How much of this do you see where you live? There is a whole lot of it here. Most likely because the city population is made up of very young folks, compared to our age group (wife/I as early Baby Boomers).
We do not have a lot of this where we live, although there are some people with tattoos. Most of the people in our area are younger people, but we have a lot of both black and Hispanic people here, neither of which seem to have much in the way of tattoos, or even the weird body piercings. I really like that most of the Hispanics we see are very traditional,, short hair on the men and boys, and long, beautiful hair on the women and girls. The thing that we seem to see most here is just weird people, both black and white ones. One guy wears something akin to a bathrobe as he ambles up and down the street, either mumbling, or yelling filthy language. I think that he might be wearing earbuds and is trying to sing along to some of the really obnoxious rap music. Another guy carries his boom box on his shoulder, also singing (if that is even the correct term for it) along with whatever he is listening to. Most of the people like this have hair that looks like it has been infested with a family or two of rats, and of course, the required pajama pants that are sagging halfway to their knees. And then there are the guys with those little scooter/moped kind of bikes, up and down our street for hours and hours on end. You would think that they would get tired of the same 4 blocks, up and down, up and down. It is not what we want to see and hear when we are out enjoying the sunshine and relaxing on our front porch. It makes me seriously miss living in North Idaho, where the men wore blue jeans (that fit !), and often cowboy boots and hats, and belts with western buckles. People with tattoos usually had just a discreet flower or butterfly on their shoulder, or something similar. No one yelled obscenities as they went by people’s houses, and everyone waved, and stopped to ask if you needed help if it looked like your car was broken down.
Well, Cody, you have really eliminated any place on earth with all your requirements. You want an urban apartment with a rural vibe in a medium-sized city. You want a "western" flavor where the stereotypical "cowboy" look is the rule instead of the exception. You want a friendly place void of hipsters, heavily tattooed, and people that udder the f word. You want a place where everyone can name the current top 15 PCRA rodeo stars. You want a place with mostly rodeo fans that revere you as an expert on rodeo and dote on your stories of meeting rodeo hall of fame inductees and your team roping glory days, yet your interest in rodeo, in general, is very narrow and filtered. Perhaps finding a place that might make you happier than where you are will require some revising of your pie in the sky criteria. Choosing apartment living is the biggest buzzkill to the "cowboy" lifestyle that I can think of. I can sure understand why you don't like where you live and I am surprised you signed another year's lease. I can't imagine living a year in a place like that.
And, Faye, if we could find a place where NO smoking is done, and we mean absolutely none, we'd like that also. And, yes, we do "want it all", but also know (now) we won't get it all. But, like I told Yvonne, we will keep the "research" up. And, whether there are any "rodeo" types that live in an apartment, we have no idea. All we know is how we decorate our apartment as Western as we can. Can't afford a house on the outside of a town/city or house property out in the wilderness, apartment living is what's left. So, we do the best we can with decorating the apartment. Faye, we signed another lease because our lease ended in April. March and April can be our snowiest months. We don't really want to look anymore here in Colorado. We are now researching northwestern Nevada. Will that be the place? Don't know. All we know is that we can't move until our snow/winter months are over and it's pretty hard, if we were to stay here, look for an apartment on weekends. Rodeo is going pretty "hot and heavy" on the Cowboy Channel, and the Finals of current rodeos are on a Saturday. We definitely don't want to miss a Finals of any rodeo. We have a year to look/research before April 2023. But, my wife told me that we might have to go month-to-month rent after that April 2023 date to get into more suitable weather for moving.
Thing is, Yvonne, when was the last time you visited North Idaho/town you were from? When we left Colorado, in Oct. 2007, the entire Front Range aka Eastern Slope wasn't the way it is when we moved back here in 2019. At the time we left Colorado, we lived in Parker. Parker was pretty "down to earth" type city. Parade-Carnaval each year, public fireworks show (that we went to), two-lane highway (Parker Rd.), that is now 4-lane fast highway. People drive fast on it now. It was more-or-less a horse town w/open fields. Not today, however! When we visited Loveland, back in 2003, for the County Fair, it was just as "down to earth" as Parker was. But, now, even Loveland hs/is taking on the looks of both Denver and Los Angeles in structural and people look. And, many of the young folks here love it.
Since my oldest son still lives just outside Bonners Ferry, Idaho, , on the same property where I used to live, I usually go there around once every year. The last time Robin and I were there was last summer, for the memorial service after her father passed away. Bonners Ferry is a small town, with around 5,000 people in/near town and about that many more who live in the outlying area. It has a few more stores than before, but really not much has changed, or is likely to change. It had one stoplight, but they didn’t need it; so they took it down. They have all of the usual small-town enjoyments; parade, picnics, fireworks on Fourth of July, big fair, rodeo, and demolition derby in the fall, and several other local celebration days as well. However, Sandpoint, where I grew up, has changed dramatically since I last lived there around 1990. When I grew up, back in the 1950’s, it was just a sleepy little town with logging and farming as the main occupations. My folks had a little neighborhood grocery. Then, the great California exodus began, and a lot of them moved to Idaho. Since there is an awesomely beautiful lake and majestic mountains all around, Sandpoint became a tourism town, streets were widened, or became one-way , and new stores opened that were geared for sports and tourists. Real estate there is now so expensive that ordinary people can’t even afford to buy a nice house, and even rentals are very expensive. I would not want to move back there at this point, so I completely understand what you are saying about an area changing over the years, @Cody Fousnaugh . Actually, if I could live anywhere I wanted, I would move back out to Western Washington or Oregon, along the Pacific coast somewhere. When I was in Astoria , Oregon, I totally fell in love with the whole area, the amazing old Victorian-type homes, the beautiful views of the ocean, and plenty of fishing in the Columbia Rover as well. Moving is not an option for me, but if it were, I would live in either north Idaho or near the Pacific Ocean. This is the song that my grandson wrote about growing up in Bonners Ferry. He is the one who is now a pilot and lives near Seattle. Video is my son riding his motorcycle through the Bonners Ferry area.
