Bay Area to Phoenix relocation early 2014

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by twright2100

How was your move?

I'm assuming she meant early 2014, since the original post was from late 2013.

[SpaceMonkyPunks]

Hi there OP,

I'm a Phoenix native, but moved to LA earlier this year and visit the Bay area pretty frequently. Phoenix does not have the traffic woes that the Bay and Socal has, you don't need to worry about traffic at all. (Anyone who claims that Phoenix has bad traffic has never commuted in a place with far worse traffic.) Drivers are mellow, if a bit inattentive...it's still legal to talk on your cell phone, last time I checked? Maybe that's changed, not sure.

IMO I'd disagree with the Scottsdale recommendation. People there are certainly more educated and affluent, but also older. Affluent old people set in their ways, if you catch my drift. That's certainly not true of everyone but that was my experience as a whole, compared to central Phoenix. My husband and I (southeast asian and white) lived in central Phoenix and really liked it. It's a safe area, beautiful older houses, and 20 minutes from everything. Lots of good food in the idea, and a great location for socializing and commuting because it's basically 15 minutes from everything - Scottsdale, airport, you name it. I'm not sure how good the schools are though...Scottsdale probably has better public schools. The areas downtown Phoenix like the farmers market, art galleries etc, are small but growing nicely - I would say that downtown Phoenix is definitely the most liberal part of the city.

My family, in three generations living in Phoenix, has never owned a single gun. Despite the gun subculture, it's entirely unnecessary to own one in my opinion. If you want one go for it, but you'll be just fine without one if you choose. I feel like the gun nuts on these forums are a lot more radical and outspoken (no offense) than they would be in real-life situations, just like anyone on the internet.

Pool fences - It is illegal to own a home without a fenced pool unless the house was built before 1990 and you have no children under 6. The reason the homes you're looking at done have one is because that law was somewhat recent, so older homes often don't have one. Even though your children are older I'd still recommend getting one. Good for dogs too.

If you live in one of the more urban bay areas, it will definitely be a bit of a culture shock when you move to Phoenix at first, because the notion of 'I'm gonna walk to the store' does not exist there. No one walks anywhere in Phoenix. Partly because of the blistering heat, but mainly because the city had, until very recently, absolutely no notion of urban planning/walkability/sustainability/etc. Suburban sprawl to the extreme. Also, the lightrail is laughable compared to BART, but you probably already knew that!

No comment on the Mormon thing...but...I understand your concerns (and don't think they're entirely invalid...)

[observer53]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I'm assuming she meant early 2014, since the original post was from late 2013.

Right. There was a typo in the title, which has been fixed.

[Home_Kid]

depends on where you need to live. no commute requirements then look at gilbert and queen creek.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Home_Kid

depends on where you need to live. no commute requirements then look at gilbert and queen creek.

LOL, right!

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by Home_Kid

depends on where you need to live. no commute requirements then look at gilbert and queen creek.

Are you attempting to be "amusing?" Based upon the O/P's first post, those two areas would be specifically NOT somewhere she and her family would enjoy settling.

[Home_Kid]

Originally Posted by Kimballette

Are you attempting to be "amusing?" Based upon the O/P's first post, those two areas would be specifically NOT somewhere she and her family would enjoy settling.

i didnt see the 1st post, sorry. let me go back and see...

ok, did you read OP's 1st post??? OP said "Gilbert and Mesa" and not queen creek. so, my bad for saying Gilbert, but QC is relatively close to mesa and sh airports

[Kimballette]

Originally Posted by Home_Kid

i didnt see the 1st post, sorry. let me go back and see...

ok, did you read OP's 1st post??? OP said "Gilbert and Mesa" and not queen creek. so, my bad for saying Gilbert, but QC is relatively close to mesa and sh airports

Yep, I read it and responded to it at the time. You're right - she did not say Queen Creek, but it's very close to Gilbert and parts of Mesa. I still don't think it would be a good fit, but that's up to them, of course.

[Home_Kid]

Originally Posted by Kimballette

Yep, I read it and responded to it at the time. You're right - she did not say Queen Creek, but it's very close to Gilbert and parts of Mesa. I still don't think it would be a good fit, but that's up to them, of course.

yeah, kinda odd to just pick out mesa and gilbert, that track of area is an odd shape, i would think one would use radius from say gilbert or mesa to stay away from, but OP's choice i guess.