Why Move To Montana (Missoula, Conrad: crime, to live in, store)

[mattman3seven]

Originally Posted by Angel Eyes

Ok, here's my story. I grew up in NE ohio. My dad worked his ASS off at the local steel mill to support his family. My mom never had to work. Her job was to stay at home and raise the family. WE had alot, maybe not money wise but we never wanted for anything if you know what I mean. We grew up on morals, family values and tradition. My father never had even a speeding ticket in his whole life. (he passed away 18 months ago) For the past 10 years I have noticed a huge change around here as far as morals, family, etc etc. Nowadays it's more focused on what's in your bank account, what kind of car you drive, if your purse is a Gucci. Meanwhile everyone's kids are running around like spoiled brats, nobody has any compassion towards their fellow man and everyone wants to either sue or blame someone else for their problems. I have actually been told that I am too nice, care too much and get too involved. What's really sad is I actually started to believe it. But then guess what? I visited the beautiful, wonderful state of Montana. How nice is it to find out that there are other people that feel the same as I do. How nice is it that for 3 days no matter where I went, from the local restaurant to Walmart that people had a kind word and a smile on their face, FOR NO REASON AT ALL. This is how I was raised and this is how I want to be. We bought some property in the Kila area, I can't wait to come home. So, I guess my question to you is "Who wouldn't want to live in Montana?"

That reminds me of growing up! I have always wanted that feeling again. My wife and I are headed to Shelby in a couple of months, but we are only semi-transplants. My wife went to school in Sunburst(lived in Milk River, Alberta), but had to move to Texas after her parents divorced. I met her here(in Ft. Worth, TX), we got married, have 2 small children, and are enduring the rat race that is a metropolitan area. I have been to Montana several times over the past 9 years, and I have thought about it for the whole nine years: would I really ever want to live here? I loved it the first time I was there, but I had a hard time with the fact I would be leaving everything I have ever known. She has wanted to go back FOREVER, but I never talked to her much about it and just always said I wouldn't want to. I have lived in Texas my whole life and my whole family is here, and of course everyone I have ever know(except the in-laws).

But as I've grown up over the last few years(I am now 31) and though about it almost daily, I have realized that I want nothing more than for me and my family to have that kind of lifestyle, just slower pace with a lot less people and a lot more space to just "be". It is absolutely unattainable here unfortunately, if you have ever lived in a BIG city, you know what I mean. I am sick of millions of people, and the mentality of thinking you have to "keep up" with other people. But we are fortunate to already have jobs lined up in Shelby, as my wifes dad is good friends w/ a lot of people in the area. So we made the decision to make the move while our kids are young at 5 and 3. We were also fortunate enough to already sell our home, now all we are waiting on is my wifes release from her job at Delta, as she has taken a buyout package. We are both really excited(as are her parents !)to move to Shelby. The next few months are going to go by so slow for me, having to wait! I know there will be adjustments for myself, but thats the least of my worries right now! I just want my family to prosper in Shelby!

BTW, if anyone lives in Shelby, Cut Bank, Conrad, Choteau, or any of the smaller cities around the area, let us know if you know of any rentals coming up in the summer. We ultimately want to end up in Shelby, as both of our jobs are there, but we are willing to live pretty much anywhere within driving distance just to get there, if you know what I mean! That is our biggest dilemma right now, seems like with the windmill farms and such all the rentals are rented out. We have a few connections helping us out(wife has a cousin living in Cut Bank, and her dad in Milk River), but the more help the better. It's kind of hard to do anything from 1700 miles away in Texas.

See ya!

[JetMech72]

There are two reasons to move to Montana....and not because of Zappa's "Montana"...which is a really weird song anyway.
#1 reason...when you do business, you can look one another in the eye and see that the transaction will be good. (looking your fellow man in the eye seems to be a lost custom anywhere else in the country.)
#2 When you wander around the marvels of nature, you'll always be greeted with a wave.

We, Montanans, have been concidered the most hard working and most friendly people in the country, but we do have neighbors that should be recognized for that too.... Idaho, Wyoming, both Dakotas and even our Northern brothers...the Canucks. It's all about living in an area that isn't overcrowded. However, sparse population is what many Americans are looking for and when they find it here they move here. That phenomenon will ultimately lead to Montana becoming just like any other overpopulated state.(granted it will be a while before we reach the status of California,,,,,but we are on our way)

With a population of under one million, all living within the fourth largest state, by area, we exude a comradery on par with a centralized metropolis...so when you are outside of the state and meet another Montanan, it is like meeting a long lost brother. "Oh, you're from Montana too?" "Good to meet ya."
Come here expecting to become a member of a family...the Big Sky Tribe...we are unique and we are friendly...but beware of the "pygmy pony over by the dental floss."-Zappa-
*JetMech* prefers the song "Big Sky" by Kate Bush. (Second, only, too "Wild Montana Skies" by John Denver.

