As some of you may remember, I joined the USN in 2014. I'm 5 years into it and while it's about like being back in high school sometimes it's rewarding and fun. I've seen California (Monterey), Oahu and now Korea. I'm full steam ahead to do all 20 and retire at 50 years old. I'll continue past 50 as long as I can stand it but really want to enjoy as much life as possible while I'm still young you know

Anyway, my wife and I have decided that Western Montana will be our final destination and I'm looking right now around the Anaconda/Deer Lodge area.

I have no way of predicting where technology will be in 15 years so I can't even begin to guess how "off grid" we will be, we'd like to be more self sustained that reliant on the power company though. I do however know our short term goal is to purchase 20'ish acres before we leave Korea at the end of 2021. The virus and subsequent travel restrictions will prevent us from seeing a bunch of places. We may get one trip in to prospect a bit.

So with all that said, I have a short list of questions I've gathered doing my research but being a full time Florida resident for 30 years doesn't help me much in Montana. I know what to look for in florida soil to see if your septic needs more gravel or might have drain problems for example, but in Montana I'm starting from scratch. Good news is we have time. So I'd like to get any locals experiences, advice, tips, random opinions that might help us in deciding what land to purchase.

We're not your typical California transplants looking to start a subdivision. My wife grew up on a dairy farm in Honduras and I'm no stranger to the woods and hard work so we'll do fine I feel.

Looking forward to anything you guys (or gals) would like to add.

It's no longer Montana! Hasn't been since the 80's. I moved when the Californicator's were emigrating during the 80's and 90's and trashing it's rural character just like many places in the West. Despite all the hoopla espoused by the realtors and politicians know that there is little difference between where you are and where you propose to go.
I do visit my relatives there but I would not live there because it breaks my heart to see all the negative changes!

Are you gonna grow dental floss??

For clarification if needed:

Congratulation on your retirement - in 15 years! You'll find the Deer Lodge/Anaconda area wide open, and will welcome new residents. I don't know much about the hydrology of that area, but know someone who does and will put you in contact with him. Anaconda is an interesting area; have to admit my only stops in Deer Lodge are for gas.

You'll find the area surprisingly blue, there's been a big shift from red -> blue.

I lived there back in the 70's. Just outside Hamilton Montana in the Bitteroot mountain valley. It was beyond gorgeous. If I remember correctly (it was the 70's after all) lots of wealthy and celeb types owned huge tracts of land there. Jim Backus had a place just a few miles down the road from me.

Have no idea what it's like now. FNinMT should be along with some solid info.

I spent some time in MT in the 90s with a friend who grew up in Belgrade. I remember then that California was invading. In fact, somewhere I have a picture of a CA car with “relax I’m just visiting” written in the dust on the back window. Last year I was entertaining a job offer that would have relocated me into the Bozeman area and I was shocked at how much it had changed. It still is beautiful country but the Californication of the populace was evident, as was the cost of living.

I wish you well on your next step. You can still find what you’re looking for as long as you stay away from the cities.

I've lived in Montana since 1977. My wife and I lived in Billings for 7 years followed by Lewistown for 20 years and now Kalispell for the balance of our time. We love it.

Billings is a big city (for Montana) and I wouldn't consider it today - too big. Lewistown is close to paradise. Nice summers, lots of sun in the winter but, like the east side of the Rockies, the wind blows. Water is plentiful and you are surrounded by mountains. Great fishing and hunting all around. The economy is based on agriculture so the family farm/ranch is what it's all about. We loved it there. We raised our 2 kids there, who both went through the excellent schools system. I'd highly recommend you take a look at Lewistown.

Now we are just north of Kalispell. 700 bodies of water in our county and homes are expensive. We've been partially Californianized - especially Whitefish where we avoid like the Kungflu. Lots of folks live off the grid north of us in the Polebridge or Yaak areas. Summers are great but winter is warmer than the east side due to constant cloud cover. The wind doesn't blow here like on the east side. As I mentioned, we have lots of water - Flathead Lake, Hungry Horse Reservoir, Lake McDonald, Whitefish Lake (avoid) and many others that you can fish, sail, boat, water ski, etc. We are close to Glacier National Park and have a Costco. (important to many).

Montanans are stand-offish towards newcomers. I'm not talking about those residents who fled other states. I found it takes years to be accepted as a fellow Montanan - especially in non-migrating areas.

I'm happy to help where I can.

Mike

Lots of things can change in 15 years.....

A note of Anaconda trivia:
If you play golf, the Jack Nicklaus designed “Old Works” golf course is located there.

One of the nice things about the area you are considering is that, as the crow flies it’s about the midpoint between two simply grand national parks: Glacier and Yellowstone. Western Montana is beautiful.

If you really want to get away from people while living in Montana, check out Jordan Montana located in Garfield county. About 1200 residents in the entire county that is approx. four times the size of Rhode Island. The largest T Rex skeleton was unearthed there.

While hoping not to offend, it’s getting very hard most anywhere in the inland west that’s near a small city and up or near a resort area, to avoid the californization (or, urban mind-set) that is happening. I think that in the long run the area you are considering will avoid much of that impact. If we did not have the blessing of grandchildren here, moving next door to Montana would be high on my list.

Silent

quote:

Originally posted by TomV:
Lots of things can change in 15 years.....

Agree. I’d start with planning a vacation in areas of question, & wherever else. Look at retirement ratings for the important stuff. State lines can mean something.

Yes, research, no need to jump into anything, it’ll still be there in 15 years.

quote:

Montanans are stand-offish towards newcomers.

I certainly wish more native Washingtonians had had that gene instilled in us. Instead most of us were veritable pushovers when the Californication Effect came. Probably wouldn't have made much of a difference in the long run, but maybe it would lessen that feeling that this place is now a suburb of California...

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Are you gonna grow dental floss??

I wondered if anyone would mention that!

Gonna raise a crop of dental floss?

I've read a lot on city-data and other forums and best I can tell, most places out west are becoming Californized, Californiated?

I've always liked that NW Wyoming, SW Montana area. I'm not sure where else one could find that type of geography without paying hundreds of thousands for land.

We'll definitely take a trip out and check it out, I was planning a New Mexico > Montana trip with my two kid sthis fall but Corona postponed that.

With regards to buying the land too soon before retirement, I'm looking at some very remote places. And I can't imagine anything getting cheaper, so at the minimum I have a 50K hunting cabin if plans change drastically. If we see something that we just don't want to pass on we'll buy it, otherwise we'll be very selective given our time frame.

I'll continue to do research and I'm sure I'll learn a lot when I get there and see it for myself.

Omargosh. I have a buddy who lives in East Helena. He went Florida > California > Idaho > Montana. He seems to like it a lot. And he's a retired hydrologist.

If I might do a thread drift, slightly, what happened to Montana member Gustofer ? Just wondering

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
Are you gonna grow dental floss??

my first thought when I read the thread title

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
If I might do a thread drift, slightly, what happened to Montana member Gustofer ? Just wondering

Looks like he hasn't been around since Oct.