Why do people from Idaho lothe californians moving there. (Boise: transplants, homes)

[MikeyToo]

I've heard that many people from Idaho love their state, but don't like all the californians moving there. I was just wondering why? I'm originally from the midwest too, but moving back to my home state next summer. I just miss the slower pace. I can't believe all californians are bad? I would love some enlightenment!

[pw72]

This is an interesting question, and not only involves Idaho, but also Washington and Oregon. I've never really heard a good, intelligent explanation.

Yes, some Californians move north and bring a "California" attitude (whatever that means), with them. But you'd think that if the Northwest is an "accepting" area, that wouldn't be a real issue.

Perhaps it goes deeper. Many in the Northwest look at California and come to the conclusion they don't want to be California, what with the sprawl, traffic, crime, etc. So ANY Californian will represent this, and ALL Californians are to blame for changing the NW. This is a misinformed notion.

Many, if not most Californians move north to get away from the conditions mentioned above. The best advice I have is to change your license plates quickly, and try to adjust and blend in with the NW culture and sensibilities.
Afterall, isn't that why you moved in the first place? For those who refuse to do this, or are forced to move due to relocation (happening more and more), then we, as NW residents should accept them. You really can't change people's attitudes. And you can't put up a fence on the Oregon border.

[MikeyToo]

Originally Posted by pw72

This is an interesting question, and not only involves Idaho, but also Washington and Oregon. I've never really heard a good, intelligent explanation.

Yes, some Californians move north and bring a "California" attitude (whatever that means), with them. But you'd think that if the Northwest is an "accepting" area, that wouldn't be a real issue.

Perhaps it goes deeper. Many in the Northwest look at California and come to the conclusion they don't want to be California, what with the sprawl, traffic, crime, etc. So ANY Californian will represent this, and ALL Californians are to blame for changing the NW. This is a misinformed notion.

Many, if not most Californians move north to get away from the conditions mentioned above. The best advice I have is to change your license plates quickly, and try to adjust and blend in with the NW culture and sensibilities.
Afterall, isn't that why you moved in the first place? For those who refuse to do this, or are forced to move due to relocation (happening more and more), then we, as NW residents should accept them. You really can't change people's attitudes. And you can't put up a fence on the Oregon border.

Well, I don't always agree with what everyone says, but I can't find any fault in what you said.....
I agree, some (maybe many) have some deeper roots that have gone by. I'm moving back to the midwest and most of the people that have moved there from california have embraced it. I wouldn't put all californians into a single catagory. Some just never experienced a layed back lifestyle...
But, when they do, they say they love it! So, there ya go, dontcha know...

[rigbymomof3]

I am from Idaho and don't know 1 person who has moved here from Cal. and if I did I would like them and welcome them just as much as someone moving here from the next town over. I also don't know anyone in my neighborhood or church that would care where someone moves from. We all try to welcome any newcomer. I think that what happens is there are 1 or 2 idiots out there who like to make a huge fuss over Californian's moving here because they have no life. Or perhaps they knew someone 5 years ago that moved here from California and didn't like that person. Whatever the reason it is not an issue where I live.

[movinfromidaho]

We just want to keep Idaho a secret!

[Drover]

pw72 hit on the basics, and I'm going to elaborate a little...

This isn't just an Idaho issue. The same "anti-California" resistance can be found in pockets of Oregon, Washington, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado to some extent -- pretty much anywhere in the coastal and interior West. It's important to understand that "anti-California" sentiment mostly means "anti-urban" sentiment. It's only to the extent that they greatly overlap that it's truly "anti-California" sentiment. And the sentiment stems from the fact that these places are seeing large influxes of people moving to those states from California -- "fleeing" California if you will. Now, "large influx" is relative... the migration of a few thousand Californians every year into each of these states doesn't sound like much by California standards where the population is 30-some million. But migrations by the thousands into these less populous states can dramatically change the cultural, economic and physical landscape of many small towns and rural areas that are erstwhile sparsely populated. What locals perceive is that all of the things that make Californians want to flee California are being imported into their own states. This process was known by the locals as "Californication" long before the Chili Peppers released an album of the same name.

The most obvious concern the locals have is that the influx has dramatically increased property prices, making it hard for them to afford what was once readily available to them. But there's also the cultural and political differences between the new arrivals and the locals. People who live in rural areas have a way of life that they want to keep. The locals get annoyed when city people move in from Cali and, as the locals see it, try to re-create the city experience out in the country or in small towns. Californians move in and want to raise taxes to pave roads that serve 10 cars a day and don't need to be paved. They want to add stoplights at intersections that don't see more than one car per minute. The newcomers don't understand that it's impractical to create municipal police and fire districts for rural areas with a population density of 20 people per square mile. They don't understand that livestock has the right-of-way on rural roads. Last but not least, California transplants and interior-West locals often have VERY different ideas about land-use policy. The locals REALLY hate it when Californians come in and tell a rancher, a forester or someone else who makes their living off the local land, "we don't like what you're doing to nature and we're going to do our best to stop you." And so on.

