Possibly moving to Bozeman, Montana. What's the downside? What's the upside?

MJB

WKR
Joined
Jun 18, 2020
Location
San Diego
Job and money is secure.
No sales tax, winter is a bitch but I love to sled I'm good to go so is the dog. No kids X wife is on her own
 
The downside;

Your appearance.

You need to grow a mustache. You must wear some type of fishing brand flat brim. Carhart or Filson plaid button up shirts. Extremely tight jeans and some type of zero drop leather shoes.

Your transportation, plan on a 4Runner or a Subaru wagon. The hard platic fly fishing rod holder must be installed on the roof rack.

Your gear. Full suite of Firstlite clothing to be worn while hunting and fishing but also around town. 6.5 CM with some flavor of Leupold or Vortex optic on top. Better have a Tipi with a stove also.

This should get you to at least fit in and get your feet wet.

Housing. Expect to pay NYC real estate prices for rent or to purchase a home.

The upside.........











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Bozangeles. It is pretty busy, but may not be depending where you are coming from. Housing is really expensive, lot of trust funders. Bridger bowl is great, big sky close. Fishing is good, hunting is good if you can get out of the crowd. Good mountain biking as well. Plenty of rivers with decent kayaking.

Lived there for 7 years in late 90’s to 05, was great then. Too busy for me now. If you can afford it and take the crowds and scene you will like it.

If I was to go back that direction I would look at Three Forks and commute. Been awhile since I have been to Livingston, used to be a little cheaper and great recreation as well. It is windy.

Oh yeah, I'm sure it's like any other Western mountain town and guys outnumber girls 5 to 1. If you're single and not a top 10%er keep that in mind. And even if you are it's not your girl, it's just your turn.
The old saying we had was women are like parking spots, they are either taken or handicapped.
 
Job and money is secure.
No sales tax, winter is a bitch but I love to sled I'm good to go so is the dog. No kids X wife is on her own
Every 5th person is a trust funder from California, they drive like idiots, and it is dumb expensive to buy a house.
 
I dread every time I have to go to Bozeman or drive through Bozeman. It is one big cluster f*. I'm probably not a good gauge though because the changes in Livingston are stressing me out. I might be moving to one of the many abandoned towns before long 😁
 
Downside: Imagine a bunch of wine moms with treating their spoiled rotten dogs like their spoiled rotten kids.

And like everyone else says, housing is riidiculously expensive.

Upside: good food, breweries, and outdoor stuff.
 
It’s not bad man. It’s really expensive for no reason whatsoever. Housing is stupid and rents are even worse. Outside activities are solid. Fishing has become one of my least favorites in the rivers anymore. I backpack fish now and leave the rivers for the trustas and the tourists. Hunting is good. Lots of public but also lots of private with a majority of the critters. If you play your cards right you can get access but it’s getting harder like anywhere else. Skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, climbing, mountain biking , backpacking, trail running…. Take your pick. I’ve been here off and on for 22 years. When I can find a place I can move my business to that makes sense I won’t be sad to see Bozeman in my rear view mirror . However the new folks moving here love it so maybe you’d feel that way too. Cheaper living is going to be towards three forks, Whitehall, willow creek, Harrison and pony. Livingston and park county are becoming ridiculous cost wise like Bozeman. If you have money or have a high paying gig you’ll be fine. Overall it’s a good place. Politics are interesting these days. I’m one of the crusty ones out here so I prefer the old days for the hunting and fishing. But for business and the way the area is growing and the wealth moving here you can capitalize very well. So you take the good with the bad and make the best out of it. I see you’re from CA. Locals aren’t the biggest fans so don’t expect to be greeted with open arms. That being said if you decide to move to Bozeman it will be pretty easy to transition since no one in that town is from here for the most part. Montana is a pretty amazing place. Good luck on your move
 
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Compared to San Diego it won't feel so crowded/expensive as many here indicate. I spent a LOT of time there growing up and loved it. I'm not in CA and would go there if the right career opportunity came along. I would say go for it.
 
As an outsider looking in I would say pretty much cost of living. If you are one of the lucky ones to land a good paying job you will probably have a good time.

Everyone will tell you that the good times were ten years ago, ten years from now they will still be telling you the good times were ten years ago.

Good times were 30 years ago. Wow, it’s was actually 30 years ago that I lived there! Doesn’t seem that long.


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The town, or the region.area? Lots of options within 60" of Bozeman if you don't live right in town, if you want to be more rural or less people. Tons of outdoor options, winters are tough. Montana folk are very practical and down to earth people, for people that have moved into region in past 10 yrs, might be more hit and miss
 
 
Nothing is what it was. Not Bozeman, San Francisco, Sheridan, Truckee etc. it sucks, but it’s how it is. Bozeman offers incredible outdoor opportunity within an hour year round. It also offers all the amenities of a nice town. With that comes money, people and shitty political ideas. As an outsider, it seems to me they are ahead of most places in managing the growth. Not perfect, but I watched first hand failure in the Truckee/Tahoe area. There appears to remain a decent conservative mindset compared to a place like Missoula. Granted, my exposure is as a tourist and time visiting my daughter in school there, but I would move there tomorrow if I could convince my wife. Maybe next year when the second kid starts school there. And if I end up there, I guarantee I will have more experience and expertise with horses, flyfishing, hunting, skiing and general outdoor aptitude than the vast majority of residents. I bet I am also much more conservative than most. But because I come from Ca, many simple minded people will view me as the problem. Change and growth seems to be inevitable in great places. If you decide to move there, move there because of what it is/was, not because you want to make it different. Your ideas are best left behind in Ca. Let Montana teach you what works there and why.
 
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