Idaho vs California (Emmett: house prices, buying, school)

[ejay]

I just wanted to say that no where in my post did I say Californians. The people that I have met here that are from cali are great. There are always bad apples even here just like there.The real question is what has everyone as a whole done to contribute to make this problem. This area of Idaho Kootenai County Has always had two gorups of people. People that thought this place was fine the way it is and the people that wanted to change it. It took a long time but we lost. We had an attachment to this place and its people we were invested in this community. We had to rely on each other every day every winter and who could forget Mt St helens? I know I never will!! But as a commuinty we got thru it people helped people, and people knew people. Today no one knows any one. I have lived in my new house six months and not one neighbor has spoken to me. Strange because I grew up here knowing my neighbors. As a boy scout I met all my neighbors now scouting is barly alive. And this argument is really about quality of life not quantity of life. You live in north Idaho knowing that life is not gonna be easy for you. It takes an adjustment period to realise that you just can't get what you want right away. Well that was the old Idaho. But the pace here was slow and as a new comer it seemed slow to you. Now it's far from slow, I see traffic at all hours of the day now. It happened so fast it took just a few years and things filled in. And with that growth neighbors moved away and the town was torn down and changed forever. Down town Cda is not the same the sky line has changed dramaticly. People think you are complaining but its not complaining it's mourning the death of your town. Coming to the realization that things that you took for granted are forever gone. Just running down to cda beach for a quick swim with the kids. Ya just cant find a parking spot anymore. You guys gotta realise that for us it's gonna take an adjustment period for the rest of us. Because the face of our town is changing weather anyone wants to realise it or not. Its not just republicans around here anymore!!! Lol.. People are comming here for very different reasons now. In the past you would get hunters moving in here. Now hunting is low on the list of thigs to do. Golf, Boating,Skiing,Biking,and the list goes on and on. You just might like to see the trees and scenery, everyone has there own north Idaho story. You have to remember that generations of people have lived here. Just take a walk in any cemetery around here and see the family names. Family has been important here for a long time and farming and mining and timber were once good paying jobs here. All of those trades are mostly gone here.Feild burning being banned finished a lot of guys off here. There is a lot of bad feelings over a lot of things that have changed that just seemed like they didnt have too. A way of life has forever changed no one can deny that. And with that the quality of life here has suffered. The quantity of lifers have won the day. Right or wrong they have won. Hey I understand change, Its life it's always evolving. But we can atleast evolve in a way that helps each other out. As some one moving here remember why you left. What made you come here did you get run out of your own town? Did you want a change? What ever your reason remember no one has to move any where you utilmately make the decision to move. Are you moving for the right reasons? What if you made the town you were living in better? What if you were some one like us who liked our town and did not want quick uncontrolled change. What are you bringing with you? Your attitude on life your driving style do you fit in do you wanna fit in? I guess what I am getting at here is it's a two way street here ya gotta meet in the middle. And so the question is did you move here for quality of life or quantity of life?

[PNWhike]

I have a relative that lives near Pocatello. I have spent a little time in the area. This I can tell you. I hope you like cowboys. I do. The area's economy is centered around potato farming. It is only a four hour drive up to Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton NP. Very nice. It is VERY VERY cold there in winter at 4500 feet. Think months of single digits and even below zero weather. Hot in the summer, but not too bad. The Mormon Church controls the power structure in Pocatello. At least half of Pocatello is Mormon. The majority of the very small towns in the outlying areas of Pocatello are up to 90% Mormon. It is a three hour drive south to Salt Lake City. Lava Hot Springs is a huge year round resort. It is really close and is nice. It is a world away from CA. It will take time getting used to. Good luck with your move.

[wesley81]

Since we're discussing it now...

[blackbimmer]

Originally Posted by KittyToy

Can someone please explain to me if it's a REALLY BIG DEAL for someone to move to Idaho from California? I've looked over some of these threads posted by Idahoans {?} practically cursing the Californians migration towards the north. Nonetheless. I'm am somewhat afraid for my relocation to Pocatello now. Will I be shunned for my language, and speak? I move on October 1st from San Diego...and aside from the culture-shock....grrrrr I hope it won't be hard to make friends and fit in {25 years old...wanting to marry and start a family with my boyfriend}

Boise - no... I'm an Oregonian, transplanted to Idaho (GO BSU), then lived in Cali for 3 years - moved back here 11 years ago... over 60% of my neighborhood is from Cali...I have no problem with it, as do most others...

Hey, we are all people trying to find a better place to live and raise kids...

[AndyV]

California vs. Idaha has much to do with population. Northern California can be pretty sparsely populated but there is still a lot of Californians, from down South, that like to come up here and enjoy what we have up North. They crowd our roads, use our water and behave like, what they are, urbanites; which is, a function of living in densely populated areas, more aggressive than us locals.

[hangtown]

How much difference are there in housing and food costs in Idaho and Northern Californioa??

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by hangtown

How much difference are there in housing and food costs in Idaho and Northern Californioa??

Huge difference with the housing costs, yo get more for your money here. Food is hit and miss, you'll pay more for fresh fruits, at least more than I did in Central CA.

[blackbimmer]

You'll pay more for gas here too..we are the last in the nation to see drop's in gas prices and the first to see them rise - total BS....my cousin in Iowa says his gas is down below 1.60 a gallon - we are still at 2.29 minimum here in Boise area... total garbage!!!!

[Sage of Sagle]

That's not all of Idaho....it's regionalized. Gas in Coeur d'Alene is $1.89/gallon and falling...

We took a trip last weekend to Boise, and it just got more expensive the further south we got...coming back on I-84 into Pendleton, OR it was $2.35/gal there. Somehow on the I-90 corridor it just seems a lot cheaper...

[AndyV]

Originally Posted by hangtown

How much difference are there in housing and food costs in Idaho and Northern California??

I live in Chico and, according to 'my realtor', "Average selling price per square for a 3 bedroom, 2 bath under 2,000 sq ft is $165-$175 /ft. This price will be adjusted up or down according to age, location and extra amenities like pool or shop or lot size. "