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Like you I do prefer southern Idaho, but why would you want to move to Idaho IF you find CDA "a bit small for us"!!!
The school system was awful, the town politics were awful, the weather was awful, the library was awful and towards the end of my I considered moving to Spokane.
CDA these days is nothing like it was in the 70's. I don't imagine it has gotten any better.
CDA metro population is around 170k. I don't want to get into an argument about semantics, but by OECD standards metros less than 200k are classified as small. Small cities are great in many ways, but the smallness often means less in the culture and amenities department. It's a matter of scale.
It's interesting that you mentioned a potential move to Spokane. I'm sure it's much bigger than it was in the 1970s, but that metro area now is more like 500k. Maybe CDA is also just a bit to small for you?
I'm an extreme introvert and would be happy living pretty much anywhere within easy access to the outdoors, including very small towns/rural areas which is how I grew up. But it's not just me, I also have to consider my wife (extreme extrovert who prefers city life) and two kids. Also, we've lived in enough places to realize that it's easier to form community in slightly larger areas, which has indeed worked for us in southern Idaho.
I should also say, despite my introversion, I actually really like people and believe what makes a place great are the people and what they add in terms of skills and enterprise. So why Idaho? The Treasure Valley is plenty big for us. Love the business friendly environment and freedom from stifling over-regulation found elsewhere. Love all four seasons. Love skiing, fishing, biking, hunting, backpacking, camping, hiking, rafting, etc. But also love the city lifestyle here: great dining, breweries, wineries, art festivals, farmer's markets, street fairs, and other amenities. BSU is a great potential option for our kids as they get older, and the airport is ~10 minutes away with decent connections to other cities where we have family. We spent the better part of two summers traveling the western US looking for places to live, and while we found lots of wonderful places (CDA being one), Boise works really well for our family.
Last edited by AnythingOutdoors; 02-16-2022 at 10:59 AM..
I can't imagine what amenities CDA doesn't have. As for "culture," I don't know, but I imagine it doesn't have a major orchestra or musicals, and it's likely not a major stop for popular musical groups. I could be wrong of course, especially since we opted for much more rural -- seclusion, acreage, serenity.... We have to supply our own amenities, lol.
Let me preface this by saying that I think CDA is a wonderful city. Seriously, it was in our final top three relocation destinations. When we first started planning our move back in 2017 we were targeting small cities (50k city, <200k metro region). As pointed out here, this is big enough to have most amenities and enough culture. But as we started thinking more about the future with our kids, we started shifting more towards medium sized cities. More than anything, it's a difference in degree.
Universities: There is a U of I branch in CDA, but it's small, and there's also one in Boise. However, Boise has BSU. This gives our kids the very attractive option of saving a ton by living at home while earning a degree paying in-state tuition. If they go this route they can save their college fund for whatever graduate degree makes sense for their field -- that is, if they choose to go to college and go for an advanced degree.
Culture: Ballet Idaho, Boise Phil, Boise Art Museum, Idaho State Museum, Idaho Black History Museum, World Center for Birds of Prey. We home schooled during the pandemic and Zoo Boise, Discovery Center of Idaho, and the State Capitol were great resources for us. The Discovery Center of Idaho in particular hosted incredible traveling exhibits on Ancient Egypt and the Titanic. The Capitol building was great for teaching civics and state history, especially the exhibits on the Garden Floor. Oh, and JUMP. JUMP is a special place.
Medical: Boise has two major hospital systems (St Als and St Lukes), plus a diverse range of secondary providers and specialists. Overall we are healthy, but I'm not counting on that as we get older. My parents followed us here, so this is much more important for them in their life stage. Living in a place where my parents feel well taken care of is worth a lot to us, it means they can live near us and our kids get to see their grandparents a lot.
Food and drink/shopping: More people, more diversity and depth of options. This is not to say that CDA is in any way lacking, there's just more in Boise.
[Edited to add, forgot to mention YMCA]The YMCA in the Treasure Valley is also amazing. We knew about it before moving here, but didn't appreciate what a great resource it is until we joined and started exploring the facilities and wide array of classes and offerings. Incredibly good value, and within easy biking distance.
Again, these things are mostly a matter of degree. I'm sure there are smaller equivalents for many of these in CDA. And for most other things Spokane is ~40 minutes away. But I value having this stuff close by. We enjoy riding our bikes to the Zoo/Museum/Discovery Center, then hitting downtown for coffee or lunch, window shopping, followed by wandering the halls of the Capitol building. Plus things like BSU and medical care. For all these reasons, we decided this was the place we wanted to put down roots.
Last edited by AnythingOutdoors; 02-19-2022 at 11:18 AM..
I can't imagine what amenities CDA doesn't have. As for "culture," I don't know, but I imagine it doesn't have a major orchestra or musicals, and it's likely not a major stop for popular musical groups. I could be wrong of course, especially since we opted for much more rural -- seclusion, acreage, serenity.... We have to supply our own amenities, lol.
So true alot of people want to get away from all of the above "culture" stuff and entertainment which brings on the crowds and congestion. So then to get peace and seclusion you go rural and for the slower pace of life where time goes by slow and not fast. There are sacrifices to be made.
I think climate and population gets confused here. They don’t match up usually. For example, Boise is the biggest city in Idaho, but the climate is different from northern Idaho and eastern Idaho. Again, the closer you get to WA and OR the more you will get to a maritime mild climate. But the biggest temp change happens in south central Idaho into eastern Idaho. Much colder in the winter, but slightly warmer in the summer.
