Missoula is my home, whether I like it or not.
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11/14/2009
All the complaints about Missoula are true: the outrageous property values, the low wages, the impossible to find job, and the xenophobia. You have to understand that Missoula has always had low wages and few jobs. The near 5 percent unemployment rate stems more from desperation or the need work two jobs to survive the winter. I know too many single parents working two jobs and still unable to make it. In our weirdness, we ignore that most of the highly skilled jobs can only be filled by outsiders. So, we struggle on, griping. That's all we can do. Wage-slavery creates a kind of fraternal feel amongst the locals. It's not what you know here, but who you know. An IN is more important than most any degree. A college degree is a dime-a-dozen. We will always hire our long-time buddy over the most educated, qualified stranger. Our only real skills are hunting, fishing, logging, skiing, floating, art, and getting wasted. In the 80s, housing prices mirrored wages fairly well. A family starting out could afford a basic home in a safe neighborhood. A decent 2-3 bedroom home went for about 60-80 grand. Montana had so much cheap property that anyone could pick some up for the cost of a timeshare in Vale. After desirable properties started to run out, the values tripled and people are building suburbs in the farmlands.Even in the far suburbs of the Bitteroot, we got McCabins.
For those that trash on the zoo, you can understand how someone who lives here would feel when factors beyond his control make the American dream almost impossible. With every day, the dream fades a little more. We really have every right to bitch, but it's nothing personal. We understand why you're here. No matter how much I hate Missoula(and I do most of the time), I always end up back here. Whenever I leave, this dirty, hippie, pretentious city pulls me back and whenever I'm here, I can't wait to be off. I guess familiarity is a blessing and a curse.
theJdogg | Missoula, MT