Disappointed living in Yuma (Phoenix, Mesa: store, move to, parking)

[Beliy Plashik]

Geez and I THINK it is bad living in Tucson. Living in Yuma is ten times as worse!!
But I've been to Hartford, Connecticut.

I would prefer to live there more.

[Greatday]

For those who "Hate" Yuma, or Tucson or ... wherever, did you do ANY research - any at all, BEFORE moving? It is so easy to find out lots of information about places these days, I can only guess that those that complain the most did not think before moving -

[Leana76]

Originally Posted by I'm right here!

This coming February will be a year since I've moved to Yuma from Connecticut. All I seem to be thinking about lately is how much I want to leave and go back to Connecticut. Everything I have learned and experienced about Yuma is a huge disappointment. It wasn't what I expected it to be. I now know that I should have appreciated my life in Connecticut more. The grass is't always greener. Is there anyone out there as disappointed with Yuma as I am?

I've been to Yuma quite a lot and never did like it. It's boring as hell (unless you are a Marine who is stationed there). The only great thing to do there is go to Lake Martinez during the summer and Memorial Day weekend. But that's about it. It's boring for me.

[arizborn]

I don't think Yuma is as boing as you make it. I am from Yuma, but I have lived in California for 5 years and then moved back to Yuma. I have great friends here that like to get together on the weekends and bar-b-que, or go to the dunes for the day, or go to the river for the day, or head down to Mexico to shop at the vendors, or go to the park to play OTL or flag football. The city is continually having fun runs and walks for families. The new park that is located on the river has beach volleyball and is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. I am not sure if you are looking for a more cultured city because Yuma is not that. Maybe in the future as this town continues to grow we have more art centers but Phoenix and San Diego are a 2 1/2 hour drive away. What Yuma is, is a nice place to call home.

[bluebelt1234]

Originally Posted by Greatday

For those who "Hate" Yuma, or Tucson or ... wherever, did you do ANY research - any at all, BEFORE moving? It is so easy to find out lots of information about places these days, I can only guess that those that complain the most did not think before moving -

I hate Yuma and yes I did research before moving. Not only that, I even spoke with my employer about the town prior to moving. I think it is hard to determine if you like a place or not unless you have lived there. The web sites I looked at made the town seem really nice with clean air. Many pamphlets and web sites I looked at about Yuma did not say anything bad about the town. Like for example, the high illegal immigrant population, pesticide use, burning fields, and the fact that teachers aren't happy here. I had no idea prior to moving that I would be dealing with bad allergies all the time. I also had no idea that Yuma would be a bad place for singles. It is almost impossible to find a good man in this town. I consider myself attractive and try to take good care of myself and yet still haven't found a good man in this town. I want to give up on Yuma and move back to Indiana as soon as I find a job, but I am trying to make the most of my time while I am here.

[Vanessa-Sue]

Originally Posted by ILoveNY629

I am from New York. I have been in Arizona because of my husband's job with the airlines for almost 10 years. I have lived in Tucson, Phoenix and Mariocpa. I would go back to New York in a heart beat if I could. I am not so sure the problem is with Yuma. It's AZ in general. You have to be a certain kind of person to like it here. Head back if you can. I wish I could.

I tend to agree. I am from Chicago, lived in Yuma, now in Phoenix and I am just not happy. I don't think it has anything to do with the cities themselves, I think I just moved to the other end of the spectrum...the Midwest to the SW...and it's just not settling well with me. I like the heat for the most part, but when it stays 110 for a week it's not fun for me.

I do agree about the jobs in Yuma, tough (near impossible is more like it) to get one in the summer. Also, not too much to do there (but we like bigger cities). That's why we left and came to Phoenix ~ much better job market here and a lot more stuff to do.

[arizonapearl]

With a father in the military, I learned to "grow where planted", and I'm planted in Yuma, Arizona.

I've heard similar complaints from people about their cities near and far. There are simply some people who are never happy where they are. If you want what you had, you should never have left it in the first place. The post which cited "the grass is not greener" was probably hoping for just that and is thusly disappointed.

Yuma, Arizona is a medium sized city with admittedly not a lot of "night life" in a sophisticated setting, as offered by larger cities. Young professional singles have challenges with options if they are of the nightclub set. I can't recommend the city as the be-all-end-all for that demographic. There are clubs here, and they attract all comers...but not the high end clubs seen in other locations. More like corner pubs than nightclubs. But some offer live music and the local bands are often quite good.

