Only Wyoming Locals Will Understand — Outsiders Just DON’T Get It. Only Wyoming locals truly understand what living in Wyoming is really like, and outsiders often don’t get the mindset, lifestyle, or culture that makes this place so unique. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s actually like to live in Wyoming—or you’re thinking about moving to Wyoming—this video pulls back the curtain in the most honest way possible. In today’s video, we’re diving into the unspoken parts of Wyoming life that don’t show up on relocation guides, cost-of-living calculators, or tourist blogs. From the wind to the wildlife, our driving habits, our weather instincts, how we measure distance, how we treat strangers, and how we handle winter—Wyoming shapes you in ways people from other states don’t always understand. If you already live here, you’ll probably laugh, nod, and think “Yep, that’s us.” If you’re considering Wyoming for a future move (especially Casper, Wyoming), this might help you understand whether the Wyoming lifestyle fits who you are and how you want to live. Whether you’re relocating, researching, or just curious, my goal is simple: help you learn what living in Wyoming is actually like from someone who lives it every single day. Our team helps buyers, sellers, and out-of-state movers figure out not just where to live—but whether Wyoming truly feels like home for them.
You Know You’re From Wyoming If… (And People From Other States Don’t Get It)
You know you’re from Wyoming when none of these things feel unusual to you —
but the moment you say them out loud, people from other states look at you like you just admitted to living on another planet.
And if you’re thinking about moving to Wyoming — especially to Casper, Wyoming — this video might tell you more about whether you’ll actually belong here than any relocation checklist, cost-of-living calculator, or Google search ever could.
Because Wyoming isn’t just a place you live.
It’s a way you think.
A way you plan.
A way you respond — or don’t respond — to stress, weather, inconvenience, and uncertainty.
And once that switch flips, you don’t really go back.
One day you just realize the way you live here wouldn’t translate anywhere else — and you stop needing it to.
If you’re new here, I’m Alisha Collins with the Alisha Collins Real Estate Team based right here in Casper, Wyoming.
Alright, Let’s jump right in.
The Wind Comes First. Always.
One of the clearest signs you’re from Wyoming is simple — you check the wind before you check the temperature.
I am NOT exaggerating or
Not being dramatic for content.
People who are new to Wyoming almost always assume temperature is the most important part of the forecast. And yes, temperature matters — but locals know temperature without wind is incomplete information.
Forty degrees with no wind feels calm. It feels manageable. It feels like you can dress comfortably and move on with your day. Forty degrees with forty-mile-an-hour gusts feels aggressive. It changes how long you’ll stay outside, how quickly you get tired, how alert you have to be while driving, and whether plans still make sense.
If you live here long enough, you stop asking, “What’s the temperature?”
You ask, “How windy is it?”
And the answer doesn’t just tell you what to wear — it tells you how your entire day will unfold.
The wind shapes Wyoming life in ways people don’t understand until they experience it over time. It affects school schedules, interstate closures, ranch operations, construction timelines, and even how homes are positioned and built.
Locals don’t fight the wind. They don’t complain endlessly about it. They factor it in — quietly and efficiently.
If you’re moving to Wyoming and you don’t respect the wind, Wyoming will teach you. Quickly. Repeatedly. And without apology.
One of the agents on my team used to deliver oxygen around the entire state of Wyoming in a commercial box truck with a roll-up door on the side to deliver oxygen in bulk. A few years ago the wind was at a record breaking high for the entire month of December, we’re talking gusts of 85-100 miles per hour – she chose to push the limits, go against her gut and deliver oxygen on a day the roads were marked “roads closed to light high profile vehicles” As a result, the riveted roll-up door completely ripped off the side of the truck and into a nearby field – gone in an instant. When I say force, I literally mean the wind is a FORCE!
“It’s Not That Cold” Is a Legitimate Statement
You know you’re from Wyoming when you’ve said the words “It’s not that cold” —
and genuinely meant them — while someone from out of state is standing next to you silently reevaluating every decision that brought them here.
