Relocating from Maine to AZ (Phoenix, Tucson: crime rate, felons, neighborhood)

[Miker2069]

I've read this thread a few others like it. I've only been to Phx once, I know several folks that have moved to Phx over the last year and haven't heard the complaints that a couple people are rendering here.

I'm just curious, if it's so bad, why is it one of the fastest growing areas in the US? Why is employment (white collar jobs) strong, and why are businesses big and small relocating or opening an office there?

Just curious, I'm not necessarily a Phx fan or detractor, just curious- I posted something similar on a different thread but didn't get a response.

[brian_2]

In a word - jobs. The naive nature of transplants who have never lived in a place of 100+ degree days, end on end, but who have come to believe that escaping cold/snow & having a perpetual (no such thing as a healthy tan - a tan is prematurely aged skin) "sunglow." Then you've got all those retirees and senoirs who are sick of being stuck inside because of cold winters - the irony being they will find themselves stuck inside again, this time because of the heat in the Valley of the Sun.

[Miker2069]

Originally Posted by brian_2

In a word - jobs. The naive nature of transplants who have never lived in a place of 100+ degree days, end on end, but who have come to believe that escaping cold/snow & having a perpetual (no such thing as a healthy tan - a tan is prematurely aged skin) "sunglow." Then you've got all those retirees and senoirs who are sick of being stuck inside because of cold winters - the irony being they will find themselves stuck inside again, this time because of the heat in the Valley of the Sun.

Jobs is it. Clearly it's a "follow the money" question, which is if it's so bad why are corporations opening branches there? Phoenix continues to be in the top 20 places for economic growth.

[SpeedyAZ]

Jobs is it. Clearly it's a "follow the money" question, which is if it's so bad why are corporations opening branches there? Phoenix continues to be in the top 20 places for economic growth.

Hoards of people are moving to Phoenix (and the whole West in general) and because of the fact that land is still relatively cheap compared to L.A. or any other huge city, employers are relocating here to take advantage of that fact. People are moving here because of 3 main reasons:

1) Jobs
2) Weather
3) Home prices (not so much anymore)

I moved here because of those facts plus I had family already down here. I knew many people that kept telling me to move to Phoenix and I finally did....never regretted the decision. The homes prices aren't as inflated as CA's and because of that fact, many NATIVE Californian's are moving here. They can still drive 6 hours and go to San Diego or fly cheaply to L.A. for the weekend.

[Dwayne Pipe]

Originally Posted by steve22

Phoenix is like the attractive blonde you see from a distance, who looks good from a superficial aspect, but when you actually get to meet her, there's just no substance underneath that's attractive at all. Scratch the surface, and there's nothing there.

Please don't post about my ex-wife on this forum...

[Azbound]

I started this post with my questions about the move from Maine to Arizona.......here I am!!! Arrived AZ a week ago today! Thanks for all the information, negative and positive. Its all been helpful! Dwayne, like your last comment!

[Dwayne Pipe]

Originally Posted by Azbound

I started this post with my questions about the move from Maine to Arizona.......here I am!!! Arrived AZ a week ago today! Thanks for all the information, negative and positive. Its all been helpful! Dwayne, like your last comment!

How are you liking AZ so far? I may have an opportunity to move there myself, from the east coast. I hate winter and like the desert, so I'm thinking I'll be OK.

[a1m1700]

Originally Posted by gayleinAZ

I wish you well in Durango. Was there once 25 years ago for skiing and that's about it. LOVED the Stratter Hotel and it's bar. Great little place to hang out. They had LOGS in the pool. Found out later that was to keep it from freezing solid in winter. My niece lives in Fort Collins and I have friends in Denver, Boulder and Grand Juntion. They are all thriving there, I found those places a bit YUPPY and pricey hence the look see at MO! I love seeing the Rockies but maybe not every day and when I was in Denver in Feb after the temp got to be -13 that night I stopped watching the weather channel.

Az was ALMOST Ok when I was a kid. It was a safe enough place to grow up 30 some years ago. Most of our summers were spent on horse back since we grew up on a dairy in Laveen. Now I can barely get into the car in the morning before the news starts yapping about which street is closed due to shoot outs, hostage situations, car jackings or police chases. And I go to work at 6 A.M. Oh - and least we forget that 15 mile 45 minute commute - twice a day.

We've had 6 murders within 2 miles just last week alone.. YEAH and 4 were ACROSS THE STREET FROM A SHINY BRAND NEW $200k PER HOUSE GATED COMMUNITY! Welcome to AZ now get your flak jacket! They should be issued at the border.

I shall check out Columbia - sounds like my kinda place. Small, homey and with friendly/safe people who aren't trying to shoot me off the road just for sport! And who speak a language I can understand. I wish to leave before the holidays this year. Bon Voyage and good luck staying alive another year here in HELL

I live 3 miles from those murders 5 murders in the gated community. It was a nut they worked for though. That gated community is not an upscale community. I wouldn't call it that anyway. It's nothing like where this guy in Scottsdale is posting.

Oh you guys forgot to ad we have the highest incidence of west wile here too. We don't have many mesquitos but we have the west nile virus. Go figure that. African killer bees (does anyone else have those?) and RSV for the little ones. I'm not sure if anyone else has RSV either. I know anyone that has a baby should not take it out during that season.

[SpeedyAZ]

It's nothing like where this guy in Scottsdale is posting

I'm assuming you meant me?

[doublet]

Originally Posted by Dwayne Pipe

Please don't post about my ex-wife on this forum...

OMG!!! you have me rolling!