I think climate and population gets confused here. They don’t match up usually. For example, Boise is the biggest city in Idaho, but the climate is different from northern Idaho and eastern Idaho. Again, the closer you get to WA and OR the more you will get to a maritime mild climate. But the biggest temp change happens in south central Idaho into eastern Idaho. Much colder in the winter, but slightly warmer in the summer.
Elevation plays a huge role in the climate of an area. More than most folks realize.
its funny, city comparisons break things down by what the city or nearby area offers. But ultimately, such comparisons, ubiquitous online, have little meaning. What matters is what YOU do, how YOU spend your time, and what brings YOU direct pleasure. And the the answers to those questions depend on where YOU are at the moment.
When our kids were little, we were so wiped out with exhaustion. Money was tight. schedules were hard to coordinate. In those years 90% of items on city v city comparisons had no meaning. All we needed were a couple of places to feel human again. Please to enjoy our kids. Proximity to friends and family. Access to basics from groceries to airports.
When young and single I used to attend the Symphony in cities where I lived. I have not gone back in 35 years. One day perhaps. Pro sports? Crazy about them as a kid. Completely turned off today. And so on.
I love Sandpoint. And I love CDA/Hayden. I love Bonners. I love Priest Lake. I love Bonners. I love the country North of Bonners. And I love Western Montana to Livingston, MT. And I love Spokane. And of course I love Idaho. All these places offer one or more things. I could care less that they are not all right here. No need. I just need them in reasonably close proximity.
Don't get too caught up in lists. Instead, look to yourself and that which can unlock your happiness.
Let me preface this by saying that I think CDA is a wonderful city. Seriously, it was in our final top three relocation destinations. When we first started planning our move back in 2017 we were targeting small cities (50k city, <200k metro region). As pointed out here, this is big enough to have most amenities and enough culture. But as we started thinking more about the future with our kids, we started shifting more towards medium sized cities. More than anything, it's a difference in degree.
Universities: There is a U of I branch in CDA, but it's small, and there's also one in Boise. However, Boise has BSU. This gives our kids the very attractive option of saving a ton by living at home while earning a degree paying in-state tuition. If they go this route they can save their college fund for whatever graduate degree makes sense for their field -- that is, if they choose to go to college and go for an advanced degree.
Culture: Ballet Idaho, Boise Phil, Boise Art Museum, Idaho State Museum, Idaho Black History Museum, World Center for Birds of Prey. We home schooled during the pandemic and Zoo Boise, Discovery Center of Idaho, and the State Capitol were great resources for us. The Discovery Center of Idaho in particular hosted incredible traveling exhibits on Ancient Egypt and the Titanic. The Capitol building was great for teaching civics and state history, especially the exhibits on the Garden Floor. Oh, and JUMP. JUMP is a special place.
Medical: Boise has two major hospital systems (St Als and St Lukes), plus a diverse range of secondary providers and specialists. Overall we are healthy, but I'm not counting on that as we get older. My parents followed us here, so this is much more important for them in their life stage. Living in a place where my parents feel well taken care of is worth a lot to us, it means they can live near us and our kids get to see their grandparents a lot.
Food and drink/shopping: More people, more diversity and depth of options. This is not to say that CDA is in any way lacking, there's just more in Boise.
[Edited to add, forgot to mention YMCA]The YMCA in the Treasure Valley is also amazing. We knew about it before moving here, but didn't appreciate what a great resource it is until we joined and started exploring the facilities and wide array of classes and offerings. Incredibly good value, and within easy biking distance.
Again, these things are mostly a matter of degree. I'm sure there are smaller equivalents for many of these in CDA. And for most other things Spokane is ~40 minutes away. But I value having this stuff close by. We enjoy riding our bikes to the Zoo/Museum/Discovery Center, then hitting downtown for coffee or lunch, window shopping, followed by wandering the halls of the Capitol building. Plus things like BSU and medical care. For all these reasons, we decided this was the place we wanted to put down roots.
24 Hr. Fitness is another very large health club but I don't think there are any in Idaho/Boise. YMCA should be fine to keep yourself in good health.
24 Hr. Fitness is another very large health club but I don't think there are any in Idaho/Boise. YMCA should be fine to keep yourself in good health.
Yeah, the Y has all the weight lifting and cardio equipment I'll ever need, plus lots of classes (e.g. HIIT workouts, yoga). Also indoor pools and a water slide (nice winter activity for the kids) and very reasonably priced swim lessons for the kids (an important safety thing for us). We also love their youth sports programs, also very reasonably priced for members, and more our style than club sports. We utilize the Y a lot more than expected, and it's something like $80/month for our entire family of four.
Yeah, the Y has all the weight lifting and cardio equipment I'll ever need, plus lots of classes (e.g. HIIT workouts, yoga). Also indoor pools and a water slide (nice winter activity for the kids) and very reasonably priced swim lessons for the kids (an important safety thing for us). We also love their youth sports programs, also very reasonably priced for members, and more our style than club sports. We utilize the Y a lot more than expected, and it's something like $80/month for our entire family of four.
yES ymca IS very family orientated and more so than 24 Hr. Fitness. I used to attend YMCA before for free under another members as a guest. Has swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, and steam room just like 24 hrs.
I only pay $19.00 for a full VIP 24 hr. membership which means I can go to any 24 Hr. Fitness Club or affiliated club in the USA. It is an unlimited membership that would cost $60.+ these days.
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