Is Montana Heaven...?

[Digby]

I've been watching videos about abandoned towns in Montana and it struck me that it might just be Heaven, not that I know anything about the place mind, save for the fact these huge fields with little to nobody around remind me of a heavenscape, if you will. Probably Americans and those that know the area will have something different to say, but some of the images are very heavenly, to my eye.

What do you think, does Montana align with your visual conception of Heaven in this way, if not maybe you have somewhere else in mind?

 

[kemmler3D]

Having hiked in the hills of Montana and also having snowboarded on the mountains near said hills, yes, Montana is actually heaven. It's a very demanding sort of heaven if you actually want to live there, but heaven nonetheless.

 

[middlemarch]

I love the place, visit every year, have for over 30 years. Great mountains, wide open vistas, plenty of good local microbrew beer, and you can set the cruise control for 87mph and cruise for hours and hours

 

[kemmler3D]

That one ruskie knew his stuff.

 

[Ron Texas]

Yellowstone (TV Series)

 

[middlemarch]

Not perfect, however, it can get a little nippy in the winter. And in the eastern (grasslands) part of the state it's amazing how much damage one of their hailstorms can do.

 

[DVDdoug]

I live in California. I'm sure the "quality of life" is better in Montana. I've never been there. I live in Silicon Valley which is mostly suburban and not "too bad". There is somebody living in some kind of homemade tent-structure by the freeway on-ramp that I take on my way home from work. (It's on public property, right by the on-ramp... Slightly dangerous...)

I like the more sparsely-populated areas, but I wouldn't want to be too far from a grocery store. And I "need" utilities...

Somebody once told me, depending on where you are, you can drive all day in Montana and not see another car!

I've driven through Nevada and Arizona, and flown over the U.S. and there's "a lot of nothing", but there are always cars on the road when you're driving.

 

[GD Fan]

Just visited for the first time last month. Very well worth seeing. Perhaps a few too many sacrifices necessary to successfully attract a big city dweller like me on a full-time basis, but a fantastic escape.

 

[JayGilb]

I have never visited Montana, but would like to someday.

I grew up in what's called God's Country (Western Wisconsin).

 

[kemmler3D]

I live in California. I'm sure the "quality of life" is better in Montana. I've never been there. I live in Silicon Valley which is mostly suburban and not "too bad". There is somebody living in some kind of homemade tent-structure by the freeway on-ramp that I take on my way home from work. (It's on public property, right by the on-ramp... Slightly dangerous...)

I like the more sparsely-populated areas, but I wouldn't want to be too far from a grocery store. And I "need" utilities...

Somebody once told me, depending on where you are, you can drive all day in Montana and not see another car!

I've driven through Nevada and Arizona, and flown over the U.S. and there's "a lot of nothing", but there are always cars on the road when you're driving.

I'm in SF and my new place is within literal shouting distance of a grocery store. Lots of nothing in Montana, which seems like a real luxury coming from our part of the world...

 

[SIY]

I moved from Napa, CA to Butte, MT. I loved it, deeply, and always wanted to move back there. It felt like a perfect home for me. Unfortunately, the job I moved there for was so toxic, I couldn't continue. No other work in my field, alas...

Alfred (my current home) is wonderful as well, and in a lot of similar ways, but will never totally displace Butte from my heart.

 

[Ron Texas]

Someone from Montana told me it's not the end of the Earth, but you can see it from there.

 

[Martin]

I'm sure it's pretty but it gets way to cold for me... This is my idea of heaven:

 

[Prana Ferox]

That one ruskie knew his stuff.

On the other hand this guy taught me that Montana homeownership requires the rather high bar of having two wives

 

[kemmler3D]

On the other hand this guy taught me that Montana homeownership requires the rather high bar of having two wives

The WAF threshold would simply be out of control at that point.

 

[ryanosaur]

Every heaven has it's own hell. FTW

 

[RayDunzl]

Trivia: Tina Turner & The Ikettes – backing vocals

 

[jhenderson0107]

Every heaven has it's own hell. FTW

True, perhaps a consequence of our humanity. Reminds me of Christopher Parkening's story. He was one of the influential classical guitarists of my youth. He aspired to buy a farm in Montana and retire there early, did so and was unfulfilled.

 

[LTig]

I'm sure it's pretty but it gets way to cold for me... This is my idea of heaven:

Looks great but I would miss a snowy winter ...

 

[Prana Ferox]

Looks great but I would miss a snowy winter ...

Perhaps you also need two wives