PHX has its ups and downs (Phoenix, Mesa: low crime, neighborhood, schools)
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"Finally 100 and swimming my arse off! :)"
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I travel a lot. I'm gone almost every year for a couple of months. I always miss AZ by the end of my stays. It's not that the others aren't interesting and pleasant but I'm use to the heat, the dry air. I'm use to being able to go out everyday. To plan outdoor events and 9 out of 10 times they are executed.
I miss being able to throw on a sundress and flip flops most of the year instead of having to wrap myself up in gear to run to the market.
It's individual, this is my home base because I am comfortable here. My bones feel better, my hair works out and stays that way. Driving conditions are reliable unless we are having the freak weather disturbance. I'm always amazed by how much rain, snow and wind dominate my activities in other states or countries. I'm so spoiled.
I don't jive with the current political leaders of our state but luckily that will change before the weather does.
Those of you who are not comfortable should go and find your spot. It's worth it. The spot you long to come home to. Don't worry about us, it's not like we couldn't use the room. It's getting pretty crowded these days.
I moved from Oregon about a year ago. Don't miss it one bit.
Believe me when I tell you this. 9 to 10 months of grey skies will get to you not to mention the rain. The grey skies will, sooner or later, make you wish for some sunshine. Not necessarily Phoenix or even Arizona but sunshine.
You can play in the snow (skiing, sledding, snowman, snowball fights, etc,) and you can do things in the heat like go to the lake, pool, golfing early or late, taking a short trip to the mountains, things like that but when it rains, you don't "play" in it. You deal with it.
Yes, Oregon is green. The trees and grass. It's beautiful. Unfortunately your house turns green, your car turns green if parked more than a week or so. You store your boat in the winter and when you pull the cover off in spring (June or July) the boat is green and grass is growing out of the carpet. I don't know how grass gets into the carpet but it does.
Oregon is unbeleivable in the summer. Unfortunately the summer lasts about 4 to 6 weeks on a good year and then it's back to the incessant rain and grey skies. 24/7. A constant wet, soaking rain. Not usually heavy but just enough to keep EVERYTHING wet all the time.
Good luck in Oregon but if I were a betting man, I'd bet heavy that you won't be on the west side of the Cascades for more than 3 years.
I do have to admit, the PNW has the most fantastic summers anywhere. They're just too short.
I've lived in Hawaii, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and here. I've been here almost 20 years and still like it best. Except in Sept. I think a second home elsewhere would be perfect, but the cost of living here is so dang cheap it's hard to consider buying elsewhere.
I see the point, though. Some like it hot and dry and see beauty in the sparseness of the desert. Some prefer it wet and cool and lush.
I moved from Oregon about a year ago. Don't miss it one bit.
Believe me when I tell you this. 9 to 10 months of grey skies will get to you not to mention the rain. The grey skies will, sooner or later, make you wish for some sunshine. Not necessarily Phoenix or even Arizona but sunshine.
You can play in the snow (skiing, sledding, snowman, snowball fights, etc,) and you can do things in the heat like go to the lake, pool, golfing early or late, taking a short trip to the mountains, things like that but when it rains, you don't "play" in it. You deal with it.
Yes, Oregon is green. The trees and grass. It's beautiful. Unfortunately your house turns green, your car turns green if parked more than a week or so. You store your boat in the winter and when you pull the cover off in spring (June or July) the boat is green and grass is growing out of the carpet. I don't know how grass gets into the carpet but it does.
Oregon is unbeleivable in the summer. Unfortunately the summer lasts about 4 to 6 weeks on a good year and then it's back to the incessant rain and grey skies. 24/7. A constant wet, soaking rain. Not usually heavy but just enough to keep EVERYTHING wet all the time.
Good luck in Oregon but if I were a betting man, I'd bet heavy that you won't be on the west side of the Cascades for more than 3 years.
I do have to admit, the PNW has the most fantastic summers anywhere. They're just too short.
I'm sure it depends where in OR you live. I have a friend living in the southern part and it's not really that cloudy and rainy all the time. My husband grew up in Salinas/Monterey area of CA, and frankly, OR is nothing compared to what he grew up with. While I lived in Monterey for a year, I couldn't stand it b/c it was ALWAYS in the 60's and windy, and there's nothing "I" can do in weather that cold. Hence, I'm hoping we'll end in northern CA instead where the weather is similar to Phx, but it actually has winters and more nature. Although I like sporadic sunny days, and i LOVE cloudy days, I like warm weather (above 75) and trees more than I'll love constant sunny days and 5 months of temps that never drop below 95. Meh.
We have never gotten used to the heat, the constant dust everywhere, massive pollution, the crappy water, the bark scorpions, being #1 skin cancer area in the US (forcing you to wear sunblock)
I suppose some people just aren't desert rats. I like visiting other places, but this is always the place I want to come back to.
The weather in the summer really isn't all that bad I don't think, other than maybe a couple weeks in August, but that's about the time I take my annual trek up to the Mogollon Rim for a little break. And actually, the lack of mosquitoes makes the heat down here so much more tolerable.
Aside from the occasional haboob, the dust never bothers me where I live. And the scorpions don't really worry me all that much. After I got bit by one and realized it wan't all that traumatic, I've never really fretted too much about the little buggers. The sun isn't a factor unless I'm out in direct sunlight for hours, and in that case a hat and a little sunscreen is not too much of a bother.
Lived 5 decades (entire life) in Eugene and Beaverton, Oregon. Got worn out dealing with the constant, never ending, day after day, month after month of clouds, rain, gloominess, and forever depressing weather. Also, had to rid myself of the EXTREME far left, radical, liberals who almost totally dominate Oregon politics. Those folks up there are truly insane politically. Oregonians care about TWO things......1. their damn Oregon duck football team,,,,and 2. electing commies to every elective office.
