Should I move to Arizona?

zingo

My wife and I are looking at moving to Arizona. We've been there on vacation before and like it, but that is completely different than living somewhere. She would like it because its warm/hot. I would like it because my company has three buildings in the greater Phoenix area, and we would both like it because housing prices are so much lower there than in Seattle. How do you Arizona folks here like living there? Steve? What are the positives and negatives we should be aware of when considering moving to the area?

nooshinjohn

It is a great place to find rust free old cars... thats a plus right there!

steveinaz

Phoenix is the armpit of Arizona, seriously. No offense to Phoenix folk's, it's just that if I want pollution and crime, I'll move back to Saint Louis. Tucson is fine, or anywhere else, but I would avoid Phoenix. Phoenix is also hotter than hell.

I'm in Southeast Arizona, a town called Sierra Vista; about 65 miles southeast of Tucson. Our temps a little milder than Tucson because we are at about 4700 ft elevation.

bobman1235

I hope you've been there in the summer. It's awesome in the winter but (to me) unbearable in the summer. Dry heat my ****, 115 is 115. You can't really even go outside. My cousin lived there for a year and I went out to visit a few times, once during the summer; it was just horrific if you even stepped outside.

Obviously that's a very subjective opinion, but coming from Seattle you should just be aware of what you're in for in the warmer months.

EDIT : As steve mentions, this is in reference to Phoenix / the desert, not the nicer and more temperate areas like Sedona.

xj4094dg

bobman1235 wrote: »

I hope you've been there in the summer. It's awesome in the winter but (to me) unbearable in the summer. Dry heat my ****, 115 is 115. You can't really even go outside. My cousin lived there for a year and I went out to visit a few times, once during the summer; it was just horrific if you even stepped outside.


+1. I've lived in both Phoenix and Palm Desert, CA. Very similar, both beautiful in the winter but miserable in the summer. If you enjoy hastily moving from one air-conditioned environment to another every day from March through October, go ahead. I'll never move back to the desert. Never. Ever. Good Luck.

steveinaz

Arizona is a wonderful state generally. We have every climate from the north to south. Flagstaff is practically like Denver Colorado, both in climate and topolgy. As you travel south towards Phoenix you are in the valley, low elevation and very hot temps; then progressing on to Tucson you are going up-hill again, and as you enter Cochise county in the southeast, elevation is higher and temps milder---but far warmer than Flagstaff.

We run about 6 degrees cooler than Tucson in the summer, and about 2 degrees cooler in the winter. I wouldn't move from here for nothing. I can ride motorcycles year round, hunt, camp, hike, etc. If you like outdoor activities, it doesn't get much better.

disneyjoe7

Having moved from Rhode Island to Florida I say it will take you a least 12 months or more to adjust to a new climate. Timing is the thing here, you wouldn't wish to move in the weather extremes it will make the move easier. Same is true moving from Hot to Cold or Cold to Hot.

Systems

Like Bob said, Its a dry heat and so is the oven at Thanksgiving when cooking a turkey. Open that door and stick your head in for a few minutes and see how you like the 'dry heat'. I was out there in Chandler working for a few years. When they say its going to be a warm day expect 95+..when they say its going to be a hot day expect 120+. Then the monsoons hit in latter part of summer. You want to talk about some rain. Monsoon is just the word they could come up with at the time. But, I did like the scenery. The springs and falls and winters were ok. Almost like living outside the oven. But I think it was Robert Palmer that said it best, "some like it hot".

danger boy

Why does everyone want to move to Arizona? it's not the only warm state in the US.
I know 4 people moving there this year.. plus one just bought a house for his parents to move there.

New Mexico is a lovely warm state too I hear.

just saying..

danz1906

Go for it:D

ViperZ

danger boy wrote: »

Why does everyone want to move to Arizona? it's not the only warm state in the US.
I know 4 people moving there this year.. plus one just bought a house for his parents to move there.

New Mexico is a lovely warm state too I hear.

just saying..

danger boy, you should also mention that house prices on Spokane, WA are low too... and there is Idaho like 30 miles away

steveinaz

danger boy wrote: »

Why does everyone want to move to Arizona? it's not the only warm state in the US.
I know 4 people moving there this year.. plus one just bought a house for his parents to move there.

