Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

Nathan, Just curious as to what part of Montanna you were looking at
when you were moving out there? I had heard there wasn't much work out
that way. Beautiful country tho but expensive. I've thought about
going out there and looking for work but doesn't seem to be much right
now.
Thanks...

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 00:13:25 GMT, "Nathan W. Collier"
<JeepTalk@7SlotGrille.com> wrote:

>"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:dgppmvspf5495s0huriq79uordon7a7eqi@4ax.com.. .
>> Nathan, Just curious as to what part of Montanna you were looking at
>> when you were moving out there?
>
>we were headed for great falls, and stopped in every town between here and
>there.

Mut have been a nice trip. I might take one out there in the Spring if
I get a chance.

>> I had heard there wasn't much work out
>> that way.
>
>i guess that really depends on what you do. my wife (a critical care RN) is
>in such demand that every potential employer we talked to was willing to pay
>our moving expenses. as a welder, i found no shortage of work either.
>although production MIG jobs are a dime a dozen anywhere you go, the oil
>companies pay _certified_ welders $29.41 per hour to start.

Oh heck yeah RN's are needed big time!
I used to be a macinist a very long time ago but those days are over.
I never did Mig welding we had an old Arc welder we used for making
jigs but we sent out the tough stuff. We were a Tool & Die shop
mainly.
But you should be able to find some work uyp that way Welders are
usually in demand depending on the industry.
I toasted my back, totally shot, I'm still trying to figure out what I
can and cannot do. I don't want to sit on my ass for the rest of my
life tho. still I need job I can do sitting. No more computer work
tho, that's out.


>> Beautiful country tho but expensive.
>
>? in what way? montana is one of the few places left where you can
>actually buy reasonable acreage. 100 acres for $16,000 is no uncommon in
>many areas. if i had my choice id go to sidney. its an irrigated valley on
>the north dakota border. we have close friends that live there and id like
>to be near them. sidney isnt a viable option though because the best my
>wifey could get out there would be $18.60 per hour and with the weak shift
>differential it works out to be just over half of what shes doing now. even
>with the lowered cost of living, she doesnt want to take a hit like that and
>i cant really say that i blame her. its a shame though, sidney is a great
>place to raise a family.

Really? must be awfully flat land for $16K for 100 acres. I'd like
land with trees and trails, do some riding on my own property.
I've looked at land in various areas in Idaho and Montanna and the
Dakotas a lot of it's flat but damn 100 acres of land for $16K I
really ought to take a trip up there. I looked at some places on line
in Montana and we are talking big prices half a Mil and up for land
and houses. I forget which area as I looked at a few. That's why it
seemed expensive. But I'll check it out some more. Not many places
left to ride in New England, almost all the land has signs saying no
trespassing.

>> I've thought about
>> going out there and looking for work but doesn't seem to be much right
>> now.
>
>what type of work do you do? we're still researching our options but if we
>cant get out before the snow falls it will be next spring before we try it
>again.

I used to be in the computer field did a lot of consulting work with
small businesses and non profit orgs. Just got so burnt out on it and
everyone was super competitive and the custmoers were beyond cheap.
I had to go to court a few times to get paid. Screw that. I want to do
some other kind of business. Maybe open a bed and breakfast.
Heck anything as long as it isn't a PC. :)
Montanna pretty much guarantees some great sled riding if you can hack
the cold. I am looking to get out of where I am now. the right
opportunity comes along and I'm off like a prom dress. :)

>what part of montana are you interested in?

I was interested in that general area. Idaho, Montanna, North/South
Dakota. Places where I could shoot, and ride on at least my own
property without a ton of hassle. Gotta have work within an hour away
tho. Be interested in how you make out.
I can't get outthere til the spring unles something realy good comes
along but I can easily spend a month out there looking around.
Thanks Nathan...

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 00:13:25 GMT, "Nathan W. Collier"
<JeepTalk@7SlotGrille.com> wrote:

>"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:dgppmvspf5495s0huriq79uordon7a7eqi@4ax.com.. .
>> Nathan, Just curious as to what part of Montanna you were looking at
>> when you were moving out there?
>
>we were headed for great falls, and stopped in every town between here and
>there.

Mut have been a nice trip. I might take one out there in the Spring if
I get a chance.

