We would like to move to Glendive, MT (Missoula, Miles City: house prices, find a job)

[V&MSun]

Hello out there! We would like to move to Glendive, MT. We have family there. They are somewhat helpful. We would just like some outside help. We don't have jobs that can be transferred up to there, so we would both have to get jobs when we get there. We are in our late 30's & late 40's. We have one son still at home & in high school. If you can please give us some advice and/or helpful info. we would greatly appreciate it. Thanks so much.

[rickers]

Go there first by yourself, find a job while living in your car. save enough for deposit and rent, then send for your family when settled. That's how us po foke do it when relatives are useless.

[mrkool]

There are definitely jobs there, but don't pay much. Check out the Montana Job Service website.
Glendive is small (about 6000 counting Forest Park), cold, and a long ways from anywhere. And eastern Montana is a different animal than western Montana, in terms of terrain, wind, and trees (or lack thereof). Glendive is on the western edge of the Badlands.
Glendive house prices aren't too bad, but maybe a bit high considering the area and remoteness.
Depending on where you're coming from, it could be a big culture shock.

[meadowlark3]

Wow....my husband and I have made some major relocations in our lives (Montana to California to Minnesota over 40 years)....and I am sort of taken aback about your desire to relocate to Glendive. I LOVE that area--including the remoteness and the dry buttes and endless horizons--because I grew up about 75 miles north in similar country. But for someone who doesn't have a built-in love (or least understanding) of the situation, I really wonder how that will work for you. It truly is very remote. If what you want to do or buy "today or tomorrow" is not in Glendive, it won't be easy to obtain it. Sidney, 50 miles north, doesn't have any different shopping or size. Miles City, much further southwest, is (if possible) even more remote and very much a truly "cowboy town" (and I say that with all affection and fondness for the thing! It's what I loved about Montana as a child and growing up.) Please take the time to actually look at a map and write down the mileages to the nearest towns to the east, west, north and south. Believe your notes! It IS that far. It will all be "desolate" territory. This is not a relocation that I see as being able to "force", as in, "If we just go ahead and move, we'll make it work." Be very careful about that. There are very, very few resources in terms of jobs, including self-employment, in that part of Montana. Good luck, whatever you decide.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by meadowlark3

Wow....my husband and I have made some major relocations in our lives (Montana to California to Minnesota over 40 years)....and I am sort of taken aback about your desire to relocate to Glendive. I LOVE that area--including the remoteness and the dry buttes and endless horizons--because I grew up about 75 miles north in similar country. But for someone who doesn't have a built-in love (or least understanding) of the situation, I really wonder how that will work for you. It truly is very remote. If what you want to do or buy "today or tomorrow" is not in Glendive, it won't be easy to obtain it. Sidney, 50 miles north, doesn't have any different shopping or size. Miles City, much further southwest, is (if possible) even more remote and very much a truly "cowboy town" (and I say that with all affection and fondness for the thing! It's what I loved about Montana as a child and growing up.) Please take the time to actually look at a map and write down the mileages to the nearest towns to the east, west, north and south. Believe your notes! It IS that far. It will all be "desolate" territory. This is not a relocation that I see as being able to "force", as in, "If we just go ahead and move, we'll make it work." Be very careful about that. There are very, very few resources in terms of jobs, including self-employment, in that part of Montana. Good luck, whatever you decide.

And when you look at the mileage thing take into account we don't judge distance here in miles like you would in other states, here it's done by time. A good example, from where we are it takes about 4 hours to get to Spokane or two and a half to Missoula but if you ask anyone how many miles you most likely won't get an answer.
A trip that is 50 miles may take well over an hour or hour and a half, or less than 45 minutes depending on the lay of the road, weather and small town slowdowns in between. I don't think I've heard people talk miles since I got here and that was something that took some getting used to...

[rickers]

It really pays to visit an area for more than a day or two before moving especially if some amount of culture shock is anticipated. That may cost money but it's nothing compared to the cost of being in a place where you are not happy especially if you end up getting stuck there. Many folks come to Montana just to end up running back home, but there are many who want to go back home or somewhere else and can't due to getting in an economic rut here.

[TypicalCalifornian]

Originally Posted by rickers

It really pays to visit an area for more than a day or two before moving especially if some amount of culture shock is anticipated. That may cost money but it's nothing compared to the cost of being in a place where you are not happy especially if you end up getting stuck there. Many folks come to Montana just to end up running back home, but there are many who want to go back home or somewhere else and can't due to getting in an economic rut here.

Which of course is the source of all country music and to be encouraged whenever possible (my shadenfreude can only be contained until the day after Christmas)

[meadowlark3]

I absolutely love it when somebody finds a cheerful use for that word. The capacity to be either the observer or the observee with regard to schadenfreude is absolutely a necessity to live in Montana!

And...back to previous poster...yes, I forgot and overlooked the obvious: nobody talks miles in Montana (or North Dakota, etc). They talk "how long" and road conditions, etc.