Considering move to northwest...

[GerryS]

Anybody from idaho, Montana, Wyoming on here? I know you slo, I'm considering relocating to that general area, and would like a PM or Email exchange. I've got a couple questions about life, work, and geography up there

Any more details would likely violate the policy of political discussion on the open forums....

[nevadatear]

Randy p is from Idaho, as well as lensinn

[stumphugger]

That's more of the "Inland" Northwest, not to be confused with the Pacific Northwest, of which Northern Idaho and maybe even Western Montana can be considered part of. Guess I'm confusing myself. Wyoming is the mountain west.

Oh well. It's all part of the same country.

[GerryS]

I'm an odd bird...what do I do . I'm kind if a jack of all trades. But professionally I'm an IT guy....everything from PC builds and repairs to big iron....ERP, Process integration, and administration. I'm also a barber, licensed by my state....

I've been told my a buddy (Rowles if you know who that is) that a home based business is pretty much my best bet. I can't see an opportunity that fits the bill. The same problem,...the reason Chicago and NYC are so prosperous is the same thing I'm trying to avoid...you need people for commerce...I'm trying to avoid people

[robfisher]

I'm from southern Idaho, close to Boise. Be glad to answer any PM from you. Generally, I can say the job market could be better but anyone flexable enough can find work. Seems that maybe wages are barely livable unless you find something special. A good barber would find it pretty easy to find a chair or even open his own popstand. I'm confident you wouldn't starve to death in southern Idaho and the Treasure Valley has great weather, great outdoors, good food and good people. Come for visit.

[GerryS]

I would.....what's you guy charging? Actually if he's retiring put him in touch with me

It's my impression land is pretty expensive....I want acereage with some trees....small imam sure by northwest standards...10-20 acres. Essentially "privacy" land. I'm want to grow my own veggies, and maybe a few fruit trees...I'm not even sure what I want will grow there....apples, blueberries, grapes, maters cukes...the general garden stuff. Breaking OPSEC, a bit of a self reliance nut who's sick of federal involvement in my life.

[Wolffarmer]

Anybody from idaho, Montana, Wyoming on here? I know you slo, I'm considering relocating to that general area, and would like a PM or Email exchange. I've got a couple questions about life, work, and geography up there

Any more details would likely violate the policy of political discussion on the open forums....

Gerry, I am in Idaho, The southern part. The northern part is a different state.

Randy

[Wolffarmer]

In South Idaho around Boise is good as is the Idaho Falls area. Up north there is the Coeur d'Alene area. There are other smaller areas of course.

Randy

[Rainier70]

I am from Southeast Idaho near Pocatello. You might also like the Logan, Utah area. Happy to answer questions.

[stumphugger]

Two words....Water Rights.

The cheap land is cheap for a reason. You'll see ads for such land, and it usually has no water, or irrigation. Well drilling is starting to be restricted in some areas.
Some towns have a shortage of water and have had to stop issuing building permits for houses...Twisp, WA is an example.

Staying away from the Federal Gov? Out in the west? The Federal Govt. land may be your next door neighbor. I used to work for the Forest Service and we would get phone calls from people (new to the area) asking why their road was not plowed in the winter.

That's another thing. Real Estate agents will advertise, "borders National Forest land" which does not mean it will be untouched or your playground. It is likely to be untouched, due to budgets, and that means it will not have fuels reduction work done on it, and your place may be next door to a future forest fire. Or, but not likely, you might have a logging operation next door, with noise starting early in the morning.

The snow plowing? If you access your property by Forest Service roads, you'll need a permit. Plus, the roads may be in terrible shape year round due to cutbacks in budgets.

ATVs and off road recreation? That's starting to be more restricted, as is target shooting on public lands. In fact, we're starting to get wildfires started from people shooting exploding targets on public, and private lands. Expect to see more regulations.

Open Range? That means that if you don't want cows in your yard or garden, YOU will be the one responsible to build a fence and do the upkeep. That came as a shock to folks moving into one valley.

