[jeeg]

While I was born here in MI, I grew up in southern CA and vacationed in AZ regularly...... and have family in Scottsdale.

From what I've read of your posts, it boils down to is this:

When you are facing your final moments in life, are you going to look back and say "Boy I'm glad I uprooted my family so I could get that extra promotion and raise in pay"............ or would you rather say "Boy I'm glad I did what was best for my wife and child and blah blah <whatever your current scenario might be>"

We personally have passed up so many career "promotions" and advances in pay in order to live the life WE determine for ourselves and our children.

For us, we would rather struggle financially <if needed> and live life on OUR terms...... rather then try and keep up with the Joneses.

If you are happy living here, your wife is established in her career and happy here, and your child is happy here........ why is this even a consideration?

Especially the child. He'll be 18 and on his own in 7 short years. If nothing else, give him the greatest sense of security (nurturing/emotional/stability) you can now....... then move in 7 years if your wife is willing.

That's my 3 cents on the subject

<As for the "economic stability" talk on this thread.... most everyone I know (us included) have advanced in pay/economic stability in the last few years............ granted we all live in the West side and Northern MI...... but that observation still stands>
(I only have two family members on the east side of the state and while they've personally done well, it doesn't compare to the dozens I know on the west side of the state)

Edit: I freely admit I may have seriously misread what you were saying in your other posts. If so.... I'll blame it on lack of sleep

[Perferator]

When my wife and I were20/22yrs old back in '79 we drove our CJ-5 out to Scottsdale and stayed for almost 2yrs. Had we been older we would have stayed longer. We loved it there. Our moving back to northern Michigan had nothing to do with Arizona....and I would someday like to go back.

Az summers are much like our winters in terms of extreme temps that keep you inside much of the time (if you live in the Sun Valley). However, unlike Michigan's winters, relief is only an hour or so away when you drive up into the rim area.

Bottom line, it's a fantastic place to live. I want to go back.

[notdeconcentrate]

Originally Posted by Zippyman

I wouldn't expect unbiased opinions on schools on this forum, or anywhere, really. I live in the city of Phoenix, not the suburbs - when I type my phoenix address into "greatschools.com", the nearest high school is rated 6 out of ten. The nearest grade school is rated 9 out of ten.

When I type in my old grade school, it's rated 4 out of 10, and my high school back in Michigan is rated at 6 out 10. So no major advantage in public schools.

As for college, I have experience in both states, and the Maricopa community colleges blow away anything in Michigan. We have ten colleges all hooked together cooperatively, so you can go to any of them and classes transfer back-and forth without a hassle. You can take any class at any time here if you're willing do drive a few miles down the road. And it's $73 a credit hour, as cheap as anything in Michigan.

The big issue is *after* college. Phoenix has more people, and more jobs. Michigan has always had a jerky-jerky economy, but Phoenix has been growing for decades, with no end in sight. Michigan is dying.

Your "test" on schools is hardly what I'd call reliable enough to make a statement that "there's no major advantage in public schools" in one state over another. Just because the schools you happened to pick had those results doesn't mean the entire district or (entire state!)fits that category.

I only visited Phoenix once, and it was a great vacation, but we were at a public event and someone was breaking into someone's car in the parking lot. In the daytime. With people walking around. Not saying that Michigan doesn't have these kinds of idiots who do these kinds of things, but it just blew my young mind at the time. I also remember my friend that had moved from MI to AZ (for health reasons) saying that car insurance was higher. Don't know if that's still true or not.

[mostie]

I think the OP already has figured out what he wants to do. It's all a matter of personal choice, what is important to a particular person, and where that can be fulfilled. I have older kids who love big cities, entertainment 24/7, and have a "go-go-go" mentality- I was the same way when I was their age- but I have to say, as I got older and that changed, I don't know how much it would have helped my kids when I was raising them if I still had the "go-go-go" mentality, and raised them in the sort of place I liked back then.

