My thoughts after escaping Hellifornia one year ago...

[viragoman]

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

I think he lives north of Emmett, as I mentioned previously.

[CrazyCobraManTim]

That's my plan, once my final commitment here is done. I despise this marxist /communist sh*thole state with every fiber of my being. Everything about this state makes me feel physically ill and angry. The wife, for reasons I can't comprehend, does not want to move. She hates the politics, policies, prices and taxes too, but is resistant to wanting to leave. Hopefully, when the time comes, she changes her mind. I will not live out my days here. Full stop.
???

My experience (i.e. moving with a long-time 1 & only wife) to Texas was 1/2 way between DM's and OP's. She was absolutely reluctant to move, leaving her widowed (and aging) mother plus our sole remaining young adult child alone in SoCal. I told her that California politics were literally killing me slowly each day. We had many discussions - probably more than she wanted since I'm just repeating myself.

But one day - I may have muttered something to the effect - I'm not sure if I hate PRK more than I love you - so think about that as I search for work outside California.... She reminded me of that once I came kicking and screaming back into prison (PRK), and that she didn't really appreciate having choose under the scenario. Which means over the next 4 years - I'll have to think of a more elegant way to approach this topic.....

[shooter556]

People wave at me in my Californian neighborhood ????

[M1A Rifleman]

[bigbossman]

Being pushed by a Boise State professor, so automatically it is a "no".

[TOMBSTONE]

[dsfloyd]

I know rcjackrabbit answered too but I'll add.

A few questions, if you don't mind.

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

I don't live in city limits and my taxes have actually gone down each year. Last year paid $2200 on 585k taxable value (after 125k exemption). Works out to 0.37%. 3000sqft house on 1.2 acres with a 1200sqft shop.

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

Supposed to fluctuate based on county expense needs as almost all taxes stay in the county and not to the state. Mine have gone down each year over the last 5 years. Our property will get walked by an assessor this year as is required every 5 years. .

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

Electricity is much cheaper. NG is Expensive and similar to what it was when I was with PGE. I am on well and septic, but my mom who is in city limits pays I think like $70 on her last utility to the city.

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

There are quite a few hospitals in the valley.

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

outside rush hour freeways run full speed the majority of the time.
?
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.

[GOEX FFF]

I am 62 years old. I lived my entire life in CA. One year ago, I moved to Idaho. Hands down, it was the best decision of my life. I can't tell you how much happier I am. I finally live in a place where my government does not hate me.

Of course, the gun situation is day and night. No CCW necessary. Carry what you want, where you want. Buy ammo online or at the store and take it to the counter yourself. Buy any handgun you want and walk out with it in 20 minutes. Take the ridiculous fins and muzzlebrakes off your AR15s. I just bought a suppessor. Every single person on my street owns guns and shoots. We get together as a neighborhood and everyone talks guns, even the wives. Garandthumb lives just up the street from me. I can literally go shooting across the street. The state sponsors shooting ranges. They want you to shoot. Also, I have never seen so many gunstores in one area in all my life. I can think of 15 just off the top of my head. I used to belong to a great shooting range (West End Gun Club). It was about $340ish a year. My current club is $45. That is practically free. Instead of battling the 91 and 15 freeways for 1-2 hours, I drive along the Payette River for 40 minutes. I don't even go the speed limit it is so beautiful. Why rush?

But, it is not just the guns that are better. I told my wife when we first got here, "We didn't move to Idaho, we moved to 1950." People here are decent. There is no homeless. Actually, I saw one bum / homeless (I hate that term). The cops made her move. People let you in when you drive. No one honks at you. I have not honked once in an entire year. I drive down the street in my neighborhood, and people wave at me. It freaked me out at first. Now, I do it too. People here seem happy. If you go 5 mph over the speed limit, a sheriff will pull you over. Laws are not just a suggestion here. There is no graffiti. Almost everthing here is less expensive, except food (its the same). Gas is over a $1 a gallon cheaper. My auto insurance decreased by over 50%, my electricity bill is 1/4 of what it was before. When they told me my property tax and home insurance cost, I just giggled. It is thousands of dollars less expensive.

If you are tired of being targeted by the communists in Lucifornia, I highly recommend escaping. Life is short. Throughout history, people have fled evil regimes for freedom and lived happier lives.

If you decide to come here, vote RED. Actually, please vote dark red, burgundy maroon so we keep it that way.

The locals here despise CA and everything it represents. People race to get their CA license plates off their cars as fast as they can when they make the move. I get it. CA is a disease.

The other day at a stop light, it turned green and the guy ahead of me didn't go. My old CA self would have hit the horn. I didn't do that. I just sat there. He finally went. Around here, you just cut the next guy a little more slack. It is contagious.

Sounds awesome and happy for you!

I just got back from another trip to TX last week, scoping out areas to eventually move to within the next year. This trip, my Wife and Son went with me. We drove around A LOT and it really is a different mind-set there too, vs. the idiots here in CA. Granted, we weren't in the really big cities and stayed on the outskirts. My first trip to TX, I was given pointers by my Wife's boss who lives out there on how to drive TX vs. CA. I'm not an aggressive driver in the least, and give time and space anyway, but I for sure noticed that other people do the same. It really was like stepping back to a better world and my Wife and Son are fully onboard to make the move.

Side note: TX U-turns, while odd to drive at first, really do make a whole lot of sense now. lol

[Rcjackrabbit]

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.

I don't know if there is a cap. My understanding is that they look at the home value every 2-3 years and adjust. When you buy a home, you don't have to report the price you paid. All I know is the house I paid $410K for in Mission Viejo was $6300 in taxes. My new $900K house is $2800 in taxes.

I would stay in Eagle, not Boise. Boise is the blue area. They are not your people. That being said, Boise blue is not the same as San Francisco blue. You can walk around downtown Boise and it is clean and safe. But, stay in Eagle. Eagle is the RED area and it is nicer.

[Rcjackrabbit]

I think he lives north of Emmett, as I mentioned previously.

Maybe he has two properties? But, he also lives in Avimor. I see him get his mail. My original point in mentioning this in the first place was to say that squared away gun people live in Idaho / Treasure Valley. You will be hard pressed to find a more pro-gun area than Idaho! Every single person on my street shoots. We go out as a neighborhood and shoot. We tell each other about the new guns we buy.

It is like heaven.

[skilletboy]

[Spyder]

I'd be pissed if I got stopped for going 60 in a 55.

[Satex]

/snip/

I finally live in a place where my government does not hate me.

/snip/

If you go 5 mph over the speed limit, a sheriff will pull you over. Laws are not just a suggestion here.

/snip/

If you are tired of being targeted by the communists in Lucifornia

/snip/

Glad you are happier. Based on what I hear only specific kinda people are tolerated, if you're not white and christian... Idaho is a problem.
Also, I thought it was funny that in one convo you talk about govt not hating you and then how strict law enforcement is ;-)

[freedom-lover]

Even living in a blue state like OR, like I do, though in a pretty conservative county (Josephine Co) has made all the difference for me.

Ummm, Josephine County voted down joining Greater Idaho. Jackson and Josephine are Commiemexafornia infested.

[JagerDog]

I'd be pissed if I got stopped for going 60 in a 55.