MT Bound (Billings, Missoula, Bozeman: employment, cabinet, living in)

[MtnHiker57]

Well, it's time to start planning my move to Montana. Having just retired from 29 years in uniform, I've decided the final homeport will be somewhere in MT. The locale is not new to me as I spent summers in the 70's hiking various wilderness areas in the state. I also spent 6 years of my career in the Havre area and know all to well what the Hi-Line is like.

Still deciding on the area (Bitterroot currently in the lead) but looking at all the usual suspects in this forum - the Bitterroot (including the Missoula area), Helena area, the Flathead, and the Bozeman/Livingston area. It will be nice to have family nearby as my youngest currently goes to UMT and my oldest will be moving to the state sometime early next year. In terms of employment, I'm lucky to have flexibility in choosing the place to settle, as I am a health professional and may opt for a floating or travelling position, thanks to a fairly good retirement.

I have been reading the posts here for the last few months and truly appreciate everyone's insights on various aspects of life in Montana.

Thanks, in advance to all, for any information that I have picked up that helps me with my decision.

[MTSilvertip]

Welcome to the Montana boards MtnHiker57.

Thank you for your service to our country

If you have questions, just post 'em, we usually answer as best we can. Not too many of us on this specific board, but some really good people.

Good Luck

[NDak15]

I would recommend the Livingston area. It's a small town but pretty welcoming of outsiders and you are close to Bozeman should you need to shop. Just be ready for wind. Helena seems nice as well.

[historyfan]

Your second career will give you more flexibility in location than most are afforded.

Since you like hiking, I would take a look at areas with national forests. There are many sweet spots in Montana. Take a map and draw 100 mile radius circles from each good airport....Missoula, Bozeman, Billings.

Then look at areas within those circles near a natnl forest that have good internet & cell service. Once you find some possibles, you can ask here about local perspective on attitudes, etc.

[RogueYak]

Living in the Bitterroot Valley myself, I've found that this area has excellent medical facilities, in addition to numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, as well as wildlife viewing, practically right from your front door! Lots of state and national forest lands to explore, of which I've yet to scratch the surface!

I know winter's just begun, but we've had relatively mild weather recently. I'll be curious to see what January brings

[MtnHiker57]

historyfan - thanks much fo the mapping idea. That makes much sense and I will likely try it.

RogueYak - I've thought of the Bitterrot much the way you describe the area. I've spent weeks on end hiking the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness and know the area well. Thanks much.

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by RogueYak

Living in the Bitterroot Valley myself, I've found that this area has excellent medical facilities, in addition to numerous outdoor recreational opportunities, as well as wildlife viewing, practically right from your front door! Lots of state and national forest lands to explore, of which I've yet to scratch the surface!

I know winter's just begun, but we've had relatively mild weather recently. I'll be curious to see what January brings

......Since you are here in the B. R......even though your employment w/ the city did not work out......;I assume you were able to find other employment. I am glad you and your wife decided to stick around. The Valley has " way of {grabbing- y your coat tails}......

I am starting my 34th year of living here on the property I bought in 1976........and wouldn't think of ljving any where else!!!

Good luck.........

[Threerun]

If you like water and hiking, Helena is hard to beat! I can be ice fishing in 10 minutes from where I live

[DontLookPhoto]

Originally Posted by MtnHiker57

hiking the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

Hi and welcome to these forums. There are a few very pristine wilderness areas in northwestern Mt. The Cabinet mountains are a bit of a secret spot. Lots of trails and hardly ever would you see another hiker on any of the trails.

Back in the day when I was still with my with my X-wife, we did a 102 mile backpacking trip by ourselves in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness in Idaho. What a hike that was !

We much prefer the mild climate and deep woods that the northwest corner of Montana has (heck the entire state has nice parts) but the wind and dust on the east side out in the prairie is not for us.
Sanders county is like a forgotten place. Lots of wild and very few people, a great place to retire.


Here is a photo I took of a typical scene in our neck of the woods.
We expect Nutria to migrate to our state via the western rivers that feed into the Columbia any year now and Feral hogs are expected to enter our state from the east at some point in the future also and won't that be fun. Good luck with where you end up choosing.

[cumminszhere]

You can’t go wrong with either the B-S wilderness or the Cabinet Mtns.

I vote for the “Bob”.