My thoughts after escaping Hellifornia one year ago...

[D-M]

A few questions, if you don't mind.

-What are the current property tax rates compared to Commiefornia-stan?
- What are the average year-to-year prop. tax changes?
-Electricity seems cheaper, how's gas and water compare?
-How easy is it to find a competent primary care physician? Same for specialists? Wife has many health issues that require specialized care.
-How is traffic/commute times from semi-rural communities to major metro centers like Boise
??
These are the kinds of things my wife likes to worry about, regardless of if every single one is probably a better situation than here. She likes the prop. 13 property tax rate we have (1983, I think?), but I keep reminding her that's on borrowed time.

Thanks for any answers you can give, man.

Congrats on the freedom, I'm genuinely envious.

[JagerDog]

It's not just CA, it's any metropolis. And it's not just red states, but most anything rural. When population is too dense, things go downhill fast. In dense areas, you survive by walling yourself in. In sparser areas, you thrive by opening yourself up.

I became SW WA (70% Maga) resident full time a year ago. Most the politics and problems that affect you daily, are local.

Some acreage with a shop. I haven't even been camping this year, I feel like I'm camping everyday (in 2300 sq ft).

So while not ALL the perks of a red state, I didn't give up my ocean. Only a small amount of snow. People are nice. People are cordial.

[Rcjackrabbit]

[Rcjackrabbit]

What are the current property tax rates compared to Commiefornia-stan?

I am not sure what the rate is. But, I pay about $2500 a year on a $900K home. Home insurance is less than a $1000. This is 1/3 of what I paid in Kali. Auto insurance is half of Kali. Internet is about the same.

- What are the average year-to-year prop. tax changes?

Not sure.

-Electricity seems cheaper, how's gas and water compare?

Gas is about $25. Water is $35.

-How easy is it to find a competent primary care physician? Same for specialists? Wife has many health issues that require specialized care.

I am not sure. I don't go to the doctor often. My dentist is very good.

-How is traffic/commute times from semi-rural communities to major metro centers like Boise

84 can back up going from Nampa to downtown Boise. That's about it. I drive 10 miles down Hwy 55 to work. My biggest problem is not hitting a deer.

These are the kinds of things my wife likes to worry about, regardless of if every single one is probably a better situation than here. She likes the prop. 13 property tax rate we have (1983, I think?), but I keep reminding her that's on borrowed time.

There is a $125K exemption on property tax. Bottom line, things are less expensive overall because this is largely a blue collar state. People don't have a lot of money. This is a good thing and why we are free. People aren't as educated (brainwashed) with the liberal crap of the American Universities. I would rather live around blue collar people who fish, hunt, shoot, work with their hands, and don't want to take all my stuff than the leftist "educated" people in Commiefornia. They are just better people here.

Thanks for any answers you can give, man.

I'm not saying Idaho is perfect. America is a decadent dying country. There is a whole generation of leftist youth that is going to be a hard thing to over come. But, Idaho is the top of the Titanic. It will probably sink into the ocean last.

Congrats on the freedom, I'm genuinely envious.

One last HUGE thing. Idaho has not made drugs legal. I can't overstate the importance of that. It is not a druggie culture. Drugs bring crime. More importantly, legalizing drugs brings in organized crime. That is what happened in Kali. Once they legalized pot in Kali, the cartels literally flooded in. Then, they bought the politicians. You know the rest of the story.

[alpha_romeo_XV]

I also don't get the complaint about humidity of the Florida summer. I honestly have adjusted to it. I just finished playing a round of golf and yes I was sweating a bit, but being in a gated resort country club community with mostly other conservative neighbors is worth the few months of sweating. I could not have afforded a similar home and private country club membership in CA. And the winters here are absolutely wonderful (which why all the northern sno-birds flock here from as far away as Canada).

[GunninIt]

Good for you - Jack. Glad you're enjoying the new locale.

We abdicated our California residence in November of last year for the Southeast. It's been very liberating. Our area is very much on the level of "you do you, just don't tell me what to do." Repubs and Dems alike. Neither like being told what to do. Most of the escapees in the South are from NY, NJ, CT, IL, and DC. That's a challenge. Being from the west, people give you an eye - but they're more glad that you didn't say you were a Yankee.

I'm estimating that income taxes will be a third of what I paid. Property taxes are a third of what I paid. Sales tax is about half - 60% of what I paid. Gas prices have hovered around the high-2's to low-3's my entire time. Energy costs are stupid low comparatively.

I bought my first firearm as soon as my new residence had been finalized, and it was about a 10 minute process. When I was telling the guys at the shop about the California process, they looked at me and said "why?" No one understands the pain everyone feels back in California.

Traffic is like 7:15 - 7:45 and 5:00 - 5:30. And everyone complains about it. I have to laugh over and over and over. Mayberry describes the area to a T. There is limited Mexican food...and that's probably the only thing I "miss" - but I'll get over that. All the other food is amazing. When the in-laws visited, their jaws hit the floor and eyes popped out at us ordering grits with everything.

[GunninIt]

I also don't get the complaint about humidity of the Florida summer. I honestly have adjusted to it. I just finished playing a round of golf and yes I was sweating a bit, but being in a gated resort country club community with mostly other conservative neighbors is worth the few months of sweating. I could not have afforded a similar home and private country club membership in CA. And the winters here are absolutely wonderful (which why all the northern sno-birds flock here from as far away as Canada).

