How do you like Flagstaff? (Phoenix: 2010, transporting, crime)

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by Tom Lane

I'm looking for a mountain college town with friendly, outgoing people. Unfortunately, people in Flagstaff, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque are too introverted, and people on the Boulder forum (along with your post above) are indicating that Boulder isn't very friendly.

Coming from Seattle, one of the friendliest cities in the US, it is disappointing to find that people are unfriendly and taciturn in Flagstaff, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe. And, these towns shut down at 9pm, unlike Seattle. I like 24/7 friendly cities w/ talkative extroverts.

Do you know of any small mountain towns in the S.W. that are friendly? Maybe it's just part of the territory. Are we outdoors-type people not friendly? While I'm very, very shy, I am also very extroverted and interested in getting to know other people, and coming from Seattle, I prefer others to be extroverted.

How about Austin, TX? It's not a mountain town, but it's a college town with lots of young people. Are people more extroverted there?

Hi Tom, I have had quite a different experience here in Northern Az. I have found the people to be very friendly and welcoming. We have had no difficulty meeting folks and making friends. I do agree things do seem to shut down early but we have found that folks entertain in their homes and that is actually more fun and rewarding than always hitting the bars etc. I think we are all so active here that we go to bed early.

It sounds like you have not had a good experience here and you are missing the Northwest. Have you taken a look at Bend Or. It has the dryer weather of the SW but probably has more of the NW mentality you are looking for.

I wish you the best of luck in finding your best place but I would hope that in the process you would quit generalizing about the people in the SW. It is not accurate and just not very helpful.

Good luck

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by kdog

I've lived both on the east and west coasts for half my life. Been in AZ for two years now, and no plans to leave any time soon. Half of Kingman is from SoCal, and I don't hear any of them pining for the coast either.

It really depends on what you like. Personally, I like to explore, and one can explore the southwest forever. The mountains and deserts are beautiful and endless. When you get to a coast, you stop. There's nowhere else to go, nothing else to do, but stop and look at the water. I find it boring and vastly overrated.

I like both the coast as well as Arizona.

That stated: here at least I will have a ghost of a chance to buy an affordable home once the economy improves----------not so likely in coastal California.

[CCCVDUR]

Originally Posted by poolgirl51

Hi Tom, I have had quite a different experience here in Northern Az. I have found the people to be very friendly and welcoming. We have had no difficulty meeting folks and making friends. I do agree things do seem to shut down early but we have found that folks entertain in their homes and that is actually more fun and rewarding than always hitting the bars etc. I think we are all so active here that we go to bed early.

It sounds like you have not had a good experience here and you are missing the Northwest. Have you taken a look at Bend Or. It has the dryer weather of the SW but probably has more of the NW mentality you are looking for.

I wish you the best of luck in finding your best place but I would hope that in the process you would quit generalizing about the people in the SW. It is not accurate and just not very helpful.

Good luck

I have no plans to make anymore extensive generalizations. I wanted to see what people would write back on the Flagstaff/Santa Fe/Boulder/Ashland forums. Several people have discussed Bend, Oregon. That's an interesting idea, since nearby Eugene has a recession (I don't know about Bend), and Ashland is a socialist community that doesn't allow any growth. Do they allow new businesses to relocate to Bend?

And, sadly, many of the same problems that I've written about here are also true of OTHER MOUNTAIN TOWNS ... Boulder, Eugene, Santa Fe, and Ashland, as I've read from other posters on City-Data in these cities.

I'm afraid that it's not even possible anymore to move to a bigger city, because rents can be 2X-3X what they are in Flagstaff. However, Denver and Albuquerque might still be under $1000 (?). Ever since 9-15-08 (the stock market crash), people are raising rents.

Well.....on those personality tests I have a New England / NYC / Connecticut temperament - with Open to Experience and Neuroticism both in the 90th percentile (like people in NY and Connecticut), and Conscienciousness in the lowest 10th percentile (see map below).

