Retire to Montana (Bozeman, Kalispell, Whitefish: home, camping, living in)

[dcconey]

My husband and I are thinking about retirement in Montana, and have visited every year for the past 4 years.
We are looking for a very small town, gotta have tree's/mountains/quiet
I don't like shopping so convience is not important. No problem with winter weather -We have lived in snow country for alot of years. I drive better in snow than I do in any city. We currenty live in a small town where I am able to leave my keys/purse in my car, and never lock my doors and would like to keep my bad habits.
So far I am gearing toward Lincoln county -but there is so much more I haven't seen.
Could anyone tell me a little about Phillip county? Our next trip is in July and I am trying to put together a route.
We are a family that enjoys being together -camping, fishing, hiking -we love history -our ancestory are from Montana, unfortunately the gold rush brought them to California.
My plan is to find my home back in Montana where I could spend the rest of our lives living a nice quiet peaceful retirement - I enjoy reading and researching my family roots and plan on writing a book. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to plot our next road trip?

[GiftShoppeGuy]

Well you'll definitely know you're in Big Sky Country if you move to Malta, or anywhere else in Phillips County......

You'll also discover a lot of primeval geology there..... o-ton-o-dinosaurs... well, mostly dead ones at any rate.

There is quite a difference between Lincoln County and Phillips County... Land, people, climate, all pose to be opposites between the two.

If I were ever "forced" to choose betwixed the two.... Phillips County would win by a landslide.

As far as leaving your keys in the car and your doors unlocked?... Well I have to say that you could get away with that much easier in Phillips County than you ever could anywhere west of the divide. There just aren't as many hucksters living in Phillips County as there are in Lincoln County..... folks are much friendlier and helpful in Phillips County too.......

Lincoln County has been filling up with folks that are afraid of the dark lately... from Oregon and Washington mostly... (not the true Montana experience).... and most are only friendly to those who think along the same liberal lines as they do.... But in Phillips County, folks are friendly to everybody regardless of whether or not they have liberal views.

Either/or....... I'm quite sure that you will discover the place/area that best suits you in the end.

Welcome to Montana....

Oh, and on the subject of books?.... Please, please, please..... don't write any that would extoll the virtues of living in Montana .... please, please, please.... we've had quite enough of those over the years...

[dcconey]

Thank you for your advice - I haven't checked out Lincoln county yet, but was told last year (while visiting) by a local that I would like Lincoln county. Probably not -
I will check out Phillips county -any other places you would recommend?
No worries, my plan is to write a family history book for my children about their ancestry- (your remark makes me laugh)
Thanks again!

[GiftShoppeGuy]

While you are at it then, you could take a look at White Sulphur Springs over in Meagher County.

The area around White Sulphur Springs reminds most Montanans of the way Montana used to be.

[dcconey]

Originally Posted by GiftShoppeGuy

While you are at it then, you could take a look at White Sulphur Springs over in Meagher County.

The area around White Sulphur Springs reminds most Montanans of the way Montana used to be.

I will do that, thank you for being so kind, and helpful - I really apprieciate your responding to my inquiry -
guess I won't bother with Saco - but will check Roundup,Whitehall area
We have 3 weeks to spend in Montana, last year we spent most of our 3 weeks primative camping -there was still snow on the ground, but we enjoyed every minuite- this time it will be Summer, so I am sure I we will be able to travel more without some of the roads being closed due to snow.

[ladyflyfsh]

Originally Posted by dcconey

My husband and I are thinking about retirement in Montana, and have visited every year for the past 4 years.
We are looking for a very small town, gotta have tree's/mountains/quiet
I don't like shopping so convience is not important. No problem with winter weather -We have lived in snow country for alot of years. I drive better in snow than I do in any city. We currenty live in a small town where I am able to leave my keys/purse in my car, and never lock my doors and would like to keep my bad habits.
So far I am gearing toward Lincoln county -but there is so much more I haven't seen.
Could anyone tell me a little about Phillip county? Our next trip is in July and I am trying to put together a route.
We are a family that enjoys being together -camping, fishing, hiking -we love history -our ancestory are from Montana, unfortunately the gold rush brought them to California.
My plan is to find my home back in Montana where I could spend the rest of our lives living a nice quiet peaceful retirement - I enjoy reading and researching my family roots and plan on writing a book. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to plot our next road trip?

You will find all that in the valley from Whitehall to Sheridan. Great hunting, fishing, small towns, no crime, trees, rivers, mountains etc.

I never lock my doors except when I go to New Zealand for three weeks every year. The rest of the time, my keys live in the ignition of my car parked in my garage so I always know where to find them. When I go into Twin Bridges to the bank or post office, I leave my keys in the ignition with the windows down and never worry about it at all. That is the way of life here in the Jefferson Valley and Ruby Valley. Check it out!

We also don't usually get much snow...although just this week we got 16" of the white stuff. This is more snow than I've seen in the last 10 years here. We hadn't had a measurable snowfall here since November so this was a bit unexpected. Of course Bozeman and Butte always have snow in the winter but over here in this valley, we are sandwiched between two mountain ranges and are in somewhat of a rain shadow...hence warmer temps and less snow and rain.

[Gayla48]

Hi!
My husband and I moved to Eureka, Montana (Lincoln County) in September 2004. He is retired and I work from home. Just to let you know, Eureka is a great place to live. It's peaceful, the people are all friendly and helpful, no traffic jams and though I still lock my doors coming from Chicago, I doubt that is a big problem here.

I find the weather in Eureka is great too. We've had more snow this winter than the past 2 years, but do not get as much snow as other parts of Montana.

My husband and I are extremely happy living here. If and when we want more of a "night life" we go to Whitefish which is about 45 minutes away or Kalispell...about an hour away.

Kinda wish I had been born in Eureka. Sure would have been a much nicer experience for me growing up in a small town rather than a large, urban city.
Don't get me wrong, I love Chicago too, my family is there....but Eureka has felt like "my home" from day 1!!

Visit Eureka.......you just may find what you're looking for out here.

Hope this helps and if you have any questions just ask!

[JoeJoeMan]

I Ain't Sayin' nuttin'

[YOU-CANT-EAT-SCENERY]

Originally Posted by JoeJoeMan

I Ain't Sayin' nuttin'

ROTFLMAO I was waiting for the book comment from you. LOL

[JoeJoeMan]

johns65vette wrote :

Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeJoeMan
I Ain't Sayin' nuttin'

ROTFLMAO I was waiting for the book comment from you. LOL

what book comment would that be

gayla48 - sounds like an ad from a realestate magazine, didn't I hear that Eureka has gone bonkers with the growth thing and prices too.....what did I read somewhere - something to the effect of............the millionaires now move to Eureka now because the billionairs have driven them out of Flathead Lake. Don't laught there's alot of truth to that.