thinking about moving to Helena, MT (Missoula, Bozeman: schools, living in, store)

[odellgiustirda]

We currently live in northern CA (the Bay Area) and are looking for a slower pace of life. Helena MT looks and sounds great on the computer, but we would like to find out from people who have lived there how it is. Can anyone tell us how it is to live and work there? How are the winters, a lot of snow? Are the people friendly and are relocaters welcomed? Thanks for your time

[rickers]

Helena will welcome you, it's mostly just a few folks in a few dinky towns that resent newcommers and change in general.

[Lonestarlady]

Hi, I am a native Texan and have lived in Helena for almost 9 years. We do get quite a bit of snow and it can get really cold. Sometimes down to 25-30 below zero. Spring can can come pretty late. It can snow as late as the end of May. Snow tires are required to stay safe in the Winter. Most people also have tank heaters to keep their car motors from freezing up. The people here are pretty friendly and haven't treated me any differently. I hope this helps you out.

[jimj]

After living in the bay area I can give you some of the things I have learned living in MT. Things are way different here than there, you can't expect things to happen here with the snap of a finger, there is no consumer protection here to run to if you have problems with companies and the threat of going to another company will fall on deaf ears because most likely there isn't one. Things move way slower here and yes, this state is way behind the times from a big city perspective and the "good old boy" thing is alive and well here. This is not saying it is all bad, it's just the way it is so except it or don't come because trust me you will not change it.

The biggest thing I can tell you is NEVER utter the sentence "the way we did things in CA" or any variation of that sentence!
That statement is sure to garner resentment, hate and discontent that you may never recover from as people here have loooong memories. The bottom line best advice is if you move here forget how it is done in CA, no one here cares and really doesn't want to hear it. They read the papers and the net and see how CA is turned out and don't want that here.

It will take a while to make aquaintences here and longer for friends in my experience, the people that have been here for a long time don't seem to take to newbies quickly and if my observations are correct want to see who you are first,if you will stick it out and if you can let go of where you were from instead of trusting you from the git go. Family is big here, I have found that instead of a lot of friends people here tend to just stick with family and lightly associate with people outside of that, and if you are let into their circle you will be trusted and treated well but again, it will take time.
Gossip runs some of the towns here and if you tick off the wrong family it can hurt you. These tend to be families that have been here for generations and know everyone, you will figure out who they are. I guess the one thing I found kind of hard to get over is you are not anonymous here like you are in CA. Let's say you get ticked at someone in the store and pop off at them. It is very likely that either they are related to someone you know or at the very least friends with them and you will either A. End up seeing the person at a function of some sort where tounges will start wagging or more likely B. Word will fly around town and you will notice some people being,lets say a little "chilly" when they see you.
This happens a lot when people here get some road rage going and flip off the other car only to see them at the school band concert or other assembly. Very embarassing indeed......
If you can deal with all of this then load up and move on in........

[colsteve]

I've lived in a number of towns in Montana and can tell you with great certainty that Helena is by far the worst place you can select. There is a strange pall over the town that seems to be brought on by the death knell of public service workers struggling toward their pensons.

Missoula or Bozeman would be much better choices.

[janab]

Originally Posted by colsteve

I've lived in a number of towns in Montana and can tell you with great certainty that Helena is by far the worst place you can select. There is a strange pall over the town that seems to be brought on by the death knell of public service workers struggling toward their pensons.

Missoula or Bozeman would be much better choices.

I find this appalling. My daughter and her husband live in Helena and I visit them often. I find Helena a city with still small town attititudes. The schools are great, the teachers are great, the old boy system is in place but oh well, so it goes in many towns and cities all over. The climate of the people are over all friendly and helpful and the seasons run as winter 9 months, spring as maybe 1 month and summer maybe two if you're lucky. The city has some weird quirks for cival services. If you enjoy big game in a downtown city setting, this is the place for you

[jcbmontana]

Originally Posted by colsteve

There is a strange pall over the town that seems to be brought on by the death knell of public service workers struggling toward their pensons.

Missoula or Bozeman would be much better choices.

I'm not sure why, but that just gave me a good laugh.

[janab]

Gotcha, or rather me. lol

[NYMTman]

Helena's a nice town. Lots of government stiffs, but that's all right (my mother is one of them )

[janab]

LOL, I am trying to get my husband to consider moving closer over to there. But where we are now is hard to match or beat. Sure would love to see my grandkids more though.