High number of people seem to want to leave (Phoenix: real estate, homes)

[brian571]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

Miserable traffic, crime, horrendous weather, corrupt politicians, onerous property taxes, high cost of living, and outside of Chicagoland and a few select spots, a shaky economy. Don't get me wrong; Chicago is a nice city, and one can have a great life in it. But like other eastern cities, so much about it is broken or run down, and the government basically rapes its residents at every possible opportunity.

+1 . I'm currently living in Chicagoland after living in Wisconsin. I'd probably happily go back to Wisconsin if not for the fact that I lived there my entire life before this year and wanted a change, but still be close enough to go back. We're now looking to make a move to Arizona. Nothing is imminent, but my wife and I are going to start applying for jobs out there and see what happens. We already know we like it as we both have family there and visit quite often.

The problem with Illinois isn't so much that they have all of the things you listed. It's that they have them and things are only going to get worse over the next few years. The state is a basket case and there's no sense of urgency among those in power to do anything about it. Already high taxes will have to go up. They could cut spending to take care of current budget shortfalls, but that wouldn't address the huge unfunded pension liabilities (there's no will to cut spending anyways). The corruption and graft is rampant and present at every level of government. Very few pols even bother to hide it because the Attorney General is the daughter of the House Majority Leader and looks the other way. Property taxes are ridiculous (about 2 1/2% of value where I am). The income tax was raised to 5% a few years ago "temporarily". Of course, now they're trying to make it permanent saying schools will have to be closed or have their funding cut if the rate goes back down as scheduled. We couldn't possibly find other areas to cut. Oh no...The kids will have to take it on the chin. Just more scare tactics to pick everyone's wallet. Basically, you're shaken down at every turn to keep funding the beast. We've avoided putting down roots because we don't want to get screwed. Chicago is a great town with world class restaurants and entertainment options, but it doesn't make up for the rest of it. And after the "polar vortex" this winter, anything warmer is looking appealing. I hope to be joining you soon!

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by PhxBarb

[/b]


I am like you Ponderosa. I just think, after awhile, you get sick of the desert, the brown, all the cookie cutter houses, the gravel yards, the schools here, and really nothing historic or interesting to do, after you have done the usual tourist things. The first couple years I was amazed at the beauty here compared to Chicago, IL, but, if I could, I would go back. I cannot because of the horrendous property taxes there but I do agree, its a great place to live.

I still like the desert and brown has always been my favorite color. What makes me want to leave PHX is the people. There are just too many of them. This is not the place I came to 40 odd years ago. You can't go anywhere anymore without traffic and congestion on the way, and then you find too many people for the resource when you get there. It's like an ant farm to me - crawling with humanity - and I don't like that.

If I were to leave it is for a smaller place certainly no LA or Chicago or any city over a few thousand. A nearby Walmart, a Lowes, and a couple fast food places will do fine for me. Just get me away from all this humanity! I might be able to find that in Zona, but I am thinking about Branson, MO. I really loved that place when we visited and have always thought about going back, getting a place on or near the lake and watching thunderstorms roll in. I need to start looking. The kids are all gone next year and the time is getting short.

[azriverfan.]

Is this really supposed to be news? You do realize Las Vegas and Phoenix were ranked 1 and 2 for nearly a decade for the fastest growing cities in the United States in the late 90's and 2000's. Both cities also boasted high ranks for people leaving them as well.

What is relevant is the net growth. Phoenix was the 3rd fastest growing city in the United States this past year.

Phoenix, Ariz. - In Photos: America's Fastest-Growing Cities 2014 - Forbes

[stevek64]

While not an official sample of course, of all the people we've known that have moved out of AZ, with no exceptions, it was either the result of a job transfer/offer somewhere else or moving to be back close to family they left behind. Family was by far the biggest reason in our experience. We had some friends that moved back to Washington thinking they wanted to be closer to family. After spending a year back in Washington in that wonderful weather, they want out and are going to be moving back to AZ this year....they figured air travel and skype can make the gap smaller. But we know others that have left and stayed away because being close to their family outweighed everything else.

Often the grass appears more green to many on the other side of the fence....for some it's reality, and some it turns out to be just an illusion. To each their own.

[R_Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by 43north87west

Just to be fair:



What this tells me is that the best it gets, is that almost one in four people are unhappy about where they live, even if where they live is one of the most beautiful places in the country. The worst it gets is one out of two. That's Illinois, though, which ought to make sense to anyone who has ever lived there.
.

A little midnight musing on this topic.....
I read a sociological study several decades ago that divided people into two groups - the settlers and the nomads. Research over the centuries found that between 1/3 and 1/4 of the population will always be nomads. They are the ones who pick up and move West, or pick up and move overseas, or pick up and move to the next town/state/watering hole. Whatever. This is how humans populated the earth.