New Mexico is a lovely warm state too I hear.

just saying..

Because it's warm MINUS the hurricanes and tornadoes. New Mexico is nice, but getting too much like Kalirado (or Colofornia; whichever you like) politically---no thanks. They want you to look at all the wonderful things, but don't touch. I went to the "Garden of the Gods" area in Colorado---signs everywhere throughout the park: "Don't climb on rocks"....HUH? You effen kidding me? Am I going to break the mountain or something?...pppfffffttttt colofornia.

haimoc

I think Scotdale and Fountain Hills are nice area and easier to commute to Phoenix. I used to live in Fountains Hills many years ago and worked at Fort McDowell Casino.. I remembered I enjoyed going to pools very late at night time in the Summer.. Summer heat is crazy..

zingo

Thanks for all the input and I have been to AZ in the summer, so I'm not too worried about the weather. The three areas that my company has buildings in is Mesa, Chandler, and Apache Junction. Any feelings on any of those over cities over others?

steveinaz

I remember coming out of Sky harbor airport (Phoenix) at 11:30pm, went outside and saw a thermometer that read 111 degrees!

haimoc

zingo wrote: »

Thanks for all the input and I have been to AZ in the summer, so I'm not too worried about the weather. The three areas that my company has buildings in is Mesa, Chandler, and Apache Junction. Any feelings on any of those over cities over others?

Mesa is only 15 mins away from Fountains Hills... Passing the Casino..
Man.. I missed Arizona.. 16 years ago. Nice people there.. I wished it would be the same.

steveinaz

zingo wrote: »

Thanks for all the input and I have been to AZ in the summer, so I'm not too worried about the weather. The three areas that my company has buildings in is Mesa, Chandler, and Apache Junction. Any feelings on any of those over cities over others?

Arizona is beautiful, any of those are fine. Just avoid Phoenix like the plaque. You're going to love it. Feel free to make contact when you get here, Bev & I would love to have you out.

Both of my brothers back in STL are looking for land out here, and so am I.

zingo

I'd love to make it happen, but I'd have to find a job opening at one of the buildings, and since I would be coming in for an upper management job, that would only allow for one or two positions per building. We'll see, but I'm itching for some sun.

Thanks for the offer Steve and if we come down, I will come over.

avelanchefan

zingo wrote: »

My wife and I are looking at moving to Arizona. We've been there on vacation before and like it, but that is completely different than living somewhere. She would like it because its warm/hot. I would like it because my company has three buildings in the greater Phoenix area, and we would both like it because housing prices are so much lower there than in Seattle. How do you Arizona folks here like living there? Steve? What are the positives and negatives we should be aware of when considering moving to the area?

Zingo,

Steve said some thing that are correct, although I have to admit that I feel Tucson is more of an armpit than Phoenix. At least in Phoenix there is a lot of things to do. Tucson is more boring IMHO. But I am talking about concerts, different restaraunts...ETC.

One thing for sure Phoenix is freaking HOT!! When I have to go there in the summer for work I can hardly stand it, the car AC can hardly keep up. As for housing yes it is cheaper and will remain that way for a while. And it may even dip a little bit lower, I dont think we have seen the bottom yet here in AZ. Traffic in Phoenix is congested at the usual times, but I do not find it any different than any other large city. I know people in Phoenix complain about it, but I don't think its that bad. They have a great freeway system there.

Here is the thing I find/see most from people moving from out of state. Most people get here and after about 6 months they either 1)Like the way of life and will tolerate all the otehr BS, or 2) Do whatever they can to get the freak out.

All the other BS I am talking about to me is the illegal situation. It is rampant, you see it everyday, and it will piss you off. Especially when you go shopping and how the illegal/mexican population treats people. They are rude and arrogant. And nothing gets under my skin more when they knock you out of the way to get something, or when you hear someone got hit by a car from Mexico, they have no insurance and you are stuck with the bill. I can go on a long rant about this, but for me being half hispanic it is very embarrassing.

