A Place to hide in Idaho (Boise, Moscow: houses, rent, lease)

[ready2leaveaz]

I am looking to relocate to Idaho, preferably NW Idaho near Post Falls. I am not under a wrong impression that Idaho is some haven from the rest of the country where the sun shines at 75 degrees every day, houses are on the dollar menu, and the last crime was a kid stealing a pack of gum from the general store.

After researching several factors from taxes to gun laws to home schooling to crime to property cost.....Idaho seems the the top choice. I am a Pharmacist so I can go anywhere I wish thankfully, but employment with a company of choice may be ideal in Liberty Lake, WA...right over the state line.

I know some residents of Idaho bristle at the thought of more people retreating there....but I promise, I'm good people. You are the ones I need to most help from knowing the area so well. I'd be the type of neighbor you want.

I am a staunch conservative with a baby on the way. I believe in GOD, family values and this country.I live by biblical values and I hate liberalism with a passion. I want to be around like minded conservative folk who look out for each other and live a traditional American life. I want to be around people who think about others before themselves like I do.


What i need are some recommendations and some questions that need answers. I have searched the posts and can't seem to get a clearer picture, so here I go:

1) I am looking for (as I said hoperfully near Post Falls) a small town with a strong conservative base and family values.Just a great place to raise kids. A p-lace where my kids can be kids like it used to be. I really am looking for a place I can get a large chunk of land, say 20 or 30 acres with a decent house on it but not too far from civilization. I want space but dont want to be so far out that my kids grow up weird since the only playmate they had was the goat on the farm. I like small towns of 15-20k people, but know they are few and far between nowadays. Schools are a small concern but not a deciding factor. People compliment and complain about the same schools. We will place our children in a private Catholic school somewhere, if not homeschool is on the table of discussion.

2) I'd prefer to be in an area with low crime (like everyone else I guess) that does not have pockets of illegals from a farming community.Well any serious crime... like gang activity period. I want to leave the days behind of gang graffiti on the block wall outside my half a million dollar plus community thank you. No where is safe here in AZ, even if you are in an affluent community. I dont care if you think that is racist, I am sick of it!

3) I read the post of the weather of this area of Idaho. I grew up on the East Coast, so I know gray crappy winters of snow and clouds every day from Nov to April.My wife grew up in Pacific NW, so she can deal. Is that what we are in store for? Should I fill my antidepressants for seasonal affective disorder or what? Some more weather descriptions may be helpful.Are summers humid? I'm sure the summers are summers, plus coming from months of 118 degree summers...sorry you dont know hot.

4) I'd like to hear from some like minded individuals both in wanting to be around strong conservatives and people like me who HAVE relocated to Idaho for the same reasons. Was the move what you expected? Was it more of a vision than a reality once you did it? Were you disappointed? The people who are like minded, is there an area you are looking at that I may want to look at? Maybe an area we could begin a gravitation to and make what we are looking for a reality? Just a thought....

[esselcue]

If your post is serious in nature, I doubt you will find that town anywhere. It's pretty hard to close out the rest of the world and still maintain any sort of quality of life, and I doubt you will find that in Idaho either. There are areas that are more or less conservative than others, but "tolerence" is what matters. I am also in AZ and after much investigation and several trips north to see for myself, I am planning to retire to Idaho. Like yourself, I also lean to the conservative side, but I am not radical about it because there are truly good people who have liberal ideas and beliefs. I am pretty sure I can fit in with no problem...I hope you find your place, as well

[ready2leaveaz]

No my post is serious......however I am not a radical. I am just a guy who has had enough and wants to move near some stronger like minded people. You are entitled to your way of life and your opinion, just doesnt mean I want you on the school board making decisions that affect my kids.

I have many good friends who are raging liberals,they are good people at heart... but that arguement is for another post. For those who responded privately with info I thank you. Those with more info, I would appreciate continued posts. The post there are some conservative places and some liberal places doesnt do me much good.

I am looking for some good answers with solid information from my post not a lesson that we need tolerance, thank you.

[MOD CUT]

[cleosmom]

Never having lived in Northern Idaho, only a few visits I tend to view it as more liberal than SE Idaho.

If I'm wrong and there is a good chance, I'd like to hear from someone whose lived in both.

[newflowers]

My Idaho experience is in Boise and Moscow - which granted is limited - and everyone I have ever met both in and from Idaho is very accepting of others - different people, different ideas, different backgrounds. In about three years, I will be moving to Priest River, and in my research, I read a great deal about "conservative values" which seems to be a code for everyone needs to be white, middle class, religious - an attitude I find particularly limiting - and counter to the strong live and let live attitude I have known to be typical of Idaho.

What exactly are "conservative values" as you define them? Who gets included and who, excluded? Who decides? There seems to be a definitive line in the sand, and I would like to know what it is. I have an idea I am on the wrong side of it. I want to live in Idaho, teach at the local school instead of one across the way in Washington, attend festivals, and be a member of the community; in no way shape or form would I define myself as conservative. Perhaps I need to know where the non-labeled people are living.

[ready2leaveaz]

Look, I dont want a political rant of liberalism versus conservatism. You know exactly what they are. Please dont bait an arguement, leave this to another thread somewhere else. I just want some accurate answers and information...that's it.

"code for everyone needs to be white, middle class, religious - an attitude I find particularly limiting - and counter to the strong live and let live attitude I have known to be typical of Idaho"

Comments like that are uncalled for and ridiculous. I'd appreciate not posting here. If you think someone who is a person of faith with conservative values is a racist white supremist wearing a white sheet, well that is naive and flat wrong. You have no idea what my nationality is, skin color, nor any other information to make foolish assessment like that from my post.

[shades_of_idaho]

ready2leaveAZ I think you have had a little too much sun. Have some Ice Tea and cool down a little.

[newflowers]

Actually, I think your definition of conservative and mine would be completely different. And I think only cowards and bullies wear white sheets to terrorize people - your analogy, by the way.

I still maintain that, in my experience, Idaho is a place of tolerance and acceptance. In a public forum, I feel free to express my opinion as I see fit.

[Haakon]

Originally Posted by ready2leaveaz

I am a staunch conservative with a baby on the way. I believe in GOD, family values and this country.I live by biblical values and I hate liberalism with a passion. I want to be around like minded conservative folk who look out for each other and live a traditional American life. I want to be around people who think about others before themselves like I do.

Better try to stay on the Idaho side of the state line, WA politics will drive you crazy. Even though eastern WA is fairly conservative the state is mainly run by the very liberal west side (mainly Seattle and King County).

I haven't lived in ID, but have visited family there several times a year for 20+ years. Post Falls, CDA area is probably the most liberal part of the state, which still makes it more conservative than WA.

20-30 acres not far from civilization is going to be expensive, even an acre or two with a nice house is likely to run $300,000 (according to a quick Google search).

I don't know if you could find a job there, but somewhere like Salmon ID might be closer to your ideal than Post Falls. I rather like the Boise area, that's where my family is, summers are much like AZ, 100+, dry, hot. Winters aren't to cold, it has some of the common big city problems though so that might rule it out for you.

[Mapper]

It sounds to me that Idaho is definately the place for you to be. We are very conservative and welcome like minded people to our little piece of heaven.