What I wish someone would've told me before moving to Montana

My husband and I grew up as true Floridians- beach days, seafood boils, surfing, gator hunting, but in the summer of 2023, we decided it was time for a change. So we packed up a U-Haul, said goodbye to humidity-induced frizzy hair, and headed for Montana.

We were chasing seasons, outdoor adventures, and the chance to immerse ourselves in an entirely new culture. We traded beach nights for rodeos, seafood for bison burgers, flip-flops for boots, and gators for bears- which, in hindsight, feels like an aggressive trade-up on the wildlife danger scale.

After living in Montana for the past three years, here are a few things I wish I would’ve known as a Southerner moving to the Northwest. (Spoiler alert: we absolutely love it here and have no plans of leaving anytime soon.)

1. Southern Hospitality isn't really a thing here

   Before anyone gets upset, this isn't a dig, it's just the reality is that what is considered hospitable and friendly in the South is not the same as in Montana.

   
   

   In the South, we’ll ask about your mama, your cousin, your dog, and your life story before we even mention why we called. In Montana? People tend to skip the fluff and get straight to the point. I was conditioned to start every email with three paragraphs of greetings and weather commentary before getting into business. Here, I quickly learned that people see that as unnecessary filler.

   
   

   At first, it felt a little cold. But over time, I realized something important: Montanans may not always be outwardly warm, but they are deeply genuine. Trust here is earned slowly, not handed out freely with a smile and sweet tea. And once you’ve earned it? These people SHOW UP.

   
   

   Need help during a snowstorm? Someone’s bringing a shovel. Truck stuck in a ditch? Three men named Dave will appear out of nowhere before AAA even answers the phone. The friendships here feel authentic and more solid- like cast iron cookware or Blundstone boots.

   
   

2. All wheel drive does not automatically make you a winter driving expert

   I drive a Subaru Outback, which apparently is the official vehicle of people who move to Montana after one good hiking trip. I was told I’d be “totally fine” in winter because of the all-wheel drive.

   
   

   Y'all, I was not fine.

   
   

   I highly recommend anyone moving somewhere with real winter conditions take an actual winter driving course-or at minimum, find a snowy parking lot and a patient local willing to teach you how to slide around without crying. Because while all-wheel drive helps you go, it does not magically help you stop. A detail I would’ve loved to emotionally process sooner.

   
   

   I had a few scary slides this past winter and, thankfully, recovered quickly thanks to people who taught me what to do. But nothing humbles a Floridian faster than fishtailing toward a snowbank while whispering, “Jesus take the wheel.”

   
   

   Also, if possible, get a heavier vehicle. Snow and ice do not care about your confidence level.

   
   

3. Montana "Mosquito Season" is Cute

   Locals here will dramatically announce that “the mosquitos are bad this year,” and I have to respectfully laugh with a southern accent.

   
   

   The bugs here are NOTHING compared to the humid South, where mosquitos operate like trained military units- sneaky, fast, and freakin tactical.

   
   

   And spiders? I have yet to see one here that made me question my mortgage. Back in Florida, I’m fairly certain some spiders qualified for homeowner’s insurance.

   
   

   That said, Montana pests are a slightly different category of terrifying. Instead of giant bugs, you worry about ticks, grizzly bears, mountain lions, and occasionally moose-which are somehow both majestic and deeply concerning.

   
   

   I still haven’t seen a snake here (honestly shocking), but I have had a few grizzly encounters. Nothing quite re-calibrates your nervous system like realizing you are no longer at the top of the food chain.

   
   

   But that’s a story for another blog.