Family-centered activities are numerous and in fact, one must select those activities which are a priority because there is often too much to do. City parks are numerous, readily available to most neighborhooods, and have newer playground equipment, walking paths which are lit at night, and at minimum a water fountain, if not bathroom facilities. City parks & recreation programs and the local Arts Center offer classes at a very reasonable rate, if one chooses to participate.

Restaurants including most chain options, are readily available, and basic shopping from Target, WalMart, Toys R Us, Barnes & Noble, Kohl's, Linen's n Things, JC Penney, Dillards options, and the big box electronic stores among others. High end shoppers look to San Diego and Phoenix for their retail therapy needs.

I've read the rantings about the "snowbirds" and they are unwarranted. Tourism is the city's third largest employer and a major source of revenue for the city from October to April annually. Most that I've met are kind and considerate. There will always be some of any age that do not meet that criteria...but that is true in every city.

Crime rate is low, car theft being the highest crime committed...including owners who drive their cars into Mexico then report them stolen. Homicides and car jackings are definitely not the norm. When something like that happens, it is big news because it is so rare an occurrance. A strict curfew affecting minors and attention to covering up graffiti as soon as it appears contributes to the overall safe city aspect.

Weather is great 9 months of the year, the rest of the time we all have air conditioned cars, homes and workplaces.

Outdoor recreation is exceptional...kayaking, hiking, biking, walking, sand dunes, water sports, etc. due to the reasonable winter weather and access to the Colorado River, Kofa National Wildlife Preserve, Imperial Sand Dunes, etc.

Racially, the community is diverse and does not appear to be divided along racial lines (as in some communities).

The military and border patrol have strong presence in the community, which is welcomed.

Its been a happy accident that the low income housing is actually distributed throughout the city and not subjected to one geographical "project". You would be amazed at how attractive the "reduced rent" apartments are and that they blend nicely with the surrounding residential areas.

Medically, we have a state of the art facility with compassionate and well trained physicians. If you dont like your doctor, there are options in the community to make a change.

There is more...but if you want the amenities of an east coast city, you should probably not relocate to the Sonoran Desert. If you are open minded and are open to cultural differences and experiences, please join me in Yuma, Arizona!

[MAB]

Originally Posted by arizborn

I don't think Yuma is as boing as you make it. I am from Yuma, but I have lived in California for 5 years and then moved back to Yuma. I have great friends here that like to get together on the weekends and bar-b-que, or go to the dunes for the day, or go to the river for the day, or head down to Mexico to shop at the vendors, or go to the park to play OTL or flag football. The city is continually having fun runs and walks for families. The new park that is located on the river has beach volleyball and is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. I am not sure if you are looking for a more cultured city because Yuma is not that. Maybe in the future as this town continues to grow we have more art centers but Phoenix and San Diego are a 2 1/2 hour drive away. What Yuma is, is a nice place to call home.

Ditto on the fun run and walk thing.
I ran 5K a few weeks ago and got third place.
West waterlands park rules.
Anyone looking for a sphisticated city,should not even consider Yuma.
anyone looking for something different,with an open mind should try it out.
I moved from San Diego,3 years ago.
And Ive asked my wife if she ever wanted to move back,shes always said no,so did our daughter.
I mean,we still go visit SD everynow and then.But have no intentions of calling it home anytime soon.

[Tim Rankin]

I'd be curious to hear some of the reasons the OP moved, and why they chose Yuma. That might help answer the question as to whether another southwest location might work better.

I also moved from the east coast, but to NM. It took a bit of time to get used to the new, high-desert landscape, as beautiful as it was. I would imagine adjusting to Yuma would be even more difficult.

I had the chance to spend 3 days in Yuma over Thanksgiving, and must say that Yuma isn't completely w/out charm. They're fixing up the downtown/old town area, and I saw a few neighborhoods nearby that looked kind of nice, with mature old trees. On the other hand, there are way too many of those cookie-cutter developments around the city, and it detracts from whatever ambience it might otherwise have, not to mention what it does to traffic. But I suppose that Yuma could be just right, for some people.

[yumadons]

<< I am not sure if you are looking for a more cultured city because Yuma is not that >>


LOL, who needs culture? We've got agri-culture!!