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Old 09-12-2019, 02:29 PM
 
Location: temp in NJ
19 posts, read 22,308 times
Reputation: 25

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Hi all...I'm in my 50's & I'm conservative. I have 4 adult kids, all doing their own thing. Getting ready to sign my divorce papers & do me for once. I've dreamed of moving from NJ/PA to Montana since I was in my early 20's. I've always been like a "Pocahontas", lol I grew up going to summer camps in Northern Jersey every summer, love camping, fishing etc...

Anyway, I'm a very spiritual person & just can't handle all the ugly in the world. Now that my kids are no longer kids & I don't have to worry about anyone else's needs, I'm ready to follow my own heart. I don't care about the cold because I can't tolerate heat. I'm ready for Montana! lol

I'm looking to find a cabin type home with a creek or stream. Somewhere where I can enjoy my privacy. I've got my eye on "zombie properties". lol I know I want to be in the Northern part of the state, near the mountains. I've got that "preppers" mentality, so I'm not worried about that. My problem is WHERE?

Where do I look? I don't want a college town, tourist or urban area. I'm going to be living off of SSI & want property where I can have almost like a Homestead. Self reliant as much as possible. So what cities should I be searching? Any advice?

Thanx ahead of time for all that respond...
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Old 09-12-2019, 02:59 PM
 
8,377 posts, read 8,589,909 times
Reputation: 5561
Self-reliant comes in varying degrees (for men & women, older and young). Are you ok plowing a driveway or entrance road at -15 and still snowing? Doing your own home repairs? (Some places 50-100 miles from anywhere won't have repair person available right away or maybe at all without big extra travel payments & begging & waiting). Know what help you have and don't have available if needed and what you can and can't do yourself.


Maybe look around Thompson Falls, Eureka, Choteau, Lewistown, Whitehall, Ennis, Darby, Marion, Lincoln, Townsend, Superior, Big Timber, Boulder...

Last edited by NW Crow; 09-12-2019 at 03:11 PM..
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Old 09-12-2019, 04:25 PM
 
Location: temp in NJ
19 posts, read 22,308 times
Reputation: 25
I figured I would hire someone local for the "guy" stuff. lol I know I'm gonna need to set up arrangements for stuff like that. I was thinking about moving close to a Reservation where I could make an arrangement that would benefit both parties. Like bartering on a small scale. I can do basics, but that's it. I figured I'd arrange plowing services with whatever company was closest. Maybe there's a "Hire-A-Husband" branch somewhere. lol JK

Thanx for the info! I'm excited to check out the cities you listed!
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Old 09-12-2019, 04:25 PM
 
Location: Where the mountains touch the sky
6,741 posts, read 8,501,590 times
Reputation: 14908
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccharmel View Post
Hi all...I'm in my 50's & I'm conservative. I have 4 adult kids, all doing their own thing. Getting ready to sign my divorce papers & do me for once. I've dreamed of moving from NJ/PA to Montana since I was in my early 20's. I've always been like a "Pocahontas", lol I grew up going to summer camps in Northern Jersey every summer, love camping, fishing etc...

Anyway, I'm a very spiritual person & just can't handle all the ugly in the world. Now that my kids are no longer kids & I don't have to worry about anyone else's needs, I'm ready to follow my own heart. I don't care about the cold because I can't tolerate heat. I'm ready for Montana! lol

I'm looking to find a cabin type home with a creek or stream. Somewhere where I can enjoy my privacy. I've got my eye on "zombie properties". lol I know I want to be in the Northern part of the state, near the mountains. I've got that "preppers" mentality, so I'm not worried about that. My problem is WHERE?

Where do I look? I don't want a college town, tourist or urban area. I'm going to be living off of SSI & want property where I can have almost like a Homestead. Self reliant as much as possible. So what cities should I be searching? Any advice?

Thanx ahead of time for all that respond...
Lots of small towns where you can have a pretty rural feel. Land with a live stream or Creek is expensive, wooded land and in the pretty parts of the state, again, pretty expensive because that's what everyone wants.

