Single Girl Thinking of Moving to Phoenix? (Tucson, Scottsdale: vacation, job)

[martina26]

Some background: I am 26 years old, was born in Seattle and currently live about an hour south of Seattle. I hate it here because of the rain, overcast days, the weather ruining weddings, barbeques and outdoor activites/excersise. I also get very bad headaches when low pressure systems move in (normally when its humid with rain/clouds here in April-June).

I want to move someplace dry and hot where I don't need to wear sweaters in the summer. I absolutely love hot dry weather. I also hate the urban hipsters and coffee and music scene of Seattle. I would say I am more conservative, and am used to living in a nice area and my job is professional.

I want to move but I have no family or friends located outside of Seattle. Can anyone give me any insight as to whether or not I would fit in in Phoenix? I want to live in a suburb that is safe, non-trendy and nice.

Also, does it sound stupid to want to move all by yourself just because you hate the weather and culture of the city you live in, even though your family lives there?

Thank you everyone!

[vegaspilgrim]

You sound like you would fit right in!

[rutha1105]

I moved away from my family to a weather area I really liked, talking on the phone worked for a while until my father had quad-bypass surgery, so I am back where I grew up/hate the weather and can't wait to get out of here for good!!!

[Mouser]

martina26,

There is so much to do here for every lifestyle

In some place's you can have all four seasons
in one day then a drive back to a nice warn & dry Valley

"Also, does it sound stupid to want to move all by yourself just because you hate the weather and culture of the city you live in, even though your family lives there?"

Been there and did it

Best thing I did for Me

[KarlaT2]

Martina26-
I hear you. I was born and lived most of my life in Oregon. I hated the rain, but honestly since I had never been anywhere else I really had no idea how different it could be elsewhere. I moved to Tucson in 1997, but have since moved to Palm Springs, CA area (still desert). We are thinking of moving to Phoenix soon. I loved Arizona. I think while you are young you should give it a try. What's the worst that could happen? Either you love it and stay, or you move back someday knowing you tried something different. Life is all about learning what you like, and hopefully having fun doing it. I'm glad I moved, even if I do miss my family. Good luck!

[nomorearizona]

Originally Posted by martina26

Some background: I am 26 years old, was born in Seattle and currently live about an hour south of Seattle. I hate it here because of the rain, overcast days, the weather ruining weddings, barbeques and outdoor activites/excersise. I also get very bad headaches when low pressure systems move in (normally when its humid with rain/clouds here in April-June).

I want to move someplace dry and hot where I don't need to wear sweaters in the summer. I absolutely love hot dry weather. I also hate the urban hipsters and coffee and music scene of Seattle. I would say I am more conservative, and am used to living in a nice area and my job is professional.

I want to move but I have no family or friends located outside of Seattle. Can anyone give me any insight as to whether or not I would fit in in Phoenix? I want to live in a suburb that is safe, non-trendy and nice.

Also, does it sound stupid to want to move all by yourself just because you hate the weather and culture of the city you live in, even though your family lives there?

Thank you everyone!

I'd say give it a try, life is too short not to! I didn't like Arizona in the end but am glad to have added another experience and life in another state to my life.

Having said that, some thoughts:

- I've never met anyone from Seattle who liked Arizona. Arizona is very "mass production" and all the houses are the same and endless identical strip malls, it doesn't have the character of Seattle.

- Humidity: In the monsoon season, generally mid-July into mid-September, humidity is very high and there are endless overcast days and t-storms. Just look up the Phoenix forecast right now on Yahoo Weather. If you like dry heat either Las Vegas or the Ca deserts are better choices, they don't get the humid monsoon flow. "Dry heat" is mostly a myth in Arizona.

- If you're conservative politically you'll do much better in Arizona but keep in mind that it is quickly moving to the left politically, due to the influx of liberals and illegals, and is almost pretty much a "blue state" now especially thanks to the left-wing liberal governor.

- If you hate urban hipsters then stay far, far away from Scottsdale, it's a bunch of wannabe urban hipsters, which is much worse than the real thing lol

- Single life in Arizona is very superficial. Just about every single woman I know in Arizona complains incessantly about how every guy they meet is wearing a fake Rolex and driving a BMW and bragging about how rich he is, blah blah blah when underneath it all, it's all b.s. It's hard to find genuine single people here. It's great if you're into just partying and getting laid and no-strings hookups but not for finding a serious relationship.

[JeepGirl118]

Martina, it is not stupid at all - life is too short to be unhappy. Just warning you now that if you are experiencing bad headaches up there from the weather - wait until you experience allergies and sinus problems that you'll have down here year round. The 'grass is not exactly greener' over here. The singles scene is absolutely terrible here in Phoenix. Nomorearizona hit it right on the nose. Our single friends here are miserable and very lonely. I would suggest that you come take a 6'ish month visit out here to check it out. The first 3 months you'll think you've landed in paradise and it'll all be rosie-colored glasses, I assure you that the honeymoon will wear off and reality will set in. It is what it is out here. Some people love it - some people hate it. Anywho - best of luck in what you decide.

[vegaspilgrim]

Originally Posted by nomorearizona

Humidity: In the monsoon season, generally mid-July into mid-September, humidity is very high and there are endless overcast days and t-storms. Just look up the Phoenix forecast right now on Yahoo Weather. If you like dry heat either Las Vegas or the Ca deserts are better choices, they don't get the humid monsoon flow. "Dry heat" is mostly a myth in Arizona.

"Endless overcast days"? I wish!!! How long has it been since you've lived in Phoenix? The vast majority of the year, it IS a bone dry heat. Even during the monsoon season, it still is a dry heat most of the time. It can get humid, true, especially starting in the late afternoon. This year the monsoon has been a pitiful joke. The few times out of the year that it actually is overcast here, is nice! Monsoon does not equal evil. Tucson has even MORE monsoon action than Phoenix-- and it's actually a nicer climate than Phoenix. Las Vegas, on the other hand, is pretty much just as bad as Phoenix in the summer, but significantly colder in the winter. The Mojave desert makes the Sonoran desert look like a jungle.

[KarlaT2]

I loved the monsoons when I lived in Tucson. Looked forward to them every day. Here is CA desert where I am now (Palm Springs area) it is a hot, piercing heat all summer with no rain to break it up. Monsoon=good to me. Everyone has different views on that it seems.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by martina26

I absolutely love hot dry weather.

lol

Thats what they all say until they experience a few years of it, then it becomes as boring and frustrating as cloudy weather in Seattle. Do yourself a favor and visit for a few weeks in June and hit up areas youd be likely to live in, you know, dont hit up the usual vacation spots, because thats not daily life. See how things would really be, not in a dream world like I almost did. I was very interested in living in AZ for awhile. I came down a few times and quickly changed my mind. To me, its a great state to vacation in, horrible to live in. But you might see things differently, you never know. Just make sure to visit several times, especially in the long, hot, sunny summer.