Montana relocation: resentment toward newcomers (Missoula, Bozeman: homes, rent, vacation)

[orygun]

Well..it sure is interesting reading these posts about resentment toward Californians. I lived in Oregon for 19 years. And for a long time there was resentment toward Californians just like I am seeing with Montana. Eventually....Oregon apparently gave up and those who lived there seemed to open their arms to the huge profits they received when Californians fled their state and bought Oregon homes with cash down.

Sadly, Oregon is not the same anymore. It has lost its special feel. It's more like anywhere USA I think. Now it is Montana on the battlefront. Fighting for the same thing Oregon once cared about. Wanting to close the gates so no one else gets in.

And I understand it. It isn't personal against any Californian and those from down south should try not to take it personally. If you are taking the time to post and learn about an area you probably are not an arrogant SOB with a pocket of change to buy half the state of Montana. And it is usually those people we want to keep out. The same ones who keep Oregonians from affording their own homes due to over-inflated housing costs. Same thing in Montana. It becomes unaffordable for "natives" to stay in their own state.

So resentment toward newcomers and especially Californians with money. Why not? As a generalization they have come and ruined life for Montanans, just as the white man ruined life for the Indians. And I am all for letting the Native Americans have everything they deserve because they were here first.

So maybe if there weren't droves of wealthy newcomers pushing up land prices and wanting to make Montana like where they came from, there might be some better attitudes. If you can contribute to the kindness of Montana, the special feeling that makes the state what it is, then by all means come. If you come with a chunk of change and want to put a fence around your property to keep natives out then beware. Montanans are bold and not shy about letting their feelings be known. Try to be a neighbor not an enemy.

I think isolation, weather and low wages culls out a lot of people. The low population keeps Montana free of the crap I see in Spokane right now. We are moving back home to Montana, this time Polson. I will quietly slip onto my country property with my kids and critters and not bother anyone. I'll wave to my neighbors and be a kind driver. If you fit into the life there you should have no trouble at all.

[Anchorless]

Good post.

[orygun]

Originally Posted by Anchorless

Good post.

Thank You.

[jenzebel]

Yes, good one Orygun.

For me, I guess I just got tired of hearing, over and over from people that moved here--"in Cali, we do this, in Cali we do that, Cali has better this or better that" (or whatever other state they were from). Years of that can get to a person.

I want to say them--then go back!

Sounds like you know what I am talking about. Oregon was first to get hit. I think that is where the "Californicate" bumper stickers originated.

[orygun]

Originally Posted by jenzebel

Yes, good one Orygun.

For me, I guess I just got tired of hearing, over and over from people that moved here--"in Cali, we do this, in Cali we do that, Cali has better this or better that" (or whatever other state they were from). Years of that can get to a person.

I want to say them--then go back!

Sounds like you know what I am talking about. Oregon was first to get hit. I think that is where the "Californicate" bumper stickers originated.

Yeah, I think it was in Oregon I first saw the "Californicate" bumper stickers. Years ago Governor Tom McCall said something along the lines of "visit, but don't stay." It took awhile for Oregon to overcome that and I wish they hadn't.

I also would like to tell people to go back. Don't like the way things are, then leave! The door is wide open for that. While in Missoula I saw people come and go from the hospital. Back to California, Arizona and Utah. Some came BACK to Montana after that realizing it was worse where they started and they came back with a different acceptance of Montana. Which is a good thing.

[moodyblue]

This is interesting...! You know, I used to feel threatened by out-of-staters coming to Montana in droves. I guess I sort of accept it now, or at least take people on a case-by-case basis.

I do get upset when a newcomer starts complaining about the way things are, like "why don't they plow the roads" and such, but they usually learn fast enough to deal with it.

In many places around here, there is a publication that we recommend to newcomers called The Code of the West. It is available in many public offices and it sort of explains the way we do business out here. I have found that many newcomers simply don't KNOW that we are "different" here in Montana, and we are perfectly happy that way!

And, to be clear.... I didn't know I was "different" until a newcomer told me so!

[riggsriggsby]

Some Californians head for Montana because we embrace what your state stands for, and are sickened by the limosine liberal attitudes that prevail in LA & San Francisco. I'll take a cowboy hat, a pair of well worn boots, and a trusty steed over a BMW all day long!

Some Californians do move to Montana because the cost of home ownerships is prohibitive to the middle-class here. The average price of a 30 year old two bedroom home with no yard is about $500,00. In Montana, many people can own the home of their dreams for the same price. For the sake of Montana residents, I agree that folks moving into the state need to assimilate to the ways of Big Sky country.

As for me, I just want a small home on a good-sized piece of land with good natured neighbors to share a BBQ with!

[bigskydreaming]

Originally Posted by GiftShoppeGuy

Well good for you...

Oh, and by the way?

WELCOME HOME

Thank you!!

[orygun]

I think all of us city-data Montanans need to get together for a BBQ sometime!

[katldy50]

hello to all. i am a californian. i have lived my 55 years here, not necessarily all happy, but a good living. we have more people probably in one county then you do in your whole state. I live in Los Angeles County but not in L.A. But it wasnt always this way. the boom of people in L.A. was way before the 80's. We had alot of open space here when i grew up. horses, cows, farms, one lane streets and no freeways, and that was just 3 miles from los angeles airport. now you cant move, buy or sell. places like Irvine, that used to have farms, an airfoce base, and space between the houses, just 20 years ago, is so packed in that when i see one parcel of land still being used to farm i wonder when they will be forced out so homes can be built on it. the people never came together and stopped the over growth. however, the in laguna beach the people did come together and passed an ordinance to stop the building. they have open land that will never be built on. and in Inglewood,( 2 miles east of the LAX airport), the people voted not to allow a wall mart to be built in their area. all the small mom and pop stores would go out of business. so there is some things you can do to reduce the over growth. But the people have to get out there and be an advocate for it. i was in Missouli in March of last year and was so sad to see all the look alike homes being built so close together and large chain stores going up outside the main city. i hate to see that and i dont even live there because i know what is coming. Arizona is an example of over growth relocation; look alike communities, large chain stores, traffic, smog, crime, ruining the peace and "space" that our neighboring state once offered, with no end in site. my parents moved there for my moms emphysemia, she recently died from a rare respiratory infection stirred up in the dirt from building new homes and freeways. a bacteria they hadnt seen in years. relentless overgrowth.
i was just up in columbia falls, there is still alot of space there. i would like to retire in montana. pipe dream.... probably. i have indian land somewhere up there from my grandmother, farming land, but a farmer i am not. but what i wouldnt want, just like all of you is to fill the areas up with look alike houses and chain stores. so what am i saying with all this ramblingis, pool together.the vote is still a powerful tool. find out how to use it to your advantage.
oh! and please recycle. the resort i stayed in didnt recycle, even though i separated all my trash. that bothered me more then the chain stores. well peace and space to you all and be kind to one another, visitor, relocator and native alike.