Man, Idaho Is Cool

[The War Wagon]

Welcome to America, comrade! If you leave CA politics behind, you're welcome to emmigrate!

[NorCalNative]

Funny, I was in the same store Wednesday night. Picked up a LPK.

I visit regularly, company has a large office in Meridian and another one in Hailey. Idaho is a good place for sure.

[Cnynrat]

Idaho has been on our list since a visit to Sandpoint some time ago. We're spending a couple weeks in ID and northwest MT later this summer to try to narrow down our choice of location.

[DemocracyEnaction]

Is there any work? Heavy construction welding.

[BluNorthern]

Idaho has been on our list since a visit to Sandpoint some time ago. We're spending a couple weeks in ID and northwest MT later this summer to try to narrow down our choice of location.

Heading back up there on a 10 vacation myself in a month, after living there for 25 years and being back here for 3. Seeing friends and my 2 sons who still live there.

Love it up there and am concerned about how I am going to react to being there again. The little lady is also concerned, she knows how attached to the area I am.

[BCA142]

I was born in Lewiston, lived in a tiny little town called Headquarters. Beautiful place. Parents dragged me to CA when I was a kid. If the wife's family wasn't here I'd go back.

That's what planes, automobiles and face time on a computer are for. I have been preparing my wife for the move in 6 years. Told her it's like that line from the Tom Cruise movie..."With me or without me....".

[SilverTauron]

Welcome to America, comrade! If you leave CA politics behind, you're welcome to emmigrate!

Hear Hear.

Many posters, myself included, often recommend good Constitutionally minded Californians move. Its not because we despise CA or don't comprehend the need to oppose anti-gun dogma ; its because you only have one life on this Earth, and spending it in angst awaiting a knock on the door-or a flashbang and a dead dog-is no way to live.

In a "Blue Zone" state, every decision you make with a firearm can be cause for incarceration. There's so many regulations you can't even call the government itself for clarification. I am of the thought that life is too short to spend it beating your head against an Adamantium wall, meanwhile awaiting the day when your door flies open because you forgot to mark Box #2 on your Firearm Declaration form.

[-hanko]

Talked to the guy there for a bit about CA and guns....he said I was a breath of fresh air as Californians go. The fact that I was different from most of the peeps from CA he met, talked to or heard of gave me a good feeling about moving there. The sad fact is, I don't belong in CA. I havent for a long time. He said all the Californians are coming in and turning it into CA, and that's why they don't like (most of) us. Can't say I blame them! I wanted to give the guy a hug.....because I we'll know what is in store for future Boise if they let that happen.

I have a good feeling about this place. Nice people, small college town feel but not BF nowheresville. Probably a good 500k+ people in the Treasure Valley (Boise area). This is my first day here.

Anyone want me to find anything out? I'm leaving Monday AM.

PM me if you have questions or need more info. Temperatures start dropping tomorrow, which is typical. Fall usually starts around the 2nd week of September. A little tubing on the Boise river might be something to do today. Wife and I are saddling 2 horses for a little ride into the Birds of Prey NCA. A ride to Swan Falls Dam along the Snake river with a picnic might be something to do also. Fun for kiddies.

As to gun stores, check Boise guns just off Veterans Memorial Parkway.

My thought is, when you have; fresh air, hunting, fishing, living conditions that don't resemble packed sardines and where people love freedom, there is no need for a mental health system.

BTW, I'll be in Idaho Falls this coming Thursday evening, yea, I can't wait.

With only 3-4 shopping malls in the entire state, very refreshing v. California.

i'd like to visit Boise, Idaho and take in the freshness of the area. Milt Sparks Holsters, Inc. is in Boise.

Acutally in Garden City, west of BOI. Great place to stop in and visit. Beautiful holsters. You'll ruin you credit card.

Is there any work? Heavy construction welding.

Talk to Electro Motive in Boise...they make locomotives and other bf stuff.

[goodlookin1]

Thanks for the tips guys.

This trip for us is getting a general feel for the area. So far, it does feel different. But not so different that it would be a drastic change. It's somewhat subtle. People here value their freedom. We were at the Sandbar Grill last night and there was a note at the top of their menu that said something to the effect: "Our gov't forces us to put this stupid disclaimer out: This restaurant contains products that...(blah blah)". It is not something that you would see in CA. The people we have talked to say they love it here, and some who have moved from CA a few years back. Now they say they would never go back. They value their true freedom here and relative lack of gov't intrusion into their daily lives. People just live out here. It also feels slower. No one seems to be in a rush to get places. No cars zooming in and out of cars, most people stay the speed limit.....just a general more relaxing attitude and state of mind.