That statement isn’t bravado.
It isn’t toughness for toughness’ sake.
It’s familiarity.
When you live in Wyoming, your internal thermostat resets. Cold stops being something you emotionally react to and starts being something you logically manage. You know how long you’ll be outside. You know what layers actually matter. You know the difference between “cold but fine” and “this deserves respect.”
Cold becomes a condition — not a crisis.
People moving here from warmer or coastal climates are often shocked by how calmly locals treat winter. Snow doesn’t shut everything down. Cold doesn’t bring panic. Life simply adjusts.
In the winter, 40 degrees here feels like a heatwave. One of our agents has family from Oklahoma(where it is 80 degrees currently). When they come to visit they are cold and when I say cold, I mean shivering. Freezing. You learn quickly that complaining doesn’t make it warmer and neither does shivering. Preparation does. And that lesson doesn’t stay limited to the weather.
It shows up in how people handle finances, homeownership, parenting, work, and long-term planning. Wyoming teaches you early that reacting emotionally to conditions rarely helps — adapting intelligently does.
“Roadworthy” Means Something Different Here
Another dead giveaway you’re from Wyoming?
You’ve owned at least one vehicle that people from other states would absolutely question — not because it’s unsafe, but because it doesn’t meet their idea of “acceptable.”
Here, vehicles are tools.
They’re not accessories or status symbols.
They’re about clearance, traction, reliability, and trust.
You care far more about whether your vehicle will get you home when conditions change than whether it looks impressive parked somewhere. You don’t need flashy — you want dependable.
That mindset comes from lived experience. From knowing weather can shift quickly. From understanding help may be a long way off. From learning that reliability matters WAY more than appearance.
And this way of thinking carries over into housing choices too.
Wyomingites value homes that function in real life. Mudrooms that actually get used. Garages that fit vehicles. Entryways that handle snow and wind and storage that serves a purpose.
People moving to Wyoming sometimes expect aesthetics to come first. Locals expect homes — and vehicles — to earn their keep.
Distance Is Measured in Conditions, Not Miles
If you’re from Wyoming, you do not measure distance the way most people do.
Miles are just numbers here.
You measure distance by:
weather,
wind,
daylight,
road conditions, season and most importantly…time.
A drive that’s “only two hours” on paper can be an easy, peaceful trip one day — and completely unreasonable and very unrealistic the next.
Locals instinctively know when a drive makes sense — and when it doesn’t. You don’t push through just to stay on schedule. You don’t gamble unnecessarily. You simply adjust.
People moving to Wyoming often underestimate this at first. They assume distance works the same everywhere. And it really doesn’t.
Out here, planning matters. Timing matters. And flexibility matters far more than rigid schedules. Learning when to wait becomes just as important as knowing when to go.
Traffic Includes Things That Aren’t Cars
Another Wyoming reality that surprises newcomers: traffic doesn’t always mean vehicles.
Sometimes traffic is wildlife.
Sometimes it’s farm equipment.
Sometimes it’s livestock or even turkeys.
And no one loses their mind over it.
You slow down. You wait. You adjust your expectations. Because this isn’t an inconvenience — it’s simply part of living here.
That patience reflects something deeper about Wyoming life. Wyoming doesn’t rush(especially the turkeys). And people who thrive here learn not to either.
People moving from fast-paced environments often struggle with this shift early. Wyoming teaches you that arriving safely matters WAY more than arriving quickly. And everyone completely understand this way of life because we live it, every single day.
You Wave at People You Don’t Know — Automatically
You know you’re from Wyoming when you wave at someone, they wave back, and neither of you has any idea who the other person is.
And it doesn’t feel awkward.
It feels normal.
That simple gesture reflects something deeper about Wyoming culture. There’s a baseline respect here — an unspoken acknowledgment that you’re sharing space, roads, and sometimes difficult conditions.
It’s not nosy.
It’s not invasive.
It’s simply human.
