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Old 12-19-2012, 02:04 PM
 
1 posts, read 7,291 times
Reputation: 12

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My husband and I are researching some areas of Montana as a potential relocation.

Our goals:
Close to mountains (as we are avid hikers/campers)
Four seasons
Access to some type of water (I love to kayak)
Walkable and aesthetically pleasing down town with decent restaurants, shopping - a bookstore, a yoga studio, a gym, a coffeeshop, and a farmer's market - etc.
Population 25,000 or less
Low crime, good schools
Politically, we are moderately conservative and generally just want to live and let live, or live simply so that others may simply live. We're not big on giving more power to the federal government.

Is this a good description of any city or small town near Kalispell or Flathead Lake area?

Ultimately, we would like to buy a chunk of land (just a few acres really (3-5?), we're not naive enough to think we can score a ranch) and live more sustainably: build a small(er) sized home/"cabin", put up a wind turbine, raise some chickens and a garden. We don't mind and might even prefer living a short (30min max) distance away from town. We are not "hippies" by any means, we just would like to live more simply and teach our kids the value of hard work...but we'd still like to have access to a bit of culture/entertainment.

We currently live in Alaska, where it is currently -20F, so don't worry about cautioning me against the winters. We love Alaska in a sense, but 8-9 months of winter is getting to be too much for me, and we'd like to to have our kids outside as much as possible. We prefer rural to urban environments and want our boys (currently 4 and 6) to grow up running, climbing, riding bikes, camping, and fishing over being in a concrete jungle.

My husband is in public safety (he is a State Trooper) and would be much more interested in a Sheriff's Dept than a city PD job, and I am pursing a nursing degree.

I've read many people say MT is becoming a "metropolis", that "outsiders" are causing it to become just another urban sprawl of suburbs. This is definitely something we want to avoid!

Can anyone give me any good locations in MT for our dreams, or are we just asking too much here?

Thanks!
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Old 12-19-2012, 04:51 PM
 
5,401 posts, read 6,469,716 times
Reputation: 12016
Probably need to be in 40,000 plus area to get ammenities you want unless you go much farther South like Dillon. The land prices around Thompson Falls would make small acreage more attainable. Your fields of work should easily land you jobs.





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Quote:
Originally Posted by simplelife1333 View Post
My husband and I are researching some areas of Montana as a potential relocation.

Our goals:
Close to mountains (as we are avid hikers/campers)
Four seasons
Access to some type of water (I love to kayak)
Walkable and aesthetically pleasing down town with decent restaurants, shopping - a bookstore, a yoga studio, a gym, a coffeeshop, and a farmer's market - etc.
Population 25,000 or less
Low crime, good schools
Politically, we are moderately conservative and generally just want to live and let live, or live simply so that others may simply live. We're not big on giving more power to the federal government.

Is this a good description of any city or small town near Kalispell or Flathead Lake area?

Ultimately, we would like to buy a chunk of land (just a few acres really (3-5?), we're not naive enough to think we can score a ranch) and live more sustainably: build a small(er) sized home/"cabin", put up a wind turbine, raise some chickens and a garden. We don't mind and might even prefer living a short (30min max) distance away from town. We are not "hippies" by any means, we just would like to live more simply and teach our kids the value of hard work...but we'd still like to have access to a bit of culture/entertainment.

We currently live in Alaska, where it is currently -20F, so don't worry about cautioning me against the winters. We love Alaska in a sense, but 8-9 months of winter is getting to be too much for me, and we'd like to to have our kids outside as much as possible. We prefer rural to urban environments and want our boys (currently 4 and 6) to grow up running, climbing, riding bikes, camping, and fishing over being in a concrete jungle.

My husband is in public safety (he is a State Trooper) and would be much more interested in a Sheriff's Dept than a city PD job, and I am pursing a nursing degree.

I've read many people say MT is becoming a "metropolis", that "outsiders" are causing it to become just another urban sprawl of suburbs. This is definitely something we want to avoid!

Can anyone give me any good locations in MT for our dreams, or are we just asking too much here?

Thanks!
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Old 12-19-2012, 08:25 PM
 
Location: North Dakota
10,234 posts, read 13,747,657 times
Reputation: 18026
Quote:
Originally Posted by simplelife1333 View Post
My husband and I are researching some areas of Montana as a potential relocation.

