Helena & Valley
-
3/5/2015
I've noticed some really negative postings on Helena. I want to say a couple of things...
Remember everything is relative. When reading comparisons, consider the person's background/where they came from, etc. For example, if you came from a large city, you would probably be disappointed with the lack of variety for shopping options, although you'd find the traffic to be minimal.
That said, I've had the opportunity to live in many states since graduating college and they all have their good and bad points. This is where I've chose to live though and plan to make the best of it. Being from Michigan, and having lived in Oregon, I do notice the lack of green. It isn't like that all year though as there are seasons, just not as dramatic as in MI. We still get snow and cold temps in the winter and lots of sunshine and warm/hot temps in the summer.
You CAN grow a wonderful garden if you water diligently and there are plenty of trees and green lawns, especially along creeks/rivers. This is Montana, not the East or Midwest. You have to look at it for what it is. What Helena has going for it (more so than the midwest, in my opinion) is the dry air (less allergens, asthma), lots of sunshine and amazing views of the mountains in any direction. Which brings me to my next point... if you don't like outdoor recreation, such as camping, hiking, skiing, ice skating etc, then maybe this isn't the best place for you. There are things to do indoors (museums, restaurants, breweries, etc), but as someone else mentioned, the focus is outside, all year round. I see this as a good thing, because I feel that society is too disconnected with nature as it as. We could all use a little more outdoor activity.
Lastly, in my experience so far, I find it a bit on the difficult side to get to know people/meet new friends. Although people here are quite pleasant and friendly (I appreciate that) it seems they have their life set up and don't have time for new people...it's a bit fast-paced here (compared to small towns.) Perhaps, it is because they are native to Helena or MT and don't understand what its like to move somewhere completely new, but they are also missing out on opportunities to expnad their horizons :-)
All in all, I think Helena is a nice place to live and a great place to raise a family, if you can handle the cold in the winter (which is really only for a few weeks of bitter-cold) and enjoy the great outdoors. It's proximity to other destination spots in MT is also nice- makes a great spot for family to visit and vacation at the same time!
Dahlia | Helena, MT