Did you like raising your kids in CdA (area)? (Hayden: house, buy)

[yella33]

We live in the mountains near Lake Tahoe, and have been wanting to relocate to Coeur D' Alene for a while now. We like the trees, the lakes, the outdoor lifestyle we have here, and feel like the greater CdA area (Hayden, Dalton, etc) will offer a similar lifestyle (although much larger in population!) We are involved in our church, and that is where all our best friends are: we don't really feel connected to the greater community as we differ on politics, religion, family priorities, etc from our area. We have ages 6, 4, 2, and our oldest is finishing Kindergarten, so we aren't particularly deep into school yet.

How did you like raising kids in CdA? Did you find friends and a good network of people to hang out with and "do life with?" Did you like the schools, or homeschool and feel supported? Did it seem like you were raising your kids in a "big town", a "little town", or something else? If your kids went off to college, did they want to stay gone and never come back, or would they consider moving 'home' to raise their kids where they grew up?

And the weather... did the gray get to you mentally after a while? Did it bother the kids? Do you want to move out and find some sun when you are an empty nester?

My husband is currently self-employed, and could either buy a business or start a business, or (if available) find a corporate-type job. And since we'd be leaving California taxes and other joys, we could probably afford to get ahead and save for college and buy a camping trailer and some of the stuff we may not be able to do if we stay here.

Thanks in advance!

[Shaner]

So I raised my ex gf's kid for a couple of years, he was in elementary. So while my experience is limited, I thought I would share (plus I was raised here as well):

He went to Bryan Elementary, never had a problem making friends with with other parents, found a whole new world of people i had never been introduced too. Bryan was a good school, a little backwords on how they did things, but they were always supportive and engaging the children.

I went off to college and came home, I love it here. Unless I find the love of my life in Costa Rica or something like that =) I don't expect to be leaving the area.

I have gotten used to the weather. I love summer so I enjoy the hell out of it and in the winter I work on house projects when not working, and do a bit of traveling.

Hope that helps!