Arizona is a terrible place, do not think about living here. (Phoenix: vacation, cities)

[Burkmere]

Originally Posted by Colt AZ

Anybody complaining about disappearing cowboys?

Where have all the Cowboys gone? Long time passing....where have all....

[Deelighted]

I was sitting on my balcony at dusk when a grasshopper launched itself from the ground. It must have misjudged the distance from the ground to the roof or it did not compensate for a wind factor. Anyways the poor grasshopper crashed into the wall at the top of my balcony instead of landing on the roof.

AZ was indeed a terrible place for that grasshopper!

[PNW2AZ]

I talk to people frequently about living in AZ and it's commonly the same displeasures about heat, drugs, desert landscape, rocks, dirt, etc.

As a native to the PNW, I cannot tell you how appealing the HEAT... HOT HOT CLIMATE really is. Crime, drugs, extremely high priced housing, ridiculously snobby people, homeless population is insane the population continues to grow at an alarming rate...etc, etc. All of these things continue to plague the state of Oregon. So much rain, gray skies for so much of the year, HORRIBLE traffic and no grid system to accommodate the continuous growth.

I have to wonder if those who have grown up in AZ have dislikes simply from a lifetime of exposure, where my wife and I actually enjoy spending time during the summer in AZ. The triple digits are the most appealing to us. People use sun lamps around here to try and counter the depression they experience from the months gray, dark and rainy weather we get every year. I have never heard of anyone living in a sunny climate who needed a cloud lamp to offset the frequent sunlight.

I'm sure it's all relative, but my wife and I will be calling Arizona our home by the end of next summer. Phoenix, Gilbert, Peoria...all being looked at. I can understand desert setting may not appeal to everyone, but there is so much openness and room to grow in AZ. Genuinely cannot wait to have our home sold and make a life where we can dry out after more than 45 years in the PNW.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by PNW2AZ

I have to wonder if those who have grown up in AZ have dislikes simply from a lifetime of exposure.

Growing up here, couldn't wait to get away. After spending some time in Houston and New Orleans during the summer I realized that I really underappreciated Phoenix

[bigbuglf]

Originally Posted by PNW2AZ

I'm sure it's all relative, but my wife and I will be calling Arizona our home by the end of next summer. Phoenix, Gilbert, Peoria...all being looked at. I can understand desert setting may not appeal to everyone, but there is so much openness and room to grow in AZ. Genuinely cannot wait to have our home sold and make a life where we can dry out after more than 45 years in the PNW.

All of those towns are good options. I can guarantee that you will dry out here!

[More Rock]

Originally Posted by PNW2AZ

I talk to people frequently about living in AZ and it's commonly the same displeasures about heat, drugs, desert landscape, rocks, dirt, etc.

As a native to the PNW, I cannot tell you how appealing the HEAT... HOT HOT CLIMATE really is. Crime, drugs, extremely high priced housing, ridiculously snobby people, homeless population is insane the population continues to grow at an alarming rate...etc, etc. All of these things continue to plague the state of Oregon. So much rain, gray skies for so much of the year, HORRIBLE traffic and no grid system to accommodate the continuous growth.

I have to wonder if those who have grown up in AZ have dislikes simply from a lifetime of exposure, where my wife and I actually enjoy spending time during the summer in AZ. The triple digits are the most appealing to us. People use sun lamps around here to try and counter the depression they experience from the months gray, dark and rainy weather we get every year. I have never heard of anyone living in a sunny climate who needed a cloud lamp to offset the frequent sunlight.

I'm sure it's all relative, but my wife and I will be calling Arizona our home by the end of next summer. Phoenix, Gilbert, Peoria...all being looked at. I can understand desert setting may not appeal to everyone, but there is so much openness and room to grow in AZ. Genuinely cannot wait to have our home sold and make a life where we can dry out after more than 45 years in the PNW.

You need sunlight to make Vitamin D3, sunlight improves mood. Light-starved folks in the PNW suffer. I live in Arizona, but visit Seattle and Olympia frequently.

[meo92953]

The heat did get to me in September, when I first moved here. My hope is that by next summer my blood will have thinned.

Living in Minnesota for most of my life, my blood is prepared for cold, cold, cold. It's a pleasure to feel the warmth now.

Even though it's a terrible place to live.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by meo92953

The heat did get to me in September, when I first moved here. My hope is that by next summer my blood will have thinned.

Living in Minnesota for most of my life, my blood is prepared for cold, cold, cold. It's a pleasure to feel the warmth now.

Even though it's a terrible place to live.

LOL, blood doesn't thin when you move somewhere warm.

[meo92953]

Hmmm. Then maybe it's the hope my body will adjust to the heat.

[HollyhockGarden]

meo92953 -- I can understand how hard it is to get used to the heat. It is getting a little bit cooler here, which is nice! You picked a great time to move to AZ - you will have had the fall, winter, and spring to gradually get used to the heat coming next summer. I think the worst is over with for this year. The heat seems to be lasting longer into the fall as the years go by.

That being said, I would have an ice-scraper handy for late November-January. We can get quite frosty windshields early in the morning. Hopefully you brought yours with you. And make sure you do have a heavy sweater or jacket as we do get a few cold days. And a pair of gloves! The cool-down tends to happen quite rapidly - but the weather reports will let you know.

Hopefully you are settling in, and starting to form some relationships - Doctors, neighbors, church, etc. It does take time, but people here are very welcoming, because many have come from somewhere else themselves!