Hate This Place? Me Too! (Phoenix, Miami: restaurants, shops, housing market)

[bethland]

I love it, so true so true, I've got 9 more months and were outta here too.

[bethland]

Originally Posted by HX_Guy

And in the same sense, summer here is a playground. We've been having pool parties almost every weekend since the weather heated up.

Um you mean the jacuzzi pool without the bubbles right?

[bethland]

Originally Posted by rockx

It sounds like there is a serious racism issue in Phoenix, my wife is mexican american and I would bet she would be discriminated against there.

Everyone always talks about how nice the people are there, but I bet that heat would cause some crankiness.

I think I would rather live in a 2 bedroom apartment in the SF Bay Area then own a 5br house in Phoenix.

Racism you are right there, Phoenix didn't even celebrate Martin Luther King Jr's Day till like 7 years ago due to people actually leaving their homes and protesting. God this city is so conservative. I like me some tamales, Food City, and the culture the Mexican culture brings Phoenix. The white folk here are so boring I could cry.

[KerrTown]

How can anyone live here? I'd rather live in L.A.--much better weather.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Originally Posted by NanawaleJulie

Am I the only one who truly hates this place? I am miserable. I cannot stand this weather and it truly makes me depressed kind of like the reverse of the Seattle blues due to no sun. I am miserable that I cannot just go outside whenever I want to without being so uncomfortable.

I am stuck here due to personal reasons that I can do nothing about. [I have about 6 more years on my "sentence" in Arizona due to my child custody situation and then I am moving to the beach.]

I also think that the people here are so unhappy/unwelcoming and rude.

I am looking at this like a poll with a complainer type attitude. Please tell me I am not alone and share your stories!

DO NOT REPLY IF YOU ARE HAPPY AS PIE-THERE ARE OTHER THREADS FOR YOU GUYS.

I feel the same way about Maryland and the East Coast and I would love to trade places with you or somebody like you in Las Vegas or one of the other Sunbelt cities in the SW or South.

I've never heard Phoenix described as unfriendly before. Is that mostly the transplants from California or the Northeast? I'm pretty sure Phoenix is VERY friendly compared to DC, Baltimore or anywhere to the north. Isn't it dry heat? I think I would prefer 100 degrees dry heat in Arizona over 40 degress overcast skies in Maryland in December or January.

[Tom Lennox 70]

I'm reading more of this thread and a common seems to be the lack of friendliness between neighbors and strangers. This really surprises me as the rudeness and coldness of the people is one of the reasons why I want to leave the East Coast and Arizona is one of the places I most want to move to. I'm not sure if I want to move to the South or Southwest but Phoenix is around the top of my list along with Las Vegas, Dallas, Atlanta and Charlotte.

Is there anyone here who has found Arizona to be welcoming to newcomers if they are willing to respect the native culture and customs? Is all the unfriendliness I'm reading about a result of transplants bringing their attitudes to Arizona from California or New York? Are native Arizonans friendly and laid-back vs. the newcomers? And how long will the boom in Phoenix and other southwestern cities be sustained in terms of population growth? Especially with the possibility of water problems?

What about the illegals? I always thought that Phoenix was this all-American, middle American kind of place and that while the illegals cross the border in Arizona they jsut move on to California or Texas. How many illegals actually stay in Phoenix? Is it going to be like LA or Miami where you have to know Spanish to get around?

[Tom Lennox 70]

Sheena, I'm really surprised you actually prefer neighbors who don't talk to one another! I'm really surprised to hear all that about Phoenix, perhaps somewhat disappointed. That sounds a lot like where I live in the burbs of DC (overrun by Yankees) or up in Boston or Baltimore. Well at least they're not in your face hostile and confrontational like New York City or LA eh?

Yeah I've never heard about this kind of unfriendliness outside of the NE or CA before. Is this because a lot of Arizonans have roots in New England, NY, or Cali? I've found northwestern Arizona to be very friendly, same with other western states like Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming.

[bigtallredhead]

Originally Posted by sheena

The illegals don't count in the census. Does that sa AZ 87% white? That's hysterical! American Indian 5%? LOL

-That includes a lot of "white" Hispanics, -the numbers said Arizona was more then 28% Hispanic in 2005. Hispanic is not a race, but an ethnicity. Also many illegal migrants DO get counted by the census -which dose not ask about legal status- but a lot don't get counted as well. Estimates very widely, of coarse. -Emil.

[lukeache]

What about the illegals? I always thought that Phoenix was this all-American, middle American kind of place and that while the illegals cross the border in Arizona they jsut move on to California or Texas. How many illegals actually stay in Phoenix? Is it going to be like LA or Miami where you have to know Spanish to get around?

Many illegals stay in Phoenix..and for those that come to this country to be criminals, Phoenix is a great location, especially for those that are car thiefs.
Easy access to Mexico..Phoenix has the 2nd highest car theft rate in the nation. I would not call Phoenix "all American"..It is a city with as much "barrio" as Houston, Dallas or any big city closer to the border.

[sablebaby]

Originally Posted by Terrapin2212

Isn't it dry heat? I think I would prefer 100 degrees dry heat in Arizona over 40 degress overcast skies in Maryland in December or January.

Have you tried climbing in your oven lately??