BS: Moving to Montana???

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 07:17 PM

I parked at the Cody, Wyoming chamber of commerce with a Howard Dean bumper sticker on my car. I wondered if I would find the car safe and sound when I returned to it. As one Cody business woman told me, all those liberals in Washington should be lined up and shot by a firing squad.

yikes

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: GUEST, heric
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 07:12 PM

With California plates man.

I once drove through Wyoming with New York plates. It was stranger than Smedley was worried about at the outset of this thread. Still creeps me out to think of it.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: DougR
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 05:44 PM

You mean that's not true!

Heric: Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! You drive a SUV! Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

Shame, Shame on You (Also the title of an old Spade Cooley song).

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 03:15 PM

jokes about having buffalo roaming in town and still having stagecoaches (like in old western movies)

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Wesley S
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 03:08 PM

What jokes?

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 02:06 PM

LOL, ok, now we've mixed the jokes in with the reality so much, you will just have to come here in person to see what it is really like.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: pdq
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 01:49 PM

Remember, even on Main Street, buffalo have the right-of-way.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: GUEST, heric
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 01:43 PM

He still needs his hat and boots, though. Don't mislead him. With the ostrich or caiman skin, a hat, and his accent, I'm sure he'll get a warm welcome. Better then me with the damned California plates on my SUV.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 01:02 PM

Just watch out in the bars when the Rodeo's in town.

Yeah, I dig Albuquerque, too. I daydream about those smothered burritos at Los Arcos. And there's a great little off-beat music venue down on Central at the west end of town.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 12:51 PM

;-)
and the stagecoach usually runs on time, with rarely a holdup by outlaws

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: DougR
Date: 27 Nov 09 - 12:32 PM

I seriously doubt that your teacher friend will be seriously hampered should he take the position in Montana. There are far fewer massacres committed by hostile savage tribes in Montana than there was at one time, and most local citizens can even read and write. There are movie houses and even legitimate theatre. They even have mail delivery.

Bozeman is a beautiful city and there are few wilderness areas that can compete with Yellowstone Park which is nearby. I am told that the graduates of the last class at the university where he would be teaching wore shoes at the graduation ceremony.

Jeeze.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 11:48 PM

Dinosaur dig crews led by paleontologist and curator Jack Horner, science advisor to the Jurassic Park films, excavate fossils which are prepared and studied at the Museum of the Rockies.
click

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 06:44 PM

I agree with art about Albuquerque's climate. Wonderful, and still beautiful mountains to look at there. I almost moved to Santa Fe years back, when my brother lived there, but I returned to Bozeman.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 06:29 PM

There is a Bozeman Folklore Society (check out the links to music, dance, etc)

In the summer, once a week they block off the main street downtown and have a stage for live bands, and thousands of people show up to dance in the street.

Here is a page about Bozeman with many explanatory videos.
thisisbozeman.com

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: artbrooks
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 06:22 PM

On the other hand, I'd be glad to wax poetic on Albuquerque, where a cold winter day is 40 degrees (4C) and the total annual snowfall is measured in inches rather than feet.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: artbrooks
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 06:15 PM

Not me, Mary. Like I said before - brrrrrrrrrrr!

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Maryrrf
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 05:59 PM

This thread is making me feel like moving to Bozeman too!

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 05:13 PM

And Bozeman is right next to Yellowstone National Park. You could make day trips out of Old Faithful and the geysers, hot springs, fumaroles, waterfalls, etc

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 04:56 PM

Yes, Weber mandolins and guitars are made near Bozeman (Logan is a very small town in the valley).

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 04:36 PM

Also

Weber Musical Instruments

come from Montana

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: gnu
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 04:03 PM

Art Brooks... hahahahaa...

Montana... I would seriously consider moving there if I could get a job at the Uni. What a great place for someone who loves the great outdoors.

Culture... I am sure they have culture... if not up to snuff, get a big screen TV or take vacations for such.

Montana... what an opportunity!

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 03:56 PM

Being a University town, we have a diverse population with people from all over the world. That is reflected in the many types of restaurants and diverse entertainers who travel here to perform, lectures at the university, and businesses and non-profits that headquarter here. As others have pointed out, the campus makes this town much different than most small towns in western states.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 03:40 PM

Link to video about Central Asia Institute, based in Bozeman, Montana.


