RawhideLeather Report post Posted February 14, 2008 OK, I'm looking for realistic answers here, not something from a nice dream - though if it's good for a laugh then that's fine too. I am thinking hard about relocating and as a semi-retired leatherworker I can pretty much live anywhere I choose as long as the real estate is in the average price range. I'm leaning towards the Sheridan, Wy. area for obvious reasons. Purely out of curiosity, assuming you were in my shoes and as free as a bird, where would you choose and why? Richard Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlcoveShop Report post Posted February 14, 2008 OK, I'm looking for realistic answers here, not something from a nice dream - though if it's good for a laugh then that's fine too. I am thinking hard about relocating and as a semi-retired leatherworker I can pretty much live anywhere I choose as long as the real estate is in the average price range. I'm leaning towards the Sheridan, Wy. area for obvious reasons. Purely out of curiosity, assuming you were in my shoes and as free as a bird, where would you choose and why?Richard Funny enough, I'm perfectly content where Im at in NW Michigan; the people/friends/customers (all one in the same actually) have been the reason Ive staying in the industry so long. If I had a pipe dream to follow though, I'd travel everywhere and stay for a few weeks to meet everyone! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Report post Posted February 14, 2008 CANADA.....!!!!!! OH CANADA.....!!!!!! It's really funny, some Americans, God bless em all. Actually think the world ends at the US border.... hehehhahehehaheheheh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ETW Grumpy Report post Posted February 14, 2008 Rawhide, I would think that anywhere that has a lot of horse businesses would be a good place. One thing to consider would be are you just going to be another leatherworker in a sea if the same? Good luck on your decision. Bob, you mean it doesn't? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Randy Cornelius Report post Posted February 14, 2008 Sheridan, Wy. That way I would not have to drive so far to go to the show. But there are so many leather workers in the area you cannot throw a rock without hitting one. But I love the area. But I am content with where I am for now, just wish we did not have so much humidity in Kansas! Randy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bcurrier Report post Posted February 14, 2008 Where the shipping is free, the leather is all premium quality, hardware is stainless and sterling, dyes don't run or fade, King and Beard stamps are $5 each, Ron and Jeremiah give their tools away, and the equipment is self-maintaining. Wait ... you have to die for that. You were talking about retirement! Bill Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted February 14, 2008 Hi Bob, A lot of us (US) really consider Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Texas honorary states, hope the feeling is mutual. All built on the rebel/outcast/fugitive/colonial mentality and similar culture. As far as a place to go to pursue a leatherworking career, a touristy area with an artist community and with a emphasis on the particular specialty of the artist. These areas are usually on the outskirts of the tourist areas where location costs are not prohibitive and cost of living is not burdensome. Art CANADA.....!!!!!! OH CANADA.....!!!!!! It's really funny, some Americans, God bless em all. Actually think the world ends at the US border.... hehehhahehehaheheheh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Regis Report post Posted February 14, 2008 If you are looking for lots of business, then near a large city. If you are looking for the friendship and appreciation of leather then your Sheridan idea is probably good. Best of luck and great question. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted February 14, 2008 I live in Fort Worth, TX and there's Hidecrafter's and several Tandy retail/warehouse stores.The LW community is fair, not huge, but fair. There are good opportunities I would think for holster and sheath makers, as well as saddlemakers. Plus there are no state income taxes. Real estate takes can get expensive if you don't choose carefully though. Marlon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tazzmann Report post Posted February 14, 2008 I live in Vancouver, WA and I am not sure exactly what the LW population is here, but I would choose to live no-where else. Some say that it rains too much here, but I say good! That way I can stay indoors and work on leather more and not have to worry about mowing the grass or fixing the fence, or one of a million of other "honey do's"! :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barra Report post Posted February 14, 2008 If it were me I'd move to 4051 North First Street St. Louis, MO 63147 USA Barra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RawhideLeather Report post Posted February 14, 2008 Wow! Lots of replies already and some funny ones to boot! I guess I should have mentioned that all of my business is done online so local sales or city size isn't a concern really. Hey, keep 'em comin'! Richard Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jordan Report post Posted February 14, 2008 Halfway between Tuscon and Mexico, Cattle Ranches abound, and they make good wine in Elgin. Best part for me is there are not alot of people, still workin on that 5 year plan now reduced to 2 or 3 because it's to darn cold in Utah. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ETW Grumpy Report post Posted February 14, 2008 Art, do we have to include Texas as an honorary state? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TracyMoss Report post Posted February 15, 2008 Well, we'll settle for honorary REPUBLIC. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
