Thinking of relocating from Sunny San Diego to the dessert of Phoenix Arizona (Mesa: transporting, crimes)

[Encinitas]

Originally Posted by sablebaby

Have you checked the yellowpages online? Try dexonline.com and do a search. I'm not sure what locals think about it, I guess we think it's fine. I don't usually hear too much about it.

Thanks Sablebaby,
Will do the search.

[lukeache]

I dont mean to burst anybody's bubble but I dislike Phoenix immensely. I lived in Mesa for 3 years and this is definitely a city I would NEVER move back to. Phoenix is known by many as "crap magnet", it is a magnet for Southern trailer trash like no other city. It is a big city with no culture of its own, nothing to do, it is a sterile place with no character, no soul. Besides all the Southern trash, lots of California criminals and gang members are moving to Phoenix to escape the "three strikes you are out" laws in California. This place is growing out of control, with no planning and infra structure, crime is very high, not so much in the suburbs but in the city, it is pretty bad. Downtown Phoenix is probably the least attractive downtown I have ever seen, it is just dead after 6 pm.Now the worst thing about this place is the heat..dry heat eh? You will see what is like when you wake up at 7 am and you are all sweaty. I do not recommend Phoenix area to anybody.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by lukeache

I dont mean to burst anybody's bubble but I dislike Phoenix immensely. I lived in Mesa for 3 years and this is definitely a city I would NEVER move back to. Phoenix is known by many as "crap magnet", it is a magnet for Southern trailer trash like no other city. It is a big city with no culture of its own, nothing to do, it is a sterile place with no character, no soul. Besides all the Southern trash, lots of California criminals and gang members are moving to Phoenix to escape the "three strikes you are out" laws in California. This place is growing out of control, with no planning and infra structure, crime is very high, not so much in the suburbs but in the city, it is pretty bad. Downtown Phoenix is probably the least attractive downtown I have ever seen, it is just dead after 6 pm.Now the worst thing about this place is the heat..dry heat eh? You will see what is like when you wake up at 7 am and you are all sweaty. I do not recommend Phoenix area to anybody.

LOL. I don't think I have met more than a handful of southerners in the three decades I have lived here. I get the impression that southerners stay at home. Must be a nice place to live (the south) - though I would never feel right there.

BTW, Arizona has a three strikes law as well. And felonies committed in other states count toward the three.

[irwin]

I agree. This place is really a magnet for people from the Midwest who move out here to get away from the cold and lack of jobs.

[Encinitas]

Originally Posted by lukeache

I dont mean to burst anybody's bubble but I dislike Phoenix immensely. I lived in Mesa for 3 years and this is definitely a city I would NEVER move back to. Phoenix is known by many as "crap magnet", it is a magnet for Southern trailer trash like no other city. It is a big city with no culture of its own, nothing to do, it is a sterile place with no character, no soul. Besides all the Southern trash, lots of California criminals and gang members are moving to Phoenix to escape the "three strikes you are out" laws in California. This place is growing out of control, with no planning and infra structure, crime is very high, not so much in the suburbs but in the city, it is pretty bad. Downtown Phoenix is probably the least attractive downtown I have ever seen, it is just dead after 6 pm.Now the worst thing about this place is the heat..dry heat eh? You will see what is like when you wake up at 7 am and you are all sweaty. I do not recommend Phoenix area to anybody.

Ya, been hearing a lot about the crime rate. What type? Burglary, murders, rapes? Is it true that people can carry a gun around? Could this be the reason for the crime rate? I grew up in Chicago, the city, lots of crime there. Just need to be sharp, stay away from bad neiborhoods, travel in groups, etc. I was actually mugged in front of my house in the middle of January in my freshman year in college. I was the only victim that night they didn't hurt. With my help, they caught them and sent to cook county. Anyway, since then I try to be very aware of my surrounding. And after having kids, I am even more aware. I try do my research and get a feel for the neigorbhood.
We are looking to live in Phoenix to have a better/comfortable life. Thank you for your input but how about the 85085 zip code? Is this a bad neiborhood?

As far as the heat, growing up in Chicago, lived in New England for 13+ years and 6yrs. in San Diego, not ready to go back yet to the windy city of Chicago. Maybe in a couple of years.

BTW, where do you live now?

[Encinitas]

Originally Posted by irwin

I agree. This place is really a magnet for people from the Midwest who move out here to get away from the cold and lack of jobs.

Midwest people are friendly. They will not hesitate to hold the door open for you, help change your flat tire etc.

Where are you from?

[irwin]

Originally Posted by Encinitas

Midwest people are friendly. They will not hesitate to hold the door open for you, help change your flat tire etc.

Where are you from?

I have nothing against people from the Midwest. They are normally very nice and as I said on another thread, their public education system is ranked very high nationally.

Maybe my only complaint with people from the Midwest is that many (apart from Chicago) are a little naïve. Some of my friends out here are from Iowa and they are the nicest people in the world, but they come from VERY small farming communities and are completely clueless on what makes a “city.” I think that is a big reason this place is so anti-urban.

As for myself, I grew up in Texas but moved to Washington D.C. after collage and worked out there for about 5 years. After that I came out here for grad school. Arizona is definitely not the place for me and that’s why I’m off to Boston in May.

[movin'on]

Originally Posted by dano

No doubt, money does not buy happiness; just one look at the dissfunction from the easy money Hollywood crowd tells us that. Moving anywhere from the San Diego area could have its disappointments. Keep an open mind, be prepared for the heat and the lack of an urban lifestyle. Whatever that is.

Be prepared for nothing to do, no sense of community, an apathy beyond belief, and you'll do just fine. If strip malls, movie theatres, and chain restaurants are enough to make you happy, you'll do just fine.

Forget the walks on the beach, Shelter Island, Downtown SD, La Jolla, Old Town, THE OCEAN, and you'll do just fine. This place is abysmal.

I haven't been to SD since 1993, and I imagine it's changed quite a bit. Still, this place is a brown pit in the middle of nowhere.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by movin'on

Be prepared for nothing to do, no sense of community, an apathy beyond belief, and you'll do just fine. If strip malls, movie theatres, and chain restaurants are enough to make you happy, you'll do just fine.

Good grief! Just what do those who post such things want to do that they can't? Go to azcentral.com and check events. There is everything from professional sports, to art displays, to opera, to theatre, to movies, to city festivals, to food tasting events, to book signings, to poetry readings, to mountain hiking, to horseback riding, to urban fishing, to having a picnic, to playing in a sports league, to NASCAR and on and on and on. It's like that this weekend and every weekend of the year including summer. And yes, the city is large and spread out. You actually have to get off the couch, get in the car, and drive to events. But don't say there is "nothing to do". Maybe "there is nothing that interests me" or "nothing I want to do" would be more accurate.

[Encinitas]

Originally Posted by irwin

I have nothing against people from the Midwest. They are normally very nice and as I said on another thread, their public education system is ranked very high nationally.

Maybe my only complaint with people from the Midwest is that many (apart from Chicago) are a little naïve. Some of my friends out here are from Iowa and they are the nicest people in the world, but they come from VERY small farming communities and are completely clueless on what makes a “city.” I think that is a big reason this place is so anti-urban.

As for myself, I grew up in Texas but moved to Washington D.C. after collage and worked out there for about 5 years. After that I came out here for grad school. Arizona is definitely not the place for me and that’s why I’m off to Boston in May.

You will defintely love Boston especially in the fall. Give my regards.

As far as Arizona, we will need to just to take a lot of short weekends and go to Flagstaff, Sedona, vegas etc.