Would Appreciate Your Opinions and Suggestions (Thompson Falls, Plains: creek, recent, plains)

[Simple Living]

TechGirl,

Thanks for the input. It sure sounds like Great Falls is a great place. Unfortunately, it's a bit bigger than what I'm looking for. I'd like a small town in, or very near, the mountains. Since this is my last ever move, I'd like it to be where I won't want to ever move again. I appreciate the time you took to tell me about it, though. I'm looking forward to visiting Great Falls when I get to Montana.

The only reason I have a cell phone or a computer is for my work as a freelance writer. Other than that, who needs them? As far as I'm concerned, after they invented indoor plumbing, they should have stopped while they were ahead.

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by GLS

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

ND hits the bottom of the list for worst places, then California. Africa wasn't easy but it was incredibly humbling. To this day, I still don't take a drink of water without being thankful for it. Ireland was as beautiful a spot any man could ever hope to live. But, frankly, it was extremely boring. For me to call something "boring" is saying a lot. I didn't live in the cities, though. I lived in the country and drinking is the only public pastime. Granted, pubs are better, more social, than bars are here. But when it's the only thing people do, it's boring. Could be I feel that way because I don't drink. Ha!

The Czech Republic is actually one of my favorite places. No matter where you go, even in the middle of big cities like Prague, it still feels small town. And, as for New York, yes, it's a big city, but it's the Big City. Everything's an adventure and no matter what people say, I think the people there are fantastic. Incredibly friendly, even going out of their way a couple of blocks to show you where to find what you're looking for.

The things I'm looking for in an area to settle down in are all just aesthetics and geography. I want those particular things, big skies, lots of space, mountains, trees, peace and quiet, etc. But what makes a town what it really is, are the people. They are the town. That's why I learn what I can online and then make a trip and spend time in the town I'm looking at.

[allforcats]

Simple Living, I lived in the Flathead Valley (Whitefish and Kalispell) before moving to Washington state.

A couple of things to consider: since you said your work requires the internet, that might help you narrow the possibilities. Rural localities in Montana are not likely to have broadband or DSL service, and you'd be using dial-up, which won't work all the time due to all kinds of reasons -- snow pileups, squirrels gnawing on wires, frozen phone wires, etc.

Missoula is your very best bet for libraries and writer contacts. Whitefish also has a circle of writers and a small library, but Kalispell has a larger library and not so many writers. Bigfork has a circle of artists and writers, and probably no library yet.

Gotta answer the phone; see ya later.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by allforcats

Simple Living, I lived in the Flathead Valley (Whitefish and Kalispell) before moving to Washington state.

A couple of things to consider: since you said your work requires the internet, that might help you narrow the possibilities. Rural localities in Montana are not likely to have broadband or DSL service, and you'd be using dial-up, which won't work all the time due to all kinds of reasons -- snow pileups, squirrels gnawing on wires, frozen phone wires, etc.

Missoula is your very best bet for libraries and writer contacts. Whitefish also has a circle of writers and a small library, but Kalispell has a larger library and not so many writers. Bigfork has a circle of artists and writers, and probably no library yet.

Gotta answer the phone; see ya later.

Good points, and Flathead Valley is beautiful. However, one quick point on internet accessibility. I am in rural California far out enough that DSL is not available and dial-up was terrible. I am now using Satellite, first with Starband, recently switched to Wildblue as the provider. I still get some "brown-outs" with high winds or a heavy snow storm, but it's a good option to DSL or dial-up. Any area that you can get consistent Satellite TV reception will also get you a fast internet connection. Cost was similar to what DSL would have been.

[jimj]

I lived in the country and drinking is the only public pastime. Granted, pubs are better, more social, than bars are here. But when it's the only thing people do, it's boring.

Could be I feel that way because I don't drink. Ha!

Sounds alot like MT!
Actually, the north fork area and Essex to Martin City might fit your bill! Close enough to town but you get rural Reeeeeeal quick.

[rangerider]

You might want to also check out the territory just east of Livingston - Big Timber, Springdale, Reedpoint. Gardening works better there; lower altitude, a bit warmer winters because of the chinooks (can still be bone chilling at times), maybe between two weeks and a month longer growing season. Close proximity to I-90/Livingston/Bozeman, and the view of the Crazies to the north and the Absaroka/Beartooth to the south is nice. Not much for high speed internet, but many use Wildblue satellite. Can be a bit windy in that country, but on the other hand that translates to fresh air - the Gallatin Valley and many of the western mountain valleys can clog up with cold inversions that last a long time and the smoke and such lies thick on the valley floor for days. Shelterbelts are a wonderful thing...

I spent a lot of time north of Livingston in the Clyde Park/Wilsall area and though it's growing somewhat the QOL is still pretty good. There's not enough bells and whistles to keep most people happy. Up until about ten or fifteen years ago, the Crazy mountain range was a nice one to spend time in - you'd meet very few others and almost all those were local folks. There are still some relatively untraveled trails up there; you just have to know where they take off from. Winters tend to be long and fairly chilly, but not overly so. A nice mix of mountain country and high country prairie/ranchland, lots of good spots to watch critters of every type and kind. You can drive any direction and find a lot of different people and country if that's what you wish. If you have some farm/ranch background you might become acquainted better at harvest or branding time; full time paying jobs are scarce. Quite a few folks of German and Norwegian decent, but they keep the lutefisk largely under control.

BTW, if Livingston looks good to you except for the wind, find someone who has worked construction and/or lived there a long time (NOT a realtor for obvious reasons). There are places around both sides of the rocky canyon just south of town that are well sheltered and all you'll have to deal with is the sound of the wind rushing around and overhead. I was up Suce Creek for awhile and it would be dead calm in there; drive just down the road and it would be howling 60 mph.

Good luck, and always drink upstream from the herd.

[bsugar]

ouch guys! How about a spirt of togeather ness don't we have enough evil things moving in on us with immigration, war etc. what happened to the unity thing of the states being togeather, All USA tollerance for differences, with in our us. Easy does it. Merry Christmas

[GLS]

Originally Posted by bsugar

ouch guys! How about a spirt of togeather ness don't we have enough evil things moving in on us with immigration, war etc. what happened to the unity thing of the states being togeather, All USA tollerance for differences, with in our us. Easy does it. Merry Christmas

Almost everything on this thread has been positive or offered in good humor. Since you are a "newbie" I will assume you either clicked on the wrong thread or your reindeer sleigh flipped over on your way home from partying.
Welcome to the forums and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year back at ya!

[yankeeinMT]

Simple Living, I am new to this site and I was wondering if you made your move to MT. I moved here from CT nearly five years ago and I have lived in 3 different locations in the state, so maybe I can offer some pointers?

[magoomafoo]

Originally Posted by AQHA

Red lodge works... Lincoln also fits pretty well. One problem with Lincoln is its a bit further than 30 min from a town. Some folks dont like Lincoln because its kind of an "old school" Montana town-- I really like it there. Its quiet and very laid back. There are also a lot of back-words people there... oops, did I say that?

Uhhh, from Lincoln here. sdrawkcab ton era ew!!! lol Really, if Lincoln comes to mind, come spend some time here first. We have alot of move ins who hack it for the first year or two and then away they go. Makes for hard feelings in the school and community. We can be old school but try to keep up with technology. Better like hunting fishing logging and mining cause thats what you get in this backwards town. lol