How many Zonie natives here? (Phoenix, Tucson: travel, home, crime)

[aj661]

People, people people! Can't we all just try to get along?

Steve-O, sorry buddy, but I have to point some things out:

First, WE do have one of the most fabled sports teams with history. I don't care how hard they try, the Cubs could never suck as bad as the AZ Cardinals!
2: You feel unsafe around Chase Field because you're wearing a Cubs jersey! Next time, carry a gun. It works for me.
3:Yea, our skin is dried out. But in the end, it's worth it. Funerals are cheaper here for residents because we don't need to be embalmed. After 40+ years here, I'm 2/3 mummified. My kids will be grateful.
4: 60 degrees in the shade here is long sleeve weather. I worked a day shift the day we hit 122 back in 1990 or '91. Wearing body armor and 27 pounds of other cop stuff. I'll admit it was warm and a bit uncomfortable. But if you can survive a full summer here without hiding inside, you DO adapt. (If you don't you die but hey, life's a gamble, right?) It's really just a matter of sucking down fluids at the same pace you lose them.
5: If it wasn't for Arizona, you never would have seen a swimming pool. God invented them for US.
6: Skin cancer is highly over-rated. If you catch it early, you'll probably be okay. The surgery is no big deal either. Doing it again next month.

Okay, Letterman isn't going to hire me, that's only six reasons. But seriously, there is plenty to do here. I don't know how old you are, but my 20's are a looong way in the past. Even back then, we seldom got bored and had no problem finding the nightlife. If it was here in the '70s and '80s, it's definitely here now. Yes, we have some bad schools, but we have some excellent ones too. Both my kids nailed the AIMS testing we have here and it didn't happen because I helped them with their homework. People who are shackled indoors in the A/C are transplants from somewhere else.There is no such thing as "too hot". That's a vicious rumor started by an easterner jealous of true 'desert rats'.

I gotta take offense to statement about millions brought in by "snowbirds". Sorry, but in the big picture, it's barely a drop in the bucket of our overall economy. As for the IL plates on Lamborghinis, if they are legal residents of Arizona with those plates, they ARE going to contribute to the economy. After a few fines of about $550.00 for resident with out of state registration, it's gonna leave a mark. We pay a small ransom for plates, but the trade off is relatively low property taxes. Drivers from Oregon, Illinois, etc who pay less than $100 a year for tags regardless of whether they're driving a 1962 Falcon or a Lamborghini get little sympathy. The fines are high to encourage compliance.

Barro's pepperoni pizza is the best on the planet: Chitown=1, NY=0.
The second most beautiful woman I've ever met is from Chicago. Number one is from upstate NY: Score tied.

One other thing; your joke about stepping on a rattlesnake? Been there, done that! A Mohave on the highway outside Apache Junction. Long story. I've got pictures! Swear to God.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Please, azcentral.com is a joke. I'm not bashing Chicago, I stated that I love that city, but for ME being an AZ native I am used to the DRY DRY weather. You know yesterday we had 6% humidity, and the dew pt. was lower. I am downright MISERABLE in humidity. So, please go back to your IL site and stop causing trouble over here. GEEZ, I didn't know my one little post about how I FEEL would be such a big deal.

I know exactly how you feel. Many people who have lived here for a long time are extremely sensitive to humidity. They can feel the increase in the room when the coffee is brewing. And the humidity shock when you step off an airplane into the jetway in other cities - ugh! It is humidity fear that is keeping me here too to some extent. I wonder if one gets used to it like we are used to the extreme heat or people in Pacific NW get used to rain.

[daaver]

Originally Posted by tucsondesertdweller

There are not that many nicer places to live. Ok we need some real pizza from back east, but then everybody would move here. lol

And bagels. PHX _needs_ real bagels.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by aj661

People, people people! Can't we all just try to get along?

Steve-O, sorry buddy, but I have to point some things out:

First, WE do have one of the most fabled sports teams with history. I don't care how hard they try, the Cubs could never suck as bad as the AZ Cardinals!
2: You feel unsafe around Chase Field because you're wearing a Cubs jersey! Next time, carry a gun. It works for me.
3:Yea, our skin is dried out. But in the end, it's worth it. Funerals are cheaper here for residents because we don't need to be embalmed. After 40+ years here, I'm 2/3 mummified. My kids will be grateful.
4: 60 degrees in the shade here is long sleeve weather. I worked a day shift the day we hit 122 back in 1990 or '91. Wearing body armor and 27 pounds of other cop stuff. I'll admit it was warm and a bit uncomfortable. But if you can survive a full summer here without hiding inside, you DO adapt. (If you don't you die but hey, life's a gamble, right?) It's really just a matter of sucking down fluids at the same pace you lose them.
5: If it wasn't for Arizona, you never would have seen a swimming pool. God invented them for US.
6: Skin cancer is highly over-rated. If you catch it early, you'll probably be okay. The surgery is no big deal either. Doing it again next month.