>> I had heard there wasn't much work out
>> that way.
>
>i guess that really depends on what you do. my wife (a critical care RN) is
>in such demand that every potential employer we talked to was willing to pay
>our moving expenses. as a welder, i found no shortage of work either.
>although production MIG jobs are a dime a dozen anywhere you go, the oil
>companies pay _certified_ welders $29.41 per hour to start.

Oh heck yeah RN's are needed big time!
I used to be a macinist a very long time ago but those days are over.
I never did Mig welding we had an old Arc welder we used for making
jigs but we sent out the tough stuff. We were a Tool & Die shop
mainly.
But you should be able to find some work uyp that way Welders are
usually in demand depending on the industry.
I toasted my back, totally shot, I'm still trying to figure out what I
can and cannot do. I don't want to sit on my ass for the rest of my
life tho. still I need job I can do sitting. No more computer work
tho, that's out.


>> Beautiful country tho but expensive.
>
>? in what way? montana is one of the few places left where you can
>actually buy reasonable acreage. 100 acres for $16,000 is no uncommon in
>many areas. if i had my choice id go to sidney. its an irrigated valley on
>the north dakota border. we have close friends that live there and id like
>to be near them. sidney isnt a viable option though because the best my
>wifey could get out there would be $18.60 per hour and with the weak shift
>differential it works out to be just over half of what shes doing now. even
>with the lowered cost of living, she doesnt want to take a hit like that and
>i cant really say that i blame her. its a shame though, sidney is a great
>place to raise a family.

Really? must be awfully flat land for $16K for 100 acres. I'd like
land with trees and trails, do some riding on my own property.
I've looked at land in various areas in Idaho and Montanna and the
Dakotas a lot of it's flat but damn 100 acres of land for $16K I
really ought to take a trip up there. I looked at some places on line
in Montana and we are talking big prices half a Mil and up for land
and houses. I forget which area as I looked at a few. That's why it
seemed expensive. But I'll check it out some more. Not many places
left to ride in New England, almost all the land has signs saying no
trespassing.

>> I've thought about
>> going out there and looking for work but doesn't seem to be much right
>> now.
>
>what type of work do you do? we're still researching our options but if we
>cant get out before the snow falls it will be next spring before we try it
>again.

I used to be in the computer field did a lot of consulting work with
small businesses and non profit orgs. Just got so burnt out on it and
everyone was super competitive and the custmoers were beyond cheap.
I had to go to court a few times to get paid. Screw that. I want to do
some other kind of business. Maybe open a bed and breakfast.
Heck anything as long as it isn't a PC. :)
Montanna pretty much guarantees some great sled riding if you can hack
the cold. I am looking to get out of where I am now. the right
opportunity comes along and I'm off like a prom dress. :)

>what part of montana are you interested in?

I was interested in that general area. Idaho, Montanna, North/South
Dakota. Places where I could shoot, and ride on at least my own
property without a ton of hassle. Gotta have work within an hour away
tho. Be interested in how you make out.
I can't get outthere til the spring unles something realy good comes
along but I can easily spend a month out there looking around.
Thanks Nathan...

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cbgqmv8rapko04kgjpu02i3bq0glm2mrp3@4ax.com...
> Mut have been a nice trip.

aside from the uhell trouble, it was an awesome trip. i got to see the best
and worst countryside that america's highways have to offer. i met some
awesome people, and i got to see many of the things that lewis and clarke
wrote about. so long as you arent struggling to get over them, the rocky
mountains are amazing.


> I might take one out there in the Spring if
> I get a chance.

make the time brother.

> Really? must be awfully flat land for $16K for 100 acres.

yeah, its pretty flat but there are enough valleys and ravines to make for
great off roading.

> I looked at some places on line
> in Montana and we are talking big prices half a Mil and up for land
> and houses.

if youre in the mountains and tourist type areas youll pay out your nose for
prime land anywhere you go.

> Montanna pretty much guarantees some great sled riding if you can hack
> the cold. I am looking to get out of where I am now. the right
> opportunity comes along and I'm off like a prom dress. :)

lol......i hear ya. the wifey has asked me to consider/explore other areas
before we head back to montana (being from the cleveland area shes not big
on isolated areas) but the more i look, the more i want to get back to
montana. ill get there again, if not before the first snowfall it will be
as soon as it thaws.

