Why Move To Montana (Missoula, Great Falls: insurance, houses, buy)

[jimj]

Originally Posted by hairygrapes

I have to disagree that there are a lot of great things about Montana, and that people who live there want to stay. I was originally from Portland, Oregon (a very clean/safe city), and moved to Missoula for two years. The weather was harsh, the people were VERY unwelcoming (they hate out-of-staters), and it was the most god-awful boring place to live. Honest, someone said that people just want to live in rural areas like Missoula, but if that is the truth then why is it that most of the US population lives in large cities? Why? Well, simply put there is a serious lack of diversity and culture in Montana, and a huge lack of things to do. Also, a lot of people in Montana are pretty backwards (like something straight out of Deliverance!). Personally, I hated living in Montana. There is much better outdoor activities in California as well. Montanans always tote how amazing the outdoor activites are, but in California you can go skiing and to a sunny beach in the same day. California also has Yosemite, which is on par with Glacier. There is nothing Montana has that California does not (this includes places that are rural, places with low costs of living, and places with low crime). Serious, I would never return to Montana, and would make it a point to drive around the state if I ever had to go through it again.

So, I'm guessing from your post you didn't like MT?
That's fine, it's not for everyone which is a good thing. It is apperant from your other posts that you're a "metro" person who likes people packed in on each other in high density living, needs stimulation from outside sources constantly and is not comfortable with just peace and quiet. That's fine if that's what you like. I do find it funny that you pick one of the most diverse,busy packed in cities in NW Montana to judge the rest of the state by though. After growing up in CA and living many places across the nation there are many upsides to living here as well as some downsides. As for CA having many of the same things that MT has your correct, in theory. Yes there is Yosemite which is wonderful but crowded to the hilt with people. Yes there are beaches and on a warm day you're lucky if you can find a parking spot to go to one. The main difference between Portland and most of CA is we can (for the most part) walk anywhere at any time without fear of being robbed,beaten, acosted by panhandlers and can let our kids out the door without fear that someone will snatch them or kill them. We also don't have a socialist state government that trys to micro manage our daily lives or that is afraid to tell the Feds to butt out when needed. In our area there are no gangs which can't be said for any of the places mentioned above, maybe that's due to our "lack of diversity" but I don't think so, and even if that was the case what's wrong with that? As for being backwards, I used to think that as well but came to find out that it wasn't them being backwards, it was me being a snob thinking that since I was from "hip,cool,metro, progressive CA" that I knew better than the people who've lived here for years and must be stupid not to think like me. Thankfully after living here a while we realized that just because they don't think or act like a "city person" doesn't make them stupid or backwards, it actually makes some things easier and less stressfull. We don't walk around wound tight like a drum anymore, we don't worry about what everyone else has or does anymore, we really don't care and neither do most long term people here. We can go to the store and end up spending an hour or more just talking with people we know that we've run into while shopping instead of averting our eyes and avoiding contact for fear of offending someone and getting shot in the parking lot.

So, in the end I'm glad you figured out MT wasn't for you and left instead of staying around and trying to change it, that's why we have roads that go both ways. I hope you are now enjoying Portland and would like to let you know you're free to visit our wonderful state anytime...

[FromStevensville]

Originally Posted by 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!

I've been here 10 years and could not agree more.

[rickers]

Harry grapes sounds more like sour grapes to me ! One thing that I have to correct about the statement that Montana has nothing that California doesn't have is that there are lots of Ursus Horribilis in Montana and the only one left in California is on the California flag.

[Timberwolf232]

Not even up north in the mountains? That surprises me. I'd have figured that there would be some in Yosemite country.