Okay, Letterman isn't going to hire me, that's only six reasons. But seriously, there is plenty to do here. I don't know how old you are, but my 20's are a looong way in the past. Even back then, we seldom got bored and had no problem finding the nightlife. If it was here in the '70s and '80s, it's definitely here now. Yes, we have some bad schools, but we have some excellent ones too. Both my kids nailed the AIMS testing we have here and it didn't happen because I helped them with their homework. People who are shackled indoors in the A/C are transplants from somewhere else.There is no such thing as "too hot". That's a vicious rumor started by an easterner jealous of true 'desert rats'.

I gotta take offense to statement about millions brought in by "snowbirds". Sorry, but in the big picture, it's barely a drop in the bucket of our overall economy. As for the IL plates on Lamborghinis, if they are legal residents of Arizona with those plates, they ARE going to contribute to the economy. After a few fines of about $550.00 for resident with out of state registration, it's gonna leave a mark. We pay a small ransom for plates, but the trade off is relatively low property taxes. Drivers from Oregon, Illinois, etc who pay less than $100 a year for tags regardless of whether they're driving a 1962 Falcon or a Lamborghini get little sympathy. The fines are high to encourage compliance.

Barro's pepperoni pizza is the best on the planet: Chitown=1, NY=0.
The second most beautiful woman I've ever met is from Chicago. Number one is from upstate NY: Score tied.

One other thing; your joke about stepping on a rattlesnake? Been there, done that! A Mohave on the highway outside Apache Junction. Long story. I've got pictures! Swear to God.

LOL A man with humor, I like that! Loved reading your response, I must admit I got a chuckle out of it, good stuff!

Im 30 and have visited AZ many times. I have family in North Scottsdale, up off Dynamite Road, dont know if you know where that is. Nice houses up there! Anyways, the Cards are horrid, but the Bears have also had their share. Theres just something wrong though with the notion of football being played in the desert, just doesnt sound right.

Snowbirds bring LOTS of money to your area, considering that estimates show about 30-40K old timers emigrate to Phoenix in the winter and almost twice as many to Florida. Thats ALOT of people who have nothing better to do than park the RV and go shopping around Old Town Scottsdale. As for non-snowbirds? I couldnt tell you how many Illinois and Minnesota plates I found parked in my in-laws' neighborhood. I felt right at home! LOL He lives in the Saguaro Highlands gated community in Scottsdale. I commented on how many Illinois plates there were and he chuckled, calling North Scottsdale "Chicago South". So yes, lots of transplants bring lots of dinero to your party. While up at the Horny Toad, we spotted a Lamborghini Gallardo out in the lot and my father in law was like "see, if you move down here you can see Lamborghinis" and yada, yada, yada. My brother-in-law and I strolled around the car only to notice, guess what? Illinois plates. LMBO That shut him up quite quick. But seriously, being in North Scottsdale and Carefree was like being home, more Illinois plates than AZ plates. They were gobbling up real estate like crazy, which Im sure pisses off the natives, but unless theyre Native Americans, they really have no right to speak.

[aj661]

Glad you enjoyed it. Life is about balance and not long before I wrote that, I went on a rant about illegals on the thread about Prop. 300.
I will admit, that people from Illinois bring far more money to AZ than any other state or Province. Followed by MN, MI and Alberta. Yes, I know where the area your father in law lives. I grew up -1962 to 1973- in south Scottsdale; Granite Reef and McDowell. In the early '70's, Pima Rd turned to dirt just north of Shea. I rode a m/c on an animal trail from there to Pinnacle Peak in I think 1971. Amazing how things have changed. We've slowly migrated east because of our jobs. My wife works for Apache Jct. and I did the last 21 years of my career with the highway patrol in the AJ area. My step son lives up your way 46 miles from us off Dynamite/Rio Verde and about 115th St.
Sablebaby and Ponderosa are right about the weather. If you grow up here, the dry heat is simply a way of life. 16 years ago, I pitched 14 innings (baseball not softball) in 110 degree heat. I enjoy it and spend huge amounts time in it. The trick is to pump down fluids. Evaporating sweat helps cool you down. People from everywhere else grow acclimated to the humidity. Our arguments would be reversed I think if our hometowns were too.

