This week, I decided to do something difficult. Really difficult. But I’m trying to be appreciative of what I have, rather than constantly lusting after what I cannot. So… without any further introduction, here is 13 Things I Love About Montana. Okay, maybe ‘love’ is a bit harsh for all of these. Hopefully, I’ll actually make it through to number 13.

Thirteen Things I Love About Montana

1. The night sky. I lived in Washington State for several years, and though I loved it there, I never really could see the stars in the sky. Here, I can. And I love it. All I need now is a telescope, or even a pair of binoculars.
2. The sunrises and the sunsets. Goes with the above, but I thought I should split it up. I’ll be lucky to get thirteen things on this list as it is! But god, the sunrises and sunsets are beautiful here.
3. That there’s four seasons here. Sometimes, they get all mixed up, and we get seventy degrees in the middle of what should be Cold Enough To Freeze Atoms, or a snowstorm over Memorial Day, but whatever. It’s Montana. The weather is unpredictable at best.
4. Bread does not mold as fast. On the other hand, it does go dry as a bone real quick.
5. The low crime rate. I have to say, this is a definite plus.
6. Everyone is friendly. (Way too friendly.) Super friendly. (IS this really supposed to be a plus?) And they all know each other, or know someone who does know you or the rest of friends and relatives. The six degrees of separation for people who live in Montana is closer to like, three degrees.
7. Charge accounts. If you don’t shop at a chain store in one of the few “big cities” in Montana, most every store will allow the town/county citizens to “charge it”. They’ll let you pay the bill at the end of the month, interest free. So if you don’t get paid till Friday, but your kids are starving, you can get food without robbing the bank, or your mother.
8. No Sales Tax. This should’ve been #1 on my list. That’s right, there is no sales tax! I love love love love love this, and having grown up here, hate hate hate hate hate sales tax with a passion. It’s cruel and unusual punishment, I swear.
9. Low cost of living. Things tend to be cheaper here. (Because nobody gets paid worth dick, but whatever.) Unless, of course, you shop at a small grocery store like the one in town. Then you’ll pay out your ass for simple things like milk and eggs, but whatever.
10. The scenery. Admittedly, we have a lot of gorgeous spots in Montana. I don’t live in one of them, but I know they’re here, I’ve seen them.
11. Lack of traffic. The highways and intererstates are fairly traffic free, except in the cities. Traffic jams are not so common occurances. You might make a 30 minute commute, but that’s because you actually live thirty miles away, not because you’re inching along at the speed of a snail.
12. The fresh air. While it smells like pig shit, or sewer lagoon (anything but this, please) on occasion, the rest of the time, the air is clean and fresh and healthy and so, so good.
13. It’s unique. Face it, there isn’t too many places like Montana. We’re the 4th largest state in the US, but we have less than a million people in it. We have an average of 6.2 people per square MILE. That’s a lot of space to yourself out here. A LOT of space. Our largest city is only around 90,000 people. We routinely experience 100 degree weather in the summer and -50 degree weather in the winter. We don’t get much rain, but we can get a TON of snow. We have lots of wind, but few tornadoes. We can buy fresh beef and bread (and in fact, most of us are beef ranchers or wheat farmers, and if you’re not, you know several people who are), but it’s hard to find decent fruit, and our idea of ‘fish’ comes in a box in the supermarket labeled “fishsticks”. We love to hunt and fish and hike and do outdoor sports, and we treasure our land, but there’s hardly any tree-huggers in sight. It’s a strange place, this Montana. A very strange place.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

6 Comments »

1. Great post.
   I love Montana.
   Thanks for sharing
   My TT is posted

   Comment by Raggedy — January 12, 2007 @ 3:45 am

2. sounds like a great place to live! Thanks for sharing…Mine is still up

   Comment by amy — January 12, 2007 @ 3:49 am

3. Interesting TT…I have never been to Montana, but it makes me interested to do a TT about the things I like about NY…or VT…or IN!

   My TT is up!

   Comment by Shelley — January 12, 2007 @ 6:31 am

4. Wow, I need to do this one some time! Been in my province for 16 years, still not sure I like it much, lol

   Comment by Crystal — January 12, 2007 @ 7:17 am

5. ACK!!! I can’t believe I didn’t have you listed already in my Montana Bloggers Blogroll — I have to fix that!

   Here in Kalispell the traffic gets a little rough during tourist season.

   Comment by Courtney — January 15, 2007 @ 10:29 pm

6. True! The Kalispell area can be a bit rough for traffic, though I’d certainly say it’s the exception to the rule! :)

   Comment by Katia — January 17, 2007 @ 2:07 am

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