When most people think of Arizona they think of... (Phoenix: live, beaches)

[teddyearp]

Well, I know that "when most people think of Arizona" they think of #1, but I voted on this poll the truth. No need for me to say which one, as all you AZ residents know. This is on topic.

[off topic]Ya see, I was a Cali native, but I observed what 'isitme..' posted; way back around when Cali passed their own assault weapons ban right after some idiot crazy killed some poor kids in a Stockton, CA school. When was that? Way back . . . I saw then that Cali was only going to be irrational and reactionary when it came to their idea of governing their people. And IMHO it/the Cali legislature only got worse and worse. My opportunity to leave permanately came in 1995, though I have been in and out of Arizona since 1964. I have only been forced to go back to Cali 4-5 times since and grimmace every time. When I permanately left in 95 for Pinetop, I was worried about what .45acp posted, I'd be considered one of those xplants who wanted to change where I was to where I came from, but I proved them wrong. Now I say I left Cali because it's full of Californians![/off topic]

And this is one thing I miss the most about the SW and AZ in particular as opposed to the NW. I like the cold climates, but the difference is when I lived in Pinetop and got tired of the <32-20 or so temps, I could spend a weekend down in Safford or Globe and get my bones all warmed up again. That don't happen up in these parts.

[country pride]

Originally Posted by Isitmeorarethingsnuts?

I hear ya, when I used to think of California I used to think of the beaches and the beautiful San Diego area. .....

......... 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 have to agree with parts of this post, about when a lot of people think of Calif, they think of sandy beaches and palm trees. Reality is, Ive heard said, Calif is bankrupt.
But I also noticed so far, the majority of voters voted the same as me. #1. I lived in Az for 12 years and know of people (several actually, personally) who thought it would be a great move, etc etc and ended up going back to their home state. Health, respiratory and heat were major factors for most and highly recommended through their drs to do so. A friend of mine who's husband recently had a stroke (in his 40's) who lives in Phoenix will be going through months of therapy to get his life back together and they are going back to their home state as soon as the dr gives the okay to do so, unless they can find the therapist he needs that is covered by their insurance and can continue elsewhere.
No place on earth is going to be perfect all year round. Some prefer the desert, others prefer living close to water, some even prefer higher elevations. But common sense tell us dont just relocate because real estate is booming, or cost of living is great, or its a great area right now for investors. Visit it, spend some time there. Research it. Check out the pros and cons and weigh them out. Take it from there.

[ckzona]

Originally Posted by .45acp

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.

Are u referring to me??

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Moveeast31

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

I have never been to Quincy but I still have family there. The family moved there in the 1870s from Ohio and Pennsylvania.

I loved visiting Chicago. So many things to do and see! I didn't mind driving around in the city. It wasn't that much different from Detroit. lol I still have family in the 'burbs there. I can tell you I detest O'Hare! It is soooo huge and everytime I flew in there I had to run clear to the other end to catch a connecting flight! Otherwise, I liked Chicago but really wouldn't want to live there.

[AZDesertBrat]

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.

One thing I have always said is that there truly is something here for just about everybody. Except for oceans and beaches. And I can live without those...or go visit.

[ckzona]

Originally Posted by AZDesertBrat

One thing I have always said is that there truly is something here for just about everybody. Except for oceans and beaches. And I can live without those...or go visit.

Very true.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Moveeast31

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

My kids went on a float trip down the Colorado below Hoover Dam, spent a few days in desert survival camp at Lake Pleasant, and went snorkeling, kayaking, exploring and learning about the sea ecosystem for several days on Catalina Island in California on their school field trips here. Sure better than anything I did when I was in grade school in the midwest. The beautiful winter weather and the diversity of the southwestern US make that sort of thing possible here.

[Magnum Mike]

I'm not sure why the first item has the most responses in the poll (26 responses as of now) which makes me think that most of those respondents have never been in, or know anything about Arizona.

