Would Appreciate Your Opinions and Suggestions (Missoula, Great Falls: construction, school, to live)

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

Better bust out the sunscreen. When I came into work this morning, it was -14 w/windchill. (I say if it feels like -14, then it is -14!)

Wind chill is how the temp feel on bare skin. I don't run around this time of year naked, so I don't count windchill. Maybe other times of the year, but not right now. It's too cold.

[Simple Living]

Geographically, North Dakota is like three completely different places. The eastern part has more cities and towns to make it look more residential and lived in. The central portion is flat with not much inbetween it all. The western part is more hilly and has buttes... i.e., more 3-D lanscape.

Do you know what the difference between North Dakota and yogurt is?
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
l
V

Yogurt has an active culture.

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Wind chill is how the temp feel on bare skin. I don't run around this time of year naked, so I don't count windchill. Maybe other times of the year, but not right now. It's too cold.

I still think it counts because there's always skin that's exposed. When that skin smarts from the cold, that's where you're concentration is! Besides, windchill give a place bragging rights. In Minnesota, people LOVE to talk about the weather. Actually, I do have that in common with them.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

I still think it counts because there's always skin that's exposed. When that skin smarts from the cold, that's where you're concentration is! Besides, windchill give a place bragging rights. In Minnesota, people LOVE to talk about the weather. Actually, I do have that in common with them.

I'll be impressed when they get to -40 without windchill....

[JoeJoeMan]

Simple Living - if you are perticular about where you live as you said. It would seem like you'd have to spend some time in montana and get to know it to determine where you might wanna settle in.
Even people take some time to get to know them, even good neighbors can be a bit standoffish until you get to know them or the other way around.
I would think it would be hard to just go somewhere, ploop yourself down and then see if it all works out.....in a strange place, not knowing anyone and hoping for the best, and counting on the kindness of other people, people you don't know or may find a hard time meeting or neighbors miles away.
I often suggest that a person should come out for a summer vacation, a couple months, rent a place, get a job any job (local minimart,whatever) just to help you start meeting people, see how it goes, then come back next year, to the same or a different place, you'll make some friends along the way, and get a feel for the place and then making a choice to move there won't be so dramtic, you'll feel comfortable and confident moving in.
That's for a person that just wants to move to someplace 'nice'. If one is moving due a job,family,etc, well then you just up and move becasue...well that's were life has lead you and also you have contacts already there, be it family or you employer. But just moving cold like you want is another matter, I've done that earlier in my life, it was difficult, for me anyway.
Of course if you are a woman, the more attractive the better, well you'll make friends anywhere and fast, but I guess being a woman you know that. It's not as easy for guys.........hey but I ain't being sexist or anything like that, that's just life....I've known women who just up and leave, they know, whether they'd admit it of not that they can always just latch on to some guy pretty easy, if need be, or with that particularlly in mind, when they get there. Now I'm not saying that's your notion, but just another one of my life observations. It also seems that when woman aren't so put off by the idea of moving flat cold to a strange that that have that as a plan in mind, as in moving someplace flat out cold like that seems dauhgnting to me.........Like I say - I'm not implying that that is you.....just throw that out there as a related bit of info and self made observations. Hey and I'm not say there is anything wrong with that either....so maybe you can just up and move with out much worry.

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by JoeJoeMan

Simple Living - if you are perticular about where you live as you said. It would seem like you'd have to spend some time in montana and get to know it to determine where you might wanna settle in.
Even people take some time to get to know them, even good neighbors can be a bit standoffish until you get to know them or the other way around.
I would think it would be hard to just go somewhere, ploop yourself down and then see if it all works out.....in a strange place, not knowing anyone and hoping for the best, and counting on the kindness of other people, people you don't know or may find a hard time meeting or neighbors miles away.
I often suggest that a person should come out for a summer vacation, a couple months, rent a place, get a job any job (local minimart,whatever) just to help you start meeting people, see how it goes, then come back next year, to the same or a different place, you'll make some friends along the way, and get a feel for the place and then making a choice to move there won't be so dramtic, you'll feel comfortable and confident moving in.
That's for a person that just wants to move to someplace 'nice'. If one is moving due a job,family,etc, well then you just up and move becasue...well that's were life has lead you and also you have contacts already there, be it family or you employer. But just moving cold like you want is another matter, I've done that earlier in my life, it was difficult, for me anyway.
Of course if you are a woman, the more attractive the better, well you'll make friends anywhere and fast, but I guess being a woman you know that. It's not as easy for guys.........hey but I ain't being sexist or anything like that, that's just life....I've known women who just up and leave, they know, whether they'd admit it of not that they can always just latch on to some guy pretty easy, if need be, or with that particularlly in mind, when they get there. Now I'm not saying that's your notion, but just another one of my life observations. It also seems that when woman aren't so put off by the idea of moving flat cold to a strange that that have that as a plan in mind, as in moving someplace flat out cold like that seems dauhgnting to me.........Like I say - I'm not implying that that is you.....just throw that out there as a related bit of info and self made observations. Hey and I'm not say there is anything wrong with that either....so maybe you can just up and move with out much worry.