[theRain]

Originally Posted by hairygrapes

I have to disagree that there are a lot of great things about Montana, and that people who live there want to stay. I was originally from Portland, Oregon (a very clean/safe city), and moved to Missoula for two years. The weather was harsh, the people were VERY unwelcoming (they hate out-of-staters), and it was the most god-awful boring place to live. Honest, someone said that people just want to live in rural areas like Missoula, but if that is the truth then why is it that most of the US population lives in large cities? Why? Well, simply put there is a serious lack of diversity and culture in Montana, and a huge lack of things to do. Also, a lot of people in Montana are pretty backwards (like something straight out of Deliverance!). Personally, I hated living in Montana. There is much better outdoor activities in California as well. Montanans always tote how amazing the outdoor activites are, but in California you can go skiing and to a sunny beach in the same day. California also has Yosemite, which is on par with Glacier. There is nothing Montana has that California does not (this includes places that are rural, places with low costs of living, and places with low crime). Serious, I would never return to Montana, and would make it a point to drive around the state if I ever had to go through it again.

Thank you for speaking MY mind! I got exactly the same vibe from Missoula. I was there 18 months, and they do not welcome newcomers. Bozeman is totally the opposite, maybe due to most of us being transplants at this point. But, here it is almost May, and we got about 8 inches of snow since last night. I totally agree with you on California compared to Montana. I will move to California just as soon as I can! There are no beaches, no ocean here, it is SO unnatural!!!!

[theRain]

Originally Posted by hairygrapes

I have to disagree that there are a lot of great things about Montana, and that people who live there want to stay. I was originally from Portland, Oregon (a very clean/safe city), and moved to Missoula for two years. The weather was harsh, the people were VERY unwelcoming (they hate out-of-staters), and it was the most god-awful boring place to live. Honest, someone said that people just want to live in rural areas like Missoula, but if that is the truth then why is it that most of the US population lives in large cities? Why? Well, simply put there is a serious lack of diversity and culture in Montana, and a huge lack of things to do. Also, a lot of people in Montana are pretty backwards (like something straight out of Deliverance!). Personally, I hated living in Montana. There is much better outdoor activities in California as well. Montanans always tote how amazing the outdoor activites are, but in California you can go skiing and to a sunny beach in the same day. California also has Yosemite, which is on par with Glacier. There is nothing Montana has that California does not (this includes places that are rural, places with low costs of living, and places with low crime). Serious, I would never return to Montana, and would make it a point to drive around the state if I ever had to go through it again.

Thank you for speaking MY mind! I got exactly the same vibe from Missoula. I was there 18 months, and they do not welcome newcomers. Bozeman is totally the opposite, maybe due to most of us being transplants at this point. But, here it is almost May, and we got about 8 inches of snow since last night. I totally agree with you on California compared to Montana. I will move to California just as soon as I can! There are no beaches, no ocean here, it is SO unnatural!!!!

[jimj]

Originally Posted by theRain

Thank you for speaking MY mind! I got exactly the same vibe from Missoula. I was there 18 months, and they do not welcome newcomers. Bozeman is totally the opposite, maybe due to most of us being transplants at this point. But, here it is almost May, and we got about 8 inches of snow since last night. I totally agree with you on California compared to Montana. I will move to California just as soon as I can! There are no beaches, no ocean here, it is SO unnatural!!!!

Have a nice trip!!! Drive safe and turn the lights out when you leave...
Another one bites the dust......

[ElkHunter]

jimj just byte the dust. We gotta do what we gotta do. We can't expext what we can.................. We cam excprct what we can. We going to have a good time.

[ExilefromCa]

Originally Posted by gdude

COULD ANYONE TELL ME WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO MOVE TO MONTANA?

I don't know. It's crowded, there's smog everywhere, and the crime rate excedes national average.

By all means, don't move to Montana. I'd like to see them close the gates after I move up there

[ExilefromCa]

Originally Posted by theRain

Thank you for speaking MY mind! I got exactly the same vibe from Missoula. I was there 18 months, and they do not welcome newcomers. Bozeman is totally the opposite, maybe due to most of us being transplants at this point. But, here it is almost May, and we got about 8 inches of snow since last night. I totally agree with you on California compared to Montana. I will move to California just as soon as I can! There are no beaches, no ocean here, it is SO unnatural!!!!

Good. Please do. You can have your California. Enjoy the traffic, foreigners, pollution, crime, gangs, high taxes, socialist government, and third world culture. It's all yours