Never Been To Montana!!!! (Billings, Missoula: credit, home, school)

[Timberwolf232]

I flew over some frozen lakes this weekend between the Bob Marshall wilderness and Kalispell. Still frozen on top in June!! If I can figure out how to post photos I'll put up a picture.

[CountryGal27]

Would love to see them...

[Timberwolf232]

Posted a couple on the pics thread. Hope they worked.

[CountryGal27]

Great pics Timber.

Looks like a challenging runway to land on.

[SmokinGun]

Hello All,

This is my first post. I have never been to Montana, but I have this urge to live there.

I am 36, and I have wanted to live in Montana for the last three years.

I cant say that I am really from anywhere, the two places I have lived the longest was NC, I was stationed there, and went to college there…and FLA, I have been here almost eight years. I grew up the son of a professional soldier.

I have lived everywhere from Germany to Texas, Kansas, Pa, and most of the states in between. I am not a city person per say, like NYC, Miami, or Tampa. Most of my life has been spent on farms, and farmland/rural areas. I like small towns.

I hate living here in FLA (heat, humidity, hurricanes, people who move here, and in a month tell you that you have to do it their way), I live outside of Tampa, in what was once a small horse/cow town called Brandon, in eight years we have become a suburb of Tampa.

The reason I want to move to Montana, is I want open land to live on, let my dogs run free, tend to my horses, work my land, hunt, and fish, and live a peaceful quite life, and not bother anyone. I am a falconer, and a licensed federal rehabber, and would like to continue to do so.

I am a 100% service connected disabled veteran (P/T), so I would like to live close; an hours drive is fine from any VA facility, weather really isn’t an issue, as I cannot control my internal body temperature anymore, so I overheat in a matter of minutes.

My wife is has a degree in accounting, so it would be nice if she could find some sort of employment, she drives a ½ hour each way to her job now, so a small commute wouldn’t bother her.

Property I am looking for is rolling hills, some water to fish on…I found some property in Belt, close to it.

I have come here seeking advice, especially from the Montana natives.

Sorry for the long rant, but I thought it would be best to be honest upfront.

I appreciate any and all help!

Regards,

John

[bigtrees]

Originally Posted by SmokinGun

weather really isn’t an issue, as I cannot control my internal body temperature anymore, so I overheat in a matter of minutes.

So you have a hard time with overheating....generally not as much of a problem in Montana as some other states (although it does get hot). But how are you in cold weather? Not sure how your body does when it gets cold outside, especially your fingers and toes.

[Timberwolf232]

Originally Posted by CountryGal27

Great pics Timber.

Looks like a challenging runway to land on.

Thanks CountryGal27!

That one can be a little tricky, but I had (still have) a good teacher!

"There are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.."

[lorelei2873]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

Visit first...then decide if you want to live here. Make sure you visit in the winter months (January/February) to see if you think you like it.

It's hard living in Montana...I know one store that increases their business by offering a "free movie day". Business goes way up but they don't make much money from the promotion. Bars often charge $1 or $2 a beer, generally there's not much money.

I wouldn't recommend anyone try moving here sight unseen.

Hi! I'm a bartender here. There are some great places to work. I also have a middle management job in a professional field that requires a bachelor's degree, but I make more money bartending per hour. I can't quit. It's too lucrative! For example, last night was a Tuesday, and I made $170 in tips on top of my hourly wage (which is NOT minimum wage; it's higher). I'd definitely give the bartending a try! If you can make almost $30 an hour chatting people up and serving drinks, you're living the life as a young person. Plus, you have plenty of time to hike and explore Montana during the day when everyone else is at work. It's fun and a great way to meet people. I don't work in a high-dollar place; I've been doing this for years and find that busy blue-collar places are the best bars to make money.

[SmokinGun]

Originally Posted by bigtrees

So you have a hard time with overheating....generally not as much of a problem in Montana as some other states (although it does get hot). But how are you in cold weather? Not sure how your body does when it gets cold outside, especially your fingers and toes.

I do very well in cold weather. I enjoy it. I actually have a lot more energy in cold weather. Here during the winters, it will get down to 20-30*F, not cold by Montana’s standard, but I am very comfortable outside.

As far as my hands and feet are concerned, as long as they are covered, I do not have a problem.

Regards,


P.S. Very Smart of you to figure out I have a circulation problem! And I am glad you are not my Flight Surgeon! LOL!

[CountryGal27]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf232

Thanks CountryGal27!

That one can be a little tricky, but I had (still have) a good teacher!

"There are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.."

That's a good one.