How does Phoenix compare to Austin; other info

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by karrahs

Thanks for all your inputs. I didnt mind the wide swings in temperatures in Austin. Its the swings in Kansas City that my body rejects. As for allergies, the Kansas City area has triggered food allergies that I never had in addition to very strange bacteria infections. Its so polluted here that I cant even drink Brita or Pur filtered water...I get stomach flu everytime. I have to drink only bottled Ozarka water.

Thanks for the info on public transit. I may have to start off without a car. As for the heat, my body gets cold so easily that it craves high temps. I even get cold when its in the low 80s!!

Karrah

The water is horrible here and probably worse than KC. It's hard water and I don't know how anyone can drink the public drinking water here. I buy bottled water. The Brita and Pur filtered systems don't really improve the water much in my opinion. And we are ranked 1st or 2nd for air pollution. I love Phoenix and those are minor drawbacks to me considering all of the positives that favor this city but air and water quality are not great here.

[karrahs]

I cant live anywhere cold. I get sick too easily. It was 75 degrees here today, yet I was freezing...was dressed in wool when everyone else was in shorts and a tshirt!!

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by karrahs

I cant live anywhere cold. I get sick too easily. It was 75 degrees here today, yet I was freezing...was dressed in wool when everyone else was in shorts and a tshirt!!

I'm like you, I love the heat. It feels great. Granted I'm not a day laborer who is doing construction but I think the heat is very tolerable. If you are like most people in that you work during the day, you miss most of the bad heat. The mornings are nice and the heat dissipates on the way home.

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by karrahs

I cant live anywhere cold. I get sick too easily. It was 75 degrees here today, yet I was freezing...was dressed in wool when everyone else was in shorts and a tshirt!!

Sounds like you'll like our heat! I lived in Phoenix, moved to Austin and moved back to Phoenix. While I liked Austin, it just didn't work out for my family and once we were back I realized how much I missed Phoenix. In Austin everything centers around UT, period. Sort of like Tempe and ASU. It will be tough here without a car unless you live (and work) near the light rail or are centrally located.

Life in the desert is much different than living in Austin or Kansas. We get sunshine nearly every day and when it is cloudy (which doesn't happen too much!) the sun still usually finds a way to peak through the clouds. I don't think you'll have a difficult time making friends seeing that nearly half the population is from someplace else. The air quality can sometimes be tough to deal with on our high pollution days if you have respiratory issues. They usually advise those people to stay home, but most that I know seem to manage well.

The drier air, I think, will be a pleasant change from the humidity. While it was good for my skin (humidity) it did nothing for my asthma. I also like the fact that when I sweat it will not soak my clothing unless I'm playing sports and will usually dry within five minutes. One word of caution, though, when you begin living here make sure you hydrate on a regular basis. It is real easy to overlook the fact that dehydration happens rather quickly out here.

In any event, good luck with your move and I wish you the best.

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by goolsbyjazz

In Austin everything centers around UT, period.

I couldn't agree more. Austin residents are in denial about this and act as if UT is just another college that happens to be in their city but the University of Texas is Austin. It just so happens that UT is arguably the best university in Texas, has a fairly wealthy student population and is very well developed in addition to offering great sports and amenities. But you are right, everything revolves around UT. The entertainment district is 6th street and it feels like you are in college again when you walk down it. It would be fun if you are in college but as a professional adult, I would get so tired of that scene. Everything links back to UT. Even the areas that Austin residents describe as being for older people are still proximal to UT and have a UT bias. Austin has a lot of tech companies but again, they seem to associated and grown from UT including companies like Dell. I think Austin is a very nice city and I can see why people enjoy living there but you are right, it definitely centers around UT.

[ReadyFreddy]

Originally Posted by karrahs

Is Scottsdale far from where I will be swimming? What are the people like in Scottsdale? What are the median rents be like in Central Phoenix, North Phoenix or Scottsdale for a 1 bedroom? Would it be safe for a single female to live in an apartment?

How expensive is car insurance if I were to get a car? I will be working from home. I run a sports business and teach swim & piano lessons.

Karrah

Most of these things you can find the (right) answers easily online. Use google maps to see where Scottsdale is in relation to your pool. Check out rents. Single females are generally safe in apts. but you can check crime rates and crime maps. Car insurance varies a ton based on many factors, especially the car and driver. People in Scottsdale are like people elsewhere. Some are rich and snooty because it's a more affluent suburb but I think that might be your only major difference.

There is nothing wrong with the city water besides it's not the tastiest. Hard water is actually better for you. What makes it hard is all the calcium and other minerals, which are the same ones people often take in supplement form and in expensive bottled 'mineral water'. Bottled water is just the tap water with the minerals and flavors removed and other flavors added in.