Wanting to move to AZ (Phoenix, Tucson: homes, university, organic)

[Middle TN Vegan]

Hi! I joined this forum to get some good information about Arizona, and I've learned a lot so far from reading your posts. I was wondering if you all would give me your opinions about this...

I have lived in the Nashville, TN area my entire life and am wanting to get out of here. I do love TN, but the only reason I've stayed here this long is because of my family (I've never lived too far away from my mom, grandmother, etc). I do think TN is a beautiful state, but I'm tired of living in the Bible Belt (I'm Agnostic) and I can't stand the fall and winter seasons here (too cold and gloomy for me).

I love hot weather, and I would love to live in a place where I could swim outdoors all year long (or close to it). My husband and I both love nature. We love to camp, ride our bikes, explore parks, etc.

Any ideas of places in AZ where a person such as myself might like to live?

P.S.- Both my husband and I work for the state of TN, so we don't make much money.

[LordBalfor]

Well, as I've mentioned to others on this board many times, the thing to keep in mind about the climate in Arizona is elevation is THE KEY. Lower elevations areas are hotter and dryer and higher elevations areas are cooler and greener. The lowest section of the state (and thus the warmest) is the SW corner (Yuma - at 200 feet) and as you go east the elevation slowly climbs and it becomes cooler (Phoenix at 1,000 feet, Tucson at 2,400 feet, Benson at 3,500 feet, Sierra Vista at 4,200 feet (all of these are approximates). North of Phoenix the land suddenly rises up to 7,000 feet or so at Flagstaff (which sits atop the Colorado Plateau).

So, it you want "relatively warm" winters you want Tucson, Phoenix (better) or Yuma (best). Note that areas just north of Yuma (along the Colorado River) will be somewhat similar to Yuma but cooling a bit the further north you go - not because of the northward movement, but rather because of the gradual elevation gain). None of these will give you "year-round" swimming but all will give you very short, very mild winters with fairly long swimming seasons (especially Yuma - which generally has winter highs of 70 or so (I would think swimming would be comfortable 9 months of the year)).

Ken

[jaada]

no you dont want yuma, this town is awful just look up the posts on yuma. and you like heat? well come experience it first before you try to move here is my suggestion, no one told me how horrible the heat is here and it doesnt cool down for months. i see you are a vegan? i am too and there is not much for vegetarians here, we have one health food store and its outrageously priced. i think tucson is what you are looking for. they have lots of health food stores and organic foods. the winters are nice here cant deny that, but it doesnt last long.

[Middle TN Vegan]

Originally Posted by LordBalfor

Well, as I've mentioned to others on this board many times, the thing to keep in mind about the climate in Arizona is elevation is THE KEY. Lower elevations areas are hotter and dryer and higher elevations areas are cooler and greener. The lowest section of the state (and thus the warmest) is the SW corner (Yuma - at 200 feet) and as you go east the elevation slowly climbs and it becomes cooler (Phoenix at 1,000 feet, Tucson at 2,400 feet, Benson at 3,500 feet, Sierra Vista at 4,200 feet (all of these are approximates). North of Phoenix the land suddenly rises up to 7,000 feet or so at Flagstaff (which sits atop the Colorado Plateau).

So, it you want "relatively warm" winters you want Tucson, Phoenix (better) or Yuma (best). Note that areas just north of Yuma (along the Colorado River) will be somewhat similar to Yuma but cooling a bit the further north you go - not because of the northward movement, but rather because of the gradual elevation gain). None of these will give you "year-round" swimming but all will give you very short, very mild winters with fairly long swimming seasons (especially Yuma - which generally has winter highs of 70 or so (I would think swimming would be comfortable 9 months of the year)).

Ken

This is very good information. Thank you!

[Middle TN Vegan]

Originally Posted by jaada

no you dont want yuma, this town is awful just look up the posts on yuma. and you like heat? well come experience it first before you try to move here is my suggestion, no one told me how horrible the heat is here and it doesnt cool down for months. i see you are a vegan? i am too and there is not much for vegetarians here, we have one health food store and its outrageously priced. i think tucson is what you are looking for. they have lots of health food stores and organic foods. the winters are nice here cant deny that, but it doesnt last long.

Hmm... Does Tucson also have vegan restaurants?

Thanks!

[homesweetazhome]

You really need to figure out where you are going to work first, and find a nearby town then. Search Craigslist, Monster.com, Phoenixbackpage.com and AZcentral.com for job postings first. Once you have employment, you will have your choice of places to live. Everyone on this post will tell you pros/cons of different cities but until you know what you will need to be close to (job wise) it shouldn't matter. Good luck to you.

[Middle TN Vegan]

Originally Posted by homesweetazhome

You really need to figure out where you are going to work first, and find a nearby town then. Search Craigslist, Monster.com, Phoenixbackpage.com and AZcentral.com for job postings first. Once you have employment, you will have your choice of places to live. Everyone on this post will tell you pros/cons of different cities but until you know what you will need to be close to (job wise) it shouldn't matter. Good luck to you.

Thank you for this information.

Would you all say that Tucson is the most vegan-friendly city in Arizona?

[drb85650]

Tucson. Bisbee. Sedona. Agnostic and Vegan.....that's the only places that come to mind.
Tucson....small city. affordable. university town. lots of work if you will work. liberal. not horrible like many from Phoenix think. Granted the view from the interstate is lousy, but inner city and east side is great.
Sedona....the center of newage thinking. Hot spots. au natural places galore. $$$expensive. Possible alternative would be Cordes Junction, there's a commune there. Somebody here will know the name.
Bisbee....think hippies with grey/no hair. tye dye. very hilly, old mining town. very liberal, very open to anything anyone. not alot of jobs save waiters,cooks,dishwashers and entertainers for their or nearby Tombstone, which btw, is not a ultraconservative place like many would assume, being old western,cowboy and all.
Flagstaff is another alternative, but costly, cold in winter and just weird.

[Havasu]

If you like hot and to be able to swim or boat year round consider Lake Havasu. We get over 300 days of sunshine a year with very little rain.

My Home

[JetSet]

Originally Posted by jaada

no you dont want yuma, there is not much for vegetarians here,

90% of the nations winter vegetables are grown in Yuma