meet me in montana (Kalispell: insurance, crime, house)

[NYMTman]

That said, Montana is a much better state than Alabama, IMO. You should enjoy yourselves, assuming that you find financial stability in MT (hard to do).

[jandjblue]

nyman that might have been true 6 months ago but here in gulf shores there coming in at a unheard of rate the beach hotels and restrants now have nothing but illegal staffs and the word is out to the rest of them come on down. a policeman friend of mine said there is 20 to 50 aday moving into this area and there to leave them alone remember we only have 8500 hundred full time resadents here on the beach with 10.000 - 30.000 thousand tourist at certain times

[jimj]

You should like it here, after living here for several years I can tell you that there is not a big illegal issue here yet, and I say yet because it IS coming like everywhere else. The other thing you should know is this place is called poverty with a view for a reason. It is beautiful but the pay here is horrible to say the least. Most here work at least 2 jobs to get by. The toys that people have here generally cost more than their house (boats,atv,guns etc) and hunting season is a ritual that is not to be taken lightly! Things literally shut down for it. You should be prepared to take care of yourself unlike living in a city, there is really no mechanisim in case of emergency for the "government" such as it is to take care of you. Pack your car with minimum survival supplies like blanket, emergency ration(s) flashlight etc because if you run off the road or hit a deer or something it may be a while before either A: you are found or B: you find a way out. It sounds kind of dramatic but there are many roads around here that you could crash on and not see anyone for quite a while. Start thinking now about driving on snow and ice, look into buying a 4 wheel drive or studs for your car, winter will be here soon so be prepared! Don't listen to the "locals" about how they don't want anyone here, they will get over it, they just need to remember that they came from somewhere else as well. Have fun and good luck!!!!!!

[jandjblue]

THANKS FOR THE INFO I am not so concered about the pay scale as we own a online busisness and my income comes from all over the country and is growing everyday but we have no clue about driving in the snow and ice it only got below frezzing twice all last winter I do have 4 wheel drives and yes i am a hunter and fisherman we plan to build a home within 10 miles of town I no alittle about storing supplies becuse of hurricanes that we have here thanks for the info

[Zeepogee]

That is the adventurous spirit friend, go fer it. Winters can be rough but this Californian loves it here in Lewistown, Mt. Come and see me sometime at the The Spotlight and bring the kids and we'll jam at my new theatre and music dance hall for youth. Good luck!!!!

[snugglebump]

Hi(:

I'm moving from Seattle to Montana too, I hope I don't fall off the road when the snow comes. That's the only thing that really worries me is driving in the winter there LOL. In Seattle, we rarely get snow and when we do it doesn't stay. I guess i'm going to have to get a 4 x 4 and get used to driving on it. It is sooooooo worth it though, I can't wait!

God bless,
SnuggleBump

[jimj]

Originally Posted by snugglebump

Hi(:

I'm moving from Seattle to Montana too, I hope I don't fall off the road when the snow comes. That's the only thing that really worries me is driving in the winter there LOL. In Seattle, we rarely get snow and when we do it doesn't stay. I guess i'm going to have to get a 4 x 4 and get used to driving on it. It is sooooooo worth it though, I can't wait!

God bless,
SnuggleBump

What you need to remember that even a lot of people that have been here a while forget is that to drive on snow and ice speed is the key. Don't make any rash moves like sudden turns or stops. Studs or 4 wheel drive help and some put studs on the 4 wheel drive cars. I have an all wheel drive car and put studs on it. The biggest mistake people make is thinking that because they have 4 wheel drive or studs that they don't have to worry but while an equipped vehicle will start off better than a regular one they pretty much both stop the same which means not very well. Leave plenty of distance between you and others and start to slow down and stop sooner than on dry pavement. Always carry a blanket, shovel,flashlight,matches and some kind of food in case you slide off the road and have to wait a while. On trips to shop in Missoula there have been places on the road where we have not seen anyone for a while and if you crash you may be there a while before anyone knows you are there. There are usually a rash of slide offs/spin outs at the start of the season. There are usually one or two days a season that are emergency driving only, they will announce it on tv and the radio, that means that unless you are going to the hospital or such you are to stay off the road and can be cited if you don't. These days will pretty much be self evident as there will be a lot of snow or a lot of ice everywhere. Have fun!!

