How accepting are you in Idaho? Be honest now.... (Boise: fit in, layoffs)

[SantaFeSisters]

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: santa fe,nm
97 posts, read 57,820 times
Reputation: 146



How accepting are Idahoans?
My two sisters, my mother and I are all hoping to move to Idaho together. The question I have is about my two sisters. To put it simply they are eccentric. Think the aunts in "Practical Magic". They are very sweet,kind and friendly ,but different. They are up all night, sleep till noon , wear pajamas all day , you get the idea. Here in Santa Fe, they fit right in. How would they be accepted by Idahoans?

[Sage of Sagle]

Your thread title is a bit off-putting...not sure if you meant to but you imply that we're going to be less-than-candid without your cajoling...

I don't think anyone would care. But then again, if they're really weird, people are going to think them weird. I'm not sure how to answer this.

Plenty of folks here sleep late and work late. If they go out in public wearing pajamas, well, yeah, people will think them weird since beyond maybe some young teen girls who think looking sloppy is "hip" it's just not generally stuff you wear in public. But eccentric? Yeah...we do eccentric just fine...

[SantaFeSisters]

I just wanted candor. For example, Californians ,in general, like to see themselves as very "progressive" . Yet, having spent 25 years in L.A, I can tell you from experience, it,s perfectly wonderful to be weird, so long as you are weird in the "right" way. I hope this explains the question some. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

[Sage of Sagle]

No problem. I appreciate the clarification. I think eccentric people are pretty fun myself...and the world needs more interesting people...Idaho's no different in that regard...

[boi2socal]

Neighbors will probably gawk and talk. But nobody will come around with pitchforks and flames.

[whirnot]

Although I don't live in Boise, my daughter does and I visit a lot. I think you would be accepted there as well as anywhere. maybe more so.

[BSUEcon81]

As long as you aren't in people's faces with your eccentricities, you'll most likely fit in easily. Actually your description of your sisters as staying up all night then sleeping all morning may not be all that eccentric -- I rarely retire for the night until 4 or 5 in the morning!

[green_mariner]

Who know how it will go. You might just have to give it a try. I actually did go out in public with pajamas and my roommates denegrated me for it.

[stingraynm]

I actually lived in Los Alamos and Albuquerque for a stint, with parents in Santa Fe, so I know exactly what you're talking about there. You'll probably note that service tends to be a lot faster and friendlier in the Great Northwest, and traffic will tend to be smoother and more courteous, but that's all I'm going to say about that.

These other posters pretty much sum it up. Considering how I've been described among friends and especially family, "eccentric" would put it lightly, and I was always accepted and even able to find common ground with others growing up in Idaho. Staying out of peoples' faces and minding your own business is a common expectation, and that is respected (obeyed) as well as expected by most.

That said, I agree with others that your sisters will likely even find plenty of common ground.

[Jarndyce]

Lots of people work "swing shift" in Boise, or used to before the tech layoffs, so the up late at night thing is very normal here. I'm not sure what you describe is even weird. I think the "public slob trend" is a national dilemma that affects even Idaho. It depends on the ages of your sisters as to whether or not anyone will notice or care about wearing pajamas in public.