People moving from larger cities notice this immediately. Some love it right away. Some don’t know how to respond to it at first. But over time, most come to appreciate friendliness without obligation. And once you become comfortable with this custom, it’s hard to go back to any other way.
You Know Which Gas Stations Matter
You know you’re from Wyoming when you know exactly which gas stations you can skip — and which ones you absolutely cannot.
Because gas stations here aren’t just about convenience. They’re about distance, margin for error, and planning ahead.
You learn where the long stretches are. Where the gaps exist. Where you don’t want to gamble.
That awareness becomes instinctive — and it’s part of living responsibly in a rural state.
Several years ago I was headed to Colorado for a sorting competition and typically I always stop in Cheyenne to fuel my vehicle. I always have plenty of fuel driving from Casper to Cheyenne but this particular day, the wind was 30mph with 60mph gusts.
By the time I was rolling into Little America in Cheyenne instead of my favorite gas station that i should have stopped at in Wheatland, my tank was on E and I had ZERO miles left – thank goodness I made it to the gas station.
The reason this happened, you ask? THE WIND! From then on I will ALWAYS stop in Wheatland to fuel no matter what, because I learned from that one time I cut it way too close for comfort. The wind here is a force to be reckoned with.
Shorts + Winter Coat = Completely Acceptable
You know you’re from Wyoming when you’ve worn shorts and a winter coat at the same time — and felt completely justified.
Because mornings can be cold. Afternoons can warm up. And the wind can change everything in minutes.
You dress for conditions, not seasons. You layer. You adapt. You don’t overthink it.
That flexibility shows up everywhere — wardrobes, schedules, expectations, and life decisions. Wyoming teaches you not to cling too tightly to plans that don’t match reality.
I remember attending a real estate training up on the mountain one spring. I wore capris, flip flops and a jacket just in case the weather turned. It was snowing when i left the training that evening. Snow was NOT forecasted that day…
You Trust the Sky More Than the App
Another Wyoming hallmark: you don’t fully trust weather apps.
You trust the sky.
The wind.
The feel of the air.
Sometimes even how your body feels. (especially your knees or even your gut!)
That local intuition develops over time. And once you have it, you rely on it more than notifications.
People moving to Wyoming learn this lesson slowly — until they realize conditions change faster than apps can keep up.
“There’s Nothing To Do Here” Is a Red Flag
And finally — this one matters most.
You know you’re from Wyoming when you hear someone say “There’s nothing to do here” and immediately know they won’t last long here.
Because Wyoming doesn’t entertain you.
It gives you space.
What you do with that space determines whether you thrive or struggle.
People who need constant stimulation feel restless here. People who value independence, self-direction, and meaningful use of time – feel grounded.
That difference explains why some people move to Wyoming and stay for life — and others quietly leave after a few years.
The Bigger Picture Most People Miss
Living in Wyoming isn’t about checking boxes.
It’s about mentality.
Responsibility.
Adaptability.
Respect for space.
And Respect for other people’s independence.
If those values align with who you are, Wyoming can be an incredible place to build a life — not to just buy a house.
If you’re thinking about moving to Wyoming — especially Casper, Wyoming — understanding the lifestyle matters just as much as understanding the housing market.
That’s where I come in.
I love hearing from and talking with all of you, I HAVE TIME FOR YOU and I actually have a link in the description box below that goes directly to my calendar, so you can easily book a call with me! I have a vast network of connections all over the country – so book a call with me no matter if you’re in Wyoming or not, I have connected a ton of people with the right agent in your local area for your buying or selling needs!
My team and I help people figure out not just where to live — but whether Wyoming actually fits how YOU want to live.
If you want honest guidance — not hype — reach out to my team and I and start exploring the MOST accurate website in MakeWyomingHome.com.
It updates directly from the MLS, so you won’t see outdated listings like you might on national sites.
If you already live here, tell me in the comments:
What’s the most Wyoming thing you do that you didn’t realize was Wyoming – until someone else pointed it out?
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If this video felt familiar… you might already be home.
Remember, we want you to love where you live, see you soon!