Don't like the rat race? This is the place to be!
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12/23/2010
Mild 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.
J W H | Mountlake Terrace, WA