You seem like a nice guy so I have to tell you my famous Chicago-person encounter. In 1993 I think, on a Sunday morning during spring training, I was working traffic on US 60 in AJ. Very little traffic. I clocked a "write-me-a-ticket" red Camaro SS e/b at warp speed. The IL tags were CUBS-1. I pulled it over and instantly knew who it was. BUT, I didn't let him know and gave him my best robo-cop wearing a "smokey" look. I told him why I stopped him, then said, "I take it you're a cubs fan?", while I was looking at him and his license. It was priceless seeing him jaw go slack and the color drain form his face. He said, "well, actually I work for the Cubs". I couldn't string him on after that and said "yea, weren't you one of the best 3rd basemen to ever play the game?" Ron Santo. On his way to play golf at Superstition Mtn Resort. Because of his speed, I had to write him, but I dropped it to a "waste of finite fuels' violation", no points and only about a $20.00 ticket then. He left very happy. I still have a photocopy of the ticket-RON SANTO autograph!

I've never been to Chicago except at the airports. I've known a lot of people FROM Chicago, but someday, I am going to Wrigley. Kind of like Mecca for baseball fans.
I enjoyed the chats. Take care Sir and enjoy your vacations here.

[Steve-o]

You met Ron?!?!?!?! How cool is that?!?!?! I take it youre an officer? My father works in ESDA (Emergency Services and Disaster Agency) up here in West Chicago, IL. A little off topic, but what the heck.

I know to drink plenty of water down there! I hiked Mummy Mountain 3 years ago in Scottsdale (or is that PV?) and went through 2 BIG bottles of water just on the way up! It was about 105 degrees out and although it was dry, it was intensely hot. I came back lookin like a lobster, just from being outside for 2 hours. I can be outside here in the summer and it usually takes me 4-6 hours to get burned. The son in AZ is NO JOKE! I also trekked around Rawhide for 2 hours when it was 100 and almost passed out. hahaha I ate a little rattlesnake at the steakhouse and sat in the A/C for an hour and felt alot better. Bringin the snake issue up again. Im an avid arachnologist, therefore being in Arizona is a dream to me, to be able to find scorpions and solifugids and centipedes, etc. Last year while out blacklighting for scorpions in my father-in-law's yard, I came across a C. atrox (western diamondback) in his yard. That was quite the hairy experience!!!! Ever run into rattlers in your yard?

[aj661]

Not a cop anymore...retired in May...I was in the 'business' for 28 out of 31 years and all the injuries caught up with me. I sent you a message with my email and web address. I've got a few pics of that Mohave that crawled across the hwy, under my patrol car and curled up between my boots outside the Renaissance Festival a couple years ago. Never had any in my yard here, but back in the early '60's we had several in our yard. Caught a sidewinder up there at my step son's place to about 2 months ago.

So, does 42 out of 51 years get me "grandfathered" in as a native or do I have to consider myself a transplant?

Oh yea, meeting Ron Santo was very cool. Very down to earth guy. Wish I could've kept the original autograph!

My apologies to the moderator and anyone else for the detour from the subject matter.

[locoenlacabeza]

I know this thread has sort of died but I have a few things to contribute to it.
First AJ661 you cracked me up!!! I was dying laughing. And yeah, it isn't such a bad place especially for those of us that have known nothing else.
But I have to comment on this statement....

Snowbirds bring LOTS of money to your area, considering that estimates show about 30-40K old timers emigrate to Phoenix in the winter and almost twice as many to Florida. Thats ALOT of people who have nothing better to do than park the RV and go shopping around Old Town Scottsdale.

Yeah we do have around 30-40k old timers that transplant themselves into our economy during the cold months, however are we taking into consideration how many of them are Amish or Mennonite? Who aren't really spending much money on our retail or tourism?

[RageAZ]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

We have a downtown,

We can't have much of a downtown because the airport is right across the way. Also our soil is soft that we cannot have big major buildings like in New York or Chicago.

back on topic:

Not a native, but I've been living in AZ all my life.

[daaver]

Originally Posted by locoenlacabeza

Yeah we do have around 30-40k old timers that transplant themselves into our economy during the cold months, however are we taking into consideration how many of them are Amish or Mennonite? Who aren't really spending much money on our retail or tourism?

Oh come on. I lived in AZ for 32 years and never once saw an Amish snowbird, haha! Even the cheap ones are helping the economy just by BEING there. They have to fuel up their RV. They have to park it somewhere. Even if they aren't buying tourist cray, they still have to eat, right? Many snowbirds rent homes or apartments, and many end end up buying. They really do bring a lot to the economy. Not that I think AZ would collapse without them or anything.