moving from Paris France to CDA (Post Falls, Rathdrum: apartment, rentals, movers)

[heatherriviere]

Thanks for the great suggestion, pacalady, it has inspired me to GO AFTER that day-to-day slice of life in the panhandle via the local blogs (although you are certainly more than welcome to follow her advice and spoonfeed me !)

I have regularly been checking in on A Family Runs Through It to hear about how a homeschooling dad gets through his days with his family, and have dipped into a couple blogs via the Spokesman Review (Parents Council :: spokesmanreview.com and Huckleberries Online :: spokesmanreview.com but will dig around to see if there are others that can help us paint a more complete picture of the area. I also read one with great recipes but can't seem to find it anymore. Will keep checking...

Any suggestions?

Bunky39, being prolific CD-buyers ourselves, my hubbie and I have lots of suggestions if you want to keep in the French-speaking swing by means of French music...classic stuff like Charles Trenet (or the recent posthumus album) or easy-listening contemporary French pop stuff to get a feel for the issues in France nowadays...Faites-moi signe ! A bientôt, ("Just let me know!" "Talk to you soon," for those of you who don't understand French )

Heather

[pacalady]

Nov 26, 2007 - Daily Life in Post Falls

Although the temps have 'hovered' around 30 degrees and under that last few days which included low-hanging gray clouds that seemed to be 'stuck' on the tops of the hills around us and thus unable to 'move', we have now finally gotten our first snow .... it started just minutes ago! I checked weather underground radar to see what is happening, and it is a very strange weather pattern, so we're not sure if we'll get the anticipated 1" + tonight or not! As I type this, I notice the cars down the main road driving slowly, and cautiously in anticipation of the 'slick roads'.

Our alpacas are nestled in their shelters with plenty of straw to bed down on, and even Thor the dog has a 'bed of hay' in the middle of the barn to snuggle in (we usually find him in one of the pens with the pacas however! Much warmer there, I'm sure!!)

It is now getting dark at 4 - 4:15 p.m., so we have started our half-hour feeding routine at 3:45. Life definatly slows down this time of year!!

My drive to work each day tells me that the construction areas haven't slowed down much with the colder weather ....everyone is still working away, but starting at daylight (just before 7 a.m.) and ending at 4 p.m.

Good Morning America is supposed to be in Coeur d' Alene for the Christmas lighting downtown day after tomorrow .... the city will be PACKED! And it should be fun to see 'our home town' on national TV in the coming days/weeks... (probably that same day, since they are 'live' tv.)

PacaLady

[pacalady]

The weather has definatly turned to winter here! The promised 3-4" of snow arrived, and the roads were very slick on the surface streets ....but plowed, and well sanded at the intersections. No problem getting anywhere!

There was a sun-break today, and although the snow isn't quite deep enough to give us a 'good blanket' yet, there is more coming in the forecast. That, believe it or not, will make things easier!

Alpacas are huddled in their shelters, not wanting to go outside at all now (in spite of our encouragement), and the weanlings are a bit stressed, since they don't know what to think of this added pressure with SNOW in their pasture while being kept away from their mom's! (They'll be fine next week though!)

Thor, the LGD is having a ball, and actually engaging the adult males into play in the pasutres! They play "Catch me if you can!", then Thor gives the alpacas kisses if they give him a belly rub after he's laid down, belly-up with all four legs in the air! Then the game of chase starts all over again! Even if we had a video camera, we'd never be able to catch this interaction on film as it happens so fast!

Drivers on our roads are being cautious and careful. Allowing lot's of 'space' and courtesy, since we all know that just because we are 'trying to stop at the stop sign, it just might not happen! The I-90 freeway and more travelled roads are bare and wet by 10 a.m. with the traffic.

People in the grocery store are in winter boots, and casual business attire ....and are 'right at home'.

Schools are open, the busses running on time; the snow plows from the county on stand-by and ready to roll.

Life is good in North Idaho!

PacaLady

[whitestone]

heatherriviere well we got snow--7.5 inches (19.05 cm) here (one thing is you will have to get used the English measurement system again) and with one big rainstorm, it is almost entirely gone and we are basking in 50°+F (10° C) sunshine (which is currently the same as Los Angeles!). The sunshine will not last and we're looking at a 20% chance of snow by the end of the week. But we enjoy it while we can.

On the pottery information front, I saw this article in the CDA Press today that you might be interested in:
Coeur d'Alene Press Newspaper - Local and National News - Kootenai County, Idaho (broken link)

And as far as rickers is concerned, while its always healthy to listen to dissenters who haven't drunk the Cd'A Koolaid, I think his negative perception of the area is just that, negativity coming from a negative person. You can always find the dirt under the carpet if you're always tearing up the carpet to look no matter where you live.

P.S. I hadn't posted in a while because I upgraded my system and lost some of my bookmarks and preferences for some websites. Hope to be able to post a little more frequently now.

