boise living (Nampa, Meridian, Caldwell: relocation, budget, wages)

[alpnkckr7]

Hello im from louisiana and me and my wife hate everything about it here. I was just wondering how you liked the boise life and also what type of jobs do they offer for a non college grad. hows the cost of living and is it family safe

[Jedig33k]

Myself I love the Boise Life, there is just allot to do here, fishing, camping, hiking. The weather is a nice four seasons with no humidity. Getting a job can be a bit tough at times, but if you don't mind smaller wages and working yourself up the ladder, you can find plenty of jobs for a non college grad. There are two call centers here that I know are always hiring. I hear the cost of living here is a bit on the high side compared to the wages, but I really think it's how you budget that matters more. There are places to rent, shop and buy food for those on a living budget. As for Family safe, I would say definitely. There is always a seeding side of town in every town, but overall I would say it is great for families.
Just my 2 cents.

[southerngirlie]

My family has just moved here from the south as well; Georgia. What do you not like about Boise? I think the food is great (we've found a few places that are already faves), we found a great church, and there are some really gorgeous areas and scenery. But overall, I'm not in love with it and I'm anxious to move on. The cost of living is really high. The housing seems really high for what you get and overall Boise just seems bland, not the charm and cozy feel I hoped for. But I haven't seen it in the summer. I'm sure I could grow to like it here... maybe. I'm definately homesick.

[alpnkckr7]

why did you and your family end up moving ive been to georgia a few time i played baseball alot in marrieta

[southerngirlie]

Job transfer. I really miss GA ... Boise really stinks compared to home. The roads here are trash and to drive the 84 is so depressing. ATL is pretty, green and so much more to do. Why'd y'all move?

[alpnkckr7]

pretty much just for a relocation i hate louisiana but from the way you talking i may try somewhere else just getting a little bored of louisiana

[boi2socal]

Well, of the people that move from other places that I've talked to people from the SE seem to have the hardest time adjusting. Not just to Boise but the west in general. In contrast, I personally haven't been to Georgia but haven't heard many good things about it. There are a ton of outdoor activities in Boise and really just as much to do as anywhere else. Not sure what Georgia has. You can float the river in the city. Skiing is 45 minutes away. That's a just a few things to do. I live in Orange County, California - a place that many think has endless entertainment options and I can't really tell you that there is a whole lot more to do here.

[southerngirlie]

I'm actually orginally from the west. I grew up in San Diego. IN my opionion, Boise does not have a western feel. I really really want to like Boise. I honestly do,but the longer I'm here to the more I can't wait to leave. The small downtown feel is awesome and we realllllly like the Northend. The housing and shopping is awesome. The scenery outside the city is amazing. But that's really it. There's not much more than that to Boise. If you like to shop I guess you could be happy here. Move to Meridian in a neighborhood that gives me the eeky feeling that I've landed on the set of Edward Scissorhands. So there's the great downtown and the northend. Other than that, the majority of the neighborhoods are completely run down and a drive on the 84 is absolutely depressing and will have you thinking you're in a 3rd world county. Or head to one of the cookiecutter strip mall areas. And that's Boise in a Nutshell.

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by southerngirlie

I'm actually orginally from the west. I grew up in San Diego. IN my opionion, Boise does not have a western feel. I really really want to like Boise. I honestly do,but the longer I'm here to the more I can't wait to leave. The small downtown feel is awesome and we realllllly like the Northend. The housing and shopping is awesome. The scenery outside the city is amazing. But that's really it. There's not much more than that to Boise. If you like to shop I guess you could be happy here. Move to Meridian in a neighborhood that gives me the eeky feeling that I've landed on the set of Edward Scissorhands. So there's the great downtown and the northend. Other than that, the majority of the neighborhoods are completely run down and a drive on the 84 is absolutely depressing and will have you thinking you're in a 3rd world county. Or head to one of the cookiecutter strip mall areas. And that's Boise in a Nutshell.

Interesting, it sounds like you like Boise but not your neighborhood in Meridian? I have always thought that one thing Boise and the surrounding area lacked was run down hoods unless you visited trailer parks or areas of Nampa and Caldwell where the gangbangers live, and even most of Nampa and Caldwell are nice, minus those neighborhoods.
I-84 depressing? What do you mean? I am trying to think of what you are referring. I-84 past Orchard heading West has sound walls on each side, you see the Edwards movie complex, the LDS Temple, more soundwalls with what look like nice upkept homes hidden behind them, and then closer to Meridian you see nice new developments with some pretty farmland scattered around, and the further West towards Meridian the farmland becomes more evident until you near the Idaho Center. The Interstate drive between Boise and Meridian and Nampa isn't really that bad at all and I can't really think of anything 3rd world about it.
And what city doesn't have it's share of strip malls? Boise isn't unique in this aspect. So Strip Malls don't exist in the South?

[truckingbronco]

Originally Posted by southerngirlie

I'm actually orginally from the west. I grew up in San Diego. IN my opionion, Boise does not have a western feel. I really really want to like Boise. I honestly do,but the longer I'm here to the more I can't wait to leave. The small downtown feel is awesome and we realllllly like the Northend. The housing and shopping is awesome. The scenery outside the city is amazing. But that's really it. There's not much more than that to Boise. If you like to shop I guess you could be happy here. Move to Meridian in a neighborhood that gives me the eeky feeling that I've landed on the set of Edward Scissorhands. So there's the great downtown and the northend. Other than that, the majority of the neighborhoods are completely run down and a drive on the 84 is absolutely depressing and will have you thinking you're in a 3rd world county. Or head to one of the cookiecutter strip mall areas. And that's Boise in a Nutshell.

I think there is a vast difference between the Northwest and the Southwest in terms of people and lifestyle (not that one is better, they are just different). I have lived in WA, OR, MT, and now ID and I would say that Boise has very much a Northwestern feel to it. With that said, Meridian and the surrounding areas do not. They are no different than the bland suburbs of any city in the country. The feeling of emptiness in suburbia is in no way unique to Boise; just look at the culture and lifestyle of Portland compared to Vancouver. Unfortunately, if you want the "Northwest Feel" in Boise, you're going to have to pay the extra cash to live in downtown area, bench, or Northend.