Moving to MT?? (Billings, Great Falls: living, areas, place)

[grannymontanny]

Originally Posted by johns65vette

The more negative posts I read about Western MT, the more it makes me want to do a "drive by" after visitng Northern ID next week. Maybe I'll drive through on my way home the weekend of the 27th. Take the I90 out of CDA, and head on down and check it out. See for myself just how bad it is

Living in Southern Ca, I can tell you what urban sprawl looks like on a large scale. I can understand how folks that have always lived in MT, could easily view the sprawl as "major", when in fact, it might pale in comparison to some other places.

It would sure be a shame if you couldnt take hwy 2,from n.idaho and on into kalispel. what a pretty drive!you mite have to watch out for more animals on the road but well worth the veiw.

[jcbmontana]

Originally Posted by grannymontanny

It would sure be a shame if you couldnt take hwy 2,from n.idaho and on into kalispel. what a pretty drive!have to watch more more animals on the road but well worth the veiw.

Great suggestion, that drive is worth the extra time it takes. Once you hit kalispell, take Hwy 35 around Flathead Lake on your way to Missoula.

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Yes, that thought crossed my mind too. If I wait and go check out Bonners Ferry Id as my last stop Saturday morning, then head out the 2 from there. I'll toss that one around as well. Guess it just depends on time restraints. I need to be back here in So Cal by Sunday night.

Anyway, sorry for getting off topic

[jimj]

Originally Posted by jcbmontana

You are going to have to visit and decide for yourself. The truth is that Great Falls, Billings, and Western Mt are very different and it just comes down to personal preference. My personal preference is Western MT but there are people who are perfectly happy in other areas and would hate to live where I do.

Also, don't pay too much attention to what people on this forum say about Western MT. If so, you will come away with the impression that it is basically Flint, Michigan with Aspen home prices. The truth is that we do have a stable economy and we are not fading out.

Thank you, finally someone else who at least suggests visiting here before deciding. I am in a town of 4000, less during the winter. Yes, by old montana standards there is sprawl but having lived in real sprawl this is nothing close to that....
I've got to tell you what we did today, we decided since it was hot we would drive the 15 minutes and put our pontoon fishing boat in the flathead river. We decided to float from Hungry Horse to Presintine bar, about a 5 hour float. Other than a couple of tourists floating by on innertubes yakking on a cell phone if you can believe it, anyway I digress, so here we are floating on one of the most beautiful rivers in one of the most beautiful states I have ever seen. As we float we look up and watch a bald eagle fly by, everyone stopped paddling to watch. We then pulled over to splash around and looked over and there was another bald eagle hunting the river for fish!
I admit, to a lot of other places wages here are less but they are going up slowly but surely but most people don't move here for money. They move here for some of the experiences like I had today not to mention open spaces and quiet. While we may not have the best of everything like I'm constantly told on this forum Great Falls does we have many things at our finger tips no one else in this state does. That's why some fantastic doctors have moved here as well as many fantastic professional people and yes, rich people as well. I will give you that some of the schools here need work but what public school doesn't now days?
I wish I could handle the cold winter here but I can't so that's that. What I'm leading to is that here in western montana we have some of the best outdoor oppertunities in the nation and in this state no matter what GF claims.

Check it out, if you can make it work and love the outdoors you will not regret it!

[rickers]

I floated down the Clark Fork from Saint regis to ferry landing (fourteen mile bridge) a few days ago with eight other people on cobra sit-on-top kayaks and it was a blast ! I want to go on that bitterroot river run this Saturday. Lots of floaters in rafts, inner tubes, kayaks, canoes and what have you ! It should be fun and I heard of a keg for the Floaters, starts about noon at the bridge at Stevensville.

[grannymontanny]

Originally Posted by jcbmontana

Great suggestion, that drive is worth the extra time it takes. Once you hit kalispell, take Hwy 35 around Flathead Lake on your way to Missoula.

Well of course being in Lakeside,im partial to the other side of the lake
but we drove down 35 today to get some cherries,and it was a nice ride

[colsteve]

Originally Posted by Bendlover

I really want to move to a place that is full of trees.

No trees left in Montana. The pine beetles have killed all of them I'm afraid.

[colsteve]

Originally Posted by johns65vette

Yes, that thought crossed my mind too. If I wait and go check out Bonners Ferry Id as my last stop Saturday morning, then head out the 2 from there. I'll toss that one around as well. Guess it just depends on time restraints. I need to be back here in So Cal by Sunday night.

Anyway, sorry for getting off topic

Great idea! You will love Idaho.

[Gman2007]

I was attempting to find a forum in "montana" to list this but I wanted to get this information out to those who might be interested. I know jobs are sparce in Montana but if you're willing to work for the government, they have a job announcement on USAJOBS right now that is open until September 10. Search for jobs by putting in "CBP Officer" at USAJOBS - The Federal Government's Official Jobs Site . These jobs are on the border at one of the ports of entry. They are having such a hard time filling positions that you could pretty much have your pick of duty location when you apply.

[Redraven]

I grew up in the Flathead Valley. I always wanted to go back there. Not now. Just my opinion, but due to the Californians and Canadians who have moved in, it is now a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there anymore. Many of the roads I used to travel are now closed due to the environuts, so where I used to fish I can no longer get to.
I visit once or twice a year, for a few days each time, and that is enough. change is inevitable, but I don't like the way "my" little town has changed.
We lived in Great Falls for several years, too. Like anyplace, it has its good points and its bad points. I wouldn't go back there. We visit a few times a year to visit kids/grandkids and for access to the Air Force Base.
At the moment, we are quite happy living near (not IN) Billings.