[westcoastcate]

No doubt it's lovely in Post Falls and CDA, once away from the mass cookie-cutter developments all over the prairie that aren't selling now, but the truth is the area is SO not diverse. 100% white. There are some strange people in the area....this place used to be headquarters to a community of racists- skinheads I think they called them. Supposedly they are gone now. There is a glut of homes on the market, check it out on realtor dot com! Also, many people move to N. Idaho to get AWAY from people. Thus, not the friendliest place by any means. Seattle, although more traffic, runs circles around N. Idaho for friendliness and diversity - no comparison there. In Idaho, I believe Boise would be a better choice than CDA, LDS or no. As a person with a Master's degree, you'd be in the minority in N. Idaho. I'm not trying to dissuade you, simply sharing the truth.

[Sage of Sagle]

westcoascate,

In what town/area in NID do you reside so we have some context on your statements...we seem to get a lot of people with opinions, good to have some background...

[pacalady]

Hello Everyone...and Merry Christmas!!

The sky is filled with stars and a nearly full moon, the days are now getting longer (instead of shorter) and life in North Idaho is filled with the smiles, and happiness of the season! Spring is around the corner, and life is good!

Yes there are 'developments' here, but there is SO much space they don't seem to intrude where I am on the Rathdrum Praire. Diversity is robust with having the culture of the city near-by, yet rural areas to raise a garden and just 'being yourself' yet without being too far away from everything....

This is one of many of the reasons we left Seattle area to live here. The Seattle traffic, the tax base, the hectic lifestyle in burned us out .....

Being here in Idaho has 'slowed us down' and we love the friendly atmosphere .... from the grocery store, to the gas station ....and yes, even Wal Mart.... where the checkers ask about your family, your animals, your life ....... Where else can you find that kind of friendliness, and commradre?

This is where people you meet become your friends and aren't just acquaintances ....

This is a very special place for sure .....and yes, it is going thru some growing pains..... but so what? Come and help us make it even better than it is even now, I challenge you!

PacaLady

[westcoastcate]

I live in the Post Falls area, very close to CDA....eight years now. I can't wait to leave. My child came from Seattle schools, where there was order and issues where dealt with on the playground. Here, that didn't happen. My child called it "boot camp." I got involved with the schools, worked in the classrooms, and finally, the playgrounds that needed much more supervision. When a threat was made to my child, who is very bright and perhaps didn't fit in as well, I went to the principal, and the teacher. I wasn't at all pleased with lack of response. We finally resorted to homeschooling, which has turned out very well (homeschooling is very big here and that is a great thing). We did have one outstanding teacher in the public school, but I couldn't say much more that's good about our experience with the schools here. Just my opinion and experience, of course. But isn't it good to hear more than one?

I hear Rathdrums' schools are better. Also CDA High now has the Int'l Baccalaureate program, which sounds promising. The CDA Charter school is free, and a great education if the school fits your child's learning style.

The people? The least friendly I've ever met. In Seattle, we made friends everywhere, and my son had African American, Asian, and Korean friends, to name just a few. Here, of course, there is not that diversity, not even close. It is rare to ever see an African American, let alone Asian or Hispanic. Further, the people here seem to keep more to themselves. Hunting is big.

I respect Pacalady's opinion, but that is only one opinion. Walmart checkers ask about your family? I've never seen that happen, and I'm in there a lot. You're making this area out to be some kind of utopia that it is not.

Unfortunately, due to the huge number of homes for sale that aren't selling where I live, it may take me a year to sell and move away. The day my home says "sold," will be a happy day indeed. I would go back to Seattle, but can't afford it anymore. It is a wonderful city, although the traffic is terrible in my opinion. There's not much else wrong with it, though. It's not terribly diverse, but world's more diverse than North Idaho.

Of course there are good people here, and good things about the area, but it would never have been my choice to raise my children here (a long story). Just my opinion, but I'd prefer a more diverse area, more educational opportunities not to mention a university, better paying jobs, and more culture. Sure, you can drive through traffic to Spokane (one of the most unattractive cities ever IMO), and find more to do. You have Lake CDA, gorgeous, and that's a definite attraction. There's good and bad, like anywhere, I suppose. I'd also prefer cleaner air. Seattle has that, but not this area, largely due to wood burning I believe.

I am on my own quest for where I will move my family next. This board is fantastic for help in that area, and we all have different priorities. Find what's best for you. There are people here who would never consider leaving, and who have never lived elsewhere; many from CA and other areas have moved here partly because it was so much cheaper than where they came from, and perhaps wanted to retire here. Good for them.

I'm not trying to "knock Idaho." I'm simply sharing my honest opinion, and isn't it important to have a diversity of opinions as well? Don't take just my or anyone else's opinion as the last word. Take all of it together, do research, and draw your own conclusions. But talking to the locals is one of the best ways to know what an area is really like. The more opinions garnered from different people, the better picture one will obtain.

Peace and Merry Christmas to all of you.

[Sage of Sagle]

Thanks for adding the extra dimension to your data. I think it helps others get a varied and broad perspective on the area.

[Copper1272]

We are also relocating back to Post Falls, CDA , Rathdrum area. However I am originally from the area and currently live in South Florida, Westcoastcate if you really want to see a crappy real estate market, horrendous schools and rude people I can assure you most of it's here . I can't wait to get home and I guess everyone's opinions may very on different levels. Hope everyone had a great christmas and have safe moves.