[RideLikeTheWind]

It seems that here in San Diego ( aka Northern TJ ) we arent the only ones experiencing the illegal problem. South San Diego is worse ! I grew up down there and still have family living there. When I want to see my mom I ask her to meet me somewhere else, because being white, you are now the minority. I agree with JJ Man, this country is going down the tubes because our elected officials Rep. & Dem alike are letting these illegals come in droves. I quite frankly am sick of having it rammed down my throat. E-mail your senators and let them know. I have usually voted ,but not one to call and voice my opinion ,however as one talk show host in SD says " I want my country back". My husband and I have only a few more years to put up with this and we have already bought a place in Mt ( at this point its still better than here ) Im hoping I can get a few years of riding my horse and some fishing before MT gets ruined-may have to go to Alaska

[Heart]

Originally Posted by jandjblue

My wife and I are moving to kalispell june 4th never been to the state at all but we are taking that chance we went online and found a rental house had the power,gas and water all done by phone and credit card, school got out here today. so the kids are ready to go but we must work until next week our friends think were crazy but its our dream and were going for it were self employed so it means leaving security we hope to be welcomed and fit into your state life is short live it we may regret it later but you only live once

I wish you and your family all the best of luck! I love it up here!

[CominHome]

Hi all. I am originally from Butte, but have spent the last 15 years living in (on?) Long Island, NY. I was born and raised in Butte- and couldn't wait to get out!! So I ended up in New York, got married, had 2 kids, and was in love with the mystique of New York City. I am ready to move back-we will be there July 1, and I'll tell you why. I have been reading these posts, and I think some of the people who have never lived anywhere else need to understand what the BIG DIFFERENCE is- peace of mind. I live among like 4 million people- just on Long Island- in an area about 120 miles long and maybe 50 miles wide. The per capita average is like 40 people per sq. mile or some sick number like that. I have seen just about everything; shootings, 9/11, traffic that makes you want to spend some time in a rubber room (60+ minutes to go 5 miles isn't unusual), illegal immigrants living 30 to a single family house (and they also line up on local streets for day work and defecate and urinate where they are), the stereotypical gangs and everything that goes along with them. For a long time, these things were west of where I live, and were really no more than stories on the news or in the paper that didn't really affect me because I live in a "Good" area of Long Island. That has changed; The "worst" areas of New York City are moving east, and I am right in their path. They are moving east because NYC has become fashionable again-areas that you couldn't PAY someone to develop are now going for absolutely ridiculous prices- Harlem, the Bronx, Brooklyn- and those original residents are being pushed out. Guess where they are coming?? So we are moving back to Montana. The last straw was when they erected a guard booth and metal detectors at our once highly rated high school, in response to the FLOOD of ILLEGAL Latino immigrants and bad elements that have started to move into the area. I pay $2700 A MONTH in taxes, in addition to my mortgage, and they aren't going down. I admit- this once open, non-prejudicial, we-are-all-the-same, open arms girl has become jaded and weary and I am going where these things aren't an issue. I am bringing NY money from the sale of my house, and I'll bet no one complains when I can lay down $300,000 for a house and contribute to economy- not because I am well-off, but because I bought my house for about $200,000 in 1995 and have sold it for over $600,000 in 2007. Am I to be punished for that because I bought and sold at the right times??? Or treated like an outsider? If you are worried about who or what are moving in, then you have to become an activist and share your passion about your views. I am in agreement with regards to people who move there and don't have the respect for the land or the history. The people that buy up thousnads of acres for development should come spend some time here and let their families live among the lesser elements of society (people who do nothing to better themselves, live up to the stereotypes, and complain because they do nothing to make their lives better), live among the rapid expansion, where bigger and more is better. Come live here for awile, then tell me that you would want that to happen in your back yard. My husband is blue-collar, I grew up there and have the respect and love for Montana that has been in my family for 4 generations. I understand the frustration that the locals must feel, but to tarnish us all with same brush is wrong.