IS Arizona really bad as everyone says???? (Phoenix, Snowflake: job, housing)

[steve22]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Yunno, I've just come off an absolutely BRUTAL week (and I apologize wherever I've been snippy), but it's been a week from Hell. Spent three days crying due to the actions of two native (and stupid) Arizonans. Oh well, easy enough to resolve. I give my notice in ten days and I just don't have anything to do with this other person.

Anyway, I've been asking myself...am I just doing a geographic because things aren't going well in my life? Then I hop over to the Oregon forum and no one is complaining. In this forum there are a LOT of people who hate it here, so I (we) must be onto something. I have been utterly miserable here literally from the first day I set foot in this town. Even though I feel like I've wasted the last three years of my life (oh why can't I just learn to trust my instincts?), I'm throwing in the towel.

Giving myself permission to just quit my job and leave this place makes me HAPPY (well, relieved, I still have to put up with this crap for another month), although I'll be much happier in mid-November.

The one thing I want to do here is eat at this little Chinese joint down the street. Then I will have done everything of value this **** city has to offer -which is nothing (other than Filibertos).

Oh, btw, I am sick of the rednecked crap, country music, big trucks, brown air, and everything else. I hate this conservative, bible-beltish, small town, strip mall mentality place! There, I feel better.

Trust me, you have company. It's tough living in a place where there's no feeling of connectedness, no real sense of community, a place so, well, isolating and dehumanizing.

Living in a real city has nothing to do with "high rise" living and skyscrapers, as it's been made to sound in this forum. It's about walkable streets, lively and local shops, enclaves, commercial districts, a lively cultural scene, real neighborhoods where people live, work, and play near each other, and who therefore know each other. You don't need to be in a large city to have those things; just a real one. As I've pointed out before, Ann Arbor had a population literally one-fiftieth the size of greater Phoenix's, and yet felt much bigger, more cosmopolitan and connected. Certainly, it was more culturally diverse, livelier, and its residents were far more interesting, educated, and friendly. Man, I miss it. But anyway, my point is: take solace in the fact that your sentiments are shared, & it's not just you.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Yunno, I've just come off an absolutely BRUTAL week (and I apologize wherever I've been snippy), but it's been a week from Hell. Spent three days crying due to the actions of two native (and stupid) Arizonans. Oh well, easy enough to resolve. I give my notice in ten days and I just don't have anything to do with this other person.

Anyway, I've been asking myself...am I just doing a geographic because things aren't going well in my life? Then I hop over to the Oregon forum and no one is complaining. In this forum there are a LOT of people who hate it here, so I (we) must be onto something. I have been utterly miserable here literally from the first day I set foot in this town. Even though I feel like I've wasted the last three years of my life (oh why can't I just learn to trust my instincts?), I'm throwing in the towel.

Giving myself permission to just quit my job and leave this place makes me HAPPY (well, relieved, I still have to put up with this crap for another month), although I'll be much happier in mid-November.

The one thing I want to do here is eat at this little Chinese joint down the street. Then I will have done everything of value this **** city has to offer -which is nothing (other than Filibertos).

Oh, btw, I am sick of the rednecked crap, country music, big trucks, brown air, and everything else. I hate this conservative, bible-beltish, small town, strip mall mentality place! There, I feel better.

Born and raised in oregon, it has it's own set of issues, school funding and closings, teacher strikes, 9 months of rain, serious meth issues in SE Portland, high taxes ,high cost of housing, high unemployment rate, crazy urban growth boundaries so housing is on top of each other even more so than here, terrible highway system like the 105 and 405 coming out of Vancover not to mention the hell on 26 and 217!! Not enough roads but they will not build more that would be called growing,one of the dirtiest rivers in america the Willamette, yes we have that honor, because sewage drops into it and people dump their garbage in it.. Not heaven there either. They are not compalining because there are good things there as well and most people would rather focus on the good such as a walkable downtown with umbrella!lol and waterfront, beaches, trees, mountains (although they could erupt), skiing, great camping, and yes horrible politians that only think of themselves (but which one doesnt). Most people there were born and raised, the ones complaining are from California, true Oregonians really dont like them coming in. People here really dislike whats going on here they need to do something about come this next election and get involved.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by steve22

Trust me, you have company. It's tough living in a place where there's no feeling of connectedness, no real sense of community, a place so, well, isolating and dehumanizing.

Living in a real city has nothing to do with "high rise" living and skyscrapers, as it's been made to sound in this forum. It's about walkable streets, lively and local shops, enclaves, commercial districts, a lively cultural scene, real neighborhoods where people live, work, and play near each other, and who therefore know each other. You don't need to be in a large city to have those things; just a real one. As I've pointed out before, Ann Arbor had a population literally one-fiftieth the size of greater Phoenix's, and yet felt much bigger, more cosmopolitan and connected. Certainly, it was more culturally diverse, livelier, and its residents were far more interesting, educated, and friendly. Man, I miss it. But anyway, my point is: take solace in the fact that your sentiments are shared, & it's not just you.

Thank you, Steve22. You're a stranger to me, yet you've really helped me in this struggle. You articulate things far better than I can, but you've really helped me to see it's not just my imagination.