Would I move from my current residence out of state? Maybe, if it was back to the midwest I would consider it, or maybe the mountains in Colorado. But in all reality I make a pretty damn good living here, more than I have in Iowa or Colorado. So that being said if you decide to move you have been warned. Hind site 20/20 I probably would not make the move if I had to do it over again.

thsmith

steveinaz wrote: »

Because it's warm MINUS the hurricanes and tornadoes. New Mexico is nice, but getting too much like Kalirado (or Colofornia; whichever you like) politically---no thanks. They want you to look at all the wonderful things, but don't touch. I went to the "Garden of the Gods" area in Colorado---signs everywhere throughout the park: "Don't climb on rocks"....HUH? You effen kidding me? Am I going to break the mountain or something?...pppfffffttttt colofornia.

Tucson has more sunshine days than any other city in the US. Makes for happy People too.

Steve I was stationed in Sierra Vista from 1976-1978, great little town.

I also lived in Bisbee, was a hippie town back then.

miner

thsmith wrote: »

Tucson has more sunshine days than any other city in the US. Makes for happy People too.

Steve I was stationed in Sierra Vista from 1976-1978, great little town.

I also lived in Bisbee, was a hippie town back then.

Isn't Sierra Vista home to Army Intellegence? Bisbee is till a hippy town lost in time. On ur way back to Tucson from Bisbee we went to the border town of Naco - on the Mexican side it looked like something out of 'Desperado'.

thsmith

miner wrote: »

Isn't Sierra Vista home to Army Intellegence? Bisbee is till a hippy town lost in time. On ur way back to Tucson from Bisbee we went to the border town of Naco - on the Mexican side it looked like something out of 'Desperado'.

Fort Huachuca did have AI plus signal command plus Army Air Corp

steveinaz

Yep, Army Intel, 11th Signal Brigade, 9th Army NETCOM, UAV's, etc. I work at Fort Huachuca (Wah-chew-kah for the non-knowing) as dept of defense civilian (NETCOM). I also did 2 tours here while I was active duty Army.

Yes, Bisbee is still a hippy town--as is Jerome, Az near Sedona. Bev & I still frequent "Elmos" the oldest bar in Bisbee, when our workmate Ricks' band is playing there (Buzz and the soul senders).

Word is, Bisbee was a hell of lot rougher town than Tombstone. Miners were thought to be far more mean than cowboys. I would agree.

markmarc

Lived in Arizona for a year, and even though I grew up in Colorado and was used to semi arid conditions, there is no way I'd live back there again. Way too brown and the lifestyle is very different. Stay in Seattle!!

nooshinjohn

miner wrote: »

Isn't Sierra Vista home to Army Intellegence? Bisbee is till a hippy town lost in time. On ur way back to Tucson from Bisbee we went to the border town of Naco - on the Mexican side it looked like something out of 'Desperado'.

Army/military intelligence is a contradiction in terms;)

MikeC78

I thought Arizona was the "nursing home" state? Anyone 50+ migrates over there, right?

steveinaz

Lots of snowbirds in the winter, for sure...I think Florida still holds that title, but there are quite a few seniors here as well. I'll take those to gang-bangers anytime, plus if I ever need any medication, they got me covered...LOL

MikeC78

That was not the reponse I was looking for, damn.:D

steveinaz

They all head back to Minnesota around the middle of May, as it begins to resemble HELL here in temps.

snow

I havent been to phoenix in quite a while but from what I can remember it's a place I wouldndt want to call home. Hotter than hell even driving down the freeway if you were to open your window and stick your head out it would be like sticking your head into a giant hair dryer stuck on the high setting. Crime is rampant and everywhere I went people had a look of hoplessness in there eyes like they were too broke to even leave. I noticed at least 12 different types of law enforcement within 30 mins of being in the city there were city police, tribal police, sheriffs, imigration police, border patrol, state patrol and the list goes on and on, any place in my oppinion that needs this many law enforcement people in number and types is a place to be avoided.



REGARDS SNOW

MikeC78

Nah, you guys have no idea what HELL is! Make a trip over here to Iraq during the middle of August. I have many pics of a thermometer well over 140...

Seriously, Baghdad is becoming the new tourist destination. I'll make sure I pick you up at the airport.