To the people who want to move to Montana to get away from big cities, people and enjoy "nature". (Kalispell: 2014, renter)

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by NDak15

I didn't realize Coloradans were moving that far north. There were tons of them moving into Wyoming when I lived there. Most only stayed a few years before moving back.

Spent 5yrs in Laramie at UW. The wind. The wind was terrible ... "it's windy in Wyoming because Nebraska sucks" ... at least that was the saying at the time.

Now it seems to be windy along the Front Range of CO all the time ... more than we remembered it being 10-20yrs ago. The hot, dry wind sucks the moisture out of everything. Water politics are going to get interesting as they struggle with high demand from agriculture and population growth.

Winter here will be the great equalizer for a lot of folks, including myself. We've had locals tell us that this past year broke the spirit of many who couldn't take it, and have left or are in the process of trying to sell and leave. That might explain the large number of properties for sale in the area (?)

[historyfan]

Originally Posted by NDak15

I didn't realize Coloradans were moving that far north. There were tons of them moving into Wyoming when I lived there. Most only stayed a few years before moving back.

SW MT has former Boulder residents who moved there about 25 years ago when they discovered their hot property values exchanged favorably.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by Shuffler

Spent 5yrs in Laramie at UW. The wind. The wind was terrible ... "it's windy in Wyoming because Nebraska sucks" ... at least that was the saying at the time.

Now it seems to be windy along the Front Range of CO all the time ... more than we remembered it being 10-20yrs ago. The hot, dry wind sucks the moisture out of everything. Water politics are going to get interesting as they struggle with high demand from agriculture and population growth.

Winter here will be the great equalizer for a lot of folks, including myself. We've had locals tell us that this past year broke the spirit of many who couldn't take it, and have left or are in the process of trying to sell and leave. That might explain the large number of properties for sale in the area (?)

Growing up in Montana I got used to Californians moving in at the beginning of the school year. Usually it was someone who came out on a vacation loved the scenery and seemed to believe Montanans don't have jobs and hike, fly fish, and camp all the time. Then winter hit. Between that and realizing they still needed a job to actually do those summer only activities, most hightailed it out by Christmas. The funny thing is, now that I live in North Dakota, Montana winters seem like child's play.

[Yankeemama]

Originally Posted by magoomafoo

Lately the threads from people wanting to move here to escape big city life, people, crime and live in harmony with nature have been multiplying at an alarming rate. While I'm not going to be one of those "locals" who tell others not to come, I would like to explain something very simple.

If everyone who wanted to move here to escape whatever it is that they want to escape from, Montana is going to become exactly what you left behind.
Yes we have open spaces, not for long if everyone comes to live in the open spaces. Yes our crime rate is lower than most other states, not for long if our population takes a sudden leap.

Yes we have an abundance of "nature", and that nature is going to disappear when you come and build your home in that subdivision.

Yes we have wildlife beyond belief. That subdivion your home was built on just forced whatever wildlife that was living there to relocate to another area in which it's competing with other wildlife and it's chances of survival are slim. No, I am not a "bunny hugger", I hunt, fish ect... No I'm not a "tree hugger", we are a timber industry family.

I don't know how many threads have been started by locals explaining how those wanting to move here should "come in the winter", "have a job lined up", "be prepared for the weather", "driving in winter is not a treat" ect, ect, ect...... Those threads are started so that we don't end up answering every single thread by those wanting to move here and there are new ones everyday.

You want harmony and peace with nature and wide open spaces? Every state in America has that, some you just have to travel to get there. Everyone moves to Montana to acheive that and Montana is going to be just like the state you moved here from. So please read the informational threads before jumping right into a new "help, have to get out the city, crime and want to be one with nature" thread.

So you want to put a border around Montana because in your eyes it's not a state? If the rest of us got overcrowded it's because we live in states so Montana is going to have to deal like the rest of us.

[jimj]

Originally Posted by NDak15

Growing up in Montana I got used to Californians moving in at the beginning of the school year. Usually it was someone who came out on a vacation loved the scenery and seemed to believe Montanans don't have jobs and hike, fly fish, and camp all the time. Then winter hit. Between that and realizing they still needed a job to actually do those summer only activities, most hightailed it out by Christmas. The funny thing is, now that I live in North Dakota, Montana winters seem like child's play.

If/when the Flathead gets another winter like '96 I'll bet you'll see moving trucks lined up to leave and impossible to find empty ones just like back then.
The Flathead has not had a severe (normal) winter in years but it'll happen eventually.

[robcat33]

Originally Posted by Shuffler

Spent 5yrs in Laramie at UW. The wind. The wind was terrible ... "it's windy in Wyoming because Nebraska sucks" ... at least that was the saying at the time.

Now it seems to be windy along the Front Range of CO all the time ... more than we remembered it being 10-20yrs ago. The hot, dry wind sucks the moisture out of everything. Water politics are going to get interesting as they struggle with high demand from agriculture and population growth.

Winter here will be the great equalizer for a lot of folks, including myself. We've had locals tell us that this past year broke the spirit of many who couldn't take it, and have left or are in the process of trying to sell and leave. That might explain the large number of properties for sale in the area (?)

You think Laramies windy then visit Livingston sometime. Your beer will literally fly away if youre not careful

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by Yankeemama

So you want to put a border around Montana because in your eyes it's not a state? If the rest of us got overcrowded it's because we live in states so Montana is going to have to deal like the rest of us.

???

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by robcat33

You think Laramies windy then visit Livingston sometime. Your beer will literally fly away if youre not careful

Very familiar with it - nice place, but that wind would make it inhospitable for us.

2 out of 4 trips back and forth through there earlier this year in the process of moving, the pass was closed due to wind.

They could replace the windsocks with chains and they'd still sail

[Reziac]

[mjstef]

What i don't get is WHY people keep moving their without any housing lined up. I left the Flathead Valley after 12 years as prices where ridiculous and wages sucked even as a small business owner. Hell my business insurance alone went from $6,750 a year to $2,080 a year when i left Montana for Wisconsin. Taxes are 40% less and housing is 1/3rd. My daughter makes $3 an hour more as a CNA in Wisconsin as well. Montana, Poverty with a view but you can't eat the scenery!!!!