Oh, Boise.

Idaho's capital, known affectionately as the "Treasure Valley" and otherwise as the home to 5/8's of Idaho's terrible drivers, declared a state of emergency last week... The rest of Idaho laughed.

Granted, 18 inches of snow in a weekend is significant; but for those of us who have spent winter outside the city of trees, Boise's panic was humorous, because, truth be told, if you've lived through an Idaho winter, you know these 10 things:

1. Don't drive like an idiot

If the road is covered in slush, snow, ice, it's probably not the best idea to go zipping down the freeway at 70 mph in your little car that doesn't have 4WD.

2. ...Why don't you have 4WD?

4 wheel drive is essentially a necessity if you're going to live in Idaho. Also, without 4WD how can you go mudding? Drifting? What are you doing?

3. Snow days

Lol. McCall just had their first one in, like, decades.

4. Winter weather warning = pow day

This "warning" is really just a clever way to scare tourists away from the mountain so the locals can enjoy some pow.

5. "Weapons" on school property...

Technically speaking, ski poles aren't allowed on buses because they're a 'weapon' and aren't supposed to be on school property, but when you're skiing every day what's the point of taking them out of your car?

6. Power Outs

AKA, Mom's chance to break out a board game because we're all trying to save phone battery. Oh, and don't go to the grocery store, every tourist is freaking out that we're going to be stranded for weeks.

7. Tourists

"People actually live here in the winter?" Yes, now would you like whipped cream on your non-fat soy vanilla latte with 2 pumps?

8. Skiing/Sledding down anything

Snow bank? Skiable. Berm? Skiable. The snow that slid off the roof and now forms a bit of a sketchy slope? Do you even need to ask?

9. Driver's license scraper

No scraper? No problem.

10. Ski Day

It might be the only thing keeping the school TP-free during homecoming...no one endangers ski day.