VIDEO Greg Mortenson, Central Asia Institute

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Ebbie
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 03:34 PM

Here is a song I have liked ever since it came out:

Meet Me in Montana

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: katlaughing
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 03:30 PM

One question, is his girlfriend going there with him and, if so, I know with it being a college town there will be diversity, but it might be helpful to include that kind of info.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 03:19 PM

Bozeman has many, many hiking trails from town up into the mountains all around the valley.

Here is a you tube video about one... I hiked to Hyalite when I was in college during the late winter when the snow was deep on the ground. A couple of friends and I camped out on the snow over the weekend and then hiked back down to the road.
This video is of a guy hiking in late Sept this year, when snow came a bit early.

A Hike Up to Hyalite

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 03:05 PM

I think he'll like Bozeman. It's primarily a college town, since Montana State U is there. It is a curious blend of cowboy cultural independence and grit, and mountain hippy liberal and green sensibilities. You might have your friend go to Great Falls or Miles City first to put Bozeman in better perspective. Bozeman is Craig Mortenson of Three Cups of Tea fame's headquarters for the Central Asia Institute, which has put into reality the notion of building schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan villages rather tha blowing them up.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Louie Roy
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 02:58 PM

If you answer yes to any of these questions by all means move to Montana. Do you like four seasons? Are you an outdoor person? Do you like to be around frienly people? Do you enjoy good food especially prime beef? Do you appreciate beautiful scenery? Then by all means move to the big sky country.I lived in western Montana for 30 years until my line of work took me elsewhere. This is a true story while I was living in Montana a friend of mine from New York called me and asked if it was legal to carry a pistol in his car while visiting there and I told him with tongue in cheek Hell no they will stop you at the border and if you don't have a pistol they will give you one

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 02:51 PM

Yes, when I first saw this thread title, I wondered if it referred to Frank Zappa and dental floss!!!


Alice

Subject: Lyr Add: MONTANA (Frank Zappa)
From: pdq
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 02:39 PM

Here is a unique take on the place...



Montana

            ~ Frank Zappa


I might be movin' to Montana soon
Just to raise me up a crop of
Dental Floss

Raisin' it up
Waxen it down
In a little white box
I can sell uptown

By myself I wouldn't
Have no boss,
But I'd be raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

Raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

Well I just might grow me some bees
But I'd leave the sweet stuff
For somebody else...but then, on the other hand I'd

Keep the wax
N' melt it down
Pluck some Floss
N' swish it aroun'

I'd have me a crop
An' it'd be on top (that's why I'M movin' to Montana)

Movin' to Montana soon
Gonna be a Dental Floss tycoon (yes I am)
Movin' to Montana soon
Gonna be a mennil-toss flykune

I'm pluckin' the ol'
Dennil Floss
That's growin' on the prairie
Pluckin' the floss!
I plucked all day an' all nite an' all
Afternoon...

I'm ridin' a small tiny hoss
(His name is MIGHTY LITTLE)
He's a good hoss
Even though
He's a bit dinky to strap a big saddle or
Blanket on anyway
He's a bit dinky to strap a big saddle or
Blanket on anyway
Any way

I'm pluckin' the ol'
Dennil Floss
Even if you think it is a little silly, folks
I don't care if you think it's silly, folks
I don't care if you think it's silly, folks

I'm gonna find me a horse
Just about this big
An' ride him all along the border line

With a
Pair of heavy-duty
Zircon-encrusted tweezers in my hand
Every other wrangler would say
I was mighty grand

By myself I wouldn't
Have no boss
But I'd be raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

Raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss
Raisin' my lonely
Dental Floss

Well I might
Ride along the border
With my tweezers gleamin'
In the moon-lighty night

And then I'd
Get a cuppa cawfee
N' give my foot a push...
Just me 'n the pymgy pony
Over the Dennil Floss Bush

N' then I might just
Jumb back on
An' ride
Like a cowboy
Into the dawn to Montana

Movin' to Montana soon
(Yippy-Ty-O-Ty-Ay)
Movin' to Montana soon

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 02:34 PM

Oh, I mean absolutely to Wesley (one of the most beautiful spots on the planet, the Tetons)

Lots of natural hot springs scattered around Montana, some of them developed into resort spots like Chico Hot Springs (south of Livingston on the way to Yellowstone) and Fairmont Hot Springs (just north of Butte) and Bozeman Hot Springs, on the edge of town here.

click

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 02:29 PM

absolutely

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: open mike
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 02:29 PM

Montana has Hot Springs!
I have been there several
times with my motor home
as there is a mechanic
there who specializes in
the type of vehicle i have.

