If you really can’t take the cold, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho might not be the places for you. We had snow on the ground here today in Bozeman, and we had snow on the ground the first day of school last fall. Other than that, VarmintGuy is correct: Montana is a wonderful place. Get outside of Bozeman, Missoula and Kalispell and prices are more reasonable, though they are rising rapidly everywhere. Great hunting and lots of access, great fishing, camping and backpacking, mountain biking and even boating are all readily available here. Friendly people, reasonable tax rates and a business friendly environment round out the picture.Having said that, the craziness that has consumed Colorado, Oregon and Washington is readily evident here now. It might be a few years, maybe even a decade or two, but the hand writing is on the wall: Montana will someday be as insane as Oregon and Washington and California.

I am considering moving back to my home state of South Dakota. The Black Hills are super nice, and have a milder climate than western Montana, though it still is cold and snowy in the winter. Hunting is excellent as as the fishing. Hiking, camping and mountain biking are all great in the Black Hills. Rapid City has an excellent medical community and is large enough to have interesting attractions without being so large that it is unlivable. The political climate and tax structure are also advantageous. Just a thought.