--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cbgqmv8rapko04kgjpu02i3bq0glm2mrp3@4ax.com...
> Mut have been a nice trip.

aside from the uhell trouble, it was an awesome trip. i got to see the best
and worst countryside that america's highways have to offer. i met some
awesome people, and i got to see many of the things that lewis and clarke
wrote about. so long as you arent struggling to get over them, the rocky
mountains are amazing.


> I might take one out there in the Spring if
> I get a chance.

make the time brother.

> Really? must be awfully flat land for $16K for 100 acres.

yeah, its pretty flat but there are enough valleys and ravines to make for
great off roading.

> I looked at some places on line
> in Montana and we are talking big prices half a Mil and up for land
> and houses.

if youre in the mountains and tourist type areas youll pay out your nose for
prime land anywhere you go.

> Montanna pretty much guarantees some great sled riding if you can hack
> the cold. I am looking to get out of where I am now. the right
> opportunity comes along and I'm off like a prom dress. :)

lol......i hear ya. the wifey has asked me to consider/explore other areas
before we head back to montana (being from the cleveland area shes not big
on isolated areas) but the more i look, the more i want to get back to
montana. ill get there again, if not before the first snowfall it will be
as soon as it thaws.

--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

"Lon Stowell" <Lawn.Stowell@Komkast.net> wrote in message
news:1dnbb.537144$Ho3.92262@sccrnsc03...
> And the better news is that you were nowhere near far enough west
> to be up in the REAL Rockie Mountains. Great Falls is kinda in the
> foothills in Montana... you have to head up and over the Continental
> Divide to be along the eastern side of the genuine Montana Rockies.

......but you have to cross the continental divide twice on I15 to get to
great falls. in fact, that was the breaking point for us. we took the
wifeys jeep on up to see what we were walking away from.

> Biggest difference is water... if there's a low spot, there will be
> a creek in it, frequently with fish.

i found the missouri river to be amazing. we must of crossed it a half
dozen times between great falls and billings (seems like it anyway).

> When you get so far out that
> you really need a 4wd, the land becomes more affordable, but
> getting electricity can be a bit of a pain.

what about REA?


--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

"Lon Stowell" <Lawn.Stowell@Komkast.net> wrote in message
news:1dnbb.537144$Ho3.92262@sccrnsc03...
> And the better news is that you were nowhere near far enough west
> to be up in the REAL Rockie Mountains. Great Falls is kinda in the
> foothills in Montana... you have to head up and over the Continental
> Divide to be along the eastern side of the genuine Montana Rockies.

......but you have to cross the continental divide twice on I15 to get to
great falls. in fact, that was the breaking point for us. we took the
wifeys jeep on up to see what we were walking away from.

> Biggest difference is water... if there's a low spot, there will be
> a creek in it, frequently with fish.

i found the missouri river to be amazing. we must of crossed it a half
dozen times between great falls and billings (seems like it anyway).

> When you get so far out that
> you really need a 4wd, the land becomes more affordable, but
> getting electricity can be a bit of a pain.

what about REA?


--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 19:08:45 GMT, "Nathan W. Collier"
<JeepTalk@7SlotGrille.com> wrote:

>"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:cbgqmv8rapko04kgjpu02i3bq0glm2mrp3@4ax.com.. .
>> Mut have been a nice trip.
>
>aside from the uhell trouble, it was an awesome trip. i got to see the best
>and worst countryside that america's highways have to offer. i met some
>awesome people, and i got to see many of the things that lewis and clarke
>wrote about. so long as you arent struggling to get over them, the rocky
>mountains are amazing.

I'd have felt like driving that Uhaul right through their front
window.
I've done cross country trips in the past but I've always been in a
hurry to get somewhere. Might be nice to go late spring and just take
like 3-4 weeks and really see everything.
I've only seen the Rocky Montains from a plane. Should be awesome
close up. Thankfully my car has a turbo so thin air isn't a problem.

>> Really? must be awfully flat land for $16K for 100 acres.
>
>yeah, its pretty flat but there are enough valleys and ravines to make for
>great off roading.

I'll have to checkout more land than I've looked at. I want trees and
not just flat farmland tho.

