Maine to Arizona? (Phoenix, Yuma: military, vacation, jobs)

[Beth G.]

I'm fed up with heating and oil prices here in Maine and have been thinking for awhile of moving out west.

I've never experienced an AZ summer and have read/heard that its hot enough to fry an egg on. What is it like when its that hot? Is it just running from A/C to A/C like we do here in the winters with the cold?

Also, I HATE bugs and critters. Are scorpions and snakes a normal part of life there?

[sablebaby]

Are you looking at Phx? If you are, I can move this to the Phx forum and you'll receive more reponses. However, you can find your answers already if you do a search for them. These are the most common questions that we get.

[shadow91]

There are no 4 seasons here. It goes from nice to hot very quickly. Scorpions and snakes are a part of everyone's life here. You just have to have an exterminator to eradicate them, and watch for the snakes. I am from IL and they had a terrible winter/spring there so I don't miss that at all. Coming from a small town, there is so much to do here that keeps one busy. I came out here as a traveler, brought my teenager, he fell in love with AZ and here we are 2 years later. I hate the heat, but what are you going to do? There is no perfect place except perhaps San Diego, if you can afford that.

[esselcue]

There ARE four seasons in Northern AZ...not as distinct as the east coast and midwest, perhaps, but we do have summer, fall, winter and sometimes some sort of spring.

[Beth G.]

Sorry, I should have been more specific and said Phoenix area.

We were originally considering So Cal but am rethinking due to obvious reasons. I am just scared of how hot it actually gets. I've heard all the stories and have read some of the posts on here, but was just wondering if its impossible to be outside during June-September in AZ.

To the person from IL, was it an easy adjustment for you? I don't mind giving up the 4 seasons (although i'd miss autumn a bit).

[sfw1979]

Originally Posted by Beth G.

Sorry, I should have been more specific and said Phoenix area.

We were originally considering So Cal but am rethinking due to obvious reasons. I am just scared of how hot it actually gets. I've heard all the stories and have read some of the posts on here, but was just wondering if its impossible to be outside during June-September in AZ.

To the person from IL, was it an easy adjustment for you? I don't mind giving up the 4 seasons (although i'd miss autumn a bit).

Beth,

Hello. We live in Maine right now and moved from Yuma Az about 1 1/2 yrs ago. We are military and move around but we have lived several places and I can help answer your q's. It is pretty hard to be outside June-Sept but not impossible. You wouldn't bring children to the park in the afternoon but you could in the evening when the sun starts to go down or in the early morning. You can swim all summer and if you have kids I would get a house with a pool. You will get so much use from them. I'll tell you though, one thing we really miss is sitting out at night in the summer. Yes, it's still HOT and you sweat a little but it's nice to just relax in your back yard. Winters are wonderful and you will be so happy when it's Nov and your having Thanksgiving dinner outside on your patio. Sunshine is so plentiful, and yes there are times when people in Phoenix or Yuma get tired of the sun but for the most part it's great! You always know it's going to be sunny the next day. And after going through a long, gloomy and dark Maine winter you will be loving it!! I still can't get over that fact that it gets dark at 4:30 in December in MAine! YucK!!

Good luck with your maybe move!!!

[sfw1979]

""Also, I HATE bugs and critters. Are scorpions and snakes a normal part of life there?""

In the three years we lived in Yuma I never saw a scorpian or snake. And as far as the AC going on. It goes on constantly in the summer, just like in Maine our heat goes on constantly in the winter.

[Beth G.]

Hi Sfw1979,
Thank you for your reply!!! So cool to talk to someone else from Maine in the AZ forum.
Interestingly enough, Yuma is the only part of AZ I have been to. It was so long ago and I don't remember much of it. I definitely want to go there (Phoenix) for a family vacation and see what its like first. I know I'll love it based on pictures I've seen, but better to see it in person before applying for jobs. I'm a native New Englander, having lived my life in CT and ME. I have spent A LOT of time in CA when my mom lived there and I LOVED it but am not sure it is the place for us (hubby, 2 children-6 y.o, 2 y.o. boys).

So it sounds like you really miss it there. How long have you been in Maine and do you have plans to move back to AZ?

Beth

[YAZ]

I was born & raised in da U.P. of Michigan, so I can understand the winter blahs.

I adore the Valley of the Sun...been here four years....and I honestly don't think I'll ever move back.

The heat really isn't that bad, but I was a little shocked at my electric bill my first summer. That can be controlled however.

You can be happy ANYWHERE.

Remember, this is coming from a "professional" ice fisher.

[twiggy]

I'm jealous you guys live in Maine. lol I've been wanting the winter instead of the summer. Isn't that funny. It's always nice to have a change. You'll do fine in the summer. It's just like your winter. At the end of it you get so sick of it you can't wait until Nov. You miss rain and get excited for it like you hate it there and get excited if you see sun. It's the same life but for flip flopped reasons. A/C bills instead of heating bills, always staying in the A/C for months, etc. You will just have to adjust your outdoor activities from summer to winter and vise-versa. Welcome to AZ. You'll love the first year especially. Then after that you'll be one of us!