Another thing: NO GHETTOS. Even in the poorer areas, I would feel safe to walk there. It is probably 98% white here. Extremely white population. I dont mean to sound racist, but because of this, I wanted to count how many black people I have seen here: I have seen 7 black people and only a handful of Hispanics in the 2 days i've been here, and we've been driving and seeing A LOT. No ghetto talk, no sagging pants, no loud rap, etc. That culture just doesnt seem to be here. The "people of color" I did see were appropriately dressed: One was wearing skinny jeans and a Callaway golf hat. LOL.....just just dont see that much back in CA. I know I am stereotyping here and I sound like a bigot, but I like the lifestyle here: They dont value the gangster/ghetto lifestyle. Call me crazy, but that's a good thing.

Family values are strong here. Lots of kids and pregnant women. LOL. Religion is strong here as well, which might be why it's very courteous and generally well natured here. It seems every person I have talked to has mentioned God in one way or another. Not preaching at my by any means (I'm a Christian, anyway....so I wouldnt care), but just in casual talk. Downtown Boise seemed to be more "hipster"'ish. Lot of them hanging out in the Whole Foods, which is new since December, apparently. Saw a lesbian couple, too. I thought for sure that was a faux pa here. But people treated them normally, which is good. Downtown also had a heavy college-town feel. Reminded me of San Luis Obispo but without the ocean. The river runs right through the middle of Downtown. There are restaurants along it, and people float down it or just lounge around on the shores.

I've talked to people about guns here, and they said nearly everyone has guns. People open loaded carry pretty often here as well and nobody freaks out. Lots of people CCW here too, so I was told it is a pretty respectful society on the whole.

I was told a story where a couple hipsters were promoting the legalization of marijuana.....the police investigated them and found that one of the women there had kids. The police relayed the info to the city and the city found that womAn "incapable of rearing up children". The equivalent of CPS took her kids for a short time! (As in days or a few weeks, I'm not sure). In the mean time, the news caught wind of it and did an interview with her an she was crying and crying, saying how she made a mistake and didnt believe in legalizing marijuana anymore. I was laughing pretty hard when I heard the story. But that's Boise! Most people here dont seem to believe in using drugs at all. And the state is REALLY strict on it and comes down hard on the people caught with any illegal substance. I guess that's the conservative values coming into play. I for one think that's a good thing, but many here will disagree. If you have a MJ card, I wouldnt suggest moving here.

Anyway, these are my observations so far. Please dont think me a bigot....I have no issues with people of color. Just making known what I see here.

[Barnstormer]

Downtown also had a heavy college-town feel. Reminded me of San Luis Obispo but without the ocean.

Anyway, these are my observations so far. Please dont think me a bigot....I have no issues with people of color. Just making known what I see here.

If you retire there, you should get a job with the Chamber of Commerce promoting tourism. Pretty good write-up. My sister and brother-in-law had a second home in Coeur d'Alene and their only regret was the harsh winters. Also, it was good to see someone spell my home county correctly; people seem to struggle with the spelling. As to your last paragraph, I think it's just something one notices when traveling; especially when coming from CA. We have a large population of Hispanics in CA, so traveling to other areas with fewer numbers is something you would normally notice. Enjoy your vacation.

[Anti-Hero]

The company I work for has their corporate headquarters in Boise. I spend a lot of time there, and it's where we'll be moving in ~2 ish years.

[MixedMotives]

Been thinking of moving there for awhile now
i have to say its funny that you based them being courteous and generally well nurtured on their Religious values

[BigPimping]

Wyoming is the same way.......Gods country.

[-hanko]

Been thinking of moving there for awhile now
i have to say its funny that you based them being courteous and generally well nurtured on their Religious values

There may or may not be a causal effect...

It may be related to religious values, it could be related to how a person is raised, and how his parents were raised. Not that the 'why' makes any difference, it's the outcome...

People here are far friendlier and definitely more courteous, on average, than the average Californian. That's based on my experience in 3 neighborhoods in northern California and 2 here in Idaho. People here generally say 'good morning' or 'how's it goin' when I take my normal morning walk with the dawgs.

In California, you'd get either no response or a mumble along with a look as if you were going to mug the other person.

As to religion, Idaho is predominately Judeo-Christian, with a large percentage of LDS folks. It's not worn on the sleeve, and iirc we've been visited once in more than 10 years here by Mormon missionaries. We said thanks but no thanks, they left, no big deal.

I think the courtesy thing in ID v. CA is similar, if not identical, to that in TX v. CA.

Neighbors tend to watch out and take care of each other, without busy-body attitudes. Most refreshing compared to CA. Kids are also held here in much higher regard than in CA...CPS will yank your kids out of the house if you tend to appear to be unable to raise them, as previous poster observed.


-hanko

[bsg]

Acutally in Garden City, west of BOI. Great place to stop in and visit. Beautiful holsters. You'll ruin you credit card.

right.... most of my Milt Sparks holsters have the old 'Idaho City' marking on them, but the top-notch quality work has continued on since the passing of Milt Sparks.