NWCrow is correct that services may not exist in some small areas

I live 10 miles from a town of 232, nearly 2 miles from my nearest neighbor. There's a small gas station that has some groceries, 2 bars, one with a restaurant, and a second hand store. That's all the services for about 40 miles on either side to the next towns of over 1500 people. Not a lot of services there either although there are small hospitals with clinics and emergency help, although service is by nurse practitioners, not doctors.

If you want an electrician or plumber, figure 70 miles. Mechanics, tires, tows, 60 miles, no public transportation, no fast food joints, one movie theater open only on Saturday night.

In winter, help may not be able to make it to you in an emergency.

This is a very different place from what you're used to in PA or Jersey. I'd heartily recommend in the strongest terms you visit here first, spend some time looking around, note things like where the nearest restaurant is, or tow truck. Spend some time here especially in winter.

You could do fine in towns like Libby or Lewistown, Dillon, or even Whitehall. Town's of at least 6000 that have services to support you.
Unless you are able to do all your own repairs, are prepared to stockpile food, fuel and spare parts, this can be a really rough place to live rurally.

Being a prepper is fine, most of us here are by simple necessity. It's just a very different life from the East coast.

I don't want to discourage you, but you need to be looking at this pragmatically. Here it isn't gang violence you worry about, it's the weather and wildlife that can kill you. Do your homework, understand exactly what you're getting into, and be comfortable with your decision before you move.

This is a big step. Don't jump until you know where you're going to land.

Good luck.
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Old 09-12-2019, 04:33 PM
 
Location: Where the mountains touch the sky
6,741 posts, read 8,501,590 times
Reputation: 14908
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccharmel View Post
I figured I would hire someone local for the "guy" stuff. lol I know I'm gonna need to set up arrangements for stuff like that. I was thinking about moving close to a Reservation where I could make an arrangement that would benefit both parties. Like bartering on a small scale. I can do basics, but that's it. I figured I'd arrange plowing services with whatever company was closest. Maybe there's a "Hire-A-Husband" branch somewhere. lol JK

Thanx for the info! I'm excited to check out the cities you listed!
There are some individual guys that offer handyman services everywhere, skills vary widely.

Unless you're Indian yourself, reservations normally aren't the best neighborhoods.
Be careful, this isn't a movie and there aren't any reshoots or do overs if you get it wrong.
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Old 09-12-2019, 04:37 PM
 
Location: temp in NJ
19 posts, read 22,308 times
Reputation: 25
TY TY...I've been pondering on whether I should invest in an RV & go there. This way I'd have shelter & be able to have the mobility I'd need to learn about the different areas. The both of you have given me much to ponder. Thanx again!
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Old 09-12-2019, 04:41 PM
 
Location: Where the mountains touch the sky
6,741 posts, read 8,501,590 times
Reputation: 14908
Quote:
Originally Posted by ccharmel View Post
TY TY...I've been pondering on whether I should invest in an RV & go there. This way I'd have shelter & be able to have the mobility I'd need to learn about the different areas. The both of you have given me much to ponder. Thanx again!
Good plan
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Old 09-12-2019, 04:41 PM
 
Location: temp in NJ
19 posts, read 22,308 times
Reputation: 25
MTSilvertip...Hmmm, good point!
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Old 09-12-2019, 04:46 PM
 
Location: temp in NJ
19 posts, read 22,308 times
Reputation: 25
I'm sooo happy I found this forum. You guys are great!
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Old 09-12-2019, 05:25 PM
 
1,180 posts, read 2,355,989 times
Reputation: 1340
If weather isn't going to be an issue, and employment isn't an issue either, I'd look into the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula (the further from Missoula the better as far as land prices go), maybe near Livingston, Deer Lodge, or in the areas around Kalispell, or even between Kalispell and Libby or between Kalispell and Eureka. There's so much Montana that it's difficult to pin one area down. But the areas I just mentioned would put you somewhere that you'd be able to see a specialist or make a Costco run within a reasonable amount of time.
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