Fun in Montana (budget, vacation, jobs)

[The1or2]

It seems that the people I meet anymore are not up for much of anything. I have always enjoyed a barbecue, dinner out with friends, sundays watching the game with a couple beers and some friends. Shooting some pool, or just a movie. But the people I have been meeting lately never seem up for it. Are these events not considered cool anymore? What do people do around here? Someone please clue me in.

[cynthia24]

Barbecue are realy soo yummy..

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by The1or2

It seems that the people I meet anymore are not up for much of anything. I have always enjoyed a barbecue, dinner out with friends, sundays watching the game with a couple beers and some friends. Shooting some pool, or just a movie. But the people I have been meeting lately never seem up for it. Are these events not considered cool anymore? What do people do around here? Someone please clue me in.

I'm up for a barby. Never turned one down. Love to barby with the neighbors and friends. Always love a get together.

In my neck of the woods, we're always up for it.

When you meet people in Montana, there's a couple of ways to meet them and it makes a difference. You can meet them and welcome their ways, or you can meet them and say, "This ain't how we did it back home." Well, if you loved the way it was back home, then go back. If you moved here for a purpose, then engrace it. I love it because this is how I wanted to live. Not because, "We did it different in zxxx whereever."

The events are cool and are held. But you kinda got to fit in. You can't come here expecting to change things to how it was back home. That's what makes Montana Unique. They do it their way. Want to fit in, fit their pattern. Do it their way. When you do, you'll find the best people you've ever found in the US.

[The1or2]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

I'm up for a barby. Never turned one down. Love to barby with the neighbors and friends. Always love a get together.

In my neck of the woods, we're always up for it.

When you meet people in Montana, there's a couple of ways to meet them and it makes a difference. You can meet them and welcome their ways, or you can meet them and say, "This ain't how we did it back home." Well, if you loved the way it was back home, then go back. If you moved here for a purpose, then engrace it. I love it because this is how I wanted to live. Not because, "We did it different in zxxx whereever."

The events are cool and are held. But you kinda got to fit in. You can't come here expecting to change things to how it was back home. That's what makes Montana Unique. They do it their way. Want to fit in, fit their pattern. Do it their way. When you do, you'll find the best people you've ever found in the US.

I guess that is what I was wondering about. I wouldn't think of trying to make people change or make things happen differently, I guess the thing is, being mid 20's, it seems that most people I know around my age are going to bars every friday/saturday and get drunk. I would think that more people would just want to get together and hang out, but most people I have met don't seem to want to leave their house much or get together if there isn't a specific agenda. I rather just enjoy being around friends when i am not at work.

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by The1or2

I guess that is what I was wondering about. I wouldn't think of trying to make people change or make things happen differently, I guess the thing is, being mid 20's, it seems that most people I know around my age are going to bars every friday/saturday and get drunk. I would think that more people would just want to get together and hang out, but most people I have met don't seem to want to leave their house much or get together if there isn't a specific agenda. I rather just enjoy being around friends when i am not at work.

Ya gotta draw them in. A big outdoor fireplace, some shrimp and meat to throw on it, and you have a draw. The fireplace is a biggy. haha Nobody wants to go out when it's 5 degrees unless there's at least a barrel to throw logs into. Doesn't have to be a fancy barby, just a warm barby. 55 gallon barrel and some logs and a fire so people can stand around and your set.

It's probably a little more rowdy then what your used to, but it only sounds rowdy. The people are friendly, but beer is cold, the steaks are hot, it's a good evening.

[jimj]

People here tend to stick to their own for the most part, not alot of "get togethers" like we've had in other places we've lived. Most everything revolves around outdoor activities like meeting people on the mountain skiing or going out hunting with one or two people. Now if it's drinking and such you're looking for there's plenty of that and most watering holes are well filled with people, mostly the same crowd at each one.
I've noticed most people here just tend to do things with their families and rarely do a bunch of different people get together for bbq and drinks or dinner parties and such. We've lived in subdivisions where the houses were on city lots, on 1 acre lots and bigger and most times other than the occasional wave or running into someone while out walking there was little contact or conversation between the neighbors.

It takes a while to get to know people here and you'll end up with a couple of friends but chances are you will have to make the effort to get people together if that's what you want, or just become a regular at one of the many bars around town.

[rickers]

We like to get a bunch of people to go on big river floats down large flatwater rivers and sometimes on sections with small mild rapids. We mostly use sit on top style plastic kayaks. It's major fun and sometimes a few in the group will be fishing while floating.
Don't try to meet people in bars unless it's barfly types you're trying to meet !
Here is a few pictures of fun stuff. The picture of the lady holding up the huge trout was from some website about fishing in Flathead lake. I took the rest of them.

http://picasaweb.google.com/rickersn...ey=Z8s7SdpLj4Q

http://picasaweb.google.com/rickersn...ey=tfrW7svdmlQ

[be_a_light]

Originally Posted by The1or2

It seems that the people I meet anymore are not up for much of anything. I have always enjoyed a barbecue, dinner out with friends, sundays watching the game with a couple beers and some friends. Shooting some pool, or just a movie. But the people I have been meeting lately never seem up for it. Are these events not considered cool anymore? What do people do around here? Someone please clue me in.

I don't know where "around here" is, can you be more specific?

I think the overriding feeling with a lot of folks, not only here, but throughout the country is cautiousness. People are worried about their jobs, their budgets, their national security, and the leadership of this country. It sounds like a lofty reason for not "wanting to do anything", but I see it happening even in our household. We seem to be hanging more around home. We do not eat out as much as in the past. Most of our friends do not drink, so I cannot speak to that. Besides, none of us even root for the same football team! (Go Packers!!)

We do not have any family in our area, or in Montana for that matter. We tend to hang with others who do not have family in the area. We are kindred souls. We invite people over for holiday dinners and barbeques. It seems we tend to be more pro-active than others on this front, but what the hey! It is hard to break into established family rituals especially during the holidays.

[L-88]

Most people are also working very hard these days, and if they have families, the work is intensified. Things are expensive, and quality time is precious.

I know where at one time I loved to hit a bar, or get together with some friends, now I'm very content to go home, put on some comfortable clothes, kick back in a comfortable chair with a glass of wine, watch some TV...get something good to eat, and then go to bed. My wife and I enjoy our home and each other. The need to do things is a great deal less than it once was. That said I am also a few years older, but I don't think I'm alone saying that many people are working harder these days trying to cope with rising prices, the tough budgets needed to raise children, and then trying to pay for educations, weddings, vacations, clothese, I-Pods, computers, cell phone bills, ad infinitum....it is expensive and very enervating trying to live a comfortable live. It is no longer the 1970's that's for sure.

When I come home, or when Saturday and Sunday roll around, the last thing I think of these days is wanting to get together with anyone but my family.