JoeJoeMan,

I appreciate your thoughts on this. You're not far off from what I intend to do. I'm a man, by the way.

I have a lot of experience moving around. I've lived in Tennessee, North Dakota, New York, California (ugh), Minnesota, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Ireland, Africa and the West Indies. While I did just up and move to most of these places, I never regretted it. California was the worst, but I'm glad I experienced it. It was an education.

At 41, I'm looking to settle down permanently and put down roots for good. This isn't a choice I'm making lightly. I've put in a year of research on this already, learning about the different states that appealed to me. There aren't too many, but I tend to research the hell out of things when I'm really interested. Once I've done as much research as I can do, I make it a point to visit each place. With my job, I can't spend two months on each visit, but I get a good amount of time in. I don't have too much trouble meeting people. Montana and Wyoming are just the next ones on my list.

By this time, I do know what the most important things are that I'm looking for in where I live. And I have a lot of patience to make sure I'm making the right decision.

The USA Today newspaper had a front page story yesterday that said state to state moves are huge right now. People are "looking for something." Sadly, many of them don't even know what they're really looking for. People are, on the whole, are really unhappy with their lives and the way things are and they're looking for something better. I don't count myself in that group, though. I have no complaints and I enjoy life. I'm just looking to finally settle down and know that I want open spaces, good neighbors and peace and quiet. I'm hardly expecting perfection because that doesn't exist this side of heaven.

Thanks again for your thoughts. It's evident you put time into them.

Keith

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by jimj

I'll be impressed when they get to -40 without windchill....

Ha! True enough! I'd take -40 over 85 or 90 above any day! It's like I always say -- you never hear of anyone reminiscing about curling up with a good book in front of the air-conditioner!

[jimj]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

Ha! True enough! I'd take -40 over 85 or 90 above any day! It's like I always say -- you never hear of anyone reminiscing about curling up with a good book in front of the air-conditioner!

Trade ya! I've never been a fan of cold, could be due to growing up in sunny CA! Yes, I know, then why am I here? Well the wife talked me into it until I can sell this house and move to more moderate climes.....

[TechGirl]

Of those I know, there are few who care if you even own a cell phone or a computer. I even have clients that don't go for either - they are my heros! I can't wait til I can retire and NOT have a phone or worry about my internet.

Most people never really leave the city. I know one gal who is in her late 20s and has NEVER left Great Falls!!! This town is only 19.something sq miles.... Speed limit is 30mph in town, so if you blink you miss a lot... For those who don't ever leave the city, most have only a cell phone and not a land line, as it is a way of cutting expenses.

For those who want the best service for cell phones, I actually did a commercial for Chinook Wireless. They are the KING here for true tower connectivity and getting calls thru. If you go 20 mins or more out of town you just can't beat them with the hills and the mountain ranges... and their rates just can't be beat!!! You talk with a real person when you have questions, and they are local -- not from a country you can't understand.

There are many small places to live with good people that are inexpensive. Great Falls has the airport, but it will take you a better part of a day to get anywhere other than Vegas... And it will take you all day to drive out of state....

But if you want something small with good roads, and great people, look a little North - Power, Dutton, Brady, Conrad (yep they even have a hospital), or go a bit East and look at Belt.

Great Falls and the surrounding area is still the cheapest place in the state to live. Some of the housing is surprising by the standards set by other places. It is a very simple area with simple needs. No Gap, No "real mall" by out of staters standards. But there is a Starbucks -- if you are into that kind of thing, a Barns and Nobel bookstore, several hardware stores, a Wally world (if I go there or the "mall" twice a year its a huge deal!) I actually deposit most my money at Big R the local ranch store, they carry clothing too...

The wind is a HUGE deterant, but I am coping with it. The snow is usually gone within a day or so with the Chinook winds coming in from the West. This year is already unsual with snow coming in and staying on the "ground" and then covered by more snow before it melts clean. Streets and roads are very clear and we have great crews for the outlying areas and the main streets in town (GF). Go into the neighborhoods though and you need to know how to drive on snow and ice for sure. I end up driving a lot of the cars out of neighborhoods for people I find stranded or scared then hoof it back to my 4x4.

Crime is here yes, but there are plenty of people who don't lock doors and keep keys clearly in the ignition still.

In a thought -- Go back 50 yrs and that is GF, MT. Yeah we have aspestos sided homes, but we have great Beaver Cleaver neighbors.

TG

[GLS]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

JoeJoeMan,

..... I've lived in Tennessee, North Dakota, New York, California (ugh), Minnesota, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, Ireland, Africa and the West Indies. While I did just up and move to most of these places, I never regretted it. California was the worst, but I'm glad I experienced it. It was an education.

Wow!, California ranked below the Czech Republic, Africa, the West Indies, and New York. I guess that says it all

On a more serious note, from the positive attitude in your posts, you will probably do well in either Montana or Wyoming. Good luck