Officially Scared Now! LOL! (Phoenix, Mesa: lease, home, neighborhood)

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by twiggy

Um, this is pretty good. You don't need to be set straight. Listen, we are large and spread out, some areas are good and some are bad. We do have crime, not the worst, but close enough to make a bad statistic, we do have pollution, not as bad as some but enough to get fined yearly, Maryvale, well, yeah, that would be a good t-shirt! I'd say you only forgot scorpions and poorly educated, and continuing to poorly educate, um maybe, you missed everything in and out of your house will be dusty all year despite dusting. Um, lets see, oh yeah, that you have to have a pool just in case the AC goes out in the summer or you will certainly die a horrible death from heat stroke. I'm sure there is more, but, this should be enough. The thing is, your coming from Detroit. This here is your saving grace!!! Because Detroit from what I have heard is just as bad or worse as Phoenix. So you will actually feel like you are moving up. You should be fine. It's not really all that bad. It's city-data forum, everyone exaggerates on here. We have these problems but everyone has some. If you hate it, you can always try to leave. WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

Really, don't worry, I am moving out of here and I still can see why some people would like it. It's personal, what you want or need, if we have it you'll like it. For me, I love fresh sea food, fall, and hot coco and fireplaces, skiing, boating, so it's not the greatest match. But some people love it, this will depend on who you are.

Hope you find what you're looking for! You've got me homesick for hot cocoa and fireplaces, already.
Peace.

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by TurcoLoco

mtc, you have to make a list of things that you do not like about Detriot, be honest and be thorough, then compare it to Phoenix and that could make things easier...

2 trips to Phoenix before moving here is a must, one in the middle of Summer another in the middle of Winter so you can see the weather trade off.

Just don't be like one of those who relocated here at their own desire and then whine all the time (you might have already noticed) giving out unfair bad vibes.

Good luck.

Right On!
I learned a long time ago that wherever you go, you'd better take your heart with you. Life is what you make it.

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by LBear

Well, I know Metro Detriot and I know Phoenix. Metro Detroit is the pit of hell. Yet, it can and does get -40F below zero in the winter. When I mean "hell", I mean the place just s*cks.

A lot of your comments are over-exaggerated and about 10% truth mixed with opinions and some bad facts. If you think Detroit is nicer than Phoenix, then you are better off NOT moving here. Save yourself the time and money and stay in Detroit. Also, the crime rate in Detroit FAR SUPERSEDES that of Phoenix, hands down. Plus, in Phoenix, you can carry a concealed weapon. BIG PLUS.

You know, when you put it like this, it really starts to add up.
Thanks for the tips!
What do you recommend, I 9mm? Ha, Ha.
I really hope is doesn't come to that. I'd like to think that God has a plan for me.
Peace

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I can understand what you are saying. The posts on this forum would scare anyone to some degree. But there is also a common post that goes something like the one above where the person has visited and the vast majority of their fears - especially about crime - have been allayed. The area has grown by 3-4 fold over the past 25 years. Do you really think that would have happened if all the putdowns you read on the forum were true? People aren't being forcefully relocated here and they certainly aren't forced to stay.

My gut is that you live in the Phoenix area not Detroit given your grasp of all the silly stereotypes about the Valley. But if not, and you are contemplating a move, reflect on your own personality. Can you adjust to the climate? Can you reach out to others to make new friends? Can you be happy visiting family once a year or less? Are you adaptable to change and growth in your life and in your community? Can you live with the fact that "things" are done differently in your new town? All the "hardware" one needs to have a good life is here. But, your happiness is about YOU, not us.

Good Stuff!
Yeah, we're ready for change. You're right, though - we're not going to change a whole town, so we'd better be ready to accept things as they are. You know what, in the end, people are people. And if you can't see that, then well, you'll never be happy.
I know one thing for damn sure - we could handle a 5 year stint in Oklahoma City a lot better now, than when were only 21.
Peace.

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by sberdrow

Yeah, I thought Detroit was supposed to be the worst place to live in the USA according to all the people I have met from there. I have no desire to ever find out. In fact, you can have the rest of America East of the Rockie Mountains.

Now, now. Flattery will get you nowhere.
Sheesh!
Remember: No Pain, No Gain.

