I’ve been here a month now, and I believe it’s time to assess a few things.

PROS:

• It’s fucking beautiful. Anytime I’m outside I can see the mountains. The way weather rolls in and rolls out is so visible in a way I’ve never experienced. And I know that if it’s pretty now, with all the grey half-melted snow and ice, it will be breathtaking in the spring.
• Readily available outdoor activities. My goal of being more outdoorsy is going to be even easier than I thought. There’s a mountain about two miles from my house. I already hike there once a week. There are rustic (as in, no electricity, no plumbing) cabins for rent in the state park only 20-30 minutes away. I can rent snow shoes and gear for cheap…
• No traffic. Okay, there’s some traffic during peak times. But absolutely NOTHING compared to the commutes I used to have. It takes ten minutes to get anywhere in Helena, and driving to other cities on the highways is great- very few cars, and very high speed limits. Not to mention the great scenery along the way.

CONS:

• No fresh seafood/good Chinese food. I get the no fresh seafood thing, because it’s Montana, but the no good Chinese food is unacceptable.
• Flights are incredibly expensive. It would cost me a small fortune to get home or back to PA for anything. I’m even missing a close friend’s wedding in March because the cheapest ticket I could find was $600
• No concerts. Okay, there are some concerts. But only in the summer, and they are few and far between, and usually in Missoula or Bozeman, not Helena. The closest big cities for shows are Seattle and Portland, 10 and 12 hour drives respectively, so any trip for a show would be costly and be a weekend event only. Honestly, I could probably live here if not for this.