[ddeemo]

Originally Posted by NC_Cpl

Hey highdesertdweller


When you share that you're considering the Las Vegas area for retirement, are you getting any strange looks, comments or just plain shock as a reaction? We are....almost everyone I mention it to says something along the lines of "really??" or "I can't see you in Las Vegas" or even just plain "WTF??"

Example: You can live in Chicago, meaning actually downtown in any one of the central city neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Old Town, Bucktown, etc. OR, you can live 30 mi. outside Chicago in Naperville, or "land of the Mega SUV and Juice box" as I like to call it. When people from Naperville are traveling, they'll often say they live in Chicago, which couldn't be further from the truth. These are two VERY distinct and different places, despite being just 30 miles apart. My point is...is Henderson or Summerlin actually distinct and separate enough from the crass strip area to feel like a different place, or no?

I don't really understand your point - in Chicago there is more of a difference between some areas inside the Chicago city limits such as Lincoln Park and Englewood than between Lincoln Park and some of the suburbs like Naperville or Schaumberg. When we lived in Glen Ellyn (about half way between Schaumberg and Naperville) - I worked in the Loop (as downtown as you can get) and my DW worked at O'Hare, we always said lived in Chicago although technically only worked there. Naperville is a suburb much like exists near most large cities.

In NV, my house is in Las Vegas but the city limits end at my back wall. In San Diego - I am technically about 200 ft outside the city limits with only an open area in between. In all these cases, not worth the effort to say something different to someone not familiar with the areas.

Henderson is a separate city of a little over 320K, about 1/2 the size of Las Vegas (650k) - it is not a small suburb. Summerlin is inside Las Vegas city limits (South Summerlin is not) but well away from the strip and downtown. The strip, UNLV and the airport are not actually in Las Vegas city limits, they are mostly in the unincorporated areas of Paradise and Winchester. Henderson and Summerlin are very different from the strip in feeling and character but they do have a few large casinos.

[NC_Cpl]

I think I was confusing in my Chicago reference, so lets forget that. What I wanted to hear from readers is how distinct Henderson and Summerlin are from what most people think of when they think of LV. A casino here or there is one thing, but do these places also feel separated enough from the frantic energy, tourism, lights, etc.?


Said another way...is it possible to love living in say, Summerlin, but hate Las Vegas? (yes I know technically on a map same place but thats not my point).

[Cold Warrior]

Originally Posted by NC_Cpl

Hey highdesertdweller


When you share that you're considering the Las Vegas area for retirement, are you getting any strange looks, comments or just plain shock as a reaction? We are....almost everyone I mention it to says something along the lines of "really??" or "I can't see you in Las Vegas" or even just plain "WTF??"

Example: You can live in Chicago, meaning actually downtown in any one of the central city neighborhoods like Lincoln Park, Old Town, Bucktown, etc. OR, you can live 30 mi. outside Chicago in Naperville, or "land of the Mega SUV and Juice box" as I like to call it. When people from Naperville are traveling, they'll often say they live in Chicago, which couldn't be further from the truth. These are two VERY distinct and different places, despite being just 30 miles apart. My point is...is Henderson or Summerlin actually distinct and separate enough from the crass strip area to feel like a different place, or no?

You are considering Las Vegas but, apparently, you have never been here.

[NC_Cpl]

ColdWarrior - That is correct. Its on our list since Henderson kept coming up on many "best places to retire" lists, so we're considering it. Obviously a trip in the very near future is in order but COVID has delayed that.

[movin1]

Look at a map of Las Vegas and get a sense of scale, i.e. how many miles it is from one place to another. Summerlin and Henderson are just areas of the Las Vegas whole. The Strip is the center hub of activity where the bulk of the casinos, high end shopping, restaurants and entertainment venues are. As you go in any direction away from The Strip, you find different areas to live. North is and Aliante, Northwest is Centennial Hills and Providence. Northeast is Nellis Air Force Base, West is Summerlin. Southwest is Southern Highlands. South is Seven Hills and Anthem (part of Henderson), Southeast is Henderson and Green Valley, way out Southeast is Lake Las Vegas and Boulder City.

Once you get away from the Strip, everywhere is just another bunch of communities where you can live and they all generally have the same amenities - Target, WalMart etc. The higher elevations have high end communities with expensive homes and great views that look down in to the valley where The Strip is.

This is somewhat of an oversimplification, but Vegas is nothing like Chicago and the sprawling suburbs. I can drive from Seven Hills to Providence in about 45 minutes. I could barely get from downtown Chicago to the closest suburb in any direction in that amount of time, of course that depends on how bad traffic is - it could take hours to get to Lombard (a western suburb) at certain times of day.

[longviewJoe]

Originally Posted by NC_Cpl

I think I was confusing in my Chicago reference, so lets forget that. What I wanted to hear from readers is how distinct Henderson and Summerlin are from what most people think of when they think of LV. A casino here or there is one thing, but do these places also feel separated enough from the frantic energy, tourism, lights, etc.?

Said another way...is it possible to love living in say, Summerlin, but hate Las Vegas? (yes I know technically on a map same place but thats not my point).

Yes, I believe one could live in Summerlin, and/or Henderson, and love it without loving the strip area. All your doctors, friends, shopping, daily life, etc... will be in Summerlin and/or Henderson.

On the other hand I think most of us it's the appeal of at least an occasional trip to the strip - dinner, show, hockey game, concert, visiting with out of town friends who come to see you, etc... that make living in Summerlin/Henderson so appealing.