Report from LA (Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale: apartment, how much, homes)
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It's been several months since I've posted here on the Phoenix forum... I'm hoping we've calmed down here and are able to have a rational conversation without personal attacks. I don't hold any grudges against any other posters here... and I hope that's mutual.
I graduated ASU in May, and I've been living in LA since June, attending USC for a full time master of accounting program. I've been studying like mad the last three months, but I've also met quite a few people, made some friends, and have done a fair bit of exploring on the weekends to get a sense of what LA is all about and how it compares to the other cities I've lived in and visited. I've been reflecting lately on the last four years I spent in Phoenix (Tempe specifically) as a student at ASU. One of the reasons I chose this program was the career recruiting program this school has. I've already been at a number of career fairs and "meet the firms" tours here and the deadline for applications to the major (inter)national firms is coming up fast. The first scheduled interviews are at the end of this month! So now push comes to shove and talk starts becoming decisions.
There are a few things I miss about Phoenix. I think Phoenix is without a doubt an acquired taste. After four years of it though, especially being a Sun Devil grad, I think I may have a piece of Phoenix still in me. (Other than my Fry's club card, which fortunately works at Ralphs too). A bunch of little things, some big, some little, but adding up. Like paying $400 a month for half a two bedroom apartment. Being able to jump on my bicycle and go for hours through the neighborhoods, sticking to the 1/2 mile and 1/4 mile neighborhood streets like College Ave, Dorsey Ln, Lakeshore Dr, Country Club (the one in Tempe, not the one in Mesa). Exploring EVERYWHERE, even big bad Apache Boulevard, without being too concerned that I'm going to get mugged by the latest crew of Bloods and Crips. Eating incredible Mexican food (and Mexican inspired food) and I know this is a bold, bold statement, but I believe the Mexican food in Phoenix is actually tastier than that found in LA! I miss having beautiful, state of the art freeways where you can approach any interchange you've never been to before and know exactly how to get on-- turn left to go left and right to go right. No 270 degree loop-di-doos, no corkscrews, no memorizing which street connects to 405 North vs 405 south.
People that are a little bit simpler in their tastes-- people who probably don't know what "steak tartare" is, probably wouldn't go out to a restaurant that serves that, and thank God for that! Where driving an older car doesn't make you look like a loser, and a Mercedes or a Lexus is actually considered a nice car, not just an average hunk of metal that blends into the background. (I guess Scottsdale is exempt from that last statement). Clear blue skies, crystal clear sunsets, and clear nights, uncluttered with thick haze. Being a few hours drive from incredible high desert and ponderosa pine tree landscapes. People who can be proud to be a Sun Devil without being arrogant ***holes sticking in your face how much superior your school is than theirs. (I support the Trojans too, especially when they play Ohio State, but I'm for ASU first and foremost, even if they'll probably end up losing anyway). Let's hope Sparky does many push ups this year! People who are A-OK with living in a city the size of Phoenix, relatively isolated out there in the middle of the desert, and don't feel the need to apologize for it. People who think Phoenix is a respectable city to live, work and play, to build a career, who don't think that even the second largest city in the nation isn't urban enough for them and are looking to move to the first largest to get that extra prestige. People who can still work hard without being overachieving workaholics.
Hot, hot, hot days, but dry, where at least when you step out of the car with the air conditioning running your glasses don't start fogging up (with the exception of occasional days in the summer monsoon or winter rain season). And yet still having palm trees, still having oleanders and bougainvilleas producing beautiful flowers, a whole array of desert vegetation that stays green year round and is arguably even more beautiful than the scrub vegetation of so-cal. Actually getting a few drops of rain in the summer (and from what I've heard this summer, it sounds like Phoenix has had quite a bit more than just a "few drops") so outdoor vegetation doesn't gather thick dust with gigantic cobwebs over every plant imaginable. But still having In-n-Out burger, El Pollo Loco, spanish tile roof architecture, western ranch style 1960s era homes (there are similar looking things in LA, but for some reason the architecture is not exactly the same-- there are some subtle differences in styles and colors between the two cities-- and I personally like Phoenix's mid-century style a tad more). Block fences everywhere-- at first I hated them, now I love them! And Phoenix is the world capital of cinder block fences! And still being chock full of pretty girls everywhere, every bit as attractive, maybe even a hair moreso as the ladies in SoCal.
Just enough international diversity to appreciate the many different cultures around the world but without feeling like you're living in a foreign country at times. Being able to actually afford living there without living like you're in a 3rd world country. A place where living with roommates means 2 people sharing a 2-bedroom apartment, not 2 or 3 or more people sharing a 1 bedroom apartment. A place where the business of getting around and living is just so god **** easy compared to LA.
There's really only one thing I don't miss-- the extreme heat. It's pretty hot here too during the day, and it's way too humid, but the nights (with just a few exceptions) actually cool down. I don't even have air conditioning-- wish I did, but I've managed to survive all right. At night with the fan blowing right next to the window I don't even need it. And the beach is there about 30 minutes away whenever I need to see it. I actually love deserts, but I like high elevation deserts-- like northern Arizona (Prescott or Sedona, especially) or Albuquerque, NM a lot more climate-wise than low deserts like Phoenix or Vegas. I like at least seeing a bit of snow each winter, and the thought of never seeing even an inch of snow again sounds sad... The thought of living in that barbaric month after month after month of heat again makes me shudder. HOWEVER, everything else about Phoenix "works" for me quite well. I think there's quite a bit I miss about Phoenix, when I think about it.