Our goals:
Close to mountains (as we are avid hikers/campers)
Four seasons
Access to some type of water (I love to kayak)
Walkable and aesthetically pleasing down town with decent restaurants, shopping - a bookstore, a yoga studio, a gym, a coffeeshop, and a farmer's market - etc.
Population 25,000 or less
Low crime, good schools
Politically, we are moderately conservative and generally just want to live and let live, or live simply so that others may simply live. We're not big on giving more power to the federal government.

Is this a good description of any city or small town near Kalispell or Flathead Lake area?

Ultimately, we would like to buy a chunk of land (just a few acres really (3-5?), we're not naive enough to think we can score a ranch) and live more sustainably: build a small(er) sized home/"cabin", put up a wind turbine, raise some chickens and a garden. We don't mind and might even prefer living a short (30min max) distance away from town. We are not "hippies" by any means, we just would like to live more simply and teach our kids the value of hard work...but we'd still like to have access to a bit of culture/entertainment.

We currently live in Alaska, where it is currently -20F, so don't worry about cautioning me against the winters. We love Alaska in a sense, but 8-9 months of winter is getting to be too much for me, and we'd like to to have our kids outside as much as possible. We prefer rural to urban environments and want our boys (currently 4 and 6) to grow up running, climbing, riding bikes, camping, and fishing over being in a concrete jungle.

My husband is in public safety (he is a State Trooper) and would be much more interested in a Sheriff's Dept than a city PD job, and I am pursing a nursing degree.

I've read many people say MT is becoming a "metropolis", that "outsiders" are causing it to become just another urban sprawl of suburbs. This is definitely something we want to avoid!

Can anyone give me any good locations in MT for our dreams, or are we just asking too much here?

Thanks!
Kalispell is close to mountains. Mountains in Montana generally mean a high cost of living. While I've heard that Alaska has a high cost of living as well, Montana has lower wages on average. Mountains are nice but you can't eat them and they don't pay for living expenses.

You have long winters there as well. It can get to -20 and winters can last several months.

As far as water you have Flathead Lake which is pretty big.

It's pretty walkable, don't know about all the stores. It had a Borders bookstore but with that chain out of business I don't know what the town has now.

The population is probably around the 25k mark or more, not sure on that.

Crime is low, not sure about schools.

Politically that part of Montana is VERY conservative.

I would recommend giving that town a pass and anywhere in western Montana a pass. The cost of living does not keep up with many of the wages. The people in that part of Montana are not welcoming of outsiders and the area has changed a lot with newcomers. If you really want to live in Montana I would consider Livingston, Three Forks, or Manhatten. They are small towns but are within a half hour drive from Bozeman that has all the amenities you would likely need. They are also scenic with plenty of mountains and not too far from Yellowstone. The same thing about wages is true, but the people are more welcoming and it is a bit cheaper (although Bozeman itself is very high-priced and I would recommend giving that one a pass as well).
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Old 12-19-2012, 10:58 PM
 
Location: Tennessee
10,688 posts, read 7,649,323 times
Reputation: 4674
Default Kali & Whitefish

In Montana both those areas are gorgeous and the wife and I have been "touristy" up there twice. But I think Wyo is right in that southern Montana is probably a little less expensive. Livingston is about 20 miles or so from Bozeman which has a decent airport. You are near the north entrance to Yellowstone or you could drive down through Big Sky and enter it through West Yellowstone. Beautiful, beautiful country.

Another possibility might be northern Idaho around CDA. I'm looking at SE Idaho myself for retirement, but I've seen nothing but good things on the threads about CDA. However, it is not far from Spokane, Washington so it may see slightly more traffic than northern Montana. On the other hand, jobs might be easier to come by, too. And there are a number of college/universities that operate up there. Not sure if any have a nursing degree program.

Politically Idaho is fairly conservative, too, and personally being more moderate (I guess conservatives call that liberal [but I'm a liberal with a gun]), to me the political discussions I've seen make me believe Idahoans are more "thinking" conservatives than a lot of other places in the country (like Texas where I am right now!) From what I've read I would call Idahoans "old time" conservatives who used to believe they had no business in anybody else's business and vice-versa. So while I may not always agree with some of their viewpoints I sure as heck respect them and wouldn't want to **** them off.

