School me on Idaho/Montana...thinking of relocation.

[zer0netgain]

I'm cross posting this in two regional forums, but I hope most will post replies here.

I'm living in Virginia, and it's not bad, but there is really not much opportunity here to justify staying.

I've always felt an attraction to the Montana/Idaho area.  I'm debating if it would be worth it to live there.

I take as a given that the riding season would be much shorter than I'm used to.  I spent over 3 years in Wyoming and had no real issues, but Wyoming is pretty much a desert for a good part of the state, so it got cold and windy, but rarely did we see a lot of snow that stuck around.  Idaho and Montana might not be the same.

The attached map gives an idea of what I consider to be an desirable region to consider for relocation.

Mostly, if I make the move, my big concern is reliable employment.  I'm only making $25K/year right now, and I'd like to make more, but I'd hate to make less.  I prefer rural living, and HATE big cities...although I know from prior trips that "big" cities aren't that common.

I just don't know the area well enough to tell what towns/cities I should target.  I'm really thinking about a trip to this area next summer just to try and do some serious job hunting...maybe get something lined up.  Looking online is a pain, and I can't go running back and forth for job interviews from this distance.

I'd be take on any I have some aptitude for, and I'd be willing to learn a new trade if I had to, but doing that via formal schooling is out mostly because I just can't swing the cost being charged by most schools.

Any advice?

[Orson]

I have a friend who lives in Missoula and really likes it...liberal, hippie, college town.

But if you're looking for work, you need to eschew "nice" places.

The jobs are in places where no one wants to live, like West Texas and North Dakota  

[Sputnik]

I suppose it depends what type of work you want. Bozeman, Missoula, and Kalispell are all nice towns where there will be a relatively wide range of jobs, especially in the service sector. Libby is not bad if you want something a little more out of the way. And Helena is pretty with a wider array of government employment. My first choice would be Bozeman. In Idaho, Coeur d'Alene is great (and expensive),  and so is Sandpoint.  But Wallace Idaho is one of the coolest little places ever...with good micro-brews and probably no jobs.
My impression is that real estate is considerably more expensive in Montana than it is in Idaho.
But most of the area you show in the map is some awesome riding. You will not be disappointed.

[XLR8]

What kind of work do you do?

There's not much happening in Boise now unless you are extremely good at technology.

[zer0netgain]

For the last 7 years, I've been stuck in clerical work.  I'm good at it, but I really wouldn't mind doing something different.

A lot of minor IT work for the office with the building, maintaining of the PCs and IT network.

I've been good with photos and video, but nothing beyond amateur.

I've done case management work for a short time.  I've tended vending machines on a delivery route.  I've done lots of odd jobs.

So long as I can make a livable wage comparable to what I'm making now, I'd do just about anything other than sales work (I'm simply not good with humans...I'm better with inanimate objects).

I'm really itching for a change, and my efforts to find something better around here hasn't produced jack shit in five years.

I've been wanting to move out west again for the last 3-4 years.

[OMJunk]

The area of your map is beautiful riding country, but by my standards, COLD. My daughter lived near Kalispell for 10 years and finally decided to move to Oregon where it is warmer. She once invited me to a fishing tournament in MT by saying it was "a  balmy 15* below zero."

[Eric308]

If I were younger and single I'd be in Williston, ND for awhile. It's a total boom town for the time being. I met a young guy on the Amtrak last month who lived in Kalispell, MT and worked three weeks on and a week off (he was heading home for his week off)....anyway, he was making 130K as a truck driver for Haliburton there in Williston. Hard work, horrible weather, but stick it out for a couple of years and you could go live anywhere.
   I lived in Kalispell for awhile and know that NW portion of Montana pretty well. Not many jobs, but I'd hunt up something out there at the ski resorts if I were you. You have Whitefish Mountain near Kalispell, Bridger Bowl and Big Sky south of Bozeman.  These days most of those resorts have big summer programs, so it wouldn't be a seasonal job.

[UHOH]

I'm really itching for a change, and my efforts to find something better around here hasn't produced jack shit in five years.

I've been wanting to move out west again for the last 3-4 years.

then do it.
But, you can't get a job in MT unless you live in MT, because so many MT residents want jobs or want to move back.

Plan B.  keep current job short term, suggest you take all your vacation in a single lump and fly or amtrak (to NW MT) out there, rent cheapest car, bring sleep bag/resume as necessary
and then scope it out yourself.  nobody on internet here could reliably justify your quitting a job for (not so great) job prospects ID/MT.   But you can make your own way,
and I like the area, myself.  recreationally, in summer.  Nextdoor ND said to have oilfield jobs available, w/o housing available though.  luck

[Eric308]

then do it.
But, you can't get a job in MT unless you live in MT, because so many MT residents want jobs or want to move back.

Plan B.  keep current job short term, suggest you take all your vacation in a single lump and fly or amtrak (to NW MT) out there, rent cheapest car, bring sleep bag/resume as necessary
and then scope it out yourself.  nobody on internet here could reliably justify your quitting a job for (not so great) job prospects ID/MT.   But you can make your own way,
and I like the area, myself.  recreationally, in summer.  Nextdoor ND said to have oilfield jobs available, w/o housing available though.  luck

Housing is at a premium, but many of the larger companies have built work camps. The kid I mentioned above lives in one and pays no room and board. Good suggestion about hopping on the Amtrak. Make your way to Chicago and take the Empire Builder west to Whitefish, MT.  Cost you about $130. It's also a beautiful trip....in fact, you could even get off in Williston, ND and start your job.

