What's it like living in MT?

[FamilyJ]

Thnaks everyone...I see a common thread here: great place and people, but look out for the cost of living.

TONKAT: I'm with you, bud! Texas has been great to me, but lately it's turned into more like Los Angelos than Texas (no offense to LA Cruisers). The low cost of living in Texas always offset lack of quality of life pertaining to real outdoor-life, but prices are up all over the place so I'm wondering why I'm still here.

Keep the input coming, people! This potential move is a real deal, and I'll probably have to make a decision in the next two weeks.

[VoodooRocky]

Mud Draggin' previously said:

Interstate 95 runs right through the north side of town.

Jerry

Not trying to be a smart ass Jerry but it's interstate 90 and it runs east west not that all your other Montana information isn't right up to snuff!!! Voo

[1911]

tonkat previously said:

Don't get me wrong, I love TX and my family is there, but I'm a strong advocate for getting out and seeing other places, leaving your 'comfort' zone. I've always wanted to go to Montana because of its notorious beauty and the atmosphere there, but just haven't had the chance yet. Instead, we're moving to Alaska in May

FamilyJ previously said:

Texas has been great to me, but lately it's turned into more like Los Angelos than Texas (no offense to LA Cruisers).

Texas has been very very good to me and all my kids were born here. There is much to appreciate and love about Texas - but in my 27 years here I've never completely adjusted to the heat and humidity in the summer, and the mountains are too far away. We are building a second home in New Mexico and as soon as my youngest graduates from high school we will be moving there permanently.

FamilyJ, if it were me I would go for the quality of life over the money but I guess it depends on how big of a pay cut you have to take. When I was gainfully employed I had a policy of never taking a new job without a raise over what I was currently making but my perspective has changed somewhat since then.

Tonkat, I lived in Alaska 30 years ago and LOVED it. The only thing about Alaska is that it is so far away from family, friends, or anything else in the lower 48. Also, when I was there cars, food, and consumer items were very expensive since they had to come from so far away but possibly that is different now. Best of luck in any event.

[Mud Draggin']

VoodooRocky previously said:

Not trying to be a smart ass Jerry but it's interstate 90 and it runs east west not that all your other Montana information isn't right up to snuff!!! Voo

90 - 95 who's counting LOL

And a correction to a correction of my bad.........it does run east/west, but I was referring to the general location of the hiway vs the direction Probably much more information than he wanted anyway.
Jerry

[Tom and Elaine]

Okay there is more to Montana than Kalispell and Missoula. Some of us think the real Montana is Central Montana, but that's our opinion because we have lived here all of our lives. Cost of living is probably in all reality no better or worse than any where else. Bought gas today for $3.19 a gallon for regular. Great sunrises, better sunsets. Wind blows once in a while but it cleans things up. Taxes are too high, wages too low, and I wish they would fix the streets. Other than that its GREAT!!!! Tom and Elaine

[Woodsman]

Woodsman would try to negotiate a higher salary before deciding and look closer at the housing/property situation. . . maybe call some real estate places and do some additional internet searching.

[SKIBUMM]

Selling medical equipment I go to Montana at least once a month. I have a very good freind that lives in Lolo MT which is just outside of Missoulas an I can tell you the place is awesome. Montana is my second favorite state. The hunting is great the skiing out of MIssoulla is just OK nothing speacial. You would need to got Bridger Bowl or Big Sky in my opionion to get the best sking MT has to offer. IF I were picking a location it would be anywhere from Hamilton up to Kalispell that whole range that runs through MIssoula is spectacular. I think that housing is a bit high but other than that I think form what I have experienced it is very similar to anywhere in the west. DO IT you will have no regrets unloess your wife needs to shop at Nordstroms, Etc.

[FamilyJ]

Thanks everyone! I'm going to MT this week for some face-to-face meetings and really size up the opportunity. I'll take Woodsman's advice and seek some more compensation--what good is living in a nice place if you can't afford to enjoy it (I remember seeing a lot of people in this situation while I worked in Colorado for a couple years).

Thanks! I'll let you know how it goes...

[1-t]

Lived in Bozeman for a while. Only moved away because the fellow I was working for passed away and could not find another job. Wages are low and cost of living is not low in comparison. As with any job negotiate the best pay you can.

Now that the money part is out of the way let me put in my two cents about life in Montana. Every week there was something interesting to do. It did not matter what the weather was, something was going on. There is also a great feeling of community which you can join or be separated from. Actually I could write a list of things that are reasons to move to Montana. They range from the people to some very good restaurants. I have lived in a lot of places in the US, England, Ireland, Singapore, Italy and now Tokyo. Bozeman MT I have to say was the most exciting and enjoyable.

[Tom and Elaine]

keep coming east from Bozeman and find the rest and best of Montana