My story on why i relocated from LA to Phoenix (Mesa: rentals, appliances)

[Arizona Desert Rat]

I lived in LA for twenty years and in Phoenix for nine years, by CHOICE. I was not financially forced to move to Phoenix, which is the main belief (possibly true) people have about LA transplant living in Phoenix. Some Phoenicians are seen as bitter valley residents who could not hack it in LA and now they are a group bitter and jealous people dying to get back to LA, only if they could afford to. This does not apply to me, so I figured I would give the the most objective opinion possible and shed a little light on the flaws of LA, because many Los Angelenos believe LA in con free; and if you see anything wrong with it you are crazy.

I sold my L.A. home for a large gain, bought three rentals in the Mid-West and make a good sum of money. My wife is an RN and I teach,

I live in a brand new 3400 sq ft house on a 17k sq ft lot. I have a real theater room and 96 inch windows that make up the back of my house with a view of the mountain less than four hundred meters from my house, downtown Phoenix, and all of the other mountains that comprise the valley. I have an observation deck that overlooks everything. I watch the sunsets and planes take-off from Phoenix Harbor Airport with my 3 year old as the sun goes down. I have 8 ft doorways throughout and 10 foot arches in the hall ways. It is all single story with 15 feet ceilings. French doors off of the master, kit and Family room leading to the back yard with views of the city; I have french doors off of the study leading to the front court-yard. The Kitchen has an island and stainless steel appliances. It is an open floor plan with an enclosed court-yard in the front of the house. We are in the process of completing our backyard with the pool, trellis, gas grill and bar, and fire pit with sitting wall, playground, along with a garden for my wife. I am not going to talk about my 3 car attached garage, master bedroom w/ an enormous closet, pendant lights, floors et al....you get the point.

It is a five minute bike ride to L.A. fitness. It takes me and my wife two minutes to get to the bike trail (view of city and mountains). It takes my 12-15 minutes to get downtown. Things I have done Children's museum, Science Center, Heard Museum, City Scape, D'Backs, Coyotes, Cardinals and Phoenix Suns. Comedy Club, shopping, Dodge Theater, Canyon Lake, Salt River, First Friday's arts displays, restaurants, Civic Center; all the things L.A. but smaller and less of them. 10 minutes to the airport, 18 minutes to school (15 minutes for my wife to her job). The Mesa Natural Museum of History and Science. The Lost Dutchman mine at Superstition Mountain; with in a two hour drive: Jerome, Sedona: slide rock and hiking, Flagstaff (skiing), Camp Verde Wild Animal tour, Tuscon resort, Tombstone, the Biosphere. I have done the Phoenix Zoo, Payson Camping (with pines) Tempe Lake, the Circus, Prescott park in the mid-summer, ATV riding just north of the city (AWESOME) entertainers, Scottsdale Clubs blah blah blah. Oh and I drive 280 mile to Vegas for fun just like SoCal people. And I was at Santa Monica pier Friday, Old Town Pasadena Thursday, Magic Mountain Saturday, Griffith Today. I come to LA ANYTIME I need my jones filled.

The freeways are SMOOTH and free from graffiti. My daughter went to a top notch school (Chandler School District), never had to pick her up or drop her off . My little one will be in the Kyrene School district. Everything is so CLEAN and new. Chandler Fashion Square and San Tan Village, Scottsdale Fashion Mall, Arizona Mills, Tempe Market Place, Westgate in Glendale, The Phoenix Premium Outlet, and the Biltmore........ so clean from filth and riff rafts.

[GSR13]

Really?

[Chicano3000X]

I can't stand the summers in L.A. unless I have time for the beach. Can't imagine Phoenix..

[elhelmete]

Cool story, bro.

[49erfan916]

Originally Posted by elhelmete

cool story, bro.

lmao....you're so funny.....(yawn)

[Mr_Geek]

Nothing could make me want to live in a place where the average high in the summer is north of 105 degrees.

[ryanms3030]

Left LA , don't want to go back yet feel the need to justify themselves with huge 5 paragraph post on LA forum for a bunch of people who could care less

[elhelmete]

Originally Posted by ryanms3030

Left LA , don't want to go back yet feel the need to justify themselves with huge 5 paragraph post on LA forum for a bunch of people who could care less

don't forget it's post #1

[oping00]

What do you do for fun when it hits 115. Summers in Arizona are the worst and everyone stays inside whereas in LA everyone is outside.

[saibot]

This will sound like sour grapes but is absolutely true: I would have no interest in your house even if I could afford it or it was given to me. I grew up in a 3600-sq ft house, and would never want to live in such a big place again. Just too much wasted space. By the time we were down to three people living there, we only used a third of it.

Now, interior design and home improvements don't interest me in the least, I don't have a lot of stuff, and we don't host big parties. I just want my house to be a cozy space. On the other hand, I love the outdoors and the beach, so mild weather for outdoor activities like hiking and biking is a priority for me.

I think it's great that you have a big, modern house in Phoenix that you love, but I'm not tempted at all. Phoenix is too hot.