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Lots of people barely last a year in Idaho after leaving CA. I've been in the Pocatello area since 2000. I did my homework before leaving San Diego. I have few regrets. I would like a bit more nice weather to ride my motorcycle. Sometimes it is a bit more windy than I expected. Being LDS in Pocatello is different from San Diego. It's a culture in Pocatello. It's a choice in San Diego. A majority of the population vs a minority. Religion/politics/business are tightly meshed in Pocatello. I'm insulated as my employer is far away...I work from my home office.

My youngest son arrived in 8th grade. He had an IEP in San Diego. Idaho dropped the ball on that. In time, he dropped out of school. He regrets that decision, but refuses to make any effort to improve even given the resources to do so. The schools in San Diego were not good, but Idaho was not an improvement. My oldest son was admitted to Idaho State University to pursue a degree in Geology. He died May 12, 2012. Age 32. A poor choice of antibiotics for a person with 4 open heart surgeries, 2 artificial valves, a pacemaker and ongoing need for Coumadin. #2 son returned from his USMC tour in Iraq. He has earned degrees in Business Admin and Physics and scratches out a living as a real estate broker.

Idaho culture doesn't fit everyone. Boise was too "big city" and California-like for my tastes. I chose the southeast area for big houses and access to national parks. Low population density and little traffic.