Nope, I don't live in what you are calling the Northwest, but I grew up and have worked in Eastern Washington, which has the same issues as the rest of the west. We are getting more regulations as our population increases from folks moving here. Whether your spot will stay with the same political leanings cannot be guaranteed. As Slow Cowboy said, our main immigrants, who become very influential are are folks from California who can sell their CA houses for a good chunk of money and then buy a much bigger place. They bring their CA values with them. However, Kalispell, MT natives call the north part of their town, Seattle. In other words, the west is a place people move to, and bring their same expectations and beliefs with them. I've done some unscientific research and estimate that 70% of our Warshington population moved here from another state, and I find myself sometimes thinking about Northern Idaho, or Seattle, MT because it reminds me of how this place USED to be....but if I move, I increase their population and the ruination continues. Naw, I'll stay in my area. We suspect it can't be overrun due to flooding and septic tank issues. I'm now settled on the wet side of the state in a valley that is far enough away from Seattle and Portland to make it less desirable.

Have you done your homework? This may be a good place to start.
http://www.hcn.org/

[bdosborn]

Yes, you definitely need to do your homework when it comes to buying a place in the mountains. We had a lot of help from our realtor finding our place, he knew the area well that we were looking in. There are affordable places out there if you look long enough and you're willing to fix the place up. It took us a year to find our cabin but it paid off in the end:







But, it's not all fun and games, here's what happens when you don't pay attention in the mountains:



Mountain living is different from living in the city, it's a lot of work. We have 7 acres and it's a lot of work to keep the property in shape, cutting down dead trees and the like. Just keeping the driveway open in the winter might take a tractor. I know a guy who spends $600/month on propane in the winter. There's plenty of wood to burn with all the beetle kill but heating a house with wood is a chore. It's an hour to the hardware store from the cabin so working on it takes good planning. Buying groceries is EXPENSIVE or you drive an hour. It's not that uncommon to get snowed in for a week or so and broadband connections are non-existent (lucky to get dial-up). I doubt we'll ever live in the cabin through the winter. Buying a dream home in the boonies takes a lot of homework, don't forget to look into what it will take to live there once you've found one.

Once last thought, I've always considered myself to be a loner - spending time alone has never bothered me. However, spending a week alone in the cabin isn't at all what I thought it would be, I got bored and lonely pretty quick. Being by yourself in the city is different from being the only guy around for miles, I don't go up there anymore without the wife along. It's hard to explain but living by yourself in the mountains isn't for everyone. FWIW....

Bruce

[eamarquardt]

.....................It's an hour to the hardware store from the cabin so working on it takes good planning......................................

Bruce

I live 2.5 miles from a True Value that has an exquisite selection of nuts and bolts (SS, grade 8, metric, socket head, etc, etc, etc). I'm not sure I'd be happy anywhere w/o a store close by with a similar selection.

I can find all the space I want out at one of the Channel Islands. Being the only boat in an anchorage on a holiday weekend works for me. It is, though, about 6-8 hours, away from the marina.

Be careful as the "grass is always greener". We've found everyplace we've lived to be good (except Florida where the heat, humidity, bugs, and FLAT weren't to our liking).

Cheers,

Gus

[eamarquardt]

.....................It's an hour to the hardware store from the cabin so working on it takes good planning......................................

Bruce

I live 2.5 miles from a True Value that has an exquisite selection of nuts and bolts (SS, grade 8, metric, socket head, etc, etc, etc). I'm not sure I'd be happy anywhere w/o a store close by with a similar selection.

I can find all the space I want out at one of the Channel Islands. Being the only boat in an anchorage on a holiday weekend works for me. It is, though, about 6-8 hours, away from the marina.

Be careful as the "grass is always greener". We've found everyplace we've lived to be good (except Florida where the heat, humidity, bugs, and FLAT weren't to our liking).

Cheers,

Gus

[stumphugger]

Oh, and don't forget health care. We have a small clinic. The emergency room is 17 miles away and that hospital does not have a very good reputation. So, you go another hour for that, or more depending on what you need.

Same here on groceries. The basics are here, but not always fresh, and prices are high. You keep a pad and pen handy and make a list for a day spent "in town" where you may make the gas cost pay for the trip if you stock up on stuff. Costco is an hour and half away. To buy clothes other than "riggin' clothes" is the same, an hour.
Walmart is an hour away. We have a bare bones hardware store that doesn't restock very fast, they are usually out of what I want. We have two mini-mart gas stations, a non-chain fast food place, three restaurants of which two have bars, a grocery store, small library, Dentist...we just got a young 'un who moved here for the outdoors and skiing, the clinic, and the three big employers, the school, the Forest Service and a sawmill. That's it. Life in what used to be a logging community.