Looking at Idaho from Vermont.

[brother227]

Vtguy,I moved out here to the Boise area back in the 90's from NH(born and raised there)so my experiences here my be of some help to you.

[Sage of Sagle]

Vtguy,

Economy is still tough. Unemployment running 9-11%, people are hanging onto their jobs, not much lateral movement. The construction/craftsman trade is NOT the place to be right now in Idaho...although I would think remodeling would be safer than new construction right now...

[Vtguy]

Thanks Sage, tough business for me to be in , where ever I go , I'll bet.

brother227....your experiences would be of interest.

[jja100]

Originally Posted by Vtguy

My wife and I are looking to relocate, to a slightly warmer climate. Winters are just too long now here in central Vermont. I've been to Boise several times in the Winter and found that very agreeable. I'm hoping to fly out and rent a car , and just drive all over the place. Boise is too big a city for us to live, but possibly to work, and probably a landing place initially. We want a small working class town,(like here...1000 pop.) .....maybe 1000 to 5000 population would be great. Rural, not too much snow, preferably. The cost of living / wage picture is on the high side here (low wage / high cost.) First question is how Idaho might compare, in that regard....and second.....areas where we might look. I am a finish carpenter/cabinetmaker/chairmaker, high-end of 30 years, and my wife is an RN. currently in Hospice. We are in our early 50s. Any advice or info is greatly appreciated. Michael

So long as you are not a flaming Lib trying to change the state so that it is inline with your value system you should be fine in Idaho.

[tdna]

Originally Posted by jja100

So long as you are not a flaming Lib trying to change the state so that it is inline with your value system you should be fine in Idaho.

Gosh, what an insightful, or maybe that's inciteful, reply.

I moved from Vermont to Victor a little over a year ago. The lack of humidity here is quite a nice change. I have had to adjust to the comparable lack of trees and, therefore, shade, especially on long hikes. I also really miss the foliage, but not the Leaf Peepers. The length of winter is about the same, but the temperatures seem slightly more mild here (while last winter was my first as a resident, I have spent a lot of time here during all times of year for the past 9 years, so I'm not basing my opinion on only one season).

The cost of living is about the same with the exception of power, which is substantially less. In fact, I'm paying about 1/2 of what I paid in VT.

Like most Vermonters, most Idahoans seem very friendly and open-minded. In my experience, as long as you are kind and respectful you will be treated the same way and no one will care about your political or religious beliefs. Too much is made, in my opinion, about conservatives vs. liberals and the LDS influence. It seems to be a problem only for those hell bent on making it so.

I like Victor a lot. In Vermont, I lived 6 miles out a dirt road, with no neighbors, in a town of 350 people; so, Victor felt downright metropolitan with its TWO gas stations, a grocery store, multiple restaurants, a brewpub and a brewery. It took a while to get used to the fact that I could hear traffic from my house and my neighbors laugh because I guess you actually have to listen pretty hard to be able to hear it.

There seem to be a lot skilled craftsmen who have no trouble finding work just over the hill in Jackson and St. John's Hospital always has nursing positions posted. A lot of people don't like the commute over Teton Pass, but I've never had a problem. Being from central Vermont, I'm sure you've driven the App Gap or 125 in the winter and both of those are steeper and have sharper corners than Teton Pass.

Anyway, from one Vermonter to another, good luck with your decision, whatever it turns out to be.

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by tdna

Gosh, what an insightful, or maybe that's inciteful, reply.

I moved from Vermont to Victor a little over a year ago. The lack of humidity here is quite a nice change. I have had to adjust to the comparable lack of trees and, therefore, shade, especially on long hikes. I also really miss the foliage, but not the Leaf Peepers. The length of winter is about the same, but the temperatures seem slightly more mild here (while last winter was my first as a resident, I have spent a lot of time here during all times of year for the past 9 years, so I'm not basing my opinion on only one season).

The cost of living is about the same with the exception of power, which is substantially less. In fact, I'm paying about 1/2 of what I paid in VT.

Like most Vermonters, most Idahoans seem very friendly and open-minded. In my experience, as long as you are kind and respectful you will be treated the same way and no one will care about your political or religious beliefs. Too much is made, in my opinion, about conservatives vs. liberals and the LDS influence. It seems to be a problem only for those hell bent on making it so.

I like Victor a lot. In Vermont, I lived 6 miles out a dirt road, with no neighbors, in a town of 350 people; so, Victor felt downright metropolitan with its TWO gas stations, a grocery store, multiple restaurants, a brewpub and a brewery. It took a while to get used to the fact that I could hear traffic from my house and my neighbors laugh because I guess you actually have to listen pretty hard to be able to hear it.

There seem to be a lot skilled craftsmen who have no trouble finding work just over the hill in Jackson and St. John's Hospital always has nursing positions posted. A lot of people don't like the commute over Teton Pass, but I've never had a problem. Being from central Vermont, I'm sure you've driven the App Gap or 125 in the winter and both of those are steeper and have sharper corners than Teton Pass.

Anyway, from one Vermonter to another, good luck with your decision, whatever it turns out to be.

Great post, tdna.

MSR