Relocate to Beautiful North Idaho

While many of you are contemplating a move to the Sandpoint/North Idaho area, or have decided to make the move, be advised that I did the same thing 26 years ago. While much has changed since then, the basics of moving and the reasons probably remain the same. It is a big decision, one not to be taken lightly. We moved from the Bay Area in 1978. We were tired of the traffic, the smog and the congestion and the regulation. Needless to say, it is worse now.

Unfortunately, I was not able to retire at that point in my life, so I proceeded to build a four- plex and subsequently rent it out. Later we sold it. Rents in those days were approximately $400.00 per month, for about an 800 sq. foot apartment. It had the usual amenities found in Sandpoint, natural gas, water, sewer, phone, electricity, range, dishwasher, one full bath, living room and washer/dryer. The same configuration now will rent for $700.00-900.00 per month. Not much, by the standards of metropolitan areas, but a significant jump in this area. Houses on lots and acreages rent for a little more, generally maxing out around $1200.00 per month, depending on the location.

I still had to have some income, so I embarked on a number of different jobs. If jobs are a must for you, plan on being flexible. I have bachelors and masters degrees, and worked in a lumber yard, a print shop, as a realtor, and eventually opened my own escrow business. None of the jobs were related to my education.

Quality of life was quite important to us and we managed to get by. If you like being outdoors, this is really a must place to be. You can do just about everything here that you can do in the cities. We have cable TV, satellite dish TV, computer DSL lines, (in town), computer satellite, low electricity rates, (due to the hydro electric dams in the northwest), natural gas in the cities and in some outlying areas, USA Today newspaper, on the same day no less, Wall Street Journal, the Sandpoint Daily Bee, and Spokane Spokesman review. All are dailies, except the Bee, which does not publish on Mondays.

We are about one and a half hours from Spokane, WA, a city of approximately 300,000 people and more if you consider the market area, which is home to many cultural activities, including a Symphony Orchestra, jazz ensembles, museum, theatre activities, (dramas, plays etc.) a minor league baseball team and some of the best medicine in the United States, especially in the cardiovascular and heart areas.

Spokane also has an international airport, with United, Delta, Alaska , Southwest, Horizon, and Northwest among others serving the inland empire.