Missoula Warning (Billings, Great Falls, Bozeman: transplants, how much, colleges)

[eatdrums]

Being from and living in Los Angeles, I moved to Placerville, Ca.. The flight began from the major cities to places like Placerville, El Dorado Hills & Folsom. Placerville became congested, and the traffic was a mess.
Than I moved back to LA temporarily. I like the other writers had forgotten what real traffic is like.

Believe it or not, LA was a great place to grow up. Mountains, beaches, deserts, trail riding were all about 30-45 minutes away in the 70's and 80's. Now you don't consider it.
Very sad really!

It is a 3 hour drive to LA int'l airport, 2 hours to Santa Monica, 3 hours to a real beach, like Zuma from Glendale, about 25-35 miles away...and that is on Saturdays, non "rush hour times" Los Angeles is now one big rush hour, and un livable. Un-drivable!

That is why we Los Angeleno's are trying to get out! We want a better life, like we had here in the 70's; so we are looking to Montana, Wyoming, possibly Colorado. We jus want our kids to have a normal life.

Is there somewhere in Montana worth living that won't be another Los Angeles? Are
Californians treat like they are in Oregon? I don't want my kids to go through that.

Thank you!

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by eatdrums

Is there somewhere in Montana worth living that won't be another Los Angeles? Are
Californians treat like they are in Oregon? I don't want my kids to go through that.

Just about anywhere in MT is good, provided you don't try to bring California with you. Tho some areas, like Bozeman, are undergoing the same changes that hit Auburn and Grass Valley and Placerville -- and Santa Clarita too -- way too many folks moving there for the "good life away from the big city" and then wanting malls and Starbucks on every corner, and insisting that all the gravel roads be paved so they don't get dust on their Mercedes.

I used to live about 10 miles from you, over in Canyon Country (moved down from Montana in 1984, cuz I couldn't make it in MT's economy back then). I remember when the whole Santa Clarita valley was onion fields and open ground, with a few quiet small-towns stashed here and there in the hills, and when "downtown" meant Newhall's old main street. Then Newhall Land & Farm started building Valencia, and after that ... well, you know what it's like today. The whole west end is one ginormous mall and housing development, and the whole east end is condo city. The open space and onion fields are completely gone. You may not remember this but as recently as 1985, most businesses still did a Weds. afternoon siesta and closed for the day. It used to be that laid back.

It really disturbs me to see midwestern and farmland cities copying the coastal crazes -- short term economic gains in trade for long-term loss of a character of life that once gone, can't be replaced.

Oregon got hit with the same thing, and it's no wonder old-timers resent it. Montana is getting it now, and, well, you know firsthand what it does to those older towns.

Anyway... wherever you go, accept what life is like there and don't try to change it, and you'll be welcome. Try to bring California with you, and the only people who'll like you are fellow Californians who are also trying to change their new home into what they fled from. (And how does that make sense??!)

[MTSilvertip]

California plates on your car will carry a certain stigma. Get resident plates ASAP and don't act californian, you should be able to do fine in most of the larger metropolitan areas. By large I mean anything over 30,000 population.

If you act like a decent human being, pitch in and become active in local events, don't try to ram leftist retoric down everyones throat, (don't talk about the wonders of gay "marriage"), don't brag or commiserate about where you left, and let people get to know you as a person. Be open, friendly, willing to lend a hand to a neighbor and I don't think you will have any problems.

[GLS]

Originally Posted by eatdrums

Being from and living in Los Angeles, I moved to Placerville, Ca.. The flight began from the major cities to places like Placerville, El Dorado Hills & Folsom. Placerville became congested, and the traffic was a mess.
Than I moved back to LA temporarily. I like the other writers had forgotten what real traffic is like.

Believe it or not, LA was a great place to grow up. Mountains, beaches, deserts, trail riding were all about 30-45 minutes away in the 70's and 80's. Now you don't consider it.
Very sad really!

It is a 3 hour drive to LA int'l airport, 2 hours to Santa Monica, 3 hours to a real beach, like Zuma from Glendale, about 25-35 miles away...and that is on Saturdays, non "rush hour times" Los Angeles is now one big rush hour, and un livable. Un-drivable!

That is why we Los Angeleno's are trying to get out! We want a better life, like we had here in the 70's; so we are looking to Montana, Wyoming, possibly Colorado. We jus want our kids to have a normal life.

Is there somewhere in Montana worth living that won't be another Los Angeles? Are
Californians treat like they are in Oregon? I don't want my kids to go through that.

Thank you!

I grew up in South Central LA in the 50's and in my ghetto neighborhood it ALWAYS SUCKED!
I have lived 10 minutes outside Placerville in Pleasant Valley for the past 20 years and it still is great!
I intend to retire in Ronan, Montana with a firm handshake and a quiet demeanor.

