The Idaho Lifestyle: Protecting What Makes Idaho Special

As Idaho continues to grow, Garrett and Shelby discuss how newcomers and longtime residents alike can preserve the state's unique character. They cover supporting local businesses, caring for public spaces, embracing neighborly values, and building a stronger community while welcoming future growth.

Transcript

Speaker 0:00

Welcome back to the Idaho Life Show, hosted by Idaho Life Real Estate here with Shelby Matson and Garrett Thill, and we're talking all about the Idaho lifestyle today. So Shelby, Idaho is growing. How do we talk about this in a way that's that's honest, you know, not doom or gloom or pretending it's not happening because it's real, right?

Speaker 1 0:22

It's a very real thing, and it's happening at warp speed. I mean, just from when I moved here about six years ago to now, the growth has been exponential. And there's been a lot of great things that have happened. You know, in my opinion, growth brings real opportunity like job services and healthcare access, things that weren't always available. And it also pressures the things people came here for. Meaning, you know, just growing and developing different opportunities for, like we talked about in our last segment, youth, youth programs and a bit of diversity. Our food has changed quite a bit since I've lived here. And it is just growing, and there's so many different options now. And it's been amazing. I love seeing that and the change and transition. And then I would say, you know, long time and newer residents, they're they're not two teams, right? All here together. We're all here together. Absolutely. And I think that's that's a big deal. Everybody's collaborating and really coming together, and uh just there's just so many great things happening. It's been fun to see and witness.

Speaker 1:29

It is, yeah. I'm I'm sure it for the locals too, it can be a bit of a struggle and a little bit hard to swallow, right? To see that everything's growing so fast. And changing. And changing, yeah. And you have that really, you have that across the entire nation. I mean, this nation is just growing exponentially as well. And and no matter what, you're going to see change. And and I think that's one of the the the biggest things that I think everyone's kind of hoping for, including those that are moving here, is that we don't see it change too much beyond what Idaho has always been. Would you agree? That's right.

Speaker 1 1:59

I totally agree with that. I do. You know, and I have a question for you, Garrett. So tell me, what do you think we specifically need to be intentional about protecting Idaho as this keeps happening? This growth.

Speaker 2:14

Yeah. The houses are not going to be, they're not going to stop. The commercial, you know, landscape is not going to stop. The stores, everything's not going to stop. So um, yeah, it's a good question. I think a couple things need to be protected. Number one, I think our our access to what we have is beautiful outdoors. As far as our river access, the trailheads, that's what people come here for, right? They come here for the active lifestyle or the outdoor, uh, the outdoors uh ness that you have. So I think protecting that, and I think I think the Treasure Valley's done a very good job. They're not going to overstep or or build on top of those trailheads. So I think they're doing a great job. Um places like the foothills, they've been doing a good job with that.

Speaker 1 2:52

And keeping it clean when using very good point. Keeping it clean, right?

Speaker 2:58

Absolutely. And things like the river access is important. And one of the things I do want to mention is that you do have these small town identities in fast-growing areas. You know, Meridian wasn't that long ago. It had this small, real small town vibe to it. Star, uh, cuna. I think by protecting the identity of these fast-growing areas is important because they do have their own little spirit in there and their own, you know, unique and special ways. Um, so it's not just Idaho pride in general, it's small town pride. So being able to keep that culture of of small towns, even though they're kind of all blending in together, would you agree that's important?

Speaker 1 3:42

They are, and it is important. And I think just with all that blending, like people are overlapping and sharing each other's communities and respecting it for what it offers.

Speaker 3:53

Yeah. No, that makes sense. And then I think the the neighborly culture itself, it can be easy to lose with the hustle and bustle, but it's something that we want to make sure that we continue to be there for our neighbors, for the community. Uh be the lending hand, be the person that mows the other's lawn when they see that they're out of town or or maybe they're sick or taking their garbage out for them. Taking their garbage out, bringing over food. So being that neighborly person, it I know it can be easy to lose because we all have our day-to-day schedule. A lot of us have kids, they go to sports, they have school. It can the hustle and bustle can be real. So making sure we continue to keep what Idaho is known for, I think is very important.

Speaker 1 4:33

I do too.

