Montana relocation: resentment toward newcomers (Helena: landscaping, inspection, income)

[seven of nine]

Nice to see this thread has taken on a more "loving" tone.

[techie09]

Hello all...

I'm a Texan looking at Montana as a possible place to relocate.

I'm a techie by trade (computer nerd). I live in a city that is under 20,000 people, but lives like one that is five times as large. I'm a hunter, a fisher, and I like rural, even though I cannot begin to afford a ranch or even some land. I would like to get some input on where to possibly look.

My needs are meager. I do need a computer job, a place that has a non-denominational church, stuff for kids to do like hunt and fish, ride bikes, etc.

I don't want to live in Bozeman, Billings, or Great Falls. I don't want that feel. I want Mayberry basically, despite that being a pipe dream. I don't want to change anybody or anything. I just want a quiet place to call home with good, friendly neighbors that will help out and let me do the same. Did I mention I like to hunt and fish? I cannot afford to hunt anymore in Texas because 97% of the state is privately owned and a deer lease will cost a minimum of a grand. I cannot afford much more than the hunting license and the ammo.

Is Kalispell what I'm looking for, or would there be better places? I've been reading up on that area.This is just an exploratory thing for me at this point. All info is welcomed.

[seven of nine]

Hello and welcome..
Maybe you would like to start a new thread, we are few and far between posters here, come over and visit on the porch. Introduce yourself and pull up a chair.

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by techie09

Hello all...

I'm a Texan looking at Montana as a possible place to relocate.

I'm a techie by trade (computer nerd). I live in a city that is under 20,000 people, but lives like one that is five times as large. I'm a hunter, a fisher, and I like rural, even though I cannot begin to afford a ranch or even some land. I would like to get some input on where to possibly look.

My needs are meager. I do need a computer job, a place that has a non-denominational church, stuff for kids to do like hunt and fish, ride bikes, etc.

I don't want to live in Bozeman, Billings, or Great Falls. I don't want that feel. I want Mayberry basically, despite that being a pipe dream. I don't want to change anybody or anything. I just want a quiet place to call home with good, friendly neighbors that will help out and let me do the same. Did I mention I like to hunt and fish? I cannot afford to hunt anymore in Texas because 97% of the state is privately owned and a deer lease will cost a minimum of a grand. I cannot afford much more than the hunting license and the ammo.

Is Kalispell what I'm looking for, or would there be better places? I've been reading up on that area.This is just an exploratory thing for me at this point. All info is welcomed.

From what you say I don't think you would like Kalispell much. More to your taste might be Roundup, Miles City, Shelby, Culbertson, White Sulphur Springs, Big Timber, Lewistown, or maybe other points east... any of the smaller "where the heck is THAT?" cities. Each has its own character, but they are rather more like each other than like the bigger cities. The downside is that I'm not sure you'd find much work in computers. And that's kindof a broad field -- what exactly? IT, PC repair, ISP stuff, ??? Someone focused on customer service (and specifically on preserving customers' data and workflow) might find work as a house-calls type PC repairman, but that's still a limited market in those small towns.

[techie09]

Seven of nine, Reziac,

Thanks for the welcome.

At the moment I'm a computer technician -- I work on hardware, software, etc. In the past I have done other things, since like you say, computers encompass a wide field.

I'm interested in why you say I wouldn't like Kalispell. Is is because I'm a computer guy? I don't come across a city slicker or a nerd.

What about the towns you mentioned? What is it about them that's different?

[FiveHorses]

Originally Posted by techie09

I'm interested in why you say I wouldn't like Kalispell. Is is because I'm a computer guy? I don't come across a city slicker or a nerd.

No, I don't think that is what Rez meant at all - quite the opposite. I know he's busy this week-end, so I'll be very bold and try to fill in a few blanks. I'm sure he'll reply in his usual thoughtful and fulsome way when he's back.

From what I understand, Kalispell is has lost the "flavour" you're looking for do to an influx of wealthier individuals also looking for Mayberry. Real estate prices are high and - although I can only pass this on second-hand - it would seem that, to many, Kalispell has lost much of its "Montana-ness".

Rez was pointing you in the direction of towns which still have affordable housing and more of the "feel" you're looking for. With your profession, Roundup might afford some good possibilities due to its proximity to Billings.

If you use the search function, you can go through some older threads on Kalispell and/or any of the other towns mentioned and do a bit of "background research" that way.

[techie09]

FiveHorses,

Appreciate the input.

[T-310]

Missoula is taking on the artsy look as well as Kalispell to the best of my knowledge.

I live in North Central MT, the High Line. If you aren't railroading or farming, watch out. The locals can take a while to warm up to you.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by T-310

Missoula is taking on the artsy look as well as Kalispell to the best of my knowledge.

I live in North Central MT, the High Line. If you aren't railroading or farming, watch out. The locals can take a while to warm up to you.

Kalispell is far from the artsy thing but whitefish has definately been trying that. Kalispell is trying to do the Missoula Reserve drive thing with stores everywhere but has failed so far (thank goodness).

[Reziac]

Originally Posted by techie09

Seven of nine, Reziac,

Thanks for the welcome.

At the moment I'm a computer technician -- I work on hardware, software, etc. In the past I have done other things, since like you say, computers encompass a wide field.

I'm interested in why you say I wouldn't like Kalispell. Is is because I'm a computer guy? I don't come across a city slicker or a nerd.

What about the towns you mentioned? What is it about them that's different?

Exactly what FiveHorses said. These other towns seemed more in tune with what you asked for -- cuz from your first post I did picture more of a country fellah than a city slicker and Kalispell has always been... well, to my mind more of a vacation hangout than anything else. And I got the impression it you had in mind more regular workin' folks for your neighbours.

Finding general tech work, such as in a clone shop, is hard; that's a dying business niche, with the sole exception of the networking side which continues to grow, albeit slowly now. I have a friend in Edmonton and it took him a year to find such work even in that million-warm-bodies metropolis. The smaller the town the fewer computer-related jobs there are. So... Roundup came to mind first, because it IS in reach of Billings (and jobs) but is still that little old cow town at heart.