To the people who want to move to Montana to get away from big cities, people and enjoy "nature". (Missoula: contractor, camping)

[ElkHunter]

Originally Posted by Montguy

Your answer, at least as I'm processing it, basically presumes that Montana has distinct customs, traditions and a culturally homogenous population that, I would guess, in some superior way stands apart from the region/country it belongs to.

Not true. That's just ego.

Its ego to have local customs and practices? I don't think so, I think it is local customs and traditions. Even, within the state, they differ from one region to another. People in say Billings are different than Havre. Are you saying that everybody, no matter where, are cookie cutter cutouts, except those that are different because of ego?

[MTSilvertip]

There are those that belive that any pride in the customs and traditions of a state are bad, but those that embrace the love of the land, that appreciate the work that went into building this state, the hardships endured by the miners and trappers, cowboys and settlers, the hunger, the cold, the isolation, the privations, dieseases and starvation they endured to build a state are worthwhile.

Someone who wants to be a Montanan is proud to come to a harsh land and make a life for themselves and their kids with the hopes that those children will in turn build a good life here.

It isn't about money, although many have made fortunes here, it isn't about locking down the wilderness because you don't want someone else to enjoy it, it isn't about locking gates or shutting down access to the rivers and streams so only you can fish, it's more about sharing a love of this great place and wanting to make living here better for everybody, not just a few that want to force everybody else to conform to their way of thinking.

Most Montanan's just want to live their life the way they want. They don't need somebody telling them what they can't do, or forcing us to pay higher taxes just so somebody living off a government paycheck can make more money than the people paying the taxes.

A Montana attitude is, "you do your thing, I do mine". I don't care how a man prays, or what he eats, I don't care what car they drive or how much money they make. I'll do my thing, you do yours and we'll both do fine.

A Montanan is a good neighbor folks can depend on, and whom others will run to help in turn. The pioneer spirit of making do with what you have, working hard to achieve your goals, being willing to risk everything to make a better life for yourself and your family, caring for your friends and family and being part of a larger community, someone who knows what it's like to live for months at a time burried in snow, cold and ice just to be there to feel the overwhelming joy in seeing the first little shooting star or glacier lilly of spring.

There may not be a hard definition of Montanan, it's more of an attitude of loving where you are and seeing the good while not letting the bad dim your enjoyment of life in this wonderful place.

It's understanding that the quality of life usually has very little to do with having 6 figures in your bank account, the largest mcmansion on the top of the hill, or forcing others to think and believe as you do.

It's more about being happy with what you have, to enjoy the now instead of pineing for what you don't have. It's a warm summer night with family and friends under a blanket of stars while sitting around a campfire, it's seeing and appreciating the wildlife in your yard, taking that extra moment to smell the wild roses.

In short, it's an appreciation for life whether or not you are successful financially, a Montanan understands that having a happy family close by, being able to fish a clear cold crick, filling your freezer with elk meat for the winter, picking berries and mushrooms and knowing how to make your own jelly, or jam, or frying those fresh wild mushrooms over a steak from a cow you raised are things that have value without a price tag.

Being a Montanan means you have an appreciation for life and living in one of the harshes and one of the greatest places on earth and embracing that no matter if you have piles of money, You're willing to work long hard hours instead of demanding other's pay for you because you want to make it on your own.

Just living here doesn't make you a Montanan, there is an attitude and a fellowship of shared hardships and helping out your neighbors. There is an independence that comes from taking care of your own that money can't buy.

There is also a healthy distain for those that look down on us and our way of life, or would impose their beliefs on us through creating unnecessary laws trying to force us to live how they want us to.

if you have your health, your family, and can be happy with what you have, and have the capacity to love your life here, you are well on your way to being a Montanan.

[Montana Griz]

Originally Posted by MTSilvertip

There are those that belive that any pride in the customs and traditions of a state are bad, but those that embrace the love of the land, that appreciate the work that went into building this state, the hardships endured by the miners and trappers, cowboys and settlers, the hunger, the cold, the isolation, the privations, dieseases and starvation they endured to build a state are worthwhile.

Someone who wants to be a Montanan is proud to come to a harsh land and make a life for themselves and their kids with the hopes that those children will in turn build a good life here.

It isn't about money, although many have made fortunes here, it isn't about locking down the wilderness because you don't want someone else to enjoy it, it isn't about locking gates or shutting down access to the rivers and streams so only you can fish, it's more about sharing a love of this great place and wanting to make living here better for everybody, not just a few that want to force everybody else to conform to their way of thinking.

