looking into moving to ID

so im starting this thread becuase im looking into relocating to ID boise or meridian from so cal. my family is moving there and to be honest in my sitiuation its to costly to live out here in california. so my questions are how is living in ID weather,jobs,housing etc, I'd really like your guys honest thoughts on life out there. any feed back would be greatly appreciated. thank you..

 

Boise is an awesome place. cheap housing, cheap cost of living, tons of outdoor activities.

Where in WA are you? Ive got an interview in Seattle the 21st for a job in Everett. Ive never even been to WA! haha

 

I agree. Boise is a great place to live. The cost of living is pretty darn good, especially compared to California. And the outdoor activites in close proximity is amazing. The only downside, but also an upside compared to california is how much smaller it is. So you lose a big town feel with a big bar strip, and tons of retail shops and different businesses. Boise is a pretty small city, with a number of suburbs around it.
Boise is about 200k, meridian and nampa are both around 80k and caldwell is around 40k

Weather is pretty darn good, and we have real seasons haha! Boise is a high desert, so the summers are nice and summery from early june through september. Not a ton of snow in the winter, maybe 4 or 5 storms. But up in the mountains they get 200-300ft a year (its been down quite a bit the last 5 years though)

The only other places I really want to live would be SLC and Denver

 

I lived in Stanley for summer working for the US Forest Service in the Sawtooth National Forest. Was not much there but the scenery is jaw-dropping. Probably not the response you're looking for, but at least there are tons of awesome places to explore if your an outdoorsman. Been itchin to go back ever since.

 

My personal favorite is north up by Coeur D'Alene ID. Not as much of a desert for my tastes. Lived their all last summer and go back a lot all times of the year. Love it

 

Thank you so much for the feed back. Yea here in cali is just to much for the cost of living, don't get me wrong I love California but from what I see in ID I could get used to a small town feel and to be able to get away from the concrete jungle, and to enjoy all seasons as well. It's still up in the air but if I can get a good paying job out there I might just be moving on up..

 

Where are you interviewing at for a job in Everett? I work in Everett and live right over in Lake Stevens

 

BNSF railway. The interview is in seattle but the job itself is based in Everett.

 

Thanks! will do.

 

I just got back from a trip to So Cal. My only comment about that is damn, how the hell do people live like that? Comparing that to Boise is like comparing a Tacoma with a walrus, there just isn't one. I used to work summers in Idaho for the Forest Service. If you like the outdoors it's right next door to heaven. If you like big cities, well not so much. If you like warm weather 365, again not so much. Personally, I wouldn't live in So Cal. My last companies head quarters were down there and they couldn't understand why I felt that way. (yeah, everyone likes paying $600,000 for a house in the ghetto and sitting in stop and go traffic for hours. But, the weather is nice.)

 

When are you planning on moving?

I am taking a road trip to San Diego and then looping thru Bend, OR, Coeur D'Alene, and Boise in October to take a look at possible relocation spots.

From where I am moving cost of living is about the same other than Bend, which is more expensive. That whole area seems to be growing really quickly though. My concern is finding a job. I work in EMS so I am kinda limited in job options. It seems most of the county EMS/Fire jobs are tough to get. What sort of jobs are you looking at?

I am pretty excited about a possible move either way. If you haven't moved by October than I will have more info to help with.

 

thanks crunchy, as far as the move the sooner the better haha. im actually a bio med tech for a medical company. but i will take any job just to be able to relocate sooner..

 

The one other down side to Idaho, that because the cost of living is less the job market also pays less. So be prepared for a decrease in pay if you transfer equivalent positions haha (generally speaking)

 

all good i started watching breaking bad again so i got a few ideas going....

 

There is a big meth problem here, so you would have a good customer base

 

So the end of this month I will be going out to ID. To check it out as a feeler to see if I'd like the life out there I know it's not enough time I'll be out there 4 days. But out here in cali as far a work and cost of living is starting to take its toll. ID is really starting to look like a possible move...

 

The problem is all of the jobs, are all in the south, in Boise. While Boise is high desert, 45 min away is the mountains with Idaho city, and an hour and a half north is cascade and McCall. So you can have mountains and all of the pluses of a larger city.

Let me know when you are here. Maybe we can meet up with another Tw member/friend or two if you want

 

the dates i'll be in ID are july31-aug 3, i will let you know where exactly ill be

 

its looking like im really about to pull the trigger on this move to ID. hopefully i can meet some other TW members out there soon, oh and a job will help to haha...

 

glad to hear! Let me know when you make it up here and get some free time.