robert Report post Posted February 15, 2008 if you dont mind the snow sheridan wy, fort collins colorado or estes park colorado if you wnat to stay warm and like city life, my vote would be for Fort Worth (or west of there), or if you love open country, dont need lots of city amenities (including big grocery stores or hosptals... my vote would be for Alpine or Fort Davis, way out in west texas. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgerbitz Report post Posted February 15, 2008 Don't work with much leather, do enjoy braiding with rawhide thou. Given the chance to relocate and I might find myself where I could sit out on the front porch and watch the sun set over the mountains while I do whatever the $*@% I please. Cattle and horses would outnumber humans 50 to one on any square mile within 40 miles of my porch. Not sure where that is just yet. Pretty sure that it is somewhere west of Illinois. Good luck with your search. Send us pictures when you get there. Rob Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Duke Report post Posted February 15, 2008 im a big outdoors kinda guy, like to live in the country on a ranch. so if I had my choice, id live in canada in the same neck of the woods that the stohlmans did.Ive seen a few pics of that area and its drop dead gorgous. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barra Report post Posted February 15, 2008 Don't work with much leather, do enjoy braiding with rawhide thou. Given the chance to relocate and I might find myself where I could sit out on the front porch and watch the sun set over the mountains while I do whatever the $*@% I please.Cattle and horses would outnumber humans 50 to one on any square mile within 40 miles of my porch. Not sure where that is just yet. Pretty sure that it is somewhere west of Illinois. Good luck with your search. Send us pictures when you get there. Rob I concur that would be heaven. One concession tho. It would need to be within walking distance of a Pub. It can be a one horse town (so to speak) as long as it had a combined general store/post office/pub/petrol pump out front. I'd like to finish up sitting on the front porch in my rocking chair with some form off leather work close at hand. Maybe some braiding project hanging off the porch post. Barra Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Report post Posted February 15, 2008 (edited) Richard, Very interesting question. If you notice the responses most of us chose right were we currently live. You might consider that. The grass isn't always greener....etc. etc. MARLON!! No state tax in Texas? How far is that from Hamilton, Ohio....in rigid motorcycle miles? Dave Theobald Edited February 15, 2008 by David Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rawhide Report post Posted February 15, 2008 Well David, It's about 1000 miles from Hamilton, adding the bike, might want to tack on a couple hundred bike miles (kinda like wind chill factor, "feels like"). Roughly about 16 hours. I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could! Marlon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skipj Report post Posted February 15, 2008 I think a lot of us are restrained by family location, although it isn't as important as it once was to most people. SkipJ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
superchute Report post Posted February 15, 2008 how about the black hills of wyo. the taxes are low and not to far to a lot off places. Rapid city is about 90 miles sheridan is 150 , Billings mt 220 for mileage nice summers and a little now in the winter. lots of little town like Sundance wyo or Hulet wyo. just a thought Russell Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bustedlifter Report post Posted February 15, 2008 Texas seems pretty cool, although I like the different seasons. I'm in the middle of the People's Republic of Illinois and have been thinking about moving north back to Wisconsin but that seems to be turning into another "worker's paradise" state. At any rate, wherever I would chose to live I would make sure there is a drag strip within a reasonable distance, say, 1-2 miles or closer! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildrose Report post Posted February 15, 2008 Delaware doesn't have a sales tax, if you consider those sorts of things, but I didn't much care for it there... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