Sure nice to read that not all of Idaho has become 2022! I knew, and met, a retired-Hall of Famer rodeo cowboy/Team Roper, Dee Pickett, who is from Caldwell. Anyway, Yovonne, when we lived in Jacksonville, Florida, for 10 1/2 years, we only went to the beach/ocean four or five times. Did make it down to Key West, but that was for a short vacation. We found out that we are no longer the beach/ocean couple we were in Southern California/Costa Mesa area from years ago. We absolutely love the sight of mountains and, if we decide to move there, the Sierra Nevada Mountains/Lake Tahoe is right to the west of Carson City. We love the sight of the Rockies, to our west, covered in snow. We use to go up there in Oct. to see the "elk rut"/breeding. Many big bulls and their females. But, wife can't handle going up too high anymore, in a vehicle that is, and we had to turn around and come back down last Oct. when looking for elk. She loves, and I do to, seeing White-Tail and Mule Deer and big Bull Elk. So, it's almost a necessity that we live somewhere close to a mountain range.
You might consider Fernley, Nevada. 17% of its citizens are over 65. It is 20K in population but close to Reno/Sparks for the mid-sized city experience. Rent is reasonable compared to the rest of the west and the area is very senior-friendly. They even have a senior pro rodeo. Nice apartments start at $1200 and very nice townhouses go for $1700. Fernley has a lot of earthquakes, but most are very minor. You might have to straighten wall photos on occasion. It is a desert climate that might be conducive to old age aches and pains. There is also a lake just north of Fernley. There is so much to do around there you shouldn't be bored. The Cowboy Corridor is just a bit over 3 hours east and worth a visit. Lots of casinos to choose from if your pockets feel heavy. Close enough to Lake Tahoe for hobnobbing with the rich and famous. Lots of western stores, including a Boot Barn in Sparks.
Caldwell is near Boise which is the southwest of Idaho. Yvonne is from up near the Canadian border. Idaho runs the entire eastern borders of Washington and Oregon. It is a nice drive from Sandpoint to Boise, but don't be in a hurry. The north Nevada line borders some of both Oregon and Idaho's southern lines.
Anyway, we continue to wrap-up (in bubble pack) and put into plastic bins, our pictures on the walls. After packed, they will go to our 10' x 10' storage. And, this weekend, with the gorgeous/warm weather we will be having, will check out a couple of apartment complexes just west of the livestock auction yards in Ft. Collins. We don't really want to leave Colorado, but if "push comes to shove" we will have no problem doing it.
@Cody Fousnaugh - I see more than I care to, that is enough for me. I think your a bit delusional,ain't no perfect place to live in - any city. We still do not know how or what we are going to do apartment wise. If we can not afford the monthly increase, no way we can do month to month-at all. I have much to rant at the moment about where we are living- use to be Perfect for us - but has gone the Pits since sold to new investors. My rant best saved for another thread.
You could always look now and if you find someplace you like, ask if you could get out of your lease early without any penalties. Are you certain you can go month-to-month when your lease is up?
Yes, we are sure about the month-to-month thing. It was stated in our Leasing Renewal Notice that a resident could do that, if desired, instead of signing a full Leasing Agreement. We done the month-to-month after our lease ended in Florida. Thing is, month-to-month is more costly than signing a full Agreement. If at all possible, a renting resident doesn't want to break a lease, because that will show up on a credit report and that definitely isn't good. Depending on the owner/owners of the complex, a resident might (and note the word "might") be able to get out of their lease without any penalties, but.............
I guess ranting about an apartment rent hick is better than buying a house and, later, going "why in the "H" did I buy this?" My wife fell in love with a house, on horse property, when we lived here before. Fortunately, we paid to have an inspection done on it and it was found to have many, many things wrong with it. Much more than we wanted to repair. And, no there is no "perfect" place, but people sure can look for what they want and perhaps get many things they want. For instance, Seniors that live in a Del Webb Community seem to be very, very happy. They pay for that "happiness", but that's just the way life is. Our apartment complex has, for the 2 1/2 years we've lived here, always drawn young Millennials in with big dogs. We have never lived in a complex where there were so many young kids, let alone a city with so many. The city didn't use to be like this, but it sure is now.
@Cody Fousnaugh - I truly understand. We have lived at same complex for ten years. all has been way better than expected up until this last year. Our long term renters above bought them a house, the others in our unit lost their apts. due to the big freeze here last year. As i type this , the apt upstairs is still in process of being renovated. I dread when they are finished,as there is no telling what the dickens will move in there this time. This complex and its setting has always been perfect for us. But like all things, it has changed,and the rent is astronomical for two SS people. Have no idea still as to what move to make.