There is something to be said for Michigan, and I've lived in a few states- Michigan is peaceful, has loads of nature and outdoors things to do, and it's wonderful for raising kids- I don't think it's dying at all- I think that maybe it isn't Phoenix, or Chicago, or L.A. insofar as big cities, lots-to-do goes...but one thing Michigan does is teach a person to learn to change gears, to adapt, to learn to think outside the box. And for adults AND kids? That is not a bad thing!

[michmoldman]

I would hate to see you leave JGatti because I know you also have dreams of living in northern Michigan. Maybe if you put all the energy and thought it would take to decide and move to Phoenix....and redirected that energy into moving to northern Michigan, it would be the better choice. I have always thought...where there is a will...there is a way, and I have lived by that saying. But hey..whichever was meant to be, is where you will end up.

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by Zippyman

I wouldn't expect unbiased opinions on schools on this forum, or anywhere, really. I live in the city of Phoenix, not the suburbs - when I type my phoenix address into "greatschools.com", the nearest high school is rated 6 out of ten. The nearest grade school is rated 9 out of ten.

When I type in my old grade school, it's rated 4 out of 10, and my high school back in Michigan is rated at 6 out 10. So no major advantage in public schools.

As for college, I have experience in both states, and the Maricopa community colleges blow away anything in Michigan. We have ten colleges all hooked together cooperatively, so you can go to any of them and classes transfer back-and forth without a hassle. You can take any class at any time here if you're willing do drive a few miles down the road. And it's $73 a credit hour, as cheap as anything in Michigan.

The big issue is *after* college. Phoenix has more people, and more jobs. Michigan has always had a jerky-jerky economy, but Phoenix has been growing for decades, with no end in sight. Michigan is dying.

All I can say is read this.

Arizona kids' well-being ranks 46th

and

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...covery.html#p1

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by Zippyman

The big issue is *after* college. Phoenix has more people, and more jobs. Michigan has always had a jerky-jerky economy, but Phoenix has been growing for decades, with no end in sight. Michigan is dying.

Michigan is Dying...really? I guess you watch too much news..lol

[darstar]

One of the main reasons we have City data , is for people, town, cities, States and private corporations enough information to make the right choices when entering a new area, be it business or pleasure, everyone should have the facts BEFORE they make the big choice to move and or relocate for many varied reasons. Most private folks, no matter where they live now, will always have that connection to where they grew up, even though it just might be a bad choice as an adult. Get the fact first, then make your call. Just listening to one sided quote on this Form is not enough to make an honest call., but it can help. Use the servaces that are actually provided free on City data . they are the first place to stop on your quest for a relocation..

[Luzette]

Originally Posted by mostie

I think the OP already has figured out what he wants to do. It's all a matter of personal choice, what is important to a particular person, and where that can be fulfilled. I have older kids who love big cities, entertainment 24/7, and have a "go-go-go" mentality- I was the same way when I was their age- but I have to say, as I got older and that changed, I don't know how much it would have helped my kids when I was raising them if I still had the "go-go-go" mentality, and raised them in the sort of place I liked back then.

There is something to be said for Michigan, and I've lived in a few states- Michigan is peaceful, has loads of nature and outdoors things to do, and it's wonderful for raising kids- I don't think it's dying at all- I think that maybe it isn't Phoenix, or Chicago, or L.A. insofar as big cities, lots-to-do goes...but one thing Michigan does is teach a person to learn to change gears, to adapt, to learn to think outside the box. And for adults AND kids? That is not a bad thing!

It's the same story for me as well. When I was younger all I wanted to do was get out of the rural areas and see the big cities. Now that I'm older I couldn't care less about them except for the wonderful museums. I didn't care about nature at all in my 20s, but now I don't know how I'd live in a place without it. Time does change a person. Michigan is the place for me from here on.

[Zippyman]

Originally Posted by michmoldman

Michigan is Dying...really? I guess you watch too much news..lol

When was the last time you visited Arizona?

Im not happy or gloating about it in any way, it is what it is.