Reviews & Comments
Seattle, WA
My take on the whole "outsider" issue... -
10/19/2011First off, to the idiot who just vomited acidic vitriol all over this forum, gimme a damn break. I can see where you're coming from with regards to the rich, mindless yuppies who come from far and wide to drive up our housing costs and cause an already crowded metro area to become even more crowded. However, those aren't the only people who move to this area in search of a better life with better jobs in a very, very awesome section of the PNW. There are decent, respectful folks who aren't rich who chose to move to YOUR city of all places out of all others (should make you feel a bit special, right?) and who blend in very well with the local culture.
I am one of those people. I was born and raised in Oregon myself, but every time I visited the Seattle area / Western Washington, I always thought of myself living there someday, because it was like coming home. After 30 years, finally I got the chance to move up here for my career (yes, I'm a techno geek, and no I don't care what you think of me.).
Let me wrap it up for ya: I just moved to Mountlake Terrace, a suburb of Seattle, last month, and I do not regret it one bit. Hate driving up here, but I love walking everywhere! You know what? I fit right in up here from day one. I don't want to ruin the Seattle area and/or culture; I've already embraced it long ago. I'm a long-time Mariners fan, have developed a strong interest in Seahawks football, have a very discerning taste when it comes to coffee, am fascinated by the sheer amount of cool things to do in the Seattle area, the local food and sense of community is awesome as well, Almost Live! cracks me up and is one of my favorite shows since moving up here (I swear I've seen it before...), the climate and rain suit me very well, being of Nordic / Scottish blood, the culture shift is almost non-existent as a native PNW man, and I understand the people who inhabit the area, especially the natives. I have a long-standing and deep respect for the very talented musicians from the area, especially when I was a teenager in the 90's. I was wearing flannel shirts and logging boots long before that stuff became a huge New York fashion trend, and stopped shortly after these east-coast condo-dwelling yuppies started wearing that stuff without any idea why. Before the forests shrunk in Oregon, my entire family worked out in the woods in some aspect or another, so we all dressed like that, more or less. I didn't realize that stuff was called the "grunge look" until the early 2000's.
Look, I don't want Seattle, or its suburbs to grow any more dense than they already are, and I certainly don't want to lose the Seattle I admired as a kid. However, being antagonistic and spiteful towards outsiders doesn't solve anything. The greater Seattle area is my home now, and I'll continue to think of myself as a local.
Filer, ID
Don't like the rat race? This is the place to be! -
12/23/2010Mild climate, affordable housing, and right smack dab in the middle of nowhere with one of Idaho's major cities, Twin Falls, just 7 miles away. If you enjoy wide open spaces and clean air, you will love Filer. Like peace and quiet? Filer is the place to be. Like Idaho itself, Filer is truly a rare gem of a small town that my family and I truly feel lucky to live in. It's a good place to raise a family, mind your own business and relax in. The only gripe I have is the insane traffic in Twin Falls; there's an accident almost every day there and quite a few rude and impatient drivers, just like in any city.
Unless you work in Filer, which isn't likely unless you're a farmer or work for the school district, you'll be commuting to Twin Falls on a regular basis; that's where the majority of jobs exist in the area. The good news is, you don't always have to travel to Boise to partake of the amenities of a large city, as Twin Falls has everything you need within 10 miles of home. The only difference is Filer and Twin Falls has some of the lowest crime rates compared to Boise, and has much cleaner air and water.
So, in summary:
1. Clean, moderately humid air contributes to a healthy climate enjoyed by Filer's denizens.
2. It's a pleasure to take walks around town without the roads being choked with heavy traffic and excessive noise.
3. You don't have to worry about your kids walking down the street and being ran over or accosted by criminals, as the most heinous crime here is the occasional petty theft of the gas stations or Logan's on Hwy 30. That only happens on rare occasions.
4. Peace and quiet: Aside from the occasional party or family get-together, there's generally a quiet, relaxed atmosphere even during the daytime. Summer gets a little rowdy due to the Twin Falls County Fair, but it's all in good fun. Even if you crank your stereo, most neighbors are so spread out that they hardly, if at all, notice.
5. Cost of living: You can buy a very nice house here for less than 200 grand and still be able to own property that would run you upwards of 400 grand or more in Oregon or Washington.
6. Friendly people / small-town environment: It's ever so easy to make friends with the local police officer who lives just down the street. We mind our own business and respect each other's privacy, but we also do not hesitate to make friends with friendly folk when the opportunity arises.
7. Mother Nature is everywhere: From the beautiful apricot tree in your yard to the vast, fruitful pastures and farms encircling Filer to the majestic Snake River, you're never far from God's creation!
8. You don't feel like a shunned "outsider" if you are new to the area. Just treat others the way you would want them to treat you, and you will do just fine. Traditional values and ideals are very important here, and anyone new will reap the benefits of such an environment. Just respect your neighbors, and they will likely respect you in turn.
Eagle, ID
re: Reviews of Idaho - 8/10/2009 -
12/22/2010Meh. Who cares if the Idaho natives don't like those of us who chose their state out of 49 other states to move to and settle down in. If they don't like it, they can either shut up and get over it or move out and be the outsiders themselves in another state. I, for one, would rather associate with the kindly, hospitable, and friendly folk found all over Idaho. My family and I moved here because we have both strong traditional values and a tight-knit family here. Just because you lived your entire life somewhere doesn't give you the right to be a jackass about it. I lived in Oregon my entire life until mid-2010, and the only complaint I had was the thoughtless tourists and Californians who had no respect for our culture or history; just what they could exploit for their own gain.
I love Idaho because it's everything Oregon used to be back in my grandfather's day. I grew up around hunters, fishermen, outdoorsmen, musicians, those who put their bodies and minds through the ringer their entire lives and those who were geniuses in their favorite subject, and odd yet honest people my entire life. I'm happy to know that Idaho has people just like that wherever you go. It's a peaceful, responsible, traditional state that I'm proud to call home and raise my family in. I aim to make my living with computers, and if that bothers some of you, I honestly don't give a damn.
Boise City, ID
Water Quality -
12/22/2010I realize that it's hard to get good water quality in any city, but 30 out of 100? Something needs to be done in Boise.