California people (Boise, Meridian, Sandpoint: homeschooling, DMV, to live in)

[erinashley]

Hey Idahomama, at times I have felt your pain. I see you wrote your reply some time ago...hopefully you are still happy with Idaho. I was born and raised in California and moved to Idaho 2 years ago. How could you beat the home prices? You can have everything that you used to have but a better life style. It is “any-town-USA”. I do understand what you mean about it turning into a “giant suburbia”…with the sea of new subdivisions….but there are so many cool places to discover! You just drive out of the Treasure Valley (a couple of hours) and you will find yourself in nature paradise. Have you hiked up in Mc Call or gone camping at Warm Lakes? I have fallen in love with the state. It is so beautiful and the people are genuinely nice once you get to know them. All of our neighbors bring us tins of cookies and candies during the holiday season. Although when we got to Idaho, my husband and I were warned to quickly switch out our license plates as soon as we moved into the state. Before we switched our license plates…we did get dirty looks…really dirty looks! I was even told by the native Idahoans (acting as friends) not to tell people that I moved from California. How silly. I am a local realtor and I have actually helped families that were born and raised in Idaho…clear over $80,000.00 dollars on their little homes because of their location. Why would they be mad at us? We have helped them make money on their land. Of course I can see the other end which is…most young couples can’t afford homes. Or they say that the Californians are “shallow” “snotty” or “stuck up”. Anyways, we are “Idah-fornians” now. Plus, it seems that 80% of all of the people that I meet who live here have come from California or other states.

[Judy & Randy]

I guess some things never change. I left soCal in `71 to Portland, Ore. After 11 years of rain 9 months a year, I went back to Sacramento. Now we live in Yuba City, between Sacto. & Chico. We're thinking of moving out of Calif. now because the liberal State politicians are taxing the bejeezus out of everything they can. At least we have enough equity to get a comparable lifestyle somewhere else now. If the Democrats didn't control the whole left coast things would be better here. We love this place, but the politicians are forcing our hand.

[ejecteject]

It's amusing to read strings such as these. I was stupid enough to get suckered by the weather into going to USC. Life in CA was OK while I was wildly young and had a job I was married to, but it took being laid off, some traveling, and waking up to realize that people aren't all the same everywhere you go. Uniquely, apparently, Californians love their homes, SUVs, and all manner of things, but have little use for their communities, anyone person or thing around their little bubble-worlds unless it's top-of-the-line and promises $$$. Most don't talk to, let alone look at a stranger on the street, unless they have to. Simply, that's why no one else wants them, and I wouldn't either. I'm originally from Mass., and I loved being near the ocean in SoCal, until the wealthy powers that be, from the ruling elite in D.C. to the ever-wise local city planners to those trying to keep up with the Joneses nextdoor, decided that merely living in a studio 20 minutes from desolate stretch of beach was a special privelage. Yes, I will miss the natural beauty and ocean breeze, but I'm on a job hunt and can't wait to get the hell out of here to get a real life before I hit the dirt.

[mustangjoey]

Originally Posted by erinashley

I am a local realtor and I have actually helped families that were born and raised in Idaho…clear over $80,000.00 dollars on their little homes because of their location. Why would they be mad at us? We have helped them make money on their land.

Frequent browser of this forum, but first time poster. This anti-California bashing is such cr_p. I am from California and have the following thoughts:
- I know most of my neighbors' names, and talk to all of them often about their families and whatever else is going on. If you hate all of your neighbors, try looking in the mirror for the cause.
- People do say hi and smile when we are out and about, it's all about your personality and how friendly you are.
- A buyer does not want to overpay for a house. I'd much rather spend less and have extra money to put into my kids' education, braces, or whatever. If you want someone to blame for the housing prices, blame the sellers. We aren't moving there to try to make a quick buck, but rather to bring our children up in a more family-oriented environment.
- If you hate people from other places, that's your problem. I won't be moving or not moving there because of you. If I like it there, I'm coming.
- I don't like the political climate here, which is why I'm leaving and hopefully moving to Idaho.
- I am tired of making good money and living paycheck to paycheck. No one wants that. It's all about providing for my family.

My wife and I are friendly people, as are most of our friends. We will make good neighbors for someone, and will fit in wherever we go. Regardless of what our license plates say, we are good people.

If you have a problem with me, then (respectfully) tough. Californians aren't all one type or another. I like cars and guns, and vote Republican. I have neighbors who probably hate all of those things, but that doesn't mean I can't be a good neighbor to them. There are jerks and saints everywhere. Make the best of it.

I could go on and on for days, but I'm finished.

[Torrie]

mustang joey,
Point well made! There are many of us in Idaho that welcome you. Being from CA myself I'm sick of the banter, it's just ignorant, uncalled for and very unamerican. You will fit in here just fine.