Exactly this.

[desertjosh]

I too moved to Idaho and am loving it. I'm 30 min north of Eagle. Garandthumb lives in Eagle?

[colossians323]

Traffic is like 7:15 - 7:45 and 5:00 - 5:30. And everyone complains about it. I have to laugh over and over and over. Mayberry describes the area to a T. There is limited Mexican food...and that's probably the only thing I "miss" - but I'll get over that. All the other food is amazing. When the in-laws visited, their jaws hit the floor and eyes popped out at us ordering grits with everything.

That thing about Traffic busts me up too.
When people complain about traffic in NV, I laugh, it is not traffic when you are moving 35-65 on the freeway.

In ID, our location the town does not even have a traffic light or stop sign. Even in the big city Twin, the traffic there is nothing like Cali traffic.

[D-M]

What are the current property tax rates compared to Commiefornia-stan?

I am not sure what the rate is. But, I pay about $2500 a year on a $900K home. Home insurance is less than a $1000. This is 1/3 of what I paid in Kali. Auto insurance is half of Kali. Internet is about the same.

- What are the average year-to-year prop. tax changes?

Not sure.

-Electricity seems cheaper, how's gas and water compare?

Gas is about $25. Water is $35.

-How easy is it to find a competent primary care physician? Same for specialists? Wife has many health issues that require specialized care.

I am not sure. I don't go to the doctor often. My dentist is very good.

-How is traffic/commute times from semi-rural communities to major metro centers like Boise

84 can back up going from Nampa to downtown Boise. That's about it. I drive 10 miles down Hwy 55 to work. My biggest problem is not hitting a deer.

These are the kinds of things my wife likes to worry about, regardless of if every single one is probably a better situation than here. She likes the prop. 13 property tax rate we have (1983, I think?), but I keep reminding her that's on borrowed time.

There is a $125K exemption on property tax. Bottom line, things are less expensive overall because this is largely a blue collar state. People don't have a lot of money. This is a good thing and why we are free. People aren't as educated (brainwashed) with the liberal crap of the American Universities. I would rather live around blue collar people who fish, hunt, shoot, work with their hands, and don't want to take all my stuff than the leftist "educated" people in Commiefornia. They are just better people here.

Thanks for any answers you can give, man.

I'm not saying Idaho is perfect. America is a decadent dying country. There is a whole generation of leftist youth that is going to be a hard thing to over come. But, Idaho is the top of the Titanic. It will probably sink into the ocean last.

Congrats on the freedom, I'm genuinely envious.

One last HUGE thing. Idaho has not made drugs legal. I can't overstate the importance of that. It is not a druggie culture. Drugs bring crime. More importantly, legalizing drugs brings in organized crime. That is what happened in Kali. Once they legalized pot in Kali, the cartels literally flooded in. Then, they bought the politicians. You know the rest of the story.

Really appreciate you taking the time to answer all that. Do you know if there's a cap on how much they can raise property taxes year over year?

And if I were to come up for a short visit to get a feel for the state and lay of the land, should I get a hotel in Boise and then venture out?

Again, thanks for all the answers! Your rock, man.

[Bopper]

Same here in Tennessee only sweatier

[Fear58]

Love Idaho. I get stopped by law enforcement all the time though. Maybe it's a relative thing having migrated from a lawless California. But I swear... I've been stopped 5 times the past two years by Sheriff departments all over the state and twice in the woods by IDFG conservation officers. Never have been stopped by a cop in CA. Never got a ticket though, and I usually let them know I got guns in the truck that leads to talking about shooting/guns/hunting for a good while.

Pro-tip for sportsmen here. If IDFG checks you for license and tags, big game is likely near.

[B.J.F.]

That's the biggest problem with leaving. Most places people flee to are food deserts.

[B.J.F.]

I also don't get the complaint about humidity of the Florida summer. I honestly have adjusted to it. I just finished playing a round of golf and yes I was sweating a bit, but being in a gated resort country club community with mostly other conservative neighbors is worth the few months of sweating. I could not have afforded a similar home and private country club membership in CA. And the winters here are absolutely wonderful (which why all the northern sno-birds flock here from as far away as Canada).

[bigbossman]

Love Idaho. I get stopped by law enforcement all the time though. Maybe it's a relative thing having migrated from a lawless California. But I swear... I've been stopped 5 times the past two years by Sheriff departments all over the state and twice in the woods by IDFG conservation officers. Never have been stopped by a cop in CA. Never got a ticket though, and I usually let them know I got guns in the truck that leads to talking about shooting/guns/hunting for a good while.

Pro-tip for sportsmen here. If IDFG checks you for license and tags, big game is likely near.

LOL.

I've only been pulled over once, by the ISP in Pocatello. I was coming back from a hunting trip and was caught speeding. He wrote me the ticket (which I deserved), but he was as polite as could be about it, and after the formalities were done he leaned on my window for a good 20 minutes while we talked about hunting. Totally opposite demeanor than the jackass CHP mooks. Also - the ticket was $102.... so even that's cheaper than the CA cesspool I left.

I've talked with game wardens on several occasions while out in the field, but they never checked my paperwork. Again - super polite and helpful, and willing to chat for as long as you care to.

In addition - the IDFG sends me a "thank you for hunting in Idaho" letter every year..... as does Wyoming.