Need info on Spokane, WA and Hayden, ID

[skid542]

I've got an interview for a nice engineering job in Hayden, ID on the 8th of December that'd I'd really like to snag. So I'm trying to get a firm understanding of the area before I go up so I have a few questions for those that know the area if you would indulge me.

What are the living conditions like? Is the cost of living high? What's Spokane like? How are insurance rates in WA vs. ID? What's the interenet service like in the two states around that area? What's the crime like? How is the snow removal on the roads? What's the general weather patterns? What's the Spokane airport like? What's the apartment rental scene like? Is the area 'earth' friendly?

I've asked a few questions and I'm sure there is plenty I'm missing so if there is anything you would like to fill in for me please do so. I'm not sure what my actual interview scheduel is or how long they'll keep me but I fly out Sat. morning early but friday night if I'm free and if someone wants to meet up I'd be happy to buy a fellow BBS'er a beer.

Thanks in advance.

[tris91ricer]

DAmmit, I didn't want to drive to spovegas in the snow! This isn't today, right? Next week?

Spokane is pretty cool, its a college town (gonzaga U) and the first and last time I was there, I had a blast. There's a Sonic Drive In, like you see on TV, and if you go across into ID, you might like it, too. I took a brief stop at the CDA Brewery, and had a blast!

Crime isn't too bad. Living is decent. We are about the only state left that has no income tax. well, state income tax, anyway. The weather is what youre gonna want to worry about. It gets COLD in the winter, and very HOT in the summer. net service is great, comcast has us on lock.
Seeing that youre coming from the east, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you will encounter in the west. The west is where it's at.

Come, Lee!

[Yukonart]

And if you like to ski or snowboard, you'll have it made!

[dscoobydoo]

Ok, as Someone born and raised in the Spokane area, I will try and answer your questionsas you addressed them

I've got an interview for a nice engineering job in Hayden, ID on the 8th of December that'd I'd really like to snag. So I'm trying to get a firm understanding of the area before I go up so I have a few questions for those that know the area if you would indulge me.

What are the living conditions like?
Imagine this: an area with a population of about 450,000 that feels more like a population of about 100,000 Is the cost of living high?
Compared to where/what? average rental for a 2/1 is about 550-to 650. Food and gas are not bad, as well as hotels and things to do. What's Spokane like?
Spokane has the things a medium size city have while still feeling small. I think it's a great place to be.
How are insurance rates in WA vs. ID?
Idaho is cheaper that Spokane, but Spokane as a whole is not bad. What's the interenet service like in the two states around that area?
Comcast has digital cable in most of the city locations, and there are other options for highspeed. What's the crime like?
I think crime is less than it could be. I feel safe in either place, but there are always places to avoid.How is the snow removal on the roads? What's the general weather patterns?
The Spokane CDA area has all four seasons. You might get up to 100 in the summer and-20 in the winter. One year may be hot and snow alot, and the next be mild in both aspects. What's the Spokane airport like?
The airport is a pretty good size with flights to seattle every hour, flights to denver, salt lake, minneapolis and chicago daily. What's the apartment rental scene like?
Plenty of options to rent. There are several colleges in the area, so there are plenty of houses or apartments to rent. Is the area 'earth' friendly?
You have a little bit of everyone in the area. Northern Idaho is becoming a major relocation point for retired californians as well as a growinghub for new businesses.

I've asked a few questions and I'm sure there is plenty I'm missing so if there is anything you would like to fill in for me please do so. I'm not sure what my actual interview scheduel is or how long they'll keep me but I fly out Sat. morning early but friday night if I'm free and if someone wants to meet up I'd be happy to buy a fellow BBS'er a beer.

Thanks in advance.

[/b]

lastly, if the job is in Hayden, I would not commute from Spokane. Consider the general Coeur D Alene area.

[skid542]

Thanks for the info guys. It's definately nice to get some first hand reports from some people I 'know'.

I've grown up in the Appalachians and have been into WY and CO a little when I was young and LOVED it. I've been wanting to get into the larger mountains for a while and I believe this is a great opportunity. I'm used to winters where it gets down to the 10-20's and I enjoy backpacking on the ridges where it'll hit the singles and below on occasion. So cold weather is a non-issue . As far as heat, how hot are you talking, 100+? 90?, is it a dry heat? I'm used 90+ with RH ~ 80-90% which can be a little too much for me.