I dont remember if it was Sage or Banjomike that had a really nice write up about the history of conservatism in Idaho. But you might search recent posts by them on the Idaho thread.

Anyway, it's just another possibility. In either state you're going to have not as long a day in the summer and not as long a night in the winter, but still four seasons. And lots of wide open spaces.
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Old 12-23-2012, 12:56 PM
 
3,763 posts, read 8,717,183 times
Reputation: 4059
Since this is swaying away from Flathead area, I must recommend Red Lodge for being the friendliest, family-oriented town I have ever seen, & I've lived all over the west. Very friendly to newcomers.

Red Lodge is tiny, 2.5K, but it is so incredibly kid-friendly. The downtown and old turn-of-century houses are a quintessential historic district town with yoga, gym, 2 bookstores now (!), coffee shops, elite shops, brew pub, health food cafe/grocery, farmer's market, community garden, hiking trails of one's dream, gateway to Yellowstone for wildlife watching, geyser gazing, camping, hiking, horseback riding with rodeos & even skijoring with horses.

Ice skating in the park; one of the best groomed nordic ski centers; downhill skiing 7 miles up the hill which is very friendly to beginner children (or adult) or advanced skiers; parades for every & any reason with lots of the kids participating; local police & fire department escort the winning kids' teams back into town with sirens & light escort; bicycling all over, even up Beartooth pass; skateboard park.

These was just a lit snowplow parade at the xmas stroll and a candlelight walk a few days ago as a memorial for Sandy Hook tragedy.

There is a huge harley rally in the summer to ride the Beartooth & party, so must like bikes!

What's incredible about RL is the sense of community, everyone turns out when there is a cause to support, a benefit for a townsperson & the whole town turns out.

An hour from Cody or Billings for extensive shopping.

We moved down from Alaska where we've been for 15 years, but the Montana winds in places are something else, like the Mat-Su valley.

Have fun researching and good luck in your choices.
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Old 12-23-2012, 04:25 PM
 
7,342 posts, read 12,565,936 times
Reputation: 9888
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wardendresden View Post
Another possibility might be northern Idaho around CDA. I'm looking at SE Idaho myself for retirement, but I've seen nothing but good things on the threads about CDA. However, it is not far from Spokane, Washington so it may see slightly more traffic than northern Montana. On the other hand, jobs might be easier to come by, too. And there are a number of college/universities that operate up there. Not sure if any have a nursing degree program.

Politically Idaho is fairly conservative, too, and personally being more moderate (I guess conservatives call that liberal [but I'm a liberal with a gun]), to me the political discussions I've seen make me believe Idahoans are more "thinking" conservatives than a lot of other places in the country (like Texas where I am right now!) .
^^^ What Warden said! With one modification: The conservatism in North Idaho is more libertarian-leaning than social conservatism. Not any different from NW MT, really. The Idaho Panhandle is so narrow that it's really one cultural region stretching from Spokane to Flathead Lake/Kalispell. I love it! You can live & work/go to school in one area and go shopping/hiking etc. in another area/state next door.
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Old 01-01-2013, 07:40 PM
 
5 posts, read 17,745 times
Reputation: 10
Your goals are nearly exactly our goals! My husband & I & 2 small children are looking to move to the same area. We are from Chicago where the winters are miserable for very different reasons.

Whitefish/Kalispell are at the top of our list for sure. My husband lived in Missoula for 5 or so years before we dated and loved Montana. He always said if he could go back it would be to Whitefish primarily due to his love of GNP but also because he loves the town itself. This past August, we visited Glacier/Whitefish/Kalispell and it lit the fire to move there.

Just wondering if you recieved any more info? If you've decided where & why?

Also wondering if there is anyone on this thread who actually lives or has lived in Whitefish who could tell us exactly what the weather is really like there year round. Not the generic version of "oh they get lots of snow there". I love snow so thats not a problem. Its blistering winds coupled with days of subzero temps or sever and constant rain storms or sleet that I would like to leave behind. As well as 100 degree humid summer days or rainy springs that dont let up... Basically weather that prevents you from enjoying the outdoors more often than not.