[rickers]

Conrad has many cheap rentals. The apartments next door to me go for $220. p/m with heat included. Email me for contact info. kitchencrk@3rivers.net
By the way Shelby is a very cute little town with an OK Mexican restaurant.
I just bought a commercial building on Main Street downtown Conrad with apartment upstairs @ 8% (a commercial loan from a commercial bank) My payments are $427. per month for 10 years. Sounds good ? Well maybe, but the dust, wind, lack of business and the bitter winter weather makes it not all that great at times. It was very windy today and I've seen more than a few baby birds dead on the sidewalks that had been blown out of the nests up on the building ledges, poor little things. The best thing I like about living in my new town is that I heat with domestic natural gas and can walk for everything. I have a feeling that most folks here have never even heard of Frank Zappa !

[mark6052]

I think angeleyes and jetmech said it very well about montana and the great northwest area. Idaho seems tobe fading alittle in the old ways. whats really strange is not being able to say hello, (howdy) to someone in other states. wa. or. and forget trying tobe friendly in calif. thats why they stick out in mt.
my favorite zappa "song" was dynamo-humm. the dj wouldn't play it till after 10pm

[Montana Baby]

Originally Posted by severdsoul

it should be illegal for anyone else to move to montana. ok, well maby thats because those of us that live here, enjoy and love the small town and simple life that you can find here, oh and did we mention the views that you cant find anywhere else.... and the fishing, and hunting, and camping....
nope no reason to move to montana at all..
Little story.... the family went out several years ago looking for a christmas tree... driving up in the mountians, looking around for the perfect tree.. when all was said and done we were probably in the hills for about 8 hours, and the whole time we only saw 2 other poeple , both of which were in the same vehicle...
Nope , no need to move here. *lol*....
montana is adictive, you cant describe it, once you are here, you wont want to leave..

And if you do leave, a good majority always come back for their annual "Montana Fix".

[theRain]

Well, Montana IS beautiful, no doubt about that. And, there ARE many friendly folks. But please don't kid yourselves; Montana, scenery aside, isn't so different from most other places. The tiny towns are naturally going to give a different atmosphere from the big towns, like Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls, Billings, etc.... and those of course all have their differences. But, there is no Shangri La here any more than anywhere else. We have had snow on the ground for 6 months out of the last 12. Great if you are into skiing or snowshoeing.
The cost of living where I am is hideous. That doesn't just mean the housing cost. If you or your kids are serious about any kind of acitivity, you will have to travel great distances to participate in competition. Everything you want to do, outside of the town you live in, involves driving lots of miles.
Now, we don't have fleas, but we do have ticks. We don't have the giant mosquitoes that you would get elsewhere, and that is a nice fact.
So, I agree, it is pretty around MOntana, but pretty scenery doesn't pay the bills, or build a retirement or college fund. Pretty scenery is nice to visit, and is nice to live in if that is all you do...you know, if you don't have to work, or do anything other than hang out and look at the scenery. If I were independently wealthy, and all I had to do was to play out in the beauty of MOntana, then, well, that would be close to Shangri La, but in reality, move here if you want to, but don't fool yourself into believing some fantasy. Montana is a real place, with a harsh climate. It has its pros and cons, like most other places. These are just my random thoughts on this topic!

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by severdsoul

it should be illegal for anyone else to move to montana. ok, well maby thats because those of us that live here, enjoy and love the small town and simple life that you can find here, oh and did we mention the views that you cant find anywhere else.... and the fishing, and hunting, and camping....
nope no reason to move to montana at all..
Little story.... the family went out several years ago looking for a christmas tree... driving up in the mountians, looking around for the perfect tree.. when all was said and done we were probably in the hills for about 8 hours, and the whole time we only saw 2 other poeple , both of which were in the same vehicle...
Nope , no need to move here. *lol*....
montana is adictive, you cant describe it, once you are here, you wont want to leave..

Sounds much like Alaska. However, I sure do note there are alot of Montana plates up here so obviously some want to move. Go figure...I do hope to visit Montana one day.

[pianohearder]

Trust me, you don't want to live here -- make sure you tell all your friends.

[wildhorses_craze]

Montana is a beautiful place with mostly friendly people who just like to live somewere were they can just relax. Why? Ok. I was born in montana. i still visit there at least 4 times a year. Stevensville MT. St. Mary's Mountain. one of the most beautiful magistic ive ever seen/been on in my life. Ok sure im kinda young. But montana is a wounderful place to live. (yes there are cheap fireworks, no sales tax on anything, lots of horses)

[rickers]

This photo alone shows a real good reason to live in Montana. This lady caught this huge Mackinaw in Flathead lake last October !

Picasa Web Albums - Rick - lake trout (broken link)

Yea buddy, how would you like to hook up to one of those from a kayak like this one ?

Picasa Web Albums - Rick - Pimped Out Ri...