Where is Arizona's nicest MILD climate? (Phoenix, Flagstaff: Home Depot, purchase, camp)

[MajorHart]

Hello. I'm trying to reply to the person from Phoenix who wants to move to st joseph. removed

We lived in Arizona 12 years and loved it. Both Tucson and Phoenix. The winters were very nice and you could go outside anytime. Downtown Phoenix has a major smog problem in the winter but it's not too bad in Mesa, and Apache Junction. And you can use a water cooler there.

We moved to St Joseph 8 years ago and my wife was born here and her father was getting very old. We like it here a lot except for the humidity and potential tornadoes each spring which has us headed for the basement. There's a lot to do here and the winters are not nearly as cold as they were when I grew up in Great Bend KS. Birdwatching is great here and in Arizona. Seeing the Bald Eagles as a regular winter visitor is really great.

If there's any other information I can give you - let me know.

John Hansen [cut]

[deeptrance]

Originally Posted by Pam Eaton

....I like that ...it's 93% white. Going to visit in June, will see what happens.

<---- You've offended purple people. See?

But seriously, while I defend your right to want to be surrounded by a particular racial group, it doesn't seem like a very kind thing to say on a forum that is inherently unbiased with respect to the things we can't change about ourselves, like race and sex. Hmmm.... then again, I posted somewhere that the demographics of Sebastopol, CA are attractive to me because there are so many more women than men in the 35-55 age range! Is that sexist?

[drposspin]

We currently live in ATL and are thinking of moving to Prescott. We just visited there and it appeared to have a pleasant feel. Please offer some suggestions re: rocks to look under during our research process.

[Ponderosa]

You know if I were retiring to AZ, I seriously consider Camp Verde/Clear Creek. I wouldn't have said that a few years ago but CV has done a lot over the last couple years to spruce up its downtown and build a bypass road. It has not been discovered yet and overrun by the Californians - but it is growing quickly. It is a small town spread out along the Verde River. Historically, it was the trail head of the Gen Crook trail where supplies were ported along the Mogollon Rim to Fort Apache in the White Mountains. It is right on I-17 and about 15 miles from the madness and the tacky development in Cottonwood, Verde Valley, but on the "good side" so that you would totally avoid all that WalMart, Chilis, Applebees etc. garbage unless you wanted it. It's only 3500 feet elev. so summers are going to be upper 90's but they get frequent afternoon showers and things would warm up quickly on winter days. Check it out.

[azloafer]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

You know if I were retiring to AZ, I seriously consider Camp Verde/Clear Creek. I wouldn't have said that a few years ago but CV has done a lot over the last couple years to spruce up its downtown and build a bypass road. It has not been discovered yet and overrun by the Californians - but it is growing quickly. It is a small town spread out along the Verde River. Historically, it was the trail head of the Gen Crook trail where supplies were ported along the Mogollon Rim to Fort Apache in the White Mountains. It is right on I-17 and about 15 miles from the madness and the tacky development in Cottonwood, Verde Valley, but on the "good side" so that you would totally avoid all that WalMart, Chilis, Applebees etc. garbage unless you wanted it. It's only 3500 feet elev. so summers are going to be upper 90's but they get frequent afternoon showers and things would warm up quickly on winter days. Check it out.

That's not quite high enough for us. We want to be at about a mile high. The problem is that all the nice places at that altitude in AZ are too expensive for a couple on SS. We have concentrated on New Mexico as of late. Going to check out Silver City in a few days.

[BriansPerspective]

Hey AZLoafer,

What price range are you thinking about? While Prescott itself is quite pricey, the surrounding areas (e.g., Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey) are quite reasonable. They are all about 5000 feet high and have nice weather.

[azloafer]

Originally Posted by BiggsHomes

Hey AZLoafer,

What price range are you thinking about? While Prescott itself is quite pricey, the surrounding areas (e.g., Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey) are quite reasonable. They are all about 5000 feet high and have nice weather.

We want something in a "Pine Tree" area. Even a cottage or cabin type buidling. About 1700-1800 Sq Ft. Not more than two years old. $225,000.00 We think that we can get this in New Mexico. Brand new places are running about $125.00 per square foot.

[brian_2]

"1700-1800 Sq Ft. Not more than two years old. $225,000.00 We think that we can get this in New Mexico"

Uh huh, that criteria pretty much rules out Prescott, Payson, and communities between Cottonwood and Flagstaff. New Mexico will be better, but it's no Little Miss Sunshine joy ride being in many of those small NM mountain towns. Check it out, not quite Outer Limits weird, but strange nontheless. Do you want stick built or a doublewide with a decent plot? Instead of "Land of Enchantment" it should be "Land of doublewide and pickup truck."

[azloafer]

Originally Posted by brian_2

"1700-1800 Sq Ft. Not more than two years old. $225,000.00 We think that we can get this in New Mexico"

Uh huh, that criteria pretty much rules out Prescott, Payson, and communities between Cottonwood and Flagstaff. New Mexico will be better, but it's no Little Miss Sunshine joy ride being in many of those small NM mountain towns. Check it out, not quite Outer Limits weird, but strange nontheless. Do you want stick built or a doublewide with a decent plot? Instead of "Land of Enchantment" it should be "Land of doublewide and pickup truck."

A cabin or cottage in a wooded area. We are going to check out Silver City, NM in a few days. We have heard a lot of good things about the area just above Silver City.

[monsoon74]

Originally Posted by Pam Eaton

Check out Springfield, MO. Low cost of living, low crime etc. There was alot that I liked. We are moving in three years. Can't wait to get of of Phoenix.

Coincidentally, my brother and his wife moved there this past spring. Says it's a much slower paced life, and although the wages are much lower, the cost of living is proportionately lower. They like it so far. He was never a 'desert rat', and doesn't miss Phoenix at all, except for the many restaurants.

We can't wait to visit them soon, but due to family-based businesses here, we'll never move. Until retirement.