Where to live near Boise? Ca resident

[Ruby]

Greg, beautiful home and a great post!! We moved to Idaho 7 months ago and have been treated wonderfully by everyone we've met. There has not be one incidence of rudeness once people found out where we came from.

As many have mentioned before (if your planning is good and you know how you're going to make a living) you can have a much better quality of life in Idaho for much less money.

Our house cost more than our house California and our property taxes are half of what we paid down there. The list goes on and on...

[suzee]

Originally Posted by mbnative

Thanks for your input. I definitely will be visiting before I make any choices. Do you think since I'm so used to Cali weather I'll be miserable? I'm a little scared about that. We plan on going in December, so well see if I can handle the weather. My friend who lives in Sun Valley really wants me to move there, but I think its way to far away and too much snow. The reason I asked about the race thing is that I have a friend who is half black/half white and she said she will never come and visit me if I move there:

Idaho has been given a bad rap on racism, primarily because of the Aryan Nations groups in the north of the state - 450 miles from Boise. I lived in the north for over 20 years (having grown up in Nampa) and the people up there were no more racist than anywhere else - many of them less so. It's only a very few who made the newscasts and were made to seem as though all people in the area believed the same way. In truth, there were only about 20 or so people in a very rural area who belonged to the aryan groups.

Weather is fairly mild in the Boise area, usually very little snow. But still, it'll be colder than you're used to in So Cal, and you may get used to it.

edited to add: As far as the Mormon population, 25% overall in the state sounds about right. However, they're in the minority in the north and in some parts of the South and SE part of the state, a very high majority - maybe 80% of some small towns.

It's true that Idaho is mostly white, but it has changed a lot from when I grew up in the 60s and 70s. There are a lot more people of color and other cultures now, though not as many as more populated areas.

sue

[DESERTRYDER]

Thanks for that refreshing read Greg.
I am down here in Visalia ca and will be moving to Idaho in 2 years when I retire.
We have 2 small kids and the idea of a classroom with 35 students to 1 teacher is even more reason to move from Calif..
We go to Twin falls every year for vacation and we can't wait to call it home.
Loved your views on the money savings you are experiencing by getting out of calif.
Your house pictures made me blow coffee all over my monitor.
That place rocks.
Tell me a bit about health insurance if you can?
My company will charge us 600 a month for " out of area coverage " after I retire..
Is there more affordable health insurance available in your opinion?

Thanks

[MajorHart]

Originally Posted by cleosmom

Let's see we're in a 3 bed 1 bath ranch home in SE Idaho, bought in 2002 for $77,000 (recently appraised at $98,000)

I drive a 2002 Toyota Camry which costs me around $30.00 to fill up- unlead is running $2.89 a gallon here. I do my mom's monthly shopping for under $150.00 at the Super Wal-Mart.

I get my hair shampooed, cut, highlighted and styled for $35.00

Summer power bill right around $60, Winter closer to $100. We're not on natural gas so I can't help you there.

Dinner for husband and I at our favorite Mexican rest. is usually between $15-$20

Two cars on full coverage under $100 and we don't have to do smog certification here.

My wife has a 4 year degree and about 25 years as a commercial insurance csr and account manager. Due to her being 58 now, and outsoucing she hasn't been able to work in her trade after makng $45,000 in it before. For the last 3 years she's been a supervisor at the local casino here in missouri.

it's my understanding that you dont have a full casinos in Idaho - that they are all just pull ticket? And all Indian? And boise doesn't have any?

At 58, it takes a lot adjustment to keep working at all.

Thanks

[KimberlyBallard]

Hi, my family and I are being transfered to Idaho from California in little over a month. My husband's company is merging with one already located in Idaho and thus the move. I am nervous about the move as this is the only home my children have known. We are moving to the Meridian area. I wonder what our welcome will be like. I know that we are giving up a lot by moving, we have the ocean, perfect weather, lots of trees, hills, small city, but was actually excited about what Idaho might offer us. We would really like to experience snow and all the fun and trials it has to offer. The desert takes me back to my roots of Arizona. If any one has anything possitive or negative to tell me I would like to hear about it.
With best regards,
kimberly

[Torrie]

You will have so much fun exploring a new area. There is so much to do and see and Fall is a great time weather wise to enjoy the outdoors. See the thread I just posted on visiting Sept 8-10th for things to do. The kids can ski up at Bogus Basin, it's about a 45 min drive so it's nice and close.

The people are friendly and the city is easy to get around. It can take a while to settle in and meet new friends but I'm sure in no time you will fit right in.

Welcome to Idaho!