When most people think of Arizona they think of... (Phoenix: real estate, insurance)

[Moveeast31]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

Can't argue any of that! My family migrated here as well, from IL and CO, but they migrated to THOSE places from other states as well. Northeastern and southern. We've been here for 85 years now. One of my great grandad's, from IL, came out here in the 1880s but discovered he "couldn't take the heat" and moved back. Then his sons moved here and became rich with cooling/heating/plumbing. Far sighted! lol In all honesty though I think they DID have a "good ol' boy" mentality and even as a kid I didn't appreciate that. My southern roots family were much more tolerant and much less "good ol' boy" than the midwestern ones.

AZ is truly a "melting pot", albeit not as much as back east. But I don't think people remember what a comparatively "young" state AZ is either. It has grown by leaps and bounds mostly just since the end of WWII.

I actually think before long we will be as diverse as the east. I have been here for ten years (pseudo native at this point?) and have met two people that were born here and about 100 that are from the same suburban Midwest town I left I met my husband out here and he is CA/NM native and pretty soon there is going to be an entire generation of kids that actually will be AZ natives. It's an interesting transitional time for AZ...I grew up in the Schaumburg, IL area, where is your grandad from?

[Isitmeorarethingsnuts?]

Originally Posted by SoCalBrad

well generally number 1 pops into my head however I know that number 3 is the correct answer.

Now when I think of Az, I think about the racist governor and the Joe Arpaio guy. I love AZ and visit very often and I used to have family in Phoenix. I love traveling through Flagstaff and Sedona (so beautiful) but now when I think of AZ, the new law pops into my head.

I hear ya, when I used to think of California I used to think of the beaches and the beautiful San Diego area. Now I think of the intolerance of so many that live there. I can't smoke there, even outside...but pot is great. Someone else that is so much more enlightened than me, will dictate what I can eat or drink. There really sould be check points where you just leave your common sense when you enter the state and pick it up on the way out. You aren't allowed free thought because the enlightened make all your decisions for you. It's too bad because sitting on the beach used to be such a mind expanding experience for me. Now I feel stifled at the thought.

Arizona makes me think of hard working people that aren't afraid to stand up for what they think is right for their citizens. Unlike California, Arizona puts it's citizens before money and politics. That's good common sense. Apparently, the majority of the state agrees. And the majority of the country agrees as well.

While checking out opinions on different states I sure do see a lot of negatives regarding the crazy intrusive laws of California. I'll take Arizona and free thinking anyday. I vote for #3.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Moveeast31

I actually think before long we will be as diverse as the east. I have been here for ten years (pseudo native at this point?) and have met two people that were born here and about 100 that are from the same suburban Midwest town I left I met my husband out here and he is CA/NM native and pretty soon there is going to be an entire generation of kids that actually will be AZ natives. It's an interesting transitional time for AZ...I grew up in the Schaumburg, IL area, where is your grandad from?

I can believe that you've met many more people from someplace else than natives. Most of the 'natives' anymore are probably under five years old. lol Actually, there are more of us 'natives' around than you would guess. People are always surprised when they ask where I'm "from" and I say "Here". lol

My grandparents were from the small towns of Quincy and Pittsfield, IL but moved to Chicago as adults and then to Phoenix. I spent a lot of time in Chicago when I lived in Detroit. I am definitely NOT a big city person.

I lived in Mesa years ago and I remember, every weekend, there used to be large get togethers at the park for people from different states. I always thought that was a good idea but don't know if they still do it or not.

[LAX-PHX]

Originally Posted by SoCalBrad

well generally number 1 pops into my head however I know that number 3 is the correct answer.

Now when I think of Az, I think about the racist governor and the Joe Arpaio guy. I love AZ and visit very often and I used to have family in Phoenix. I love traveling through Flagstaff and Sedona (so beautiful) but now when I think of AZ, the new law pops into my head.

This further illustrates the ironic angle. People think Brewer and Arpaio are Arizona bred hicks that are naturally racist. I wonder how many know Arpaio is from Massachusetts and Brewer is from Glendale. Glendale, CA that is.

[Moveeast31]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

I can believe that you've met many more people from someplace else than natives. Most of the 'natives' anymore are probably under five years old. lol Actually, there are more of us 'natives' around than you would guess. People are always surprised when they ask where I'm "from" and I say "Here". lol

My grandparents were from the small towns of Quincy and Pittsfield, IL but moved to Chicago as adults and then to Phoenix. I spent a lot of time in Chicago when I lived in Detroit. I am definitely NOT a big city person.

I lived in Mesa years ago and I remember, every weekend, there used to be large get togethers at the park for people from different states. I always thought that was a good idea but don't know if they still do it or not.

O.k. I know where Quincy is! I'm not much for big cities either. Driving in downtown Chicago always terrified me but I do miss the amazing museums, planetarium, aquarium etc... We always had the greatest field trips in elementary school and my child is definitely missing out but the weather there in the winter is just unbearable to me. When we arrived we started out in Mesa and living on the West side now is just not the same. One of my closest friends grew up in Globe and when she said she was from here I didn't believe her lol

[Champ le monstre du lac]

I've never been to Arizona but I think of places I'd like to see there.

Grand Canyon, something that has to be done in this lifetime. I'd love to hike down to the bottom and river, see the waterfalls.

Sedona - There is something about it that draws me there, the energy, the scenery, most things I've heard about it souns appealing

Flagstaff and the mountains. I'm a big mountain scenery buff so I'm sure I would enjoy it.

I really don't have much interest in seeing Phoenix. I've seen several other sunbelt cities and they're just not up my alley. I'd hang out for a day but as fas as cities go it sounds pretty vanilla. I could be wrong, but I'd save more time for the other places mentioned.

[Huckleberry3911948]

pancho villa.

[ckzona]

People have got to stop doing these polls about what people think of the southwest. Every moron outside of the southwest thinks its all sandy boring desert with no water. But truly there is a hell of a lot more.

[.45acp]

Originally Posted by ckzona

People have got to stop doing these polls about what people think of the southwest. Every moron outside of the southwest thinks its all sandy boring desert with no water. But truly there is a hell of a lot more.

AZ is a large... geographically diverse southern state that happens to border Mexico. What I see here... is more than a few xplants who brought their socio/political baggage with 'em from wherever they came from. This is NOT where you came from... and there's a whole bunch of us who'd really prefer you not do to AZ what was done to post-Disney FL. You rag on about the 'illegals' not assimilating... yet you... most of you at any rate, refuse to assimilate or even become aware of southwestern culture.

[Boompa]

that National Socialism is not dead