Ex-Californians in Phoenix, What Do You Think? (salary, living)

[TurcoLoco]

If you really think about it, ultimately, it all boils down to what factor(s) make a person happier, more satisfied in his/her surroundings, some go after career, some more $4, some better opportunities os some kind for themselves or their family, some for weather, some to get away from whatever and so forth.

It all depends on your priorities and I believe, some people just like or dislike the change, regardless of where they move, that affects their opinions and more importantly their feelings.

There is no perfect place on this planet or anywhere else that we all could agree on because we are all different with different tastes, needs, etc.

There is no perfect place because none of us if perfect (right?) so even if such perfect place existed, logically, would any one of us be capable of realizing it?

Learn to love and enjoy where you live, if not move. Life if too short to get stuck somewhere that you are not happy with unless you are in prison.

Love, peace and chicken grease!

[Howard Roark]

I'm a native Californian. Moved to Arizona in 1996 and Phoenix in 2000. I like both Los Angeles and Phoenix. I'm an engineer, so I have no problem for the most part finding some good paying jobs in either city. Right now I'm working on the east coast but I still rent an apartment in Phoenix. I'm about to move back to Los Angeles to work there this Fall. To me, everything except real estate is cheap in Phoenix.

[Howard Roark]

In general, I agree with your quote below. I would put it this way: Arizona women are more down-to-earth. Although in "progressive" Tucson, I met some phoney ones.

Being from California, and having lived in LA, the closer to the beach areas, the phonier they are. But that's the star phenomenon.

Shoot. You can even do an experiment: Go on Match.com and do a picture search for women between 25 and 45 in 90254 and then in 85044. The former is more plastic, more makeup. The latter is what you see is what you get.

Originally Posted by w1ngzer0

how about born in AZ, raised in California


Woman in AZ are better.

[NytoPhx]

To Californians: What do you see in the Phoenix area that is superior to California? Is there anything, other than a more affordable lifestyle. Just out of curiosity, to those that lived in California, if a random person was debating between the Phoenix area and southern California, what attributes of the Phoenix metropolitan area would make it more worthwhile than southern California?

[barryhussein]

Never saw any race riots in AZ; there have been plenty in CA. Remember Reginald Denny? There were curfews in Berkeley, and they were setting houses on fire in Oakland. Go to the Alameda Government's website and look at what people are paying for RE Taxes. I've seen 6000 USD per year in neighborhoods that are not safe in broad daylight.

[Howard Roark]

How about the intangible advantage of feeling like an adult? That's a general Arizona advantage over California, which has motorcycle helmet laws, much more gun laws, anti-smoking laws, silly socialist costs on business (such as leave from work for parents of newborns). I'm a non-smoker and very outspoken against those who pollute my lungs with their carcinogens. I think it's criminal for adults to pollute the lungs of their children under the same roof. But other than that, no laws should be made to dictate what an individual should do with his her her own body. The Arizona voters a few years ago passed a referendum to legalize marijuana, but the stodgy nanny state courts prevented the legalization.

Far less earthquake danger is a clear advantage in Phoenix. I worked in LA for three years (while keeping my Phoenix address) a couple years ago and was leary about being stopped in traffic under overpasses, or the Sepulveda tunnel when I drove to/from LAX. I was also insisting on being on the top floor of the apartment building so that I would not be pancaked on lower floors in an earthquake.

Umm. I'm going back to work to the South Bay in November and am looking to get a top floor apartment unit in the same apartment complex where I rented in 2006.

In Phoenix I still like higher floors since it's less likely a burglar will come in through your window. But I don't have fear being stopped in traffic under overpasses.

Other than that (since you want to exclude the "affordable lifestyle" advantage), I don't know of anything superior.

Originally Posted by NytoPhx

To Californians: What do you see in the Phoenix area that is superior to California? Is there anything, other than a more affordable lifestyle. Just out of curiosity, to those that lived in California, if a random person was debating between the Phoenix area and southern California, what attributes of the Phoenix metropolitan area would make it more worthwhile than southern California?

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

How about the intangible advantage of feeling like an adult? That's a general Arizona advantage over California, which has motorcycle helmet laws, much more gun laws, anti-smoking laws, silly socialist costs on business (such as leave from work for parents of newborns).

This is why I could never ever live in CA and especially not after living in AZ. Plenty of my guns are illegal in CA, but fine in most other states. I ride my motorcycle to the gym by my house and don't always feel like wearing a helmet. When I am in full riding gear on the hwy. or heading way out in the bush, I often wear a sidearm openly, which would land me in jail in an instant in CA. Now I look for cars with CA plates on them so I can outrage the driver when I pass them on the left and they see the sidearm on my right hip. CA is fine to visit once in a while. Could never even think of living there. I love AZ!

[ArizonaBear]

As for regulations against smoking and drinking---------overall, Arizona is stricter than even California. A first time DUI here will earn you 30 days in jail

[TurcoLoco]

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

Shoot. You can even do an experiment: Go on Match.com and do a picture search for women between 25 and 45 in 90254 and then in 85044. The former is more plastic, more makeup. The latter is what you see is what you get.

Very interesting choice of zip codes, change the 85044 to 85254 and all of a sudden the ratio changes.

Heck, zip code 85254 is the new Silicon Valley as far as I am concerned!

Also, on women being better in AZ...I dunno, let's just say it all depends on your taste but still, I do not see how this being a clear advantage to a married couple, a straight female or a gay male person?

One thing I can't deny is, there are a lot less people in Phoenix (AZ in general), traffic jam here is momentary at best. Freeways in Orange County on a Saturday morning has a lot more traffic than the busiest freeway during rush hour. So Cal has a more superficial, more aggressive life-style where No Cal is a lot more low key in most areas, in a way similar to Phoenix. It is possible to escape from whatever civilization exist in Phoenix with even a 45 minute drive out of the city where in LA or OC....good luck!

[ibarrio]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

As for regulations against smoking and drinking---------overall, Arizona is stricter than even California. A first time DUI here will earn you 30 days in jail

California can be tough as well. It seems the standard for an 1st time AZ DUI is a min. of tens days. Not 30...