Ulm is nice but I don't remember traveling through Craig at all. Eureka is, obviously, closer to Canada than anything else so check the road to BC as you will be headed that way most of the time. Snow makes that area near impossible to move around in winter as the county, Lincoln I think, has a lack of funds now that the Libby asbestos mine is closed and everyone is dying of related diseases and/or moving away. This is also where a lot of people move if they are interested in being as far away from the US government as possible. State government would be more welcome here than US. I believe that the superfund cleanup in Libby is in final phases or has been completed so prices in this area should be affordable although the town is literally dying.

Polson is too close to the lake to be affordable but you might find some affible sellers if you use Army vet connections. If you are Native American, you might be able to get land on the reservation but I have no idea how. This area is very pretty and the reservation has managed to keep out large developers.

Native Montanan's aren't friendly to outsiders sometimes due to a plethera of bad experiences with West Coast/Northeast Coast types but are very supportive of veterans. Definately talk to some veteran groups or the Army Reservists for local sales and climate. Canada has a better land situation as the West Coast/Northeast Coast can't get to the BC side of Banff/Jasper NP easily. You've definatly picked a great place to retire but I hope that you can afford it. Thanks for serving your country.