People often tell me that my truck payment is “a looming financial event,” but I prefer to think of it as a subscription fee for the Bozeman lifestyle. If you can’t afford to park a diesel rig in a spot meant for a compact car, are you even really living here?

The real magic happens at the local grocery store near North 19th. Every Tuesday, I see the same folks idling in the lane, waiting for a spot to open up near the entrance. It’s the perfect place to build community. Last week, I spent twenty minutes chatting with a guy from New Jersey who just bought a condo in one of the new luxury complexes. He was worried about his tires, but I told him that as long as you have enough credit to cover the interest, the snow just melts right off your windshield.

He asked me how I manage to ski sixty days a year while working two service jobs. I told him it’s all about inventory management. If you eat enough free samples at the Co-op and learn to nap in your cab during your split shift, the math basically settles itself. It’s just like the traffic on Main Street; if you don’t look at your bank balance, you aren’t actually sitting in a traffic jam. You’re just enjoying a slow-motion tour of the town’s beautiful historic architecture.

Some folks complain that the town has changed, but I think it’s just more efficient now. Everything costs more, sure, but that’s just a sign that we’re doing a good job. We’re all here, idling in the same parking lot, waiting for the exact same spot. It’s a wonderful way to spend a Tuesday.

Rick Tailgate works two jobs, skis 60 days a year, and believes strongly that his lifestyle is sustainable. His truck payment suggests otherwise.