A sandy, desolate desert with absolutly nothing for miles and is 120 degrees everyday

I am an Arizona native, born and raised in Phoenix, and the 120 degrees is an exaggeration, average daytime highs in the summer are nowhere near 120 degrees, even in the hottest part of the state (Lake Havasu) and it's not 120 degrees "everyday", we do get very hot days in July and August, with daytime highs of 110-115 degrees for maybe a total of 2 weeks, and those days are scattered. The average high temperature from Early June, through September is 105 degrees, and we get cooler days with highs below 100 on occasions. We've had a high temperature record of 122 degrees on June 26th of 1990, but that's rare. Plus the fact that the humidity is very low, when it's 110-115 degrees, it's not as uncomfortable as those readings would suggest. I've visited places with daytime highs of 95 degrees, with humidity above 75%, and it felt a lot more miserable than 110, and 10% humidity.

The state also has a diverse climate and terrain, it's not all barren desert, there is some green in the desert and high desert areas, and just 75 miles northwest of Phoenix, is Prescott, at an elevation of 5,300 feet, it's a good summer get-away, and Flagstaff, at the elevation of 7,000 feet, it is also another cool summer get-away 120 miles north of Phoenix, plus other towns in the White Mountains, like Showlow, Pinetop, at elevations between 6,700 to 8,500 feet. All of those towns/cities also get snow in the winters.

Keep in mind also, the weather in the desert elevations is very nice from October until the end of May, and this year we didn't really see too many 100-degree days until June, and the mornings, and nights were very nice throughout May.

[AZDesertBrat]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

I'm not sure why the first item has the most responses in the poll (26 responses as of now) which makes me think that most of those respondents have never been in, or know anything about Arizona.


I am an Arizona native, born and raised in Phoenix, and the 120 degrees is an exaggeration, average daytime highs in the summer are nowhere near 120 degrees, even in the hottest part of the state (Lake Havasu) and it's not 120 degrees "everyday", we do get very hot days in July and August, with daytime highs of 110-115 degrees for maybe a total of 2 weeks, and those days are scattered. The average high temperature from Early June, through September is 105 degrees, and we get cooler days with highs below 100 on occasions. We've had a high temperature record of 122 degrees on June 26th of 1990, but that's rare. Plus the fact that the humidity is very low, when it's 110-115 degrees, it's not as uncomfortable as those readings would suggest. I've visited places with daytime highs of 95 degrees, with humidity above 75%, and it felt a lot more miserable than 110, and 10% humidity.

The state also has a diverse climate and terrain, it's not all barren desert, there is some green in the desert and high desert areas, and just 75 miles northwest of Phoenix, is Prescott, at an elevation of 5,300 feet, it's a good summer get-away, and Flagstaff, at the elevation of 7,000 feet, it is also another cool summer get-away 120 miles north of Phoenix, plus other towns in the White Mountains, like Showlow, Pinetop, at elevations between 6,700 to 8,500 feet. All of those towns/cities also get snow in the winters.

Keep in mind also, the weather in the desert elevations is very nice from October until the end of May, and this year we didn't really see too many 100-degree days until June, and the mornings, and nights were very nice throughout May.

I was born here and I voted for #1. Not because *I've* never been here but because many people I've talked to over the years HAVEN'T been here and those are THEIR impressions, not mine. Or most of the people on this board. I think you misunderstood the question. I doubt you'll get any arguments for what you've posted. From people who actually live here, and like it, anyway. The question was aimed at people who DON'T know what AZ is really like but what they THINK it's like.

That is all!

[MonkeyClaw]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

I'm not sure why the first item has the most responses in the poll (26 responses as of now) which makes me think that most of those respondents have never been in, or know anything about Arizona.

I responded with the first item because when I told people I was moving to AZ, that was the response I got. IOW 'most people' being people who aren't from or haven't visited the state. Otherwise, I think the question would have been Y'all, Youse, Yins, or you guys instead of 'other people'.