>> I looked at some places on line
>> in Montana and we are talking big prices half a Mil and up for land
>> and houses.
>
>if youre in the mountains and tourist type areas youll pay out your nose for
>prime land anywhere you go.

Yeah pretty much I was looking in the mountains. Not the tourist
places but the mountains and it was all big $$$$$$$. I need to look in
a few different areas as well.

>> Montanna pretty much guarantees some great sled riding if you can hack
>> the cold. I am looking to get out of where I am now. the right
>> opportunity comes along and I'm off like a prom dress. :)
>
>lol......i hear ya. the wifey has asked me to consider/explore other areas
>before we head back to montana (being from the cleveland area shes not big
>on isolated areas) but the more i look, the more i want to get back to
>montana. ill get there again, if not before the first snowfall it will be
>as soon as it thaws.

We have a lot of awesome States in the USA. Personally I prefered
wooded areas trails and the like but Maine is too expensive now.
I've looked in Idaho and the Dakotas, and a little bit in Montanna but
So far anything I've really liked has been priced too high.
Your wife will adapt once you settle in as long as it's not too
remote.
Does she offroad and sled with you? If so she'll have a blast.

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

On Sun, 21 Sep 2003 19:08:45 GMT, "Nathan W. Collier"
<JeepTalk@7SlotGrille.com> wrote:

>"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:cbgqmv8rapko04kgjpu02i3bq0glm2mrp3@4ax.com.. .
>> Mut have been a nice trip.
>
>aside from the uhell trouble, it was an awesome trip. i got to see the best
>and worst countryside that america's highways have to offer. i met some
>awesome people, and i got to see many of the things that lewis and clarke
>wrote about. so long as you arent struggling to get over them, the rocky
>mountains are amazing.

I'd have felt like driving that Uhaul right through their front
window.
I've done cross country trips in the past but I've always been in a
hurry to get somewhere. Might be nice to go late spring and just take
like 3-4 weeks and really see everything.
I've only seen the Rocky Montains from a plane. Should be awesome
close up. Thankfully my car has a turbo so thin air isn't a problem.

>> Really? must be awfully flat land for $16K for 100 acres.
>
>yeah, its pretty flat but there are enough valleys and ravines to make for
>great off roading.

I'll have to checkout more land than I've looked at. I want trees and
not just flat farmland tho.

>> I looked at some places on line
>> in Montana and we are talking big prices half a Mil and up for land
>> and houses.
>
>if youre in the mountains and tourist type areas youll pay out your nose for
>prime land anywhere you go.

Yeah pretty much I was looking in the mountains. Not the tourist
places but the mountains and it was all big $$$$$$$. I need to look in
a few different areas as well.

>> Montanna pretty much guarantees some great sled riding if you can hack
>> the cold. I am looking to get out of where I am now. the right
>> opportunity comes along and I'm off like a prom dress. :)
>
>lol......i hear ya. the wifey has asked me to consider/explore other areas
>before we head back to montana (being from the cleveland area shes not big
>on isolated areas) but the more i look, the more i want to get back to
>montana. ill get there again, if not before the first snowfall it will be
>as soon as it thaws.

We have a lot of awesome States in the USA. Personally I prefered
wooded areas trails and the like but Maine is too expensive now.
I've looked in Idaho and the Dakotas, and a little bit in Montanna but
So far anything I've really liked has been priced too high.
Your wife will adapt once you settle in as long as it's not too
remote.
Does she offroad and sled with you? If so she'll have a blast.

Re: Paging Nathan Collier about Montanna
 

"Scooby Don't" <Scooby_do_not@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:11esmv0dsdk36th24gvtcjrv1jjv50iu0v@4ax.com...
> I'd have felt like driving that Uhaul right through their front
> window.

today i laugh every time i pass a uhell on the road. literally.

> I'll have to checkout more land than I've looked at. I want trees and
> not just flat farmland tho.

theres plenty of that in places like sidney (irrigated valley).

> Your wife will adapt once you settle in as long as it's not too
> remote.

yeah, in hindsight i wish i could have "forced" her to stay to try it, but i
couldnt bring myself to force her to do anything. so long as i get a house
first this time and we have somewhere to go it will relieve a lot of her
stress to just fly her up.

> Does she offroad and sled with you?

just on the beach http://7slotgrille.com/beach otherwise i dont take her.
she gets scared when things get off camber.


--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com