Arizona (glendale/arrowhead now) is like a breath of fresh air. No more having to see tattoo laden fat chicks and old 60's hippies wearing their "hug a tree", "recycle for the future", "we love 0bama". or "we love socialism" tshirts. I can gurantee you one thing beyond a shadow of a doubt,,,,,,you can walk through the Safeway at 67th/beardsley for 10min and see more attractive women than you can driving around eugene for a day.
I go back to visit family. That is it. Will NEVER move back to Oregon. Arizona is a breath of fresh air. People are friendlier, more outdoor activities for the majority of the yr., and,,,,it is a true pleasure to vote and have the candidate/measure/etc you cast your ballot for actally win.
I'm sure it depends where in OR you live. I have a friend living in the southern part and it's not really that cloudy and rainy all the time. My husband grew up in Salinas/Monterey area of CA, and frankly, OR is nothing compared to what he grew up with. While I lived in Monterey for a year, I couldn't stand it b/c it was ALWAYS in the 60's and windy, and there's nothing "I" can do in weather that cold. Hence, I'm hoping we'll end in northern CA instead where the weather is similar to Phx, but it actually has winters and more nature. Although I like sporadic sunny days, and i LOVE cloudy days, I like warm weather (above 75) and trees more than I'll love constant sunny days and 5 months of temps that never drop below 95. Meh.
Well, I lived near the central coast in a little bitty town called Mapleton. The AVERAGE yearly rainfall was 119 inches. You heard that right, 119 inches. They used to have a "rain derby". You cast your vote for how much rain was going to come down. They gave out prizes and stuff for that.
It sure was green though and the lakes were terrific. Unfortunately you could only get on them about 6 weeks a year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by azguy77
Lived 5 decades (entire life) in Eugene and Beaverton, Oregon. Got worn out dealing with the constant, never ending, day after day, month after month of clouds, rain, gloominess, and forever depressing weather. Also, had to rid myself of the EXTREME far left, radical, liberals who almost totally dominate Oregon politics. Those folks up there are truly insane politically. Oregonians care about TWO things......1. their damn Oregon duck football team,,,,and 2. electing commies to every elective office.
Arizona (glendale/arrowhead now) is like a breath of fresh air. No more having to see tattoo laden fat chicks and old 60's hippies wearing their "hug a tree", "recycle for the future", "we love 0bama". or "we love socialism" tshirts. I can gurantee you one thing beyond a shadow of a doubt,,,,,,you can walk through the Safeway at 67th/beardsley for 10min and see more attractive women than you can driving around eugene for a day.
I go back to visit family. That is it. Will NEVER move back to Oregon. Arizona is a breath of fresh air. People are friendlier, more outdoor activities for the majority of the yr., and,,,,it is a true pleasure to vote and have the candidate/measure/etc you cast your ballot for actally win.
I totally agree. Everyone was a pot smoker among other things. Old hippy guys in dresses, guys spiking trees, burning down Forest Service facilities, rampant government giveaways to any and all who would take them. That place is a mess.
It's pretty country but Oregon will never see my sorry _$$ for more than a few days at a time again.
My wife was in a serious car accident up there in 2002. Suffered severe and permanent brain injuries. I thought that since we were husband and wife that I would take care of her but the state had other ideas. In Oregon, the sanctity of marriage doesn't mean much. I was denied custodial or spousal rights because I didn't make enough money so they put her in a home where she ended up passing away in 2007. All they wanted from me was everything I had to pay for their decision to put her in a home. They cleaned me out and then basically left her for nothing and there wasn't a thing I could do about it.
Oregon is a strange place for sure. I wouldn't move there if you gave me a million dollars to do so.
I can't say if I'll like Arizona in 5 years as much as I do now but for the moment, I couldn't be happier. Much better lifestyle here than in Oregon.
Maverick, I'm sorry to hear about your wife. That is horrible. I had no idea Oregon was like that, or would do such a thing. I've never been near the state, would love to visit but I'll keep it at that, I think.
You guys feel about Oregon like I did Louisiana - not for the same reasons, but the area I was in was run down, ghetto looking, dirty, and NOTHING to do. The drivers were the worst I'd experienced, even worse than places like Paris where you might expect it to be awful. The people were very nice though, the nicest I've ever encountered, but then again I don't need to have conversations with strangers in the store in order for me to like a place. I'd rather have mountains and hiking, and thank goodness I finally do here in AZ!
Mullenium, you will probably enjoy moving to Portland. A sister of mine lived and worked for several years in Southern California, moved to Phoenix and was on unemployement (so I assume she got laid off, but fortunately she also accumulated a decent amount of company stock), hated Phoenix, then moved to Portland several years ago.
I worked all over (both east coast and west coast in in Arizona). IMO, your "bestest" place is the place where you grew up, for the most part. I grew up in California, not in Southern California, but somehow I feel much younger and freer in Los Angeles than I do anywhere else. I felt old in the southeastern U.S. I live as simple a life as I can and know enough of getting around that I rent a studio in LA and it's 2 miles from the Pacific ocean and 2 miles from work. I love Phoenix because it is far more convenient for me as a frequent business traveler, with a year around airport (best flying weather of all) and an hour shorter flight to the east coast than from L.A.
I don't know what it's about with the talk of pollution in Phoenix. I look out my window in LA and usually cannot see mountains until a storm finished and passed through. I can see the mountains every day in Phoenix. I assume that as long as I follow my doctors' orders, I have another good ten to fifteen years of working involving frequent business travel before I get too weary. So I figure I'm going to keep renting in Phoenix, as it's my most economical situation. I do most of my travel back home October through May. Then I try to travel back no more than one weekend a month in June through September.
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