I love to ski. The thought of near endless winters about makes me wet my pants.

The job is in Hayden so while I'm there I'll definately go check out the Coeur D Alene area. Thank you for that info as it does answer a direct question I'd been wondering.

And yes Tristan, this is the week after next. I'll be flying in/out of Spokane and rooming in Coeur D Alene.

Thanks again and if there's anything else you think of to add I'm all ears.

[dwreck30]

The Coeur d' Alene area is great. You have the lake in the summer and 4 ski areas within 1 1/2 hrs in the winter. There are tons of good looking women for an area this size too! Housing has jumped significantly in the last few years, but is going down now. I have lived here for nearly all my life and can't compare anything to it. The scenery and views are breathtaking. The weather is not too extreme, but still has its share of everything.

If you are thinking more of living in the Hayden area things will be more expensive. I would gladly take you as a roommate if your down. I live in downtown Coeur 'd Alene, so pretty much everything you need is here. If you want to hang out when you get into to Cd'A let me know.

[biggreen96]

yeah I have lived in both spokane and CDA, right now I am ~1.5 hours south of CDA in Moscow, ID, another college town. This area is a very nice place to call home. CDA has a nice lake, skiing and mountain biking all very close. You will like it in this area of the U.S. I plan to never leave the pac northwest, theres is just too much to offer. Energy costs are low because of abundant hydro electric power, in moscow the rent is cheap, I pay 173 a month for my room in a 4 bed house a block from campus and more importantly 3 houses from the "ALEHOUSE".

[206er]

biggreen yours is the white TW with a 5sp and gold wheels right?
I saw your car at the 2005 WIM finals at silver mountain I believe. were you racing?

[Subtle]

Spokane to Idaho ++, and that's from someoone who lives in B C.

Skiing at Sun Valley, Id. ++++ .

[jnorion]

I lived around that general area for about seven years... it's a very nice area, very beautiful and for the most part very friendly. I'm a city boy at heart though, and so it was a bit limited in opportunity for me. I miss it though, especially now that winter's on its way and we have no snow over here. If you like the outdoors there's no limit of things to do. And Spokane is quickly becoming more like a large city in terms of culture... events and music scene and that sort of thing. It's a cool city.

I agree with dwreck though... don't try to commute between CdA and Spokane in the morning. They have fewer cars on the road but the roads are smaller so rush hour there is just as bad as rush hour in a bigger city.

If you live in that area, the place you want to go to ski is Schweitzer Mountain, in Sandpoint ID (about 1.5 hours north). It's an amazing mountain and bigger than the others around there. A bit pricey now though.

[biggreen96]

biggreen yours is the white TW with a 5sp and gold wheels right?
I saw your car at the 2005 WIM finals at silver mountain I believe. were you racing?

The wheels were bronze at that point but yeah that was me. I didn't race that one since it cost ~50 bucks for the late sign up and prolly another 5 bucks for a norba license. I did a few races up there this summer on my stinky though.

[206er]

it was a fun ass course, I raced 19-29 ex. not every place you can have a 14 minute run.
the WIM sucked balls that year though.

[biggreen96]

oh man i hate racing that full course, by the time I get to the bottom I have to pry my hands of my bars. But it does do a great job of sorting out whos fast and who isnt!

[skid542]

Thanks again for the info guys. I'm getting pretty excited about the possibility of getting a job out there. I don't want to jynx it with all the talk but if I could snag this job I think I'd be incredibly happy to have a good job and live in what sounds like an amazing area.

Derek, I honestly appreciate the offer, I do, but I've lived alone for the past 2.5 years and doubt I could comfortably go back to living with a roommate - I can be a bit of a hermit sometimes . I'll shoot you a PM once I have a better idea of how things are going to go with my interview and maybe we can get together that friday night for a bit to shoot the breeze. To which I'm still open to catch up with any of you guys if you're around.

[dwreck30]

Thats cool, just putting the offer out there. I know what you mean though. I'm getting to the point where I need a place of my own.

[206er]

oh yeah another reason to love spokane-the biggest junkyard Ive ever seen.

[biggreen96]

And when the shit hits the fan you can bail to canada!

You will like it out here. I can't picture myself living anywere else.