Considering we have multiple watersheds in the region that completely depend upon them for summer water supply, I’d say that it’s pretty obvious that they’re not very important.
Yeah for sure, and that's what they do. When it becomes challenging is when you get older and are needing frequent doctor visits. You try to group them together, but it is tough. I think the most striking thing for me was medical care. If you need urgent, serious medical care, where they live, it will involve a helicopter ride.
The "hospital" in Phillipsburg was eye opening. It also doubled as a nursing home. When my wife's grandmother was living there, we noticed a rather significant construction project going on during one of our visits. We found out they were getting an MRI machine. Up to that point, if you needed an MRI, you would have to get a Lifeflight to Missoula. I dare say the clinic were my Primary Care Provider is located is better equipped than that hospital.
My daughter is currently living in Great Falls....a "big city" by Montana standards. She had a seizure back in January, and it took a week to get her blood test results to check her medication levels. We would get those results the next day here in Bellingham.