Why I Don’t Regret Moving To Montana
Even as we continue to cover the migrations from the west coasters to the Treasure State, it's hard to argue against the assets Montana has to offer residents, whether you've lived here your whole life or you just got your "Montana Card." What does Montana have that other states don't? Well, I'm happy you asked.
Stepping Out Of Your Comfort Zone
This doesn't mean getting to know people who think differently than you do, though in my experience doing so is much easier in person than it is in a social media echo chamber. The outdoor lifestyles Montana offers are well-documented, but what I appreciate are the opportunities like these to step outside of your comfort zone and START LIVING for Pete's sake:
Metropolis? No Thanks
City life can be great if you grew up there, or if the fast-paced action of dodging trolley buses and taxis suits you. However even the biggest cities like Missoula (73,489 residents as of 2020) have wonderful small-town feels. Even downtown we can get glimpses of the mountains and sky, instead of a giant maze of concrete and steel. If you need inspiration on any given day in Montana, look up.
Dealing With The Weather
Montana seems like a happy medium in the northern U.S. as far as temperature and weather goes. While things could be better in terms of river levels for our paddleboarders and tubers in the summertime, things also could be a lot worse:
- It's not too hot in the summer (like in Arizona)
- It's not too rainy in the spring (like In Washington)
- We have to deal with wildfire smoke, but it's less than what California deals with
- We have more snow than the Midwest, but nowhere near the incessant Iowa winds, especially in winter
Nothing like sitting in your car while your Iowa apartment heats up at -20°, listening to the radio blaring over the howling wind.
There's so much I'm grateful for as a Montana resident, even though I've only lived here since 2021. And I'm happy to share the experience with you.
What's your "nope, won't leave Montana because ________" dealbreaker? Let us know in the comments or use the app to text us.