_StationWagon_

Hey y'all, we're making plans to leave the North East: closed our eyes, twirled the map and came down squarely on Montana. I know zero about MT, but we've been doing some reading about the area around Billings - with a wide net. This isn't going to happen this year, but the more research we do, the more we can make sound plans. My partner is ex-military so that helps, but I'll welcome any & all opinions, advice, tips, warnings, shout-outs ... whatever concerning this general area.

We're sick of Jersey life. I want a simpler existence, don't mind making less money. Not looking for anything even remotely like Jersey. Snowy is a plus: we have 4 (4x4) vehicles between us, 2 lifted - '09 Tundra, Durango, XJ, CJ7 - so we'll be able to get around pretty much anywhere.

So what can anyone tell me about the people, jobs, cost of living, wheeling, housing ... you name it, I wanna know it!
Thx.

hicksc

well hope you enjoy the cold. montana is wonderfull but word of advice dont tell anyone your not from montana. Montana needs to stay unpopulated the problem is people move there to excape the city or there states and when they get there they want to change everything. dont do it! if your going to complain about dirt roads and the way things are do everyone a favor and dont move! now on the other hand if your looking for a simpler way of life and dont mind a slower pace of living by all means have fun. Just remember the people of montana are proud and will not be looked down on. ok so weather is fun if you enjoy amazing scenery and lots of cold weather its great the outdoor activities are amazing no better place in the world. there is a saying if you dont like the weather wait 5 min and it will change that applies to montana. hunting fishing and wheeling are everywhere if you get in good with the locals you will be set. if ya have any questions let me know. Have fun!

4.3L XJ

That kind of advice is good anywhere you move to.

_StationWagon_

Chances are as soon as they look at me they'll know I'm not from Montana!
I think I can deal with the cold - and as for dirt roads, that's what my XJ is for. I've done the "simple" life living - I was born into it on a little island ... somewhere. But where we are now, nothing is simple. I'm tired of working 10-12 hour days, never having weekends off, can't get time off to go wheeling - or having to travel 5+ hours for some good crawling. I (we) are sick of bad drivers & tourists from New York, of the crime & watching the clock, of the Casinos & the hookers.

Really all we're looking for is enough work to pay insurance on the vehicles and keep a roof over our heads & food on the table. Life has come full circle & it's time to slow down before it's too late to enjoy the things we love. Or find new things to enjoy. Changing things is not what we're about. Getting lost in the culture is more like it.

So ... now that I've survived my first lecture, back to my first post: how hard is it to find work in the area(s) I mentioned above? Any & all information will be happily absorbed .

Coach

Most of the better paying jobs in the billings area are at the refineries and it could be very difficult to find work because you are not a "local", I got my job because I knew someone there otherwise I would not have been considered because of where I lived, most Montanans are very friendly but are very set in their ways, I moved here because the values and political views are the same as mine. Eastern MT is very conservative and Western MT is becoming very liberal. Snow is guaranteed. Good luck.

_StationWagon_

Really the political views anywhere won't bother me unless someone gets in my face & calls me out. Live & let live, liberal or conservative. I hope the "set in their ways" and the part about not getting a job due to being an "outsider" would not be the way things are always done. We all have to eat. I'm resigned to the fact that I'll never be rich, so a lucrative job is not what I'm looking for. But I'm used to working for everything I own so as long as it pays the bills, good enough (and rent is not on the horizon. We hope to buy). Medical insurance of some sort is a must.

But what about the weather? I know this isn't earthquake land, tornado alley or hurricane city. I love snow, the more the better so that's not a problem. And wheeling? Are there legal wheeling spots around?

Coach

Weather is very different here and changes almost by the minute. We've had more tornado watches this summer than they've had in years, Billings had a big one do a lot of damage in June but they are very rare. Hail is a huge issue that the locals just take for granted, believe me you'll want to at least have covered parking for all your rigs. Snow, cold, wind, ice are all guaranteed, how much nobody can predict until it happens, where I'm at -50*F is a possibility without the wind. The people are friendly and have accepted me and my family without any issues. If you are already living where you plan to live and look for work you probably won't have any issues with being from somewhere else as they won't know until they get to know you. I had issues because I was trying to find work while living out of state. Good luck to you, it's a great place to live, life is a lot slower, family values are ranked very high. Coach.

OverlandZJ

Montana is awesome, got to see some of it and Wyoming a few years back.

Good Luck L!! Hope you find something soon.

Rented a few cabins in Montana's National Forests, this one being outside Dillon.

_StationWagon_

Hey Buddy, how are you? We have a lot of planning to do, and some saving too. But you can't plan too soon.
So how's the wheeling in Montana? Is that log house the rental? And is that an outhouse in the background? Doesn't look much like a forest right there ... .

OverlandZJ

Not all of Montana is heavily forested, same with Wyoming, Colorado etc. Some parts are similar to the high plains. My bud bought 30 acres in SE Wyoming and doesnt even own a tree.

Yes, thats a FS rental cabin.. cost me $25 per night. Thats is a new outhouse in the background.

I did not seek out harder 4wd trails out there, opted more for the scenic stuff. But they do have some nice wheelin.

Do a search (Montana/Wyoming) at NAXJA under my username and you'll find a thread with a bunch of pics.

OverlandZJ

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthrea...ontana+wyoming

weaselguys

Hey station wagon don't let the comments above bother you I moved here from northern california in 1993 and californians are hated every where. I live SW of Billings and work there every day ,its the biggest city and has the most employment opprotunities , there many areas in smaller towns within commuting distance (60 mi in Mont) to live the quit life and great areas to wheel with in 75mi .What kind of work do you do ? If you are a conservative or moderate Id like to welcome you to the area if your a lib and nobodys perfect, hang around with me and Ill' convert you. As a side note what do you think of your old tire carrier ?

_StationWagon_

Ha! That's great - forgot you were in Montana. I try to avoid politic and all its pitfalls. Personally I think they're all the same. Very few -if any- politicians actually care about you-n-me.

Tire carrier looks great ... it's not red anymore! Glad you were able to figure out the mounting. So when you gonna lift that XJ?

weaselguys

Probably this next year ,this is my old one with 200,000 mi but I plan on going up 2-3" on this one. My other one is 5" and Im going to go to 6". There are 2 good 4X4 clubs in Billings and 2 years in a row they have held a Jeep Jamboree in the Bighorn Mtns in Wyo ,which is a easy drive from Billings.

_StationWagon_

Great. I'm glad to hear that there is club activity there. Wouldn't want the ol' XJ to go to waste. It won't be right now, but a move from South Jersey is definitely in the works. I am so sick of things down here, and the "East-Coast-mentality".