Thanks!!!
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Old 03-13-2013, 09:05 PM
 
2 posts, read 11,494 times
Reputation: 11
Bongo totally nailed it on Red Lodge - my favorite small town in America and well worth a look.
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Old 03-16-2013, 04:10 PM
 
Location: A Very Naughtytown In Northwestern Montanifornia U.S.A.
1,088 posts, read 1,937,816 times
Reputation: 1986
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clark Fork Fantast View Post
^^^ What Warden said! With one modification: The conservatism in North Idaho is more libertarian-leaning than social conservatism. Not any different from NW MT, really. The Idaho Panhandle is so narrow that it's really one cultural region stretching from Spokane to Flathead Lake/Kalispell. I love it! You can live & work/go to school in one area and go shopping/hiking etc. in another area/state next door.
Yes and the flavor of this area also extends up to the Colville Washington area also.
The Flathead valley area is nice but the valley it's-self is being paved over little by little with little or no master plan, just hodge-podge development. They need to think about preserving some open space areas before it's too late.
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Old 04-09-2013, 10:51 PM
 
10 posts, read 16,606 times
Reputation: 19
Whitefish Weather..I currently live in Whitefish, have been here on and off for the last 3 years. The weather data for Whitefish on this site is very accurate in my opinion. I have lived in Chicago, Michigan, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, and Anchorage, AK (3 years in Germany also). The east coast provides 4 beautiful seasons however the humidity, bugs and wet winters are uncomfortable. Chicago's wind and cold along with Michigan's & Ohio's "lake effect" snows and cloudiness and bugs put a damper on that area's charm. Arizona is deathly hot and dry but sunny (dustbowl conditions at present). Alaska, that speaks for itself in regards to long, snowy, cold winters with short, cool, wet, and buggy summers that sometimes don't reach over 75 degrees all year. Colorado's weather is my preference, hardly any bugs and lots of sunshine with no humidity. It can get hot sometimes as well as snowy and cold but the weather changes quickly to something else and you get the four seasons.
Back to the topic. To me, the weather here in Whitefish is a cross between Alaska and Colorado. The sky seems bigger like Colorado and the mountains provide some pretty nice sunsets. The snow usually arrives in mid-late October and stays until late March. The snowfall amount varies every year. It is quite cloudy during the winter with blustery winds though not as much as Alaska or Chicago but more than other places. The winter days are much shorter. April and May has a mixture of sun, snow and rain. June is the month of the rains. Just after a tease of sweet spring sun and warmth the June sky sends chilly wet and cloudy weather. Summer gets started in July and is really something to look forward to, mild to warm temperatures, slight decrease in the wind. Mid September the fall season starts and is pretty but short.
Economically speaking this area is dismal for most people. Poverty levels here are significantly high for the state of Montana. Wages are extremely low and jobs are scarce. For example, I am an experienced RN of 15 years and the average wage in this area is almost the same amount my daughter makes as a cashier at Home Depot in Connecticut. Rent is very reasonable, yet healthcare (small hospitals = limited care options) and groceries are as high as Alaska. Gas prices are slightly less thanks to Canadian Crude Oil. Lacking bus and other public transportation. No sales tax is a bonus. Not many social clubs, hard to meet people. It is as extremely conservative ultra rightwing as Alaska. 2 white supremacist groups here and the PLO in Kalispell. High burglary and theft crimes along with what I have read that this county has the highest highway fatality ranking in the U.S. The Flathead Valley is an isolated area, somewhat like Anchorage, so many amenities are sadly missing (mostly cultural and educational). Not much diversity around either. Here you will find Glacier National Park just gorgeous, great ski fun on Big Mountain and wonderful bike and hiking trails. Whitefish Lake is enjoyable and lots of fishing, hunting and golf opportunities can be found. It is a tourist town and caters to that means, but does have small town charm.
Every individual has their own preference in what constitutes an ideal location to call home. I am stuck here for another couple months I have the funds and the job in hand in order to relocate. It is a 5 out of 10 for me. I need to live somewhere that will provide a decent living economically. My fiance talked me into moving here as this is his hometown with family and old friends. He is now working 3 weeks on in the Alaska tundra with 2 weeks off and the airline fares into Kalispell are astronomical! Best Wishes to all!
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