A small subset of the settlers may start out being nomads. But they get tired of moving and settle in. They'll move once or twice and they are done with it. Some of the nomads just are never happy and will move every few years throughout their lives. Each of these groups and subsets serves a purpose to the population as a whole. Settlers make it possible for people to be employed, grow food, maintain industries and create communities. Nomads spread ideas, culture, new ways of thinking, etc. Not all settlers are saints and not all nomads are sinners.

There's a reason languages in different countries resemble each other. Some of the languages in the Philippines sound an awful lot like Bhasa Malay and Bhasa Indonesia. French and Spanish are interchangeable in some words and phrasings. Studying the spread of language throughout the world is a fascinating look at the movement of the nomads. And studying dialects just within the US will give you insights into the internal migrations in the US. Fascinating stuff.

OK - off the philosopher's box.
I originally signed on to CD Forum because it's interesting to read what makes people move and what makes us tick as a population. Six years on here and it's still fun!

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I It's like an ant farm to me - crawling with humanity - and I don't like that.
.

See! And I love Ponderosa's way with words! We are living in an ant farm! YIKES~
and there are 4.3 million ants!!!

[BlueCat1105]

Originally Posted by PhxBarb

[/b]


I am like you Ponderosa. I just think, after awhile, you get sick of the desert, the brown, all the cookie cutter houses, the gravel yards, the schools here, and really nothing historic or interesting to do, after you have done the usual tourist things. The first couple years I was amazed at the beauty here compared to Chicago, IL, but, if I could, I would go back. I cannot because of the horrendous property taxes there but I do agree, its a great place to live.

I can understand getting tired of the brown. I'm afraid that may become an issue. I also think that people romanticize about Chicago when a lot of the activities there are a pain in the neck because of time wasted due to traffic congestion, costs to park anywhere, long lines to do anything, etc. Add to that the weather issues (we haven't been outdoors for any length of time at all since early October!!!) and it's no longer for me. One of the things we used to enjoy was going to the Lyric Opera - well, their season is in the winter. Granted, it begins in October, but the last time I went in late October, guess what happened?? A snowstorm! Cya, Chicago!

PS - Just got my property tax bill too... YIKES!

[Discovery1]

There is no perfect place on earth folks.

[timtemtym]

Originally Posted by BlueCat1105

I can understand getting tired of the brown. I'm afraid that may become an issue. I also think that people romanticize about Chicago when a lot of the activities there are a pain in the neck because of time wasted due to traffic congestion, costs to park anywhere, long lines to do anything, etc. Add to that the weather issues (we haven't been outdoors for any length of time at all since early October!!!) and it's no longer for me. One of the things we used to enjoy was going to the Lyric Opera - well, their season is in the winter. Granted, it begins in October, but the last time I went in late October, guess what happened?? A snowstorm! Cya, Chicago!

PS - Just got my property tax bill too... YIKES!

Being indoors for more than a week would kill me. I thrive on sunshine. Living many years in Texas, we had a lot of time when outdoors was off limits due to heat, but at least at night it would be somewhat ok to hang out outside. I don't get how northern folks do it, but I know plenty of people who would never leave the North/Northeast.

[BlueCat1105]

Originally Posted by timtemtym

Being indoors for more than a week would kill me. I thrive on sunshine. Living many years in Texas, we had a lot of time when outdoors was off limits due to heat, but at least at night it would be somewhat ok to hang out outside. I don't get how northern folks do it, but I know plenty of people who would never leave the North/Northeast.

To some people, gloom and cold have no effect, but to me, there is a very marked change in the way I feel, emotionally. I've been a northern person my whole life, and now I've just had enough. I want to be outdoors!

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I still like the desert and brown has always been my favorite color. What makes me want to leave PHX is the people. There are just too many of them. This is not the place I came to 40 odd years ago. You can't go anywhere anymore without traffic and congestion on the way, and then you find too many people for the resource when you get there. It's like an ant farm to me - crawling with humanity - and I don't like that.

If I were to leave it is for a smaller place certainly no LA or Chicago or any city over a few thousand. A nearby Walmart, a Lowes, and a couple fast food places will do fine for me. Just get me away from all this humanity! I might be able to find that in Zona, but I am thinking about Branson, MO. I really loved that place when we visited and have always thought about going back, getting a place on or near the lake and watching thunderstorms roll in. I need to start looking. The kids are all gone next year and the time is getting short.

Call a place "Paradise"; Kiss it good bye.



I spent some of my adolescence and most of my adult life in a small town 50 miles from Detroit. A place where farmland, thick woods, and plenty of lakes was replaced by subdivisions, strip malls, a WalMart, Lowes, & a Home Depot.

Where folks moved to the "country" to escape the inner city drama, to effectively shut down the nearby farming operations because they couldn't handle the smell.

Up in arms because their road wasn't plowed immediately after a snowfall causing delays in mail delivery and limited bus activity to take their kids to school.

Well, the lakes are still there.....surrounded by McMansions.

I can never "go home" again.