Beekissed
Mountain Sage
I want to move to Montana! Anyone on here from there and can you tell me what its like...particularly west of the Rockies? Plenty of water, good soil, trees? Cost of living?
Where do you live and how does that help/hinder self-sufficiency?
- Thread starter annmarie
- Start date
miss_thenorth
Frugal Homesteader
Lol, Hubby and I have talked about this many times! Montana sounds beautiful, although I have never been there. Maybe we could be neighbours, right after "we" win the lotteryBeekissed said:
VT-Chicklit
Lovin' The Homestead
I live on a little island (7 X 3 miles) in the middle of Lake Champlain in Vermont. Do I live anywhere near you, annmarie?
Pros:
-Year round population of island is 450 residents
-Quaint country roads
-4 distinct seasons
-Snow in the winter
-Living next to my family
-Live on a private road
-Don't need to see anyone if I don't wish to
-Beautiful lake views
-Room for a garden
Cons:
-Summer population of island 5000+ on a holiday weekend
-Gapeing bicyclers on the quaint country roads riding 4 abreast
-One of the four seasons is "mud season"
-White out conditions off the lake in the winter
-Living next to my family
-We have to plow and maintain our private road
-All the city amenities (supermarkets, resteraunts, stores) are about 30 miles (at least) away.
-We pay higher tax rates (the regular tax rate is too high) for the beautiful lake view
-Jobs are quite a distance away and the wages do not off set the cost of gas
Pros:
-Year round population of island is 450 residents
-Quaint country roads
-4 distinct seasons
-Snow in the winter
-Living next to my family
-Live on a private road
-Don't need to see anyone if I don't wish to
-Beautiful lake views
-Room for a garden
Cons:
-Summer population of island 5000+ on a holiday weekend
-Gapeing bicyclers on the quaint country roads riding 4 abreast
-One of the four seasons is "mud season"
-White out conditions off the lake in the winter
-Living next to my family
-We have to plow and maintain our private road
-All the city amenities (supermarkets, resteraunts, stores) are about 30 miles (at least) away.
-We pay higher tax rates (the regular tax rate is too high) for the beautiful lake view
-Jobs are quite a distance away and the wages do not off set the cost of gas
miss_thenorth
Frugal Homesteader
I noticed living next to your parents were both pros and cons. 
Homesteadmom
Frugal Homesteader
But "it's a dry heat"!FarmerChick said:Did I mention HOT!!!!!!!!
********HOT, oh is it hot where you are....you didn't say...HA HA HA HA
NC is sure hot but not like your AZ weather!
you had me cracking up!
I need a little moisture in the air thank you.
Woodland Woman
Almost Self-Reliant
I live in Missouri outside the St. Louis area.
Advantages:
Close proximity to stores, hospitals, jobs, etc...
Farmers/Flea Markets
Cost of living isn't too bad.
Four seasons usually mild but can have weather extremes.
Growing season is good.
Neutral:
Land prices can vary widely. Closer to the city it can be very expensive.
Farther out where it is more rural acres run from about $8,000 to $15,000.
In very rural areas in Missouri you can purchase land a lot cheaper.
Disadvantages:
Ticks
Mosquitoes
Hot humid summers
There can be ice storms, tornados, and flooding in certain areas.
It can be difficult to find a place where the zoning meets your needs.
Most over 3 acres are zoned for horses but some don't allow chickens,
goats, sheep, cattle, or pigs and it can vary a lot.
There are many new subdivisions popping up all over the place.
Overall I think you can be self-sufficient.
Advantages:
Close proximity to stores, hospitals, jobs, etc...
Farmers/Flea Markets
Cost of living isn't too bad.
Four seasons usually mild but can have weather extremes.
Growing season is good.
Neutral:
Land prices can vary widely. Closer to the city it can be very expensive.
Farther out where it is more rural acres run from about $8,000 to $15,000.
In very rural areas in Missouri you can purchase land a lot cheaper.
Disadvantages:
Ticks
Mosquitoes
Hot humid summers
There can be ice storms, tornados, and flooding in certain areas.
It can be difficult to find a place where the zoning meets your needs.
Most over 3 acres are zoned for horses but some don't allow chickens,
goats, sheep, cattle, or pigs and it can vary a lot.
There are many new subdivisions popping up all over the place.
Overall I think you can be self-sufficient.
enjoy the ride
Sufficient Life
Anywhere it's not city (which is getting harder to find I know) is fine with me- I'm fortunate to live where I would want to be if I didn't live here and was wishing to find the ideal spot.
Ocean, mountains, forests- can it get better?
Well- maybe no earthquakes
Ocean, mountains, forests- can it get better?
Well- maybe no earthquakes
Gravelcreekfarms
Enjoys Recycling
Central Nebraska
Disadvantages
Bitterly cold in winter/blast furnice in summer
Tornadoes/hail/high winds
sandy soil
lack of good medical care
uncertain growing season
bugs,bugs and more bugs!!
high taxes
high land prices (in some areas)
Advantages
You'll get a crash course in self sufficiency here. Phone service is often down for a week. Our road into town(16 miles away) has room for only one vehicle. There is no ambulance or fire service, so you call the neighbor that has the rural fire truck. If you need an ambulance you call the nearest neighbor that has a van. If the phone service is out,then you take your truck and a horse trailer to get a person out. (we've actually had to do this) You have to stay healthy and keep your wits about you.
Now that I think about it-WHY DO I LIVE HERE!?!
Maybe because it is a challenge and it's a little bit like living on the last frontier. As you can tell I do have a computer,so that does keep me sane. I hope to get a page up and running on pictures from the farm both past and present so anyone that's interested can see what it's like.
Disadvantages
Bitterly cold in winter/blast furnice in summer
Tornadoes/hail/high winds
sandy soil
lack of good medical care
uncertain growing season
bugs,bugs and more bugs!!
high taxes
high land prices (in some areas)
Advantages
You'll get a crash course in self sufficiency here. Phone service is often down for a week. Our road into town(16 miles away) has room for only one vehicle. There is no ambulance or fire service, so you call the neighbor that has the rural fire truck. If you need an ambulance you call the nearest neighbor that has a van. If the phone service is out,then you take your truck and a horse trailer to get a person out. (we've actually had to do this) You have to stay healthy and keep your wits about you.
Now that I think about it-WHY DO I LIVE HERE!?!
Maybe because it is a challenge and it's a little bit like living on the last frontier. As you can tell I do have a computer,so that does keep me sane. I hope to get a page up and running on pictures from the farm both past and present so anyone that's interested can see what it's like.
