there are advantages too. For instance housing prices can run the gamet from... well, like Jackson where I know an individual who just bought a house two months ago. He hasn't moved in yet because he needs to jack it up, repair the foundation, and level the floor (fussy that way, humph) - for a mere $320K. An investment, a realtor's "charming bungaloo" for sure. Too much? Well how about some one of the dessicated carcasses of the "instant quality living" aluminum boxes which adorn the landscape in a variety of former boom towns. For instance, one of those select spots on the eastside between Muddy Gap just before the drop into Rawlins (where the prisoners beg to be let back in)? Maybe a FIY Special with the aluminum siding flailing in the wind like a coyote seeking to free itself from a #2 Victor. Yep, it's those darn winds again.
I know! How about an entire town - Jeffrey City. You could have you pick of the abandoned store fronts to revive this soon-to-be retirement mecca. One thing you can count on... a little windswept.
Well, maybe on second thought. If you plan on the "Boss" letting you enjoy your retirement for any reasonable length of time, say a year or two, perhaps you might reconsider ID. I hear tell the Snake River plains are beautiful this time of year.
Wild Wonderful Windy Wyoming - Got'a love it