I need help with my dream. (Phoenix, Flagstaff: rent, living in, budget)

[Desert Dreamer]

I'm a healthy, active, outdoor loving 64 year old married male, that works part time from home. I lived in Colorado for 5 years as a young man; made my living for 30 years in Southwest Florida; lived in Lake Tahoe for 8 years; and then followed my wife to Michigan 4 years ago (which I really don't like!).
I have always loved anywhere west of the Colorado front range!, but have also always been drawn to the desert... I don't know why, I just am. I love the sun, the flora and fauna, the sand, the wide open, etc, etc.

My wife and I have actually talked about divorcing over this one subject, but we do have a strange love that keeps us together. She hates the desert. So, I am thinking seriously about living somewhere in the desert in the winter and she would either go to Florida (where much of her work is), or somewhere else. Michigan winters are even getting too severe for her liking.

I have only driven through the southwest on 2 occasions and so I don't know it very well. I just know I would love it there. I have lived in the west long enough to know that I have a pretty good feel for things. I don't have lots of money at this point and so I would rent I guess.

Knowing all of this, can any of you give me some advice on where to go that is cheap to live and not cold like Flagstaff, etc. It may be that southern Nevada or NM is even better, I don't know.

Thank you all for any feedback you can give me to encourage me to follow my dream before it's too late!!!!

Desert Dreamer

[cactusland]

Depends what you define as cheap. Phoenix is cheap to me after living in Philadelphia for years. What sort of budget are you looking at?

[cre8lite]

maybe it's time for a road trip? there are ooodles of place to try, but i think you will have to experience them for yourself

[kdog]

I think Kingman might suit you perfectly. It's a sleepy little town of 28K people and far from the urban mega-sprawl of Phoenix. It's surrounded by open deserts and mountains and close to the Colorado River. It's at the cross roads of a number of different highways which make it basically the gateway to everywhere, in the middle of nowhere.