[YAZ]

Originally Posted by krock1dk

I moved from MI to AZ in 2005, and find Michigan to be superior to AZ. Just think about it....Michigan provides four seasons, green grass, WATER, you can grow your vegetables if you want, and when it gets cold just put on more clothing, Michigan actually has industry and produces goods, cost of living in MI is WAY more affordable than AZ, and the people have great midwest values and are freindlier.

AZ is always brown and dead, no grass, no way of growing any of your own veggies if you wanted too, oppressive heat for 5 months at a time (and U can only take off so much clothing), no industry to speak of, most jobs are very low paying that dont offer much of a paycheck or a future, the cost of living is unreasonably high compared to incomes, the single WORST education in the country, and a high rate of violent crime. Trust me, even though MI leads the nation in unemployment, it is superior to AZ! In fact, many people are considering moving outta here due to the very few jobs hat are rarely available, even in a good economy. AZ is not at all what people think it is and I dont know why so many even consider moving there. Heck, at least New Mexico is better.

We have 2 growing seasons here in Phoenix; fall and spring. Our neighbors shared their surplus of tomatoes and cucumbers when we moved in late last winter. I've tilled our 'lil garden area already....gonna try 'maters first.

I find that the cost of living is pretty much the same here in Phoenix as compared to say Brighton (lower here), Ann Arbor (kinda high), and the rest of SE Michigan. Might be slightly higher here cuz we're ALWAYS doing something, going somewhere, etc.

My first summer here was the hardest, but, like newcomers to MI, you get used to the weather. The average temp for this time of year is 105.....forecasted for 107 later today. Soon, I'll be sitting in the pool listening to the Tigers game. I hardly feel oppressed....

Pleez don't get me wrong, as I love Michigan. Snowstorms, icestorms, thunderstorms and everything else....

I'm happy doing yard work in 110 degrees, as well as ice fishing in 0 degrees.

I miss Michigan....ha ha...(Miss Michigan....remember that joke? )....

.....and am confident that if I ever moved back, there would be things that I would miss in AZ.

As far as being brown & dead in AZ.....ya gotta get out more. Back in MI, I would get sick of the congestion, and always found an excuse to go "back home" to da U.P. At least hit Ludington, Lewiston, Alpena, et al.

BTW, my wife is originally from NM, and although she won't speak for everyone from NM, likes it better here in AZ.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by canudigit

Umm...snobby, mean people? Can I tell you about snobby people? We moved into our neighborhood in the Arrowhead Ranch section of Glendale, AZ over a month ago and one neighbor has actually acknowledged our presence. The rest? Well, if we are lucky enough to catch them outside of their houses at all, they will intentionally look the other way, act preoccupied, etc...ANYTHING, but GOD Forbid they actually make eye contact. Hey, we look just like everyone else in the neighborhood, we still maintain the lawn exactly as the previous residents did, don't drive junky cars...who knows??? Oh well, we're on our way out of here in two weeks and we will never see any of these people again in this life. I hope they like the next people better.

Too bad that we weren't neighbors.

I could've told ya where the closest "Party Store" was.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by funymann

I hear you.

You can't even sled or snowmobile if it is -10 with a windchill.

And ya gotta keep the beer in the shanty so it won't freeze....

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by actinic

4 hours is hardly a few.

I can't count how many times I've driven 5 hours to Brimley, MI.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by actinic

Really? Pray tell what's 2 hrs from Yuma (or most of SW AZ) with a 4 season climate?

It's amusing to see how many people think weather blindly trumps almost all other (but equally important) quality of living factors.

Even that -- you picked Yuma in the corner, but it's only a 4.5 hour drive from Yuma to Globe, Arizona where there are definitely 4 seasons, which means. It's also about 4.5 hours to drive to Prescott which is also a 4 season area. Flagstaff is a 5.5 hour drive and there you can snow ski.

For me weather does trump almost everything but having a job would outtrump even the weather I guess. I really don't like 3 weeks of cold dreary days without a glimpse of the sun at all, I really don't like getting cold sometime in October and not getting warm until June - but others do like the winter, they love the winter.

Where I live, it's a 2.5 hour drive to the mountains where there is usually snow and gorgeous pine forests, I can enjoy them for an entire day, but when the sun goes done, it'll get bitter cold but by then - in just a half an hour, I'm back in the desert where it's not cold and the rest of the way isn't cold. In the summer, it might be 95 where I live but you have to pack good sleeping bags if you camp in the mountains where it may be in the 20s at night and highs of 60.

I think this kind of thing explains why so many from Michigan move to the SW, it's not just the stunning scenes, but the 4 seasons, but you don't have to wait months for summer to arrive, you can drive to it.

[malamute]

Originally Posted by HeadedWest

Flagstaff is only 4 hours from Yuma; I think that meets the poster's criterion of a 'few hours'.

And yes -- by a few hours, that is what I meant. If you live in northern Michigan and in the January want the sun and beaches and warmth, in 4 hours, you're not even to Chicago yet and it's still cold there - maybe colder.

Phoenix, the biggest city, to Prescott is less than a 2 hour drive.

PRESCOTT, ARIZONA - Climate Summary

Phoenix to Flagstaff is about 2 hours. Definitely on the colder side.

Flagstaff AZ

Of course one could live in one of those cold places and could drive down to Phoenix and in two hours be sitting under Orange trees, basking in the warmth.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by actinic

4 hours is hardly a few.

Are you kidding?

[actinic]

Originally Posted by HeadedWest

Are you kidding?

No, are you? 4 hrs in many states put you in another ... or two.

[actinic]

Originally Posted by malamute

And yes -- by a few hours, that is what I meant.

Of course that's what you meant Try being a bit more specific next time and less dismissive of the drive time.

[JGatti]

I was going to avoid posting in the thread because it jumped track 3 pages ago. But I just had to chime in on something obvious to me that is being overlooked. Because you can drive to another part of a state etc does not make where you live have 4 seasons. My original point was how polar opposites Michigan and Arizona seem to be. Land of water and land of desert. But seeing people start posting things like, " I can drive for 4 hours and be in four seasons." NO you can't. You can drive and experience another part of the state that DOES have 4 seasons but that does not mean you live with 4 seasons. We in Michigan have it no matter what, and a point that was made about not being able to drive 4 hours from Michigan to heat and sunshine. That is hands down one of the dumbest statements I have read on this forum. All I can say to that is No SIT. - the H of course. So to use your thought process can you drive 4 hours in August to enjoy Skiiing and snowmobiling? No? Whoa hold on a second here. You mean to tell me you can't drive 4 hours to experience 4 season 12 months out of the year? How can you live like this? If people in Michigan need or want the break in winter MOST plan for it. Otherwise we have what is called indoor waterparks. They do not take the place of a sunny sandy beach of summer but it's a nice break with the family come mid January. So in regard to how far one has to or can drive all I have to really truly say is.....who cares? People live where they want to live. You like it there? Good for you stay there. You don't like it here? Move, go get away from wherever you hate living.
3 hours is a few hours, oh well I meant 4 hours when I said a few hours. Who cares it's all irrelevant.

Ok rant over. Sorry everyone.