In short, the locals see their way of life as being under attack. They fear that their states are eventually going to become duplicates of California as they see it: overpopulated, overtaxed, overgoverned, overnannied and increasingly governed by urban interests that have the voting power to govern with little concern for rural interests.

This is not just a West Coast/Interior West issue. Many of the same tensions are playing out in this neck of the woods between Chicago-area folks and rural Wisconsin folks. Like one Wisconsin curmudgeon once told me, "We don't mind you Chicago folks coming up here. We just wish you wouldn't bring Chicago with you." And on the East coast, the same basic routine is playing out between NYC/Boston folks and rural New Englanders and rural upstate New Yorkers. The West Coast is actually pretty late to the game -- these fights have been playing out in the East Coast since the 20s and the Northwoods (Wisconsin, northern Michigan) since the 60s.

[Anchorless]

Yeah, what Drover (excellently) stated.

There are a ton of threads about this, in this forum and in other states' fora (Montana, Colorado, Oregon, Wyoming). Check them out.

[California Carl]

I thought it was because we could'nt keep pace with the "tap" dancing in the in the mens room stalls.

[KittyToy]

LOVE IT CC, that was a good one!

[Mtn. States Resident]

IMO, Drover, pw72 and rigbymomof3 all are telling the truth as they see and have seen it.

Want to read some really nasty comments, look at the Montana website.

I do think there is concern in regional areas that once were primarily agriculturally based, about how many farmers have had to sell out to keep up with rising prices. Look at how the state of ID prints their labor reports: agritculture and non-agriculture employment.

Additionally, I also think not all from CA (or AZ, NV, AK or any other state that who hasn't had agriculture in their family for generations), or agriculture as a building block of local economic communities, don't necessarily appreciate what this means to families. I absolutely realize the foods contributed to the U.S. by CA and other states. However, it seems that those who own orchads, vineyards and other land producting food for human consumption don't appear to be the ones moving (I might be wrong, simply my observation).

Some properties have been in the family for decades. To sell a piece of ground, both so a new resident can have an excellent, unobstructed view of mountains and valleys, and so a farmer can pay his bills - especially in a bad year when crops were ruined by weather, is in some ways felt as a "failure" to that farming family.

Much like rigbymomof3, I see most California residents who relocate welcomed.

pw72 started some excellent themes IMHO, which Drover developed further. I would suggest it may not just be the perception of the local life under attack, but the reality of what some hoped for their children and grandchildren simply won't be, due to the increasing costs of the Idaho residents' former way of life. It is a difficult adjustment. While that may indeed be the case, the up side is now everyone involved has a chance for a win/win situation as nobody in the neighborhood/area, prior to new California residents moving in, didn't necessarily have the opportunity to make new friends All residents would have missed out on the opportunity necessarily to meet each other, had everyone remained in CA.

Part of respect IMO, is accepting some religions that may be different, than those most CA residents are use to. If you truly respect your neighbor and vice versa, then whatever religion (if they have one), should just be a bonus, not a negative for anyone.

I would recommend that those who relocate let their neighbors know they didn't bring the entire CA population with them (just a joke). But, try to approach what, primarily seems to be a Treasure Valley issue (Boise metro) with understanding. What if the reverse were true? What if you wanted to live in your home, your farm etc. forever and had hoped your grandchildren lived there after you? I think trying to imagine what it is like to be in the other person's shoes is always useful.

Also, for those who move from CA, don't wait for your neighbors to come and meet you. Show them you want to be part of the community where you have chosen to re-locate. Go introduce yourselves and perhaps ask their advice of where they get their groceries, hardware etc. In short, mutual respect established early by neighbors, new friends and new co-workers goes a long way. Find something in common as a starting point. Some in Idaho who haven't had the opportunity of advanced education may be more reserved to interact, for fear of "making a mistake in front of the smart neighbors from CA." Think about how that would feel for you.

And the issue that has been mentioned endlessly, about California residents wanting what Idaho has, but then complaining about what is lacking from their former homes, doesn't go over well with many Idaho natives. Instead of complaining about what CA residents use to have, how about talking with new neighbors, friends and co-workers about ideas of what they might like to see built up, or even started, in their area and how you might be able to help? If you ask what they might want to see be different, the same courtesy most likely will be extended to you.

Basically, make it a two way street with a chance to exchange ideas and learn about each other. Former CA residents may agree it's silly to put a stop light up at rural intersections, but until they say so, local residents don't know. I cringe when I read titles like these as not everyone in Idaho, nor California feels this way. Give locals the opportunity to know what some of your skills and interests are and how you ADD to the community. I think more than anything, those who relocate and tell their new neighbors what drew them to their special area helps create better understanding.

These are just some of my ideas and not necessarily right or wrong, just a view from someone who has lived in several states and had to adjust. I hope they help someone have a better feel why some Idahoans feel invaded or like they can't have what they once had, or hoped their children would have.