Most Montanan's just want to live their life the way they want. They don't need somebody telling them what they can't do, or forcing us to pay higher taxes just so somebody living off a government paycheck can make more money than the people paying the taxes.

A Montana attitude is, "you do your thing, I do mine". I don't care how a man prays, or what he eats, I don't care what car they drive or how much money they make. I'll do my thing, you do yours and we'll both do fine.

A Montanan is a good neighbor folks can depend on, and whom others will run to help in turn. The pioneer spirit of making do with what you have, working hard to achieve your goals, being willing to risk everything to make a better life for yourself and your family, caring for your friends and family and being part of a larger community, someone who knows what it's like to live for months at a time burried in snow, cold and ice just to be there to feel the overwhelming joy in seeing the first little shooting star or glacier lilly of spring.

There may not be a hard definition of Montanan, it's more of an attitude of loving where you are and seeing the good while not letting the bad dim your enjoyment of life in this wonderful place.

It's understanding that the quality of life usually has very little to do with having 6 figures in your bank account, the largest mcmansion on the top of the hill, or forcing others to think and believe as you do.

It's more about being happy with what you have, to enjoy the now instead of pineing for what you don't have. It's a warm summer night with family and friends under a blanket of stars while sitting around a campfire, it's seeing and appreciating the wildlife in your yard, taking that extra moment to smell the wild roses.

In short, it's an appreciation for life whether or not you are successful financially, a Montanan understands that having a happy family close by, being able to fish a clear cold crick, filling your freezer with elk meat for the winter, picking berries and mushrooms and knowing how to make your own jelly, or jam, or frying those fresh wild mushrooms over a steak from a cow you raised are things that have value without a price tag.

Being a Montanan means you have an appreciation for life and living in one of the harshes and one of the greatest places on earth and embracing that no matter if you have piles of money, You're willing to work long hard hours instead of demanding other's pay for you because you want to make it on your own.

Just living here doesn't make you a Montanan, there is an attitude and a fellowship of shared hardships and helping out your neighbors. There is an independence that comes from taking care of your own that money can't buy.

There is also a healthy distain for those that look down on us and our way of life, or would impose their beliefs on us through creating unnecessary laws trying to force us to live how they want us to.

if you have your health, your family, and can be happy with what you have, and have the capacity to love your life here, you are well on your way to being a Montanan.

Great Post 'Tip'............very well stated
Tried to send some more "reps", but the damn computer said: "got to put 'them' elsewhere before I can "send 'em your way!!"

[Reziac]

What Silvertip said!!

[jimj]

To me, and what I have learned after moving in and out of MT 4 times is one big step to being "a Montanan" is that you stop trying to change it to what you moved away from and quit saying (complaining) "well this place is so backwards, in (pick your place or origin) we did it this way".

[popcorn247]

I think this goes for any state......

[Reziac]

I think we should move to California and change it so people in CA have a nice state to live in like MT.

[decembergirl]

Originally Posted by Reziac

See, there's the thing. We don't care if you're a West Virginian or a Martian or even a Californian, so long as when you come here, you become a Montanan.

See, here's the thing. Sometimes you can be from Montana and you still don't qualify. Especially for those who can't join the GOBC. And there is that whole eastern vs western thing....

[Reziac]

As everyone knows, western Montana is actually part of Oregon, while eastern Montana is part of North Dakota.

What the heck is GOBC? Get Out Before Christmas??

[Montguy]

Originally Posted by ElkHunter

Its ego to have local customs and practices? I don't think so, I think it is local customs and traditions. Even, within the state, they differ from one region to another. People in say Billings are different than Havre. Are you saying that everybody, no matter where, are cookie cutter cutouts, except those that are different because of ego?

I've rarely seen a regular user on the MT forums acknowledge the state's local and regional diversity, save for the usual propensity for crapping on Missoula and Bozeman (all dem' libruhls!). I can't say that nobody has ever acknowledged Montana's diversity on these various threads, but that hasn't been my overall experience.

As for the state as a whole, if someone is willing to identify particular local customs/cultural traits (or even, say, personality traits) that are distinctly unique to these mystical Montanans I hear so much about, please share; otherwise, please be willing to admit that 21st century Montanans are, and will continue to be, the same mixed bag of people, good and bad, found in every other state in the country.