relocating from Indiana to Montana with kids (Belgrade: transplants, sales)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Hello everyone! My husband and I along with our 4 children are looking to relocate from Indiana. We've lived in Indiana all of our lives and I can't tell you how unfriendly this place is. Many people here feel unwelcomed and don't believe so much in being courteous and kind to strangers or neighbors. We are a very close family and really are just looking to find a good home with some quality neighbors and to get away from the lifestyle here in Indiana as more gangs are moving in and crime is rising. We want to keep our children as far away from it as possible, but educated about it.
We've always dreamed of living in Montana because we are a family who takes pride in nature and would like any advice on what a day is like for most people there and if anyone can help us out with finding local jobs and rental houses. My husband is an RV worker and I currently work for a retail drug store. My husband is a deer hunter and hunts small game so any information on hunting laws would be welcomed too.
Hi Robin, welcome to the forum. Does your husband work in an assembly plant? Besides the gangs, how's your economy doing there? Montana is a big state and very diverse. Do you have time to spend here on a visit or do you want to move here and hit the ground running? Is finding work very important to you or can you wait 6 months? Do you want city life or rural setting? Thanks.
Well, we are country people really, but don't mind starting off in the city. My husband works on a line, kinda like an assembly though it runs one RV thru at a time and each person has their own work to do in their station.
We would move there and hit the ground running if possible as we don't intend on living off of a savings account. Jobs to start us off and a place to live is what we need to find first.
Economy in Indiana is very bad. Not good at all actually and unemployment rates are extremely high.
Thanks so much for the link, I will check into it. Any help would be great!
Well, we are country people really, but don't mind starting off in the city. My husband works on a line, kinda like an assembly though it runs one RV thru at a time and each person has their own work to do in their station.
We would move there and hit the ground running if possible as we don't intend on living off of a savings account. Jobs to start us off and a place to live is what we need to find first.
Economy in Indiana is very bad. Not good at all actually and unemployment rates are extremely high.
Thanks so much for the link, I will check into it. Any help would be great!
Well, the reason I was asking is, if your husband might have a certification as a tradesman like welding or machinist, etc, since he works in a factory. This would be of great help. Also, if he his fairly satisfied there and it's just a lifestyle change your looking for I wonder if it's the best time to do it.
If you work for a chain drug store you could ask the company for a transfer out here since Montana has the various stores here. I know the gal's that work at Safeway or Walgreens have told me that they transfered from other states. Anyway, you may stand a better chance starting off in one of our cities for awhile with such a big family.
If you want to stay with the RV industry, Twin Falls Idaho and Pendelton (?) Oregon have companies that do that. Both areas are smaller towns / rural areas near by. I don't believe any of that kind of busines (except sales and service) exists in MT.
I've never been to Indiana, but that's part of the midwest, where I'm from. I'm moving BACK to my homestate Wisconsin in a couple months, because to be honest - I've never felt "loved" by this state. This sounds corny and laughable as hell, but it's true. I think you have to feel embraced by where you live. Being from Wisconsin I can tell you it's never felt that way here for me at all, no matter how I've tried. I've just felt kind of numb here for years, even when I was making a conscious effort to live by the "home is what you make it" motto. Numb, bored, lonely... like I wasn't home. I find people standoffish. About six months after we moved here, we had our relatives out in the summer. We were doing one of our normal cookouts, like back home... the guy across the street (he still lives there, still wears the same white t-shirt every single day) just stood on the edge of his porch and STARED at us for an uncomfortably long time.
At my mother's wedding to my stepdad, I saw my grandpa saying, "Yeah, I think I like where I am a little better...." with a distant, lonely look in his eye. We've had various relatives out here over the years. They enjoyed the day trips we took, to Glacier, etc. They enjoyed the outdoorsy touristy things, but as far as daily living, I don't think any of them are jealous...
We were never formally welcomed by any neighbors either. Don't get me wrong, we didn't expect a plate of cookies from every house on the block. Where we come from isn't THAT Norman Rockwell.... but we expected at least the people who lived right next door to say "hello."
Both sides and perspectives have to be offered here.
Whatever you do, get prepared for being isolated. That's just pure fact. There isn't any big *anything*... there's no Indianapolis here. When I say that, you may be thinking, "Good!" with only the crime, traffic, and negative aspects in mind. But when I say that I mean.... no change of scenery, no big-city culture. None of the quirks of big-city life. t's gone. You'll have to drive more than a day to see it again.
A lot of people say "Oh, I don't mind"... well..... once you're truly and literally stuck here for real, you might be humming another tune.
Just sayin'.
I've been kind of living with my "blinders" on.... on auto-pilot or something... just to survive here.
I don't think these years have been a waste though. It'll make me appreciate where I'm from that much more when I get back there. Had I stayed there all my life, I don't think I'd have the appreciation that I do today.
Look at all the fun places to visit in WI - Door County, Apostle Islands, Devil's Lake State Park, St. Croix/Taylor's Falls, Madison, Milwaukee, camping "Upnorth".....
I don't know of any assembly line places that make RVs in Montana, but there are several places that service them.
Depending on what your husband does, he may be able to find work at one of the larger RV sales/service centers.
Most of those are in larger towns.
There used to be a mobile home factory in Belgrade, but I don't know if it is still in business.
One other option is Modular Homes which are all the rage these days. The installation on site by the seller may also be something to look at.