On the other hand, I have lived in the two worst neighborhoods possible in Flagstaff (disclaimer, that's in my opinion, because I know people here who like those two areas). If I stay, I have very strict rules over where I will move within the Flagstaff metro and vicinity.

I do love the outdoors around Flagstaff, this is one of the most scenic parts of the US.

The only places I could afford in the PNW is Eugene, OR or Bend, OR, due to escalating housing prices in the Seattle and Portland areas.

Here's the personality test if anyone wants to take it:

Peter Jason Rentfrow

And, here's the personality map, state by state if you drag your mouse over different states:

The United States of Mind - WSJ.com

[ArizonaBear]

And Oregon property taxes are obscene due to that state having no sales tax. I would avoid the Beaver State like the Plague for that reason alone.

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

And Oregon property taxes are obscene due to that state having no sales tax. I would avoid the Beaver State like the Plague for that reason alone.

Very good point. I had not gone that far in my research because I have no intention of leaving Northern AZ. If Tom is a renter it should not be a problem but if he eventually wants to buy then it is an issue. I have met a few people from Bend, they were very nice, open folks and they speak highly of the town and it's residents.

I don't know about the employment situation there. I have never understood why some people move to a location and then look for a job. It seems much more prudent to find employment and then move. Just my 2 cents worth.

Take Care

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by poolgirl51

Very good point. I had not gone that far in my research because I have no intention of leaving Northern AZ. If Tom is a renter it should not be a problem but if he eventually wants to buy then it is an issue. I have met a few people from Bend, they were very nice, open folks and they speak highly of the town and it's residents.

I don't know about the employment situation there. I have never understood why some people move to a location and then look for a job. It seems much more prudent to find employment and then move. Just my 2 cents worth.

Take Care

You mentioned that you live in Northern Arizona. What general area may I ask? Believe it or not: Bullhead City is also counted as well---------it is probably as far north as at least Sedona.

[poolgirl51]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

You mentioned that you live in Northern Arizona. What general area may I ask? Believe it or not: Bullhead City is also counted as well---------it is probably as far north as at least Sedona.

Hi Arizona Bear, we are in Sedona. We love it here. It is close enough to Phoenix without being too close (if you know what I mean). It has four relatively mild seasons. I love being close to Flag without having the really cold winter. I can visit snow during the winter without having to deal with it and we get a dusting every now and then. We can get to the Grand Canyon (both rims) and Southern Utah pretty easily. And don't even get me started on all the great hiking etc. All in all a great place to live.

[CCCVDUR]

If Tom is a renter it should not be a problem but if he eventually wants to buy then it is an issue.
If I stay here and buy property it might be at a lower elevation than Flagstaff perhaps somewhere in the Verde Valley or near Kingmann.I have met a few people from Bend, they were very nice, open folks and they speak highly of the town and it's residents.
Good to hear that - several people on City-Data have said that Bend is an alternative to Flagstaff, as is Boulder, Ashland (OR), Santa Fe, Eugene, Bellingham, Olympia (see the Boulder forum for a discussion of this w/ poster Bouldero).
I don't know about the employment situation there. I have never understood why some people move to a location and then look for a job.
Isn't it ridiculous? Some of us have useless 4 year degrees and can't get into grad school due to standardized tests and high tuition, so we have to start our own businesses in order to make a middle class salary. I wouldn't recommend that anyone move to Flagstaff/Sedona/Cottonwood unless they are an NAU student, or have a job in advance or can live in run down places off savings for awhile. Apparently, things are tight in Boulder and Ashland, too. I think that colleges should only produce degrees that lead to immediate employment following graduation.
It seems much more prudent to find employment and then move. Just my 2 cents worth.

[drb85650]

so I take the personality test and find out I should be living alone, in a cave ,somewhere between Holbrook and Showlow.....

[nowannamove]

I wanted to add that though I like flag. I think there is far too much violence here, especially for such a small town. It is more violent than any place I have ever lived. Don't like that.