A few months back, I met someone I instantly connected with, from the Bay Area. Within just a short time of knowing him, he was gone, back up north. He had enough sense to recognize he couldn't stand it here, and he just left. Now, mind you, we're talking about someone who left a good job, at 60, to return to uncertainty. Living here was worse than risking unemployment with nothing firm to return to (although he did spend the last 30 years there, so it's not like he doesn't have REAL friends). FWIW, he speaks five languages and converses about quantum physics. He is interesting and REAL. My point is, I've been here three years and he is the FIRST person I have really connected with. I talk to him quite frequently. He understands this place and also knows where he belongs.

At any rate, comments like yours and my experience in knowing him make me realize life is just too short to waste it in a place like this. Thanks again for your spot on and very articulate points.

[Nea1]

I think every place has it's pros and cons, some people just cannot adjust well to new places that they do not feel suit them, some adjust and look at it like just a stop n a long adventure. I have seen plenty of things here I DO NOT LIKE, and some good. This is my 6th state so far, I like it better then some and not better than some. It doesnt have everything I want but it is right for us right now, I will move on when my last one is off to college in 10 years. If you like the urban scene there are plenty of places out there for you that you will love and you will forget your time here. I am glad you are going somewhere where I hope you will find what you are looking for, just please dont look and talk down on those of us that find it home for now and are trying to make the best of it.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Nea1

Born and raised in oregon, it has it's own set of issues, school funding and closings, teacher strikes, 9 months of rain, serious meth issues in SE Portland, high taxes ,high cost of housing, high unemployment rate, crazy urban growth boundaries so housing is on top of each other even more so than here, terrible highway system like the 105 and 405 coming out of Vancover not to mention the hell on 26 and 217!! Not enough roads but they will not build more that would be called growing,one of the dirtiest rivers in america the Willamette, yes we have that honor, because sewage drops into it and people dump their garbage in it.. Not heaven there either. They are not compalining because there are good things there as well and most people would rather focus on the good such as a walkable downtown with umbrella!lol and waterfront, beaches, trees, mountains (although they could erupt), skiing, great camping, and yes horrible politians that only think of themselves (but which one doesnt). Most people there were born and raised, the ones complaining are from California, true Oregonians really dont like them coming in. People here really dislike whats going on here they need to do something about come this next election and get involved.

Moderator cut: insults

Maybe you should hop over to the Oregon forum and prevent people from moving there and making a dastardly mistake, rather than talking up the virtues of this hellhole (or do you really just try to convince yourself?) Again, I see no utility in spending so much time here convincing MORE people this is a great place to live, when more and more people coming will just reduce YOUR quality of life.

Of course, it's wonderful to hear your comments.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Moderator cut: insults

Maybe you should hop over to the Oregon forum and prevent people from moving there and making a dastardly mistake, rather than talking up the virtues of this hellhole (or do you really just try to convince yourself?) Again, I see no utility in spending so much time here convincing MORE people this is a great place to live, when more and more people coming will just reduce YOUR quality of life.

Of course, it's wonderful to hear your comments.

No I am not going to tell anyone where or where not to move, not my place. I dont think of this place as a hellhole I have lived in those before. If someone asks me the negatives I will tell them and the same with the positive, this place isnt a nirvana for me either I would just rather be happy while I have to be here than a snipy negative person, trying to make everyone miserable as well.

[Nea1]

And I did see that you posted something positive on the other thread, I knew you had it in you.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Nea1

I dont mind the negative comments, everyone has them, it is when you jump on someone and try to belittle them that doesnt feel the same way you do, there is no need to be snipey, you can just state your thoughts and move on.

Agreed, and I already apologized. I did have a very hard week, and what made it the WORST was seeing a woman with a tiny baby, turned out into the street on very short notice, courtesy of some brilliant native here. I spent hours crying over it. Forgive me if I have very little tolerance for those who reside here.

[Nea1]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Agreed, and I already apologized. I did have a very hard week, and what made it the WORST was seeing a seriously mentally ill woman with a tiny baby, turned out into the street on very short notice, courtesy of some brilliant native here. I spent hours crying over it. Forgive me if I have very little tolerance for those who reside here.

I am sorry you have a bad week, that is horrible. I may reside here but dont count me in with the heartless. It is inexcusable what they did and the system needs to change and I dont believe everyone here is heartless just maybe they have given up trying to change things.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by Nea1

I am sorry you have a bad week, that is horrible. I may reside here but dont count me in with the heartless. It is inexcusable what they did and the system needs to change and I dont believe everyone here is heartless just maybe they have given up trying to change things.

No, there is no excuse for that kind of stupidity. It didn't have to go that way. I can only conclude there is something in the water here. You think you'd find that cold heartedness in small town, Iowa? I don't think so. I come from the Midwest and there is seriously something wrong here. At least, in the Midwest, they'd have the brains to know they were being cold-hearted.

There is NO EXCUSE for that call. So, please, don't try to justify it. It is symptomatic of this place and the people who call this place home.

BTW, it wasn't "the system." It was the person. It was an individual call, which is why I cannot work there.