Places you would considering living 'if' moving out-of-state (San Francisco, Berkeley: how much, restaurants)

[NORTY FLATZ]

Originally Posted by AnythingOutdoors

As for utilities, we bought a house that's double the square footage as our old house in coastal CA. While the weather is more extreme here, our utility bills actually DECREASED! Electricity is something like $0.08 kWh here vs over $0.30 kWh back in CA.

$0.37143396 kWh currently, courtesy of SDG&E!

[mlb]

Our power is solar in California

The biggest obstacle to solar in Utah was Rocky Mountain Power. For all the bashing people do to PG&E - and it’s well deserved…. They worked with us to move to solar. There was no fight. RMP wanted to run solar companies out of Utah for good.

Boise is a nice place, Kinda boring. But the prevalence of neo-Nazis and white male predominance in politics was too reminiscent of Utah. It’s also growing faster than it can manage.

Fast forward and that 3000 square foot home will be more of a burden than a blessing.

We passed on it.

[MechAndy]

I’m glad you haven’t found much racism Futuremauian.
I am white also.
I saw and felt it in Maui.
Probably at the same area where you are at.
We have an access to a condo near the harbor just steps away from the water.

What I saw was lots of derogatory looks, racist tee shirts normally telling me to go home, the awkward quietness.
I don’t know but it was present and just ugly and I’m not hard to get along with.

Not all were like that but with the kind of things I am into like spearfishing the locals were not liking me at all.
Maybe I was treated worse than some because I wasn’t their customer or neighbor.
I don’t know.

[AnythingOutdoors]

Originally Posted by mlb

Our power is solar in California

The biggest obstacle to solar in Utah was Rocky Mountain Power. For all the bashing people do to PG&E - and it’s well deserved…. They worked with us to move to solar. There was no fight. RMP wanted to run solar companies out of Utah for good.

Boise is a nice place, Kinda boring. But the prevalence of neo-Nazis and white male predominance in politics was too reminiscent of Utah. It’s also growing faster than it can manage.

Fast forward and that 3000 square foot home will be more of a burden than a blessing.

We passed on it.

I've looked into solar but it doesn't make sense here. Rates from Idaho Power are so low that it would never pencil out. Idaho already is number 2 in the nation for green energy, generating more than 80% from renewables vs. less than half in California. This is mostly due to hydro, but also a growing number of solar and wind farms along the Snake River Plain. So adding solar wouldn't just cost me more, it would probably be worse for the environment as well.

Speaking of Boise politics, I generally try to evaluate politicians based on the quality of the job they're doing, rather than sex or color of skin. Regardless, our mayor is female and city council is majority female. In my opinion they're doing a pretty good job of managing the city. I don't agree with everything they do, but compared to our old city in CA it's a master class in good governance.

Boise is TOTALLY boring, everyone should stay in exciting California Being sarcastic of course. I welcome anyone who wants to move here with open arms. Don't care where you're from or even the color of your skin.

We don't plan on staying in the large home long term. It's great while we have kids, and for hosting large gatherings. But once the kids are out our plan is to cash out, take the capital gains exclusion, then downsize.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by mlb

Our power is solar in California

The biggest obstacle to solar in Utah was Rocky Mountain Power. For all the bashing people do to PG&E - and it’s well deserved…. They worked with us to move to solar. There was no fight. RMP wanted to run solar companies out of Utah for good.

Boise is a nice place, Kinda boring. But the prevalence of neo-Nazis and white male predominance in politics was too reminiscent of Utah. It’s also growing faster than it can manage.

Fast forward and that 3000 square foot home will be more of a burden than a blessing.

We passed on it.

Wow, not the same report my buddy who is Iranian that just moved there has to say. Not even close for a Boise review.

[mlb]

Well, I know people who have lived in Boise for very long time. And left.

And living adjacent in Utah we had first hand info from friends who were from there.

To each their own.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by mlb

Well, I know people who have lived in Boise for very long time. And left.

And living adjacent in Utah we had first hand info from friends who were from there.

To each their own.

I'm in Utah multiple times a year with many friends there. That would also be an awkward accusation for Utah or Idaho. Some of the nicest people I've ever met. Let's just say if you are broke down on the road it won't be for long.

[AnythingOutdoors]

Originally Posted by mlb

Well, I know people who have lived in Boise for very long time. And left.

And living adjacent in Utah we had first hand info from friends who were from there.

To each their own.

Respectfully, it sounds like your friends may not be a good source of information. If you're going to insinuate that a place is racist and or sexist you better be prepared to back it up with evidence. I grew up in Prundale, CA and can honestly say there's less bigotry in Boise proper (of course, the 'burbs and more rural areas are a different matter, but that's not unique to ID).

Also, no idea how anyone can be even remotely bored here. Even though I'm retired, between the vibrant downtown, numerous cultural events, and great outdoors, I still don't have time to do it all.

Maybe these types of things aren't your jam. Nothing wrong with that, Boise just isn't the right city for you. As you say, to each their own.

[mlb]

Originally Posted by AnythingOutdoors

Respectfully, it sounds like your friends may not be a good source of information. If you're going to insinuate that a place is racist and or sexist you better be prepared to back it up with evidence. I grew up in Prundale, CA and can honestly say there's less bigotry in Boise proper (of course, the 'burbs and more rural areas are a different matter, but that's not unique to ID).

Also, no idea how anyone can be even remotely bored here. Even though I'm retired, between the vibrant downtown, numerous cultural events, and great outdoors, I still don't have time to do it all.

Maybe these types of things aren't your jam. Nothing wrong with that, Boise just isn't the right city for you. As you say, to each their own.

Well - the gay men I worked with who moved from there would beg to differ.

Certainly LDS people are nice. I am not branding them.

but there are lunatics who have jumped off the right wing edge….and they seem to congregate in Idaho.

I am also reminded of a Utah coworker - who was born in the Bay Area - who moved to Northern Idaho to “escape the diversity”.

[aslowdodge]

Originally Posted by mlb

My expansive rural view from our Northern Monterey County deck:

That’s a nice view. Being close to Monterey is a great place to be.