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by Phoenix lady

You have a good sense of humor.
It's hot here, but if you keep your A/C turned on day and night in the hot months, you'll do okay. You can buy a place with a pool, too. That would help alot.
I don't think the West Valley is the ghetto, by any means. Parts perhaps, but not all of it. North Peoria is quite nice by T-bird. The Desert Harbor area.
I used to work in Maryvale--I wouldn't live there, but I never really felt really unsafe working there. The little town I grew up in had worse areas than that downstreet.
Snobsdale, well, yes, totally agree. I call it something else that isn't too nice. It's pretentious and as phony as a 3 dollar bill, I guess you'd say. The smiles are all botox manufactured and the rest of the bodies are "man-made" too--if you know what I mean. It's a strange vibe there, that's all I can say. I've never felt anything like it before except maybe out of the movie "The Stepford Wives."
Downtown Tempe I like--a down street and it feels okay there.
There's crime, but that's everywhere. I don't watch the news anymore though. It's too demoralizing.
My major gripes: Too many stucco, cooky cutter homes, piled next to each other. Too much concrete. Too many people. Toomuch heat. Lack of community feeling.
But, how it fits for you would be different than how it fits for me. I loved it out here the first 5 years. It could just be I'm in a change mode right now and have grown bored with it here. Positives: Generally, Phoenix metro is clean and kept up pretty well. Roads are good and wide out here,too. Sunny in the winter. Dry climate (depends on how you like it). Better here for aches and pains. Availability to anything you need to buy. Job market prob. better than alot of other places. Lots of good restaurants here.

Wow! What a nice post!!
My aches and pains need a break. Ooh! That didn't come out right. Ha, Ha.

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by foma

I've been here since Jan 2007 and a transplant just like everybody else. A couple of comments to make (love your humor by the way!):

It's damn hot but if you can survive a few months of scorching heat, the other 9 months or so are perfect (IMO).

Being a native Texan, I've never greeted anyone with a "howdy"even though it's like second nature to me.

Yes, crime is bad, and perhaps (though I can't prove statistically) seems more rampant here than other cities in the States but crime is pretty much EVERYWHERE these days. You have to realize, however, that Phoenix is HUGE so there's greater footage to commit crimes. That's my theory anyway.

"Snobsdale" is exactly what you say it is! The funny thing is, I've seen some pretty "shady" areas of Scottsdale, too. That whole area isn't all upscaly. I go there for shopping but I'm glad I don't live there. Those people are too intense for me.

The West Valley is not all ghetto. We also have to distinguish, I think, West and "Way out West" Valley. As far as Goodyear and Avondale goes, I've drawn the imaginary line North of I-10 as decent places to live. Though this is a generalization, that's my focus area when we house hunt.

I've noticed most people are here (even Scottsdale) genrally aren't "big money" - they just perceive to look that way. The opposite can be true, too, they dont look like they have a lot but you'd be surprised!

That's just my 2 cents!

You know, now that I think about, Okies do that "Hey Y'all" thing. It's was quite a culture shock for a couple of Michiganders. But, the people were super nice. I'm mean really great. I heard a little saying on the radio today, about "...leaving this place a little better than when you came in...", and I thought it really rang true. Life is what you make it.
Thanks!

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by YAZ

Ex Metro Detroiter here. I moved out here four years ago.

LBear, a CCW is easily attainable in Michigan. In fact, MI & AZ have reciprocal gun laws. You can carry in MI with an AZ CCW, as well as carry here with a MI CCW.

I'll never get used to not saving cans & bottles to bring back to the store.

No potholes in Phoenix.

Cars last many years here, but batteries tend to die after two.

Cox is better than Comcast.

I haven't seen a snake or scorpion here. Yet.

Sedona is nice, but stay away from the new age crystal places.

I like Jerome.

The drive to San Diego is incredibly boring but worth it.

Speaking of driving, we have the same bad habits here, except for doing 70 in the snow.

Many tatoos here.

Everybody has a wall. Back in MI, your neighbors might get mad ifya put up a wall. They might think you're trying to hide something.



I love it here. We have the best friends money can buy.

P.S.

Stay away from Maryvale....

Too FUNNY!
One thing for sure - we're going to bump into a lot of Michigan transplants.
I wonder if their are clubs and such, where we could meet and share our thoughts and impressions...
I'll bet there are. We'll have to do our homework.
Thanks for all the positive vibes!

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by Finger Laker

unless for spring training - watching the brewers @ maryvale is a hidden gem - great little park

Huh? We'll have to check it out!

I wonder if I can get a "Stay out of Maryvale!" t-shirt there? Ha, Ha.

[mtc81usa]

Originally Posted by w1ngzer0

bahahaha anyhoodles? hilarious. I wouldn't touch Detroit with a 10 ft pole.
United States cities by crime rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cool.
Yeah, we've got some issues up here. Great people, but, Whew! Tough Times!