[Ack535]

2 Years ago I attended a work seminar in Boise ID. I absolutely loved the area! People were nice, economy was good, Boise had the college town feel, plus it is the state capitol (read lots of Govt. jobs).

If I were young, and without a family, I would move to Boise. Oh, did I mention spectacular mountains, mild climate, and great motorcycling!

[Eric308]

2 Years ago I attended a work seminar in Boise ID. I absolutely loved the area! People were nice, economy was good, Boise had the college town feel, plus it is the state capitol (read lots of Govt. jobs).

If I were young, and without a family, I would move to Boise. Oh, did I mention spectacular mountains, mild climate, and great motorcycling!

I also agree on Boise. I worked over in Ketchum, ID (Sun Valley) and it was my favorite town of all the places I've lived (24 states by age 40)....yeah, I was a ski bum nomad.

[Ack535]

After reading some of the ADV riding posts in the Boise area, Boise is a place I would definately move to. Hmnn, I can retire in 14 years...

[Meemuh]

So - I don't know your further-back background...but my old neighbor moved several years ago to Montana to work for a great big potato farm.  Yes, Montana - not Idaho (although I understand they grow potatoes in Idaho as well).

Granted, he grew up a farm boy - so he had practical experience.  I honestly don't know what he did as a grown up over here, but I think he moved to get back into farming - which leads me to believe that he was doing some non-farming work here.

One thing I know - peeps gotta eat, whether it's potatoes or horse - so the work would always be there.

Of course...seems to me the farming life would seriously cut into riding time - what with the long days during the spring, summer & fall.  Probably more of a hunter's relocation idea.

Oh well - at least I'm subscribed to this thread now.

[bljakkl]

I'm from Missoula and go back several times a year.  Every summer I get the itch to move back (ya know, during the 3 months when it's beautiful there and 115 degrees in Las Vegas.  But seeing jobs working for the university paying $30k and asking for a bachelors or masters degree is depressing.  You can make good money driving trucks or working some of the few union jobs left.  Housing also didn't drop as far as some places in the country.
But for beautiful riding, even in the shortened season, it's tough to beat.  Like an above poster mentioned, take your vacation and see what you can find.  Small one bedroom apartments can be had for around $500 per month, maybe a little more.  

Good luck.

[rino]

Here's the short n sweet response...feel free to email me if you have any more q's.  

I lived in Missoula for 8 years.  Decent town, moderate amount of stuff to do but the town doesn't do a lot for me.  One thing I don't like about Missoula is every other corner there is a casino.  Serious...  Missoula has slightly milder weather as it's sheltered a bit but it suffers from poor air inversions, much less of a problem now since they closed down the pulp mill.  Good hiking, hunting, fishing etc and decent riding.

Billings:  I lived there for 2 years...little bigger town, maybe a few more job opportunities but I didn't really like the town too much.  I'm an outdoor nut and it has the wyoming feel.  A little lacking for fishing unless you visit the Bighorn (one of my fav's).  Riding will be more boring...little less curves, little more open road.

Bozeman: lived here for the last 4 years.  By far one of the nicer towns.  It's kinda a rich/poor, movie star/college town near yellowstone.  Better hunting and fishing etc but longer winters with snow staying on the ground longer.  The bike sits in the garage from Oct - May with a few nice days.  It's high altitude and winters are long unless you like winter-sports.  Housing prices are a bit inflated and jobs are not bountiful but there are decent jobs if you look hard.  We're toying with the idea of relocating south (maybe Boulder Co / front range) as I'm craving milder winters yet still 4 seasons and the outdoor stuff.

feel free to email if you want.  danr406@gmail.com

dan

[XLR8]

2 Years ago I attended a work seminar in Boise ID. I absolutely loved the area! People were nice, economy was good, Boise had the college town feel, plus it is the state capitol (read lots of Govt. jobs).

If I were young, and without a family, I would move to Boise. Oh, did I mention spectacular mountains, mild climate, and great motorcycling!

With respect, I am not sure what you were presented at the work seminar, but the economy here isn't what I would call "good". Every good large company that used to be "the place" to work for here has had major layoffs and is struggling to sustain their operations in way that looks favorable to the investment community. There is very little innovation happening except for a handful of small companies. Unemployment is high and state officials will report that it is falling, but that's only because people are leaving the area.

There are some opportunities in government, and there always seems to be room for one more attorney. There are also opportunities for software developers/engineers and traditional engineers. If you come here thinking that you will wait it out and land that high paying job, you will be disappointed. Boise's heyday is over for a while.

This would however be a great place for self-starting entrepreneur looking to start their own small business with something unique to offer. The demographic responds well to that... unless it's a restaurant!

[scottzilla]

They kill wolves there.

[XLR8]

They kill wolves there.

"They" do. And it sucks.