Please don't let the views of one individual who has never been happy to be here away from the big cities discourage you.
Most Montanan's are very friendly, but have been burned so many times by implants they tend to wait and see if their new neighbor will still be there in the spring, and if the neighbor is willing to reach out to the local community instead of waiting for everybody to come knock on their door.
They may not know your name, but will be the first to offer assistance if you are having car trouble or working on something or need help.
If you don't speak to them, all sorts of stories about you may appear on the grapevine through speculation. We don't have a lot of clubs or theatre so in the smaller towns especially, gossip serves as entertainment.
Most won't prejudge, but making yourself available will get you off on the right foot with good information.
Folks here are curious about their new neighbors, and may ask questions that you find pushy, but it isn't done to be obnoxious, it is a genuine curiosity and most Montanans are pretty straightforward.
If you go over to your neighbor and introduce yourself, it goes a long way toward making friends quicker.
By getting involved in the community through volunteer work, churches, schools, or hobbies, you will meet a lot of great folks quickly.
Montana is a wonderful place if you will meet folks half way and don't mope around about how much you hate it here and wish to go back. Usually that will get the response of "Nothing stopping you and don't let the door hit your butt on the way out".
We welcome decent hard working families making a new life for themselves who want to be part of our community and be a good neighbor.
Small towns are better, but most of the larger towns aren't bad either. Life here just like anywhere is as good or bad as you yourself make it.
We may not embrace you initially, but if you put forth a little effort, you will become part of our family.
I would reccomend lining up a job before you come because as our job market isn't as bad as some of the places back east, it is still tight.
Please don't let the views of one individual who has never been happy to be here away from the big cities discourage you.
I have a right to state my point of view.. lol.
It's true. For me. But she has a right to hear both sides. I know if I were considering a new state I'd wanna hear everything.
Quote:
Most Montanan's are very friendly, but have been burned so many times by implants they tend to wait and see if their new neighbor will still be there in the spring, and if the neighbor is willing to reach out to the local community instead of waiting for everybody to come knock on their door.
They may not know your name, but will be the first to offer assistance if you are having car trouble or working on something or need help.
I said "hello" to a neighbor kid who was my age... she acted like she was embarrassed to talk to me. She was unbelievably snotty. I came from a place where I had a group of about five good friends. It took over a year here to make a real friend. That was when I was in 8th grade going into high school. It took my mom a NUMBER of years before she made any real friends. She, too, had a group of good friends that she left. She has only made friends in the last couple of years. And she's been here over 16 years. We're good people. We didn't come here trying to "change" anything.
Quote:
If you don't speak to them, all sorts of stories about you may appear on the grapevine through speculation. We don't have a lot of clubs or theatre so in the smaller towns especially, gossip serves as entertainment.
Most won't prejudge, but making yourself available will get you off on the right foot with good information.
Within a couple weeks there was a rumor started at school that I was pregnant. That's disgusting, frankly.
So they'd rather just start a rumor than try and get to know me. Basically they're curious, but not curious enough to talk to me.... ? Hmmm. That's MY flaw?
Quote:
Montana is a wonderful place if you will meet folks half way and don't mope around about how much you hate it here and wish to go back. Usually that will get the response of "Nothing stopping you and don't let the door hit your butt on the way out".
I spent a few years trying to adjust. I even almost got engaged. It's never felt like home. I've never felt a warmth here. (I think people who've lived here all their lives can't possibly know what I'm talking about. I notice the difference immediately when I go back for a visit.)
Quote:
We welcome decent hard working families making a new life for themselves who want to be part of our community and be a good neighbor.
LOL... these are some of the laziest people ever. Other transplants from other states I've talked to, including a former boss, have concurred on that. Especially the younger generation. But even my mom's generation - she used to remark about the number of people who showed up late and had sloppy work ethics. And how that would never fly at some of her former jobs back home.
Quote:
We may not embrace you initially, but if you put forth a little effort, you will become part of our family.
None of that responsibility lies with the host state at all?? Come on... That guy just staring at my family from across the street... that neighbor kid. My neighbors should've been downright ashamed of themselves... especially the grown man. Had the situation been reversed, my grandparents would've either minded their own business while a family across the street was having a cookout or they would've come and said hello. I could never imagine my grandpa just standing there staring, trying to make them uncomfortable. The very idea is totally juvenile.
You are correct Minnesconsinite, you have the right to your opinion, just as I have the right to mine.
I do not find the same attitudes you described, but then I probably would have asked my neighbor if he would have liked to come over for some of my BBQ. Different folks, Different strokes.
I don't doubt you dislike Montana, you have certainly never held back your antagonism. Fine. I personally have never found overcrowding, crime and punitively high taxes that appealing.
I do take offence in calling Montanans "Lazy". I have never found that to be true and in fact most of the people I know or have worked around from Montana have an outstanding work ethic.
Please don't let your personal distaste result in personal attacks.
I simply try, as you state, to present both sides of the argument. I made no specific references to you by quote or name in my post, I was simply rebutting your arguments with my own.
As noted, you do not like it here, and you are not being held captive, so please, tone down the assults.
Your opinions are yours, you have every right to post them, but I also have the right to set the record straight per my own opinions.
Good Luck on your move in "a couple months".
This is my last post on this subject. I don't do hair pulling contests on an E-board.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
