Yuma, AZ (Phoenix, Tucson, San Luis: appointed, crime, home)

[drwnorth]

Yuma is in a class all by itself, and not for everyone for sure. I tried it last year and wasn't for me either but I didn't find any of the problems posted here and the locals whatever color were quite cordial and friendly - and one thing I noted, much more "down to earth". It's booming and changing fast with lots more opportunity & options than just 5 years ago, be it professional or leisure and this trend will continue. Super hot summers yes, but influx of new residents continues to rise so it's possible to cope, plus business opportunities and good paying jobs are on the upswing. Old downtown completely renovated nicely, creating all new leisure options, then there are the brand new malls and large box stores influx also.

[rebels71]

I am looking at relocate to yuma after spending the last 18 months in Midland before that I lived and worked in Galveston Texas, I don't think the dry heat of 115 would bother me that much as Midland gets to 105 to 110 in the summer, as long as I don't have to deal with single digit to low teens in the winter I am happy, and no humidity, sounds perfect to me, I just visited Galveston over Memorial weekend and came back to Midland, developed Pneumonia from going from a high desert to the coast and back too fast. I will be working at the hospital there as they are actively recruiting for what I do so work will not be an issue, sounds like there is plenty to do compared to midland, in Yuma it takes only 3 to 4 hours to go to Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix or to Tucson, in Midland it takes 5 to 6 hours just to go anywhere, if I want the coast its 12 hours, so to me yuma looks to be a good fit, I will be there june 19 to the 22 to visit the town and get a feel for it, trip paid by the hospital completly, can't beat that, so if all goes well, Hope to see some of yall soon. Eric.

[NOTINYUMA]

wow, i was there last week and yuma is a terrible place. hardly anyone spoke english and it was a desert ghetto. glad to be back in america now. "portland, or." hopefully the last american to leave yuma, az. will take down the flag......

[brodybro1]

Well, so far it seems the people who don't like Yuma are the ones I wouldn't want to have to live around anyway.

Call me a goof but I'm guessing if people don't like heat and don't like non-white people, then maybe they shouldn't put themselves in a deep Southwest desert town on the Mexican border.

Ya think?

I just might need to arrange a trip to Yuma soon and check it out for myself.

[j760]

Originally Posted by brodybro1

I just might need to arrange a trip to Yuma soon and check it out for myself.

I think those words are true for anyone looking to move anywhere. Yes there is great advice on this forum, but what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. The only way a person will truly know if a city is right for them is to spend some time there and get a feel for it themselves.

Somehow I doubt Yuma is as horrible as some people make it out to be, doesn't mean I'd ever want to live there personally, but I take the harsh criticism with a grain of salt.

[knucklehead]

Trying to sell house in FL so I can move back!

I know it has changed in the 9 yrs since I lived there, but I want to go back & the weather will be better for me and my Multiple Sclerosis than the humidity here in FL. I actually live in a small town that is very similar to Yuma just in FL.

I will have to get used to hearing the jets and other aircraft...for 9 years if we heard aircraft it meant LifeFlight was going to pick someone up.

[cassandra24]

Yuma is terrible! I moved here because I got married and my husband is stationed here. I have not been able to find a good paying job and I am college educated. Oh and you basically have to be bi-lingual too!
I lived in PHoenix before and there are so many more opportunties there for everything..jobs..entertinament..outdoor activities. And housing is not any cheaper, nor are utlities, taxes, or anything else than Phoenix. Phoenix has traffic, but atleast there is always something to do. And Phoenix is a little cooler..Yuma is more humid and hotter. It sucks! Run as fast as you can from Yuma. I'm moving back next month and we're just going to have to do long distance. I'm a city girl!

[flashback451]

I moved away from Yuma after 4 years there and have no regrets about leaving. Returning to visit friends in the more tolerable winter months will be fine, I'm just glad I don't have to live there year-round through the summers anymore. If I were to live in Yuma again it would probably be somewhere in the foothills where you are less likely to wake up with graffiti on your property.

[abbygal]

I lived there a long time ago, traffic, compared to Seattle it's a walk in the park! I didn't mind the heat as long as I could escape once in awhile to San Diego which was a hop skip and jump away! Farm stink, thank God for farmers or we would have no salads huh? You get use to it like people in LA get use to the smogginess and Yuma stink isn't a harmful toxin. I found Yumans were very friendly folks if ya gave them a chance, both hispanics and whites. The best Dr I ever had was a Hispanic Dr there in Yuma who saved my life after a dozen quacks in California couldn't figure out a darn thing. I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for him. I loved Yuma and if it wasn't for my getting a tad intolerant of heat as I get older I'd go back, for now we visit there now and then. Yuma is one of the few places I enjoyed living in.

[catpiperx]

We moved here from Northern CA back in 2007 and we were GLAD to get away from Bay Area traffic, gangs, graffiti, and just CRAP! We've always lived in "big cities" and were actually quite nervous about coming down to an area that we had never been to! I'm glad that my husband took the job(he's still there at the radio station!)and we LOVE it here!

As for the people...HELLLLOOO... you are less than 5 miles from the Mexican border..what in the world do you expect? I've picked up on my Spanish and I've made amazing friends here! We are a family that has a great church and plenty of stuff to do!

If I was single, then probably Yuma wouldn't be for me...but for families, it's very affordable and fun...and yes, we are ONLY 2 hrs from San Diego...great way to get out of that HEAT..we just went through our 2nd summer here...gets easier and it goes...

This year there are more people here(I believe because of the Marine base)I was working in Retail and went to work for a school here......

Yuma is what YOU make it..if YOU want to be miserable, then guess what? YOU will probably succeed! If YOU want to have a great time....you can always make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.....

Are some people rude here? Absolutely! I would be too....if I was treated like "dirt" and misunderstood...maybe stop and chat to a "local" and find out about them, eh?

Also, as for the winter visitors, well last winter was our first and I have to say, it was the WEIRDEST experience! We actually had a Canadian couple offer to "pay us $1000" to "use" our convertable while they were here....they walked right up to us and were MAD that we said NO!!!!! Yes, they expected us to be so overjoyed that we would just "hand them our keys" and walk away for 3 months! In fact, they came up to our driveway and started looking into our car....

Also, a woman came up to my children (they are bi-racial)and my youngest was in the basket, and she just walked right up to my daughter and started playing w/her hair! Again, BIZARRE behavior.....

They do feel like they "own" this town and I don't let them get to me....

Yuma IS growing....and it's always going to be a great place to shop and visit and with the current economy...well, it doesn't seem to hit here...we are booming!

So, for families, I say "YES" come on down for singles...well I only know of the Marine base and not any "clubs" if that is your scene...however, there are some very cute men that attend our church......