there is a nice campground
there, and skiing is close.
In fact I hear there is a
light on top of a tall
building there that is
turned on to signal folks
when the ski conditions are
good.
the Gallatin Forest
http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 02:26 PM

Still - it's a day trip. And to one of the most beautiful spots on the planet.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 01:51 PM

There are two main routes from Bozeman to Yellowstone... the north entrance at Gardiner, through Livingston, and the west entrance at West Yellowstone through the Gallatin river canyon.

about 80 miles from Bozeman to Gardiner (Interstate highway to Livingston, then two lane road)
about 89 miles from Bozeman to West Yellowstone (slow, winding but scenic two lane road)

From Bozeman to Jackson Lake Lodge in the middle of the Tetons is 4 and a half hours by one route and 5 and a half hours by another route.


Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 01:23 PM

Alice - How long does it take to get to Yellowstone and the Teatons? A couple of hours?

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 12:43 PM

Public Television Station based at the University in Bozeman (includes BBC news and other BBC programs)

http://www.montanapbs.org/

Public radio station (has BBC news in the late evening) and excellent worldwide news reporting from NPR
Yellowstone Public Radio

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 12:39 PM

Here is a link to the local newspaper:

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/ (Belgrade is a small town next to Bozeman... note the article about the Serbian film makers visiting Belgrade, MT)

Bozeman television stations:

KBZK

KTVM

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Smedley
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 12:29 PM

This is all very insightful & generous. Thanks.


At this rate I think I might be moving there myself!!

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 12:25 PM

maybe this link will work better (cateye cam)

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 12:10 PM

Here is the web cam showing the central part of the campus at Montana State University in Bozeman

http://cateye.msu.montana.edu/


Any cold weather stories you hear.... well, I complain, but the cold snap in winter is well worth the beautiful weather have the rest of the year. Summer time is swimsuit and shorts weather.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 11:58 AM

By the way, my son is the M.C. for the on campus theater (called the Procrastinator) where they show feature films, better than the commercial movies shown at the regular cinemas in town. So, he won't be missing good film viewing.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 11:56 AM

I will send you a PM link to the facebook page for a friend of mine from England who teaches in the film department at Montana State U here in Bozeman. I met him years ago in our Irish session here, as he plays flute. He would be a good connection for your cousin, as he is also a professor at MSU.


Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 11:53 AM

Great town, good U. I've been up there several times; it's about 3 hours north of me. Can be bloody damned cold in the Winter, so bring longies.

Good "natural foods" store, beautiful scenery, laid back town...decent music scene, good local breweries....

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Alice
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 11:52 AM

Smedley,

I have lived in Bozeman since 1970! I have a degree in fine art from Montana State University.

It's a beautiful mountain setting with large valley, rivers, ski areas, a great University that brings in more cultural connections than other towns our size.

I have not read this entire thread, but I will and send you a PM.

The politics in Bozeman are generally more liberal than what you are imagining. (It is not the stereotype gun-toting place you imagine).

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Smedley
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 11:45 AM

This is all very helpful - thanks. And on re-reading my first post I do sound like a ignorant Brit!! In partial defence, I guess that over here we see enough of the really big cities in the U.S. to make some kind of judgement (even if it's selective), but a town of this size doesn't register overseas in any kind of detail.

My cousin isn't very outdoorsy - yet. Part of the appeal of this job is that he wants to 'branch out' in that direction.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: heric
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 11:09 AM

I can't tell how far out of town that applies to. And zillow doesn't seem to have any zip code charts, I guess because it is so small.

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: Wesley S
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 10:52 AM

That median home price could be off due to very rich people having vacation homes there. Isn't the skiing supposed to be good there?

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: heric
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 10:40 AM

They certainly have their university budgeting in order despite the downturn:

http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_441c9cdc-aa14-11de-92ce-001cc4c002e0.html

Subject: RE: BS: Moving to Montana???
From: heric
Date: 26 Nov 09 - 10:26 AM

well that was certainly bad info from some web page about home prices. "Home sale prices slipped in the Bozeman area in 2008 to a median of $308,850, a decline of $18,400 or 5.6 percent from the previous year. . . . From a peak of $340,851 in 2006, Bozeman-area home prices have fallen $32,001 or 9.3 percent in two years." No doubt it is still lower in 2009.

This zillow map makes it appear as if half the town is for sale right now:

http://www.zillow.com/homes/Bozeman.-MT_rb/