[rickers]

Originally Posted by Kristynwy

This topic is a few months old, feel free to start a new one rather than revive old topics

Fine, and as long as it does not violate the TOS we should also feel free to revive old topics if we want to.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by rickers

Fine, and as long as it does not violate the TOS we should also feel free to revive old topics if we want to.

I agree. If a topic is what interests a newcomer, what's the harm?? they probably got to it from a search, and may not even realise there ARE newer topics, or how to get to 'em. (It's not obvious to folks unused to forums.)

Besides, once it's resurrected, it's a New Topic again anyway

[GaGal71]

Originally Posted by MTSilvertip

California plates on your car will carry a certain stigma. Get resident plates ASAP and don't act californian, you should be able to do fine in most of the larger metropolitan areas. By large I mean anything over 30,000 population.

If you act like a decent human being, pitch in and become active in local events, don't try to ram leftist retoric down everyones throat, (don't talk about the wonders of gay "marriage"), don't brag or commiserate about where you left, and let people get to know you as a person. Be open, friendly, willing to lend a hand to a neighbor and I don't think you will have any problems.

Wow, sounds like GA...I'm liking it more and more.

[GaGal71]

Originally Posted by gvgranny

Oh my. Many of the posts on this site are good, some are funny, others informative, but why is it necessary to be meanspirited? As a frequent visitor to Missoula since our son attended the U of MT and to see the granddaughters over the past 15 years, I have come to love and appreciate Missoula and its people. I don't understand the comments about the diversity and all those liberals. Why would diversity ever be a negative? And here's my understanding of the term liberal: people who stand for progress, reform, maximum individual freedom; people who support civil liberties, acceptance, compassion for ALL people, protection of constitutional rights; people who are favorable to representational government; people who are (trying to be) free from prejudice or bigotry; folks who are generous and favor protection of our environment and hold compassionate foreign and domestic policies and want diplomacy instead of war. WHEW! Anyway, I don't understand all the rage. I think many Missoulians probably are liberals. Some are not. Some are rich (some from CA, sure), many are just making ends meet. There are trust-fund babies, and there are folks from lots of other places. There are hunters and those who hate it. There are professionals and people with service jobs. There are definitely tree-huggers, and others who are definitely not. There are people who go to church and those who don't. Those who get involved and those who keep to themselves. Despite a comment on another post, there are lots of (terrific) kids and pretty good schools. Like any town or city, there are gay people, single people, families, bigots, drunks, druggies, nutty people, educated and uneducated, happy, sad, etc. All of which make for an interesting mix. And, from my own observations, I have never met an unfriendly person in Missoula.

When Obama visited Montana during the primaries, there was a cute joke that when he left the state the minority population dropped by half! This is almost true, but when my husband and I are there (we're an interracial couple) nobody bats an eye. This is the ONLY place in all the places we've lived (midwest, east coast, south and now AZ) and all the places we've visited (all over the U.S.) that we've NEVER had as much as a sideways glance (and believe me, especially in the midwest, there have been some ugly comments, incidents and even violence).

There are very few places with perfect weather, but at least it's seldom bitter cold in the winter. Sometimes lots of snow, sometimes dreary (probably my biggest complaint) and lately there have been some really hot days in the summer. But all easy enough to deal with.

Like any other good place, things grow and change. It's a fact of life, and most learn to live with it, make the best of it and sometimes even appreciate (some of) it. The great thing about Missoula, if all that growth gets to you, is that there are so many recreational opportunities nearby. There's no need to travel days or even many hours to get to a quiet peaceful place to play, hike, relax. And, if you're lucky enough to take a longer vacation, you're a reasonable drive to Seattle, Portland, the beautiful coast, ski resorts and on and on. Plus, Missoula has a nice little airport and a bus depot.

The point of all this (I'm getting there!) for those inquiring whether they could be happy in Missoula -- how could you not? It's a beautiful, friendly place with lots of activities (and phooey on the guy who made derogatory remarks about the carrousel) and funky, fun, nice, caring people.

I have an aunt (whom I love dearly) who is liberal (and gay) and she is very intolerant of anyone who is not liberal (and I am not)...just thought I'd throw this in. Thanks for your input on Missoula. It sounds great!

[chancey]

omg i have to say this thread is hilarious.. but if i had to put my two cents in about it (since i am from here) id say it was i great town!... yes the traffic is horrible but mostly only on reserve and russle. russle needs another lane added and reserve needs a bridge over mullan like they did over broadway and it would be all ok.. and the californians that most montanians talk about are the ones you buy the huge ranches for a bizzilian dollars and turn it into a subdivision i.e. pleasent view 44ranch linda vista and the list goes on.. but as long as you dont do that crap then you should be fine finding friends in missoula. like alot of people say, most missoulians arent native.

[magoomafoo]

I would rather pull my toenails out then go to Missoula. I'm in the middle of the Great Falls, Helena and Missoula triangle and choose Helena first (less traffic) Great Falls next, Missoula only if I was dying and the roads to the other two towns were closed. The drivers there are so rude and careless. Reserve is a nightmare.