I'm still listing Denver as my #1 location preference. But I'm not here to talk about Denver, and I'm well aware that at least a dozen people on this forum hate that city with a passion, why, I'm not sure. I'm thinking I may list Phoenix as option #2, and possibly apply to a few firms I like that have Phoenix offices but aren't in Denver, just so I have my bases covered "in case." In most national firms and corporations, Phoenix is in the same regional division as southern California and it's only a 7 hour drive so I could theoretically drive out there the night before for a morning interview and then hit the road back to LA the next day. I'm okay with this place for the next 8 months while I work on my degree, but I just don't see how I could be happy living here after that. I think believe or not I'd rather live in Phoenix than LA. Now San Diego-- that's a whole different story. San Diego is NICE. Although for some reason as much as I love SD, I don't see myself wanting to push myself to actually live there. It's almost too perfect to actually live there! Phoenix is definitely an acquired taste, but for those who have acquired it, Phoenix does have a lot going for it.
Last edited by vegaspilgrim; 09-08-2008 at 01:43 AM..
Glad you miss a little about Phoenix. I miss some of the things about LA when I was growing up, but that is so long ago and LA has changed so much. Sounds like you are off to many adventures...reminds me of the Dr. Seuss book, "Oh The Places You Will Go." Have fun wherever you are.
I too am an ASU alum - probably a bit older than you (class of 1998). Although I loved my time there as a student, I left right after graduation because I missed the east coast and my family.
Now after ten years in NJ, we are planning to move back. I forgot how much I loved it out there until I went back for a visit a few months ago. Your post, also, brought back so many memories. Especially all the bike riding we did! Before Tempe town lake went in, it was dry and we always rode down in there as well as all over town and even to the bars on some nights!
I am a tiny bit worried about the summer heat, but aside from that I think the Phoenix area is a great place to live, work, raise a family and have a lot of very cool friends.
I also love SD but kind of agree with you that it may be a better place to visit than to live. You should check out the SD board to see what they say about cost of living and jobs down there.
I hope your job search goes well and you are happy wherever life takes you.
Hey Vegas, you sound exactly like me when I left Seattle to complete my undergrad at USC! LOL and I felt the same way about Phoenix when i made the trip from L.A. to Phoenix to visit family a few times during the holidays and HAD to go back to L.A. Have fun with your grad studies!
Thanks for the nice comments everybody. There's a chance I might even take a trip to Phoenix this Thanksgiving or winter break. By then it should be perfect weather. I think whether or not I live there again I'll definitely want to keep coming back to Phoenix to visit on vacation. Maybe by then the light rail will be up and running and I'll be able to try out first hand how the project turned out.
Just out of curiosity is anybody on this forum an accountant or knows someone who is an accountant in Phoenix?
Thanks for the nice comments everybody. There's a chance I might even take a trip to Phoenix this Thanksgiving or winter break. By then it should be perfect weather. I think whether or not I live there again I'll definitely want to keep coming back to Phoenix to visit on vacation. Maybe by then the light rail will be up and running and I'll be able to try out first hand how the project turned out.
Just out of curiosity is anybody on this forum an accountant or knows someone who is an accountant in Phoenix?
Well I similarly graduated with a business degree, from a major university, and had no trouble landing a decent-paying job as a financial analyst. I really had no idea until I began looking for myself how much opportunity there is out here in finance and accounting, especially for those without much experience. Granted some of the top-level jobs might not pay as much as other cities, but for entry-level salary and opportunities, I found Phoenix to be on par with other cities, and I am coming from New York. That was one false impression I had of Phoenix, after listening to so many vent about lack of white collar jobs, and high-paying ones at that. It just takes an effort and thorough research on companies and industries in the valley; Recruiters out here were also generally helpful.
The other false impression I had, and where I disagree with you, is the heat. It is nowhere near as bad as I was led to believe, but to each his own. I compare the summers here to a northeast winter, and would take these summers anyday. I honestly can't recall one day where I felt it too hot to go outside or lay by the pool. Perhaps this summer just wasn't as hot as years past.
Anyways, great post and I read many of your insightful posts before moving out here and it would be great if as many posts were as balanced and rational as yours.
(I support the Trojans too, especially when they play Ohio State, .
Ouch, man!!! I havent been on here that much lately but came across this and had to speak out on this one being an Ohio State student!! I cant wait for it, its going to be a great game. I just hope Beanie is 100%!! If he is, oh boy.
It looks like Phoenix is now a potential consideration again... one of the firms I'm applying to has a really unique opportunity in Phoenix and only there. At least that's where the office is based-- for months out of the year though (about 30% of the year they said) I'd be travelling all over the country and the world. Talk about dilemmas!
Tell them you'll take the job only if you'll travel around the country and the world in June, July and August and beat MOST OF THE HEAT!
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People who are A-OK with living in a city the size of Phoenix, relatively isolated out there in the middle of the desert, and don't feel the need to apologize for it. People who think Phoenix is a respectable city to live, work and play, to build a career, who don't think that even the second largest city in the nation isn't urban enough for them and are looking to move to the first largest to get that extra prestige. People who can still work hard without being overachieving workaholics.
