What is a native Montanan (Missoula, Hamilton: for sale, salvaged, income)

[GiftShoppeGuy]

Originally Posted by Arleigh-20

That is odd to hear that **** building with wrecked cars is common, all over the West!
I have fished almost every creek and river in Washington. I worked in the woods on the western and eastern sides, and I have never seen any thing like is evident on the Bitteroot.
This appears to be a "Native European" practice to Montana only. Actually, I have never seen nor heard of this quality of engineering, In WA. or Ore.

Go look at the Walla Walla, Washington River banks sometime, or the confluances of the Clearwater and the Lochsa in Idaho.. or the Naches River, White River, Puyallup River. (you can see the cars right from the city of Puyallup along with a few old crushed boxcars)

Or how about the East Fork of the Hood River over in Oregon....

I could go on and on with this, but then, I might be giving away some of the better fishing spots around the northwest.

[jimj]

I must confess I've only seen rip-rap or boulders used for erosion control but evidently I haven't been to all the places y'all have.

[California Carl]

People in CA don't grow up just saying hello to strangers on the street, but in any of the smaller towns in MT it's commonplace.

How would you know? The people I grew up around did.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by California Carl

People in CA don't grow up just saying hello to strangers on the street, but in any of the smaller towns in MT it's commonplace.

How would you know? The people I grew up around did.

What???

[MontanaNative64]

I was born and raised in the missoula and bitteroot area, never left there until i was 25....i can tell you I remember when hamilton, stevensville and bitteroot area was NOT a mess...in fact, it STILL wasn't a mess when i moved away in 1985. Keep in mind we grew up what was in the country outside of missoula, we still own the home and land there and what used to be country, is now in the middle of town. Our family was supported and still supports the logging industry and many people have had to relocate due to downsizing and closures. Missoula and the bitteroot were a beautiful place at one time (3 generations worth), what it has become has ALOT to do with outsiders moving in and jacking up the living prices which leave the poor "montana native" scraping pennies to make ends meet and the you wonder why it looks like it does??? the mess has been created from many not just from natives or strangers moving in. if you don't like it, do something.

[JoeJoeMan]

Yea, I'm doing what I can to stop it - by telling people just what I think of them moving here and screwing it up !

But boy, that just doesn't go over very well at all around this forum.

Yup montana is getting trashed, by the well-to-do, and the people looking for a "nice place to move to" They are all just piling in, plain and simple and there goes the beauty and serenity that once was Montana.

TO all wanting to move here - PLEASE PLEASE - find another 'nice' place to move to and give us a break already. PLEASE
My kids can't afford to live here anymore, I don't even drive down the bitterroot to fish anymore - because the site of all the development and traffic is depressing.

And please, the rest of you - spare me that "You gotta except change" routine - you except the change - and the change is that alot of Montanans do like people moving here anymore - we use to not mind but we do now - we changed. Becuase that place is being ruined and over run.

And by the way, I'm sure the are all nice people wanting to move here, and I wish them well and the best, just find some other 'nice' place to move to.

I could sympathize with those wanting to move here needing to make a living, but you can't afford to move here and just be a working person, first because good paying jobs are few and far between and don't even support the cost of living, oh they may move here - but don't last long......So the people that move here are those that are just moving here to satisfy their emotional wants and desires to live someplace 'nice' - fish, hunt, ski, outdoors.
And that's the sad part, here we are trying make a living and buy a home - and the leisure people are moving in, they don't work, or just have hobby jobs/bussiness, their money came with them, they drive up home prices for those of us that have been struggling for years to just live.....so we get to watch them live their 'montana' dream while we struggle more and more.
Well tell me if that would make you happy ?

[CTC]

My wife has accepted a 6 figure job in Billings, which had been posted for over a year ... We come for economic opportunity is that ok? I actually prefer the scenery in CO over MT, but as they say you can't eat the scenery.

The Montana natives I have met in person are very friendly-so you can't scare me off:

Sorry about your Bitterroot Valley JJM, you are right it is a mess...

[4horseshoes]

As I sit here and read post after post about people wanting to move trying to find "that perfect place" I realize to some effect, it was where I lived about 40 yrs ago. Everyone waved at everyone else, we all new our neighbors and helped each other when it was needed. If a "stranger" came by, you went to check them out to see where they were going and what they were up to. Just in case they were looking to break into someones home or barn or steal some cattle. Yes, we helped neighbors arrest (citizen's arrest for trespassing or whatever the crime committed was). If they worked cattle you helped them on their ranch, later they helped you with yours. You knew the cops, and the cops knew you whether you were a good person or bad and they usually knew you by name. You never locked your house. You left your keys in your vehicle. You packed a gun for snakes or other predators after your livestock. It was "normal" behavior, people didn't "freak out" thinking you were going "postal."
Oh Yeah, they did put old clunkers (cars)in the riverbanks and planted willows, poplar, cottonwoods, tamaracks to hold the banks and cover the "ugly" of the cars.
Now, it is no longer that way any more at all. Where once there was 5 ranches, now 100 people have homes on 5,10, 20, 30 acres sections. They whine if a cow bellows for it's calf, when being weaned. They whine or "turn you in" if you cross the river. A working dog after cattle is suppose to "be on a leash" lol, if your cattle cross the fence the old neighbor would herd them back on to your land or give you a call for some help putting them back on your land and fix the fence. Now a neigbor will come or call screaming that your cattle will need to be put on a leash! Yes, It sounds STUPID and it was funny. You should have seen the womans face when we told her it doesn't work that way.
I try to be a good neighbor wherever I have lived. Being helpful, neighborly, supportive, etc.

I find that the "lack of respect" of people is the major cause of disagreements. No one wants to talk things over. They want to start off like the Hatfields & McCoys, Not the Waltons.

This is just my opinion...You need not agree or disagree. I am 52 yrs old this yr, not ancient, but no spring chicken.
Our world is changing somethings are better, just not all things. TIME NEVER STANDS STILL AND WAITS FOR NO ONE OR ANY THING !

God Bless you all, may you be healthy, wealthy and wise.

Dee

[4horseshoes]

ps.

I too, am looking for a place now that is far away from people and town. My husband and I are disabled, we just want to have a hideaway for peace and quiet and be a good neighbor.

[Debee]

Originally Posted by 4horseshoes

I find that the "lack of respect" of people is the major cause of disagreements.
Dee
Ps:
I too, am looking for a place now that is far away from people and town. My husband and I are disabled, we just want to have a hideaway for peace and quiet and be a good neighbor.

I sure agree with that ! Problem is when you find that nice quiet place with the wonderful sounds of horses and cows and nature thers an idiot on the next property shooting his gun all day or his kids running four wheelers up and down the road and across your land . Then you cant hear those squirrels and birds and horses. Cant win for nothing
Good luck i hope you find a nice place, you sound like someone i wouldnt mind having for a neighbor