Seriously, if I hear one more potato joke, I’m going to punch somebody.

Yes, I like to vacation in Idaho.

Yes, I enjoy spuds as much as the next person.

But am I going to Idaho just for the potatoes?  I’ve heard enough…

I feel like “Bubba” in Forrest Gump, except instead of shrimp, I’m talkin’ taters!

“Mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, scalloped potatoes, boiled potatoes, hash brown potatoes…”

Baking potatoes, Russet potatoes, red-skinned potatoes, purple potatoes, white round potatoes, Yukon gold potatoes, Caribe potatoes, new potatoes, fingerling potatoes, blue potatoes, sweet potatoes…

But yeah, what do I know about potatoes?

I’m tired of all the jokes about Idaho and my vacations.

The conversation usually goes something like this:

(ahem)

Dave: “So I’m heading down to Idaho!”

Moron: “Idaho?  What?  Really – Idaho?”

Dave: “Yes, Idaho.  I love Idaho.  It’s one of my favourite places in the world.  I can’t wait to go…”

Moron: “So….umm….hehe…..huh…..are you, um……heh…..are you gonna EAT SOME POTATOES?”

Dave: “(sigh) Yes, yes I am.  In fact, that is the sole purpose of my trip; consumption of the starchy spuds.  I don’t plan on doing anything else down there other than eat potatoes…”

Seriously?

If somebody says they’re going to “Canada,” are you going to ask them if they’re bringing snow shoes?

I golf in Idaho.

I ride horses in Idaho.

I hike in Idaho.

I take in the rodeos in Driggs, Idaho and in Jackson, Wyoming.

There’s fly-fishing, rafting, mountain biking, and if you were so inclined, I’m sure you can go hunting just about anywhere with any gun you can buy at the local corner store…

Jackson, Wyoming is a twenty-five minute drive from Driggs, Idaho, and it’s one of the most authentic Midwest towns you’ll ever see.  Charming as hell and you’ll never want to leave.

This week, I’ll be posting a series of videos on my blog, all about real estate in Idaho and Wyoming.

Recently, I had a conversation with a client about the two directions that the Canadian and American economies seem to be heading.

On the same day, in the very same newspaper, I read one article about how the United States is looking at yet another stimulus package to prevent the economy from entering a double-dip recession, and I read an article about how Canadian interest rates are rising as our economy thrives.

My observations about the real estate market here in Idaho are more of what I noticed last year: they’re hurting.  They’re hurting bad, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at a sub-division where the builder has run out of money, and the few residents will be living “as is” for the foreseeable future…