[rockx]

Migration is a sign of progress, if you don't like progression maybe you should move to Iran.

[Anchorless]

Originally Posted by rockx

Migration is a sign of progress, if you don't like progression maybe you should move to Iran.

Brilliant insight.

Care to elaborate...?

[Anchorless]

Originally Posted by mustangjoey

Frequent browser of this forum, but first time poster. This anti-California bashing is such cr_p. I am from California and have the following thoughts:
- I know most of my neighbors' names, and talk to all of them often about their families and whatever else is going on. If you hate all of your neighbors, try looking in the mirror for the cause.
- People do say hi and smile when we are out and about, it's all about your personality and how friendly you are.
- A buyer does not want to overpay for a house. I'd much rather spend less and have extra money to put into my kids' education, braces, or whatever. If you want someone to blame for the housing prices, blame the sellers. We aren't moving there to try to make a quick buck, but rather to bring our children up in a more family-oriented environment.
- If you hate people from other places, that's your problem. I won't be moving or not moving there because of you. If I like it there, I'm coming.
- I don't like the political climate here, which is why I'm leaving and hopefully moving to Idaho.
- I am tired of making good money and living paycheck to paycheck. No one wants that. It's all about providing for my family.

My wife and I are friendly people, as are most of our friends. We will make good neighbors for someone, and will fit in wherever we go. Regardless of what our license plates say, we are good people.

If you have a problem with me, then (respectfully) tough. Californians aren't all one type or another. I like cars and guns, and vote Republican. I have neighbors who probably hate all of those things, but that doesn't mean I can't be a good neighbor to them. There are jerks and saints everywhere. Make the best of it.

I could go on and on for days, but I'm finished.

For the most part, I think you're missing the point (respectfully).

I don't think it's so much about who or what Californians are or may be (remember, quite a few people that have moved here in the past 20 years are ex-Cali's anyway) - it's simply about the people coming in in mass numbers, typically with a good deal of jack to throw around for a new home. In a supply and demand driven market, money trumps all.

The towns in our state are growing, and the nice places that we used to love are becoming so expensive they're pricing most people out, and/or becoming exclusive enclaves for the few that can afford it.

With more people comes more problems. While the cities may be more diverse and cosmopolitan, it comes at a price - you either can't afford to enjoy it anymore, or else it's so busy and hectic to try to enjoy your home, it's easier just to sit at home.

You never used to have to make a reservation at Redfish Lake, for example. Now you have to months in advance.

I think that it is this that aggravate people more so than who is coming in. Cali's get the rap because there's just more of them coming, is all.

[mustangjoey]

Originally Posted by Anchorless

For the most part, I think you're missing the point (respectfully).

I think that it is this that aggravate people more so than who is coming in. Cali's get the rap because there's just more of them coming, is all.

I can respect that. I think it's hard to escape growth in just about any area. In my forty years, California's population has more than doubled. I just read that Ca is adding about a half million people annually. Yikes.

Idaho ranks in the top ten for growth, with an estimated 670,000 additional people from now to 2030. A huge number, but not much over Ca's population growth for the next 14 months.

Every state is growing, and the population growth is making it tougher for all, especially those with lower incomes who have a hard time affording to buy a home.

But, I guess I just got tired of hearing all of the bashing on Californians, as though we were bad people. I am a family man who loves to play with my three little ones when I get home from work. I think we all just want to give our families the best that we can.

Unless we close the borders and start preventing more than one child per family as China does, it's an unfortunate certainty.

[Anchorless]

Originally Posted by mustangjoey

I can respect that. I think it's hard to escape growth in just about any area. In my forty years, California's population has more than doubled. I just read that Ca is adding about a half million people annually. Yikes.

Idaho ranks in the top ten for growth, with an estimated 670,000 additional people from now to 2030. A huge number, but not much over Ca's population growth for the next 14 months.

Every state is growing, and the population growth is making it tougher for all, especially those with lower incomes who have a hard time affording to buy a home.

But, I guess I just got tired of hearing all of the bashing on Californians, as though we were bad people. I am a family man who loves to play with my three little ones when I get home from work. I think we all just want to give our families the best that we can.

Unless we close the borders and start preventing more than one child per family as China does, it's an unfortunate certainty.

No, it doesn't make you a bad person at all - it's just that incoming people tend to be a target for most because, well, you are the problem (and I don't mean that rudely).

Unfortunately the "system" (and I mean that as broadly as I can) makes it into a dog-eat-dog, fend for yourself atmosphere. No one can blame you for wanting to move away from California - and unfortunately that's all you will worry about. That's how it is for everyone.

You've seen the effects of what happens when people start growing over each other - hopefully we figure out how to stop that before it becomes a problem everywhere.