Laramigos

I now have Wyoming license plates, so people are waving to me on the mountain roads instead of staring in disbelief at FLORIDA. I only have a temporary paper license, though, because I have to wait for the official one to come in the mail. I guess Laramie didn't spring for one of those laminated printer machines and decided to let Cheyenne deal with the hassle. How rustic!
I have to say, I can't remember dealing with more pleasant officials. There was no DMV as such; I had to go to a license department, the sheriff's department, the county clerk and the county treasurer, and everyone was smiling and pleasant and friendly. The county clerk even apologized for our "long wait" in line behind three people. The whole process took less than an hour and there was no take-a-number-and-take-a-seat-in-our-creepy,-crowded-waiting-area-with-the-weird-smell. I should know about DMVs; this is my sixth state license in ten years, and the process was never easier.

I think this part of the country is just mostly laid back and relaxed. I walked last night to a free municipal band concert in a local park and people were comfortably hanging around on blankets and lawn chairs, letting their dogs meet and enjoying the fresh air and music. Casual cyclists safely ride their bikes all over town and greet you when they pass by.

Downtown is quaint, but vibrant, with western touches in the architecture and decor. A sign on a marquis says "Welcome, Laramigos". Today I saw a bison on skis outside a sporting good shop and a happy bear welcoming me into a restaurant. Those kinds of touches make me laugh.





There's a difference in lifestyle a mere hour south in Fort Collins, Colorado. It's a town about four times larger than Laramie, so there's much more sprawl, traffic and crowds. Many people there drive with obvious aggression and agitation. I got so flustered I had to stop for a double latte.

Although I enjoy the ease with which I can escape to the mountains, I'm glad I live in a place where I can easily walk to grab a snack, or sit in a well-maintained park, or see a free museum of art or native plants or dinosaur bones. "Big Al" the allosaurus is a pretty fun neighbor and there are some cute cottontails nearby, too. Luckily Big Al is well past his bunny-eating days, but he still lurks in the shadows, hoping.