Speaker 4:34

So let's let's talk an actual item here. What what's a small, doable way that somebody shows pride in a city without having to turn it into a whole crazy project, Shelby?

Speaker 1 4:48

Yeah, I think, you know, if you're using a trail to hike and you see some trash, pick it up, right? It's a super, super simple task, but it does keep our trailheads clean so the next person can come and enjoy it right behind you. Um, I see people that do this consistently and just take pride in everything that they're utilizing that is free to us and making sure that it's always usable for everybody. Um, and then I mean, this is a really simple thing, but you've got your local businesses. If you've gone in and had a great experience, it takes you less than two minutes to log in to their Google Business account and write a review. It is a simple task. And I think that means I mean it goes a long time. It supports local. It does, it supports local. And then, you know, maybe make it a point to show up to one city event a season. I mean, we've got things going on in Boise all the time down in the square by the grove, and there's all these different activities, and people here locally spend a lot of time putting those activities and those events together for all of us to enjoy. So you're marking it and actually attending maybe one per season every three months is really going to offer a lot of support.

Speaker 6:06

Even the farmers markets, like you were mentioning, you like to do that, and that that's all local right there. You don't have out-of-state companies and corporations coming in and selling things at the farmer's market. So I think what you mentioned before, that's a great uh a great way to support local, and then they have them quite frequently in different towns.

Speaker 1 6:21

Absolutely. And you know, Garrett, what let me ask you this what does living the Idaho life mean to you?

Speaker 6:28

You know, so we we've we've talked about this before, and it's it's really about giving back and contributing instead of just consuming what Idaho has to offer. So when people do land here, I I know a lot of our clients that are moving in from out of state, they want to make sure they're they're actually very self-aware of wanting to keep Idaho, Idaho. So, you know, being that kind of neighbor that people can count on, not needing to take credit for everything that you do. I think it's it's it's important. That's really the Idaho way there. Um, you know, just again, being that neighbor that that you know that you're a phone call away, a text away, or a door knock away, that hey, we could use some help and just be that lending hand without ever uh being the person to expect to receive it back.

Speaker 1 7:16

Or just being engaged and knowing if you haven't seen your neighbor out and about when they usually are, something probably is happening and you're do the neighborly thing, go knock on the door and see if they need any help.

Speaker 7:29

I love it. Right? I love it. You know, so at the end of the day, you know, Idaho's known for a lot of things. It's known for the mountains, the rivers, the white water, the hot springs. We didn't even get to talk a lot about this. We didn't, I know. There's so many things, the rodeos and fairs, like you talked about the scenery.

Speaker 1 7:45

Yeah, and but what makes it feel like home is the people, the pride, the responsibility, the neighbors who show up without being asked.

Speaker 7:53

That's right. And from a real estate standpoint, that's exactly why it does matter to us. I mean, here at Idaho Life Real Estate, we do care. Home was never just a property, it's really it's that whole life built around it.

Speaker 1 8:07

It is. And it's the river days, the rec league games, the coffee shop where they know your order. I mean, that's the best thing. The clean park, the community event, the drive with no destination.

Speaker 8:18

Yeah, I love it all. So, you know, whether you've been here your whole life or you moved in six months ago, you've got a role to play in protecting what makes this place work in in Idaho.

Speaker 1 8:28

Yeah, show up, support local, take care of shared spaces, respect the outdoors, invite people in. That's how community actually gets built, not talked about, but built.

Speaker 8:39

I love it. And if you're thinking about buying, selling, you're you're here renting, you're relocating, or you're you're just trying to understand life in the Treasure Valley a little bit better. We genuinely love to be a resource for you. And an easy way to connect with us is to go to our website. We've got a really easy one. It's idaholife.com. That's idaho-life.com, where you can find all the properties on the market, 40 plus amazing agents that we have, our contact information. Check it out. We've got a great relocation guide.

Speaker 1 9:10

Absolutely. And we want to thank you so much for spending this time with us on the Idaho Life Show, Real Estate and Community.

Speaker 9:17

And one more way you can find us is on our Instagram. It's at Idaho Life Real Estate. Thank you so much, Idaho. We'll see you next Saturday here at noon on KIDO.