Where in Idaho would I find . . . (Boise, Idaho Falls: houses, school, university)

[skittles2u]

I have been reading posts from both the Idaho forum and the Inland empire area of Calif (where I live).

What I'm looking for is an escape from the heat and high electric bills of the summer... I have tolerated the summer in the Inland empire for 25+ years, and I just dont want to think about surviving another summer where it doesn't cool off at night, and if you turn the a/c down, I can wake up at 6 am to the house being 84 inside...

I'm looking out of state, because I don't believe there is any where within California that I can afford to live; one summer during the last 5 years I was able to spend a lot of time very near Santa Monica.... but the prices there are just not in my budget.

I may need to work for another 5 years, not sure if I could survive on just my retirement compensation.

I was thinking maybe Moscow area, but then read a few posts about the winds.... and after living in the Inland Empire, where we've closed our school for days due to wind and wind damage, I don't need 70 mile an hour winds either....

So my long winded posts, is for those of you that have come from "HOT" areas (dry or humid) hot is hot...where did you choose in Idaho?

I've read many posts about why people leave, and I don't really see that many that complaining about the heat... some say I won't like anywhere because I've been in So. Calif all my life... but I am so done with the summer of the Inland empire that begins in May and lasts til October or later. The only thing keeping me in Calif is my job and that's why I'm not sure when I can move, but would love to investigate and maybe be able to make that decision by next summer.

I wouldn't mind rural as while I only lived on 1/2 acre for 20+ years, I enjoy raising chickens and turkeys, but if I need to work, since I do office/administrative work, I'd like to be within a driveable distance to either a hospital or school/college/university. Other than that, I enjoy a multitude of crafts; and would consider myself a homebody.

Would love to hear if the heat drove any one else out of Calif (and the price of houses in cooler areas) and what you like about where you are now and if you could do your move over.... what would you do differently?

[cleosmom]

I came from the Central Valley of California and moved to southeast Idaho. Yes, we have "real" winters, the wind blows any and all seasons. However, I'd prefer this to the fog and extreme heat we had in the Central Valley hands down.

Last time I was there was in Feb. for my mom's funeral and truth be told glad she went in winter and heck it was almost too warm for me then!

[Sage of Sagle]

You know...you just have to deal with SOME heat just about everywhere...

It's my view that here it's at least tolerable. We had fewer than 20 total days this year over 85 degrees (Sandpoint area). We had maybe 10-12 days in the 90-95'ish range.

Today it was 67 degrees, and will be 35 tonight. We had some rain showers today, but otherwise a gorgeous partly cloudy day.

So the summers are short, and winters are long. Hot days are not excessive, and the lake and river water is always a cool retreat.

[Trace_Rinaldi]

The heat is definitely a factor for me.. There are some years I lose alot of shop time because its simply too hot to work, and its cost prohibitive to properly cool and ventilate it.. On the other hand I have NEVER been too cold to work;-)
Skittles I live a stones throw away from you, and I know you will love the summer temps in that area of Idaho compared to here.
Check out Worley, and Plummer.. Easy commute to CDA, or Spokane, and its a sweet spot for mild winter with only an average of 16" a year snowfall.;-) Land is still very reasonable too, especially compared to here.

[esselcue]

The heat is driving me out of Arizona...not California...but I completely empathize with you. I will retire in January and when and if I sell my home here I am headed for northern Idaho. I have lived in snow (Big Bear Lake) and I loved it. Wish I had never traded the cold for the heat...now after 23 years here in AZ I am hoping to head back to where it's cool to cold. Everyone is different but as I age the heat is really getting to my activity levels. So...I wish you the very best of luck in your decisions and your future!

[elousv]

The heat is high on our list of reasons to move north too. The wind thing concerns me though. I have searched and only found fleeting remarks about the famous Idaho wind. I find the data plots for wind highly misleading. For example, if you look at Lancaster vs. Santa Clarita CA, the two wind charts are very similar. I can tell you first hand that they are drastically different. If you look at Idaho Falls, it shows higher than average and way above Lancaster. It must be really blowing there. If you look at CDA it shows about average, but still above Lancaster. I know it is not so, but in Lancaster it seems to be continuously blowing at an annoying level that negatively impacts outdoor activity. I lived there for some time and could never put my gas grill on low. I would come home and find the patio furniture in the pool. The wind makes it dangerous to open your car door just to have it slam on your leg. Is it like that up there?

[cleosmom]

Originally Posted by elousv

The wind thing concerns me though.

If you look at Idaho Falls, it shows higher than average and way above Lancaster. It must be really blowing there.

The wind makes it dangerous to open your car door just to have it slam on your leg. Is it like that up there?

It can get that way in Idaho Falls. Contrary to popular belief, the wind doesn't always die down at sunset either. So much so that I've had a hassle this year in treating my lawns between wind, time off of work and of course the optimal timing of being two days after mowing.

[Sage of Sagle]

Having spent a LOT of time in Lancaster (we played for a soccer club there and we were there 3x a week for practice year round), I can tell you that NOWHERE in NID is NEARLY as windy as Lancaster. NOWHERE....

Moscow area has a bit more wind that up here, so it feels like "Lancaster on a calmer day", but CDA/SP has about the same wind as coastal Orange County.

[eastidahomom]

We have the heating bills in the winter in SE Idaho, 9 months of them. There is only maybe one or one and half months that it's to hot for an upstairs bedroom. I came from Southern California, nice little community, but didn't want to raise my kids there. Now, given the high costs of everything, I'm glad I don't live there anymore. Idaho is far less expensive as far as housing goes and that's usually the biggest expense.

[boi2socal]

I live in the Inland Empire of California at present and I can tell you that ALL of the Southland is more windy than Idaho. At least more windy than the Boise Area.