It's too darn hot here. (Phoenix, Scottsdale: real estate, credit card, loans)

[nebulous1]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

I have been here 18 years and I still prefer our summers over that '4 season' weather back east.

Don't you miss trees...maples, oaks, buckeyes, walnuts, poplars, birches?
Green shrubbery, flowers? I sure do.

And homes with front lawns and tree lined streets. I moved for the economy, and if it gets better, I will go back.

The people here are very nice, the sun is always out, and the mountains are gorgeous, but I can't get beyond no green.

People keep saying, "Oh, go up north to Flagstaff"...well, gee, that is 2 hours away, and it's not like living where the trees are...

[Chickrae]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

There's a reason they paint the cards like that, because its ideal and magical. The best thing is that come winter, I get to live those Christmas cards.

I miss the Winter snow too....this past year was my first winter without it! We just get the "lovely" ice storms.....and last Dec was the worst ever for this area.

[backtochitown]

Originally Posted by nebulous1

Don't you miss trees...maples, oaks, buckeyes, walnuts, poplars, birches?
Green shrubbery, flowers? I sure do.

And homes with front lawns and tree lined streets. I moved for the economy, and if it gets better, I will go back.

The people here are very nice, the sun is always out, and the mountains are gorgeous, but I can't get beyond no green.

People keep saying, "Oh, go up north to Flagstaff"...well, gee, that is 2 hours away, and it's not like living where the trees are...

There is a better than even chance that the ole Bear is a typical AZ hypocrite...lives here supposedly because of the weather but has trees/grass/etc in his yard...when the Valley is miserable dry desert and imports most of its water from CO...such incredible waste of pottable water!

NOTHING lives in the Valley that isn't on a drip line or sprinkler system...on the other hand I just got back from a nice run in suburban Chicago in a beautiful green neighborhood with nary a drip line or sprinkler in sight!

Fact is most people move to AZ because of cheap houses (NOT the weather) and the fact the under or uneducated can easily get jobs which dominate most of the AZ economy.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by nebulous1

Don't you miss trees...maples, oaks, buckeyes, walnuts, poplars, birches?
Green shrubbery, flowers? I sure do.

And homes with front lawns and tree lined streets. I moved for the economy, and if it gets better, I will go back.

The people here are very nice, the sun is always out, and the mountains are gorgeous, but I can't get beyond no green.

People keep saying, "Oh, go up north to Flagstaff"...well, gee, that is 2 hours away, and it's not like living where the trees are...

I miss the snow and ice even less. Hell; towns like Kingman and Globe are borderline too chilly in the winter for me---------and, they are mild Climate Zone 8 communities whereas Tucson and Phx are high Zone 9 locales.

As for the look you described: the older enclaves of Phx/Tempe/Glendale fit the bill.

[miamiman]

Originally Posted by backtochitown

NOTHING lives in the Valley that isn't on a drip line or sprinkler system

We have a lot of vegetation in the Valley that is NOT on a drip or sprinkler line. Many of the trees in the Valley are drought tolerant such as the Eucalyptus, Ficus, Citrus, Palm, and Aleppo Pine trees that are planted around. Let's not forget about the native Palo Verde, Mesquite, and Acacia trees, also Ocotillo, Cholla, and Saguaro are drought tolerant.

I think your characterization of the Valley being some completely uninhabitable wasteland is a bit much.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by backtochitown

Well, we love winter sports that require snow...so the longer the better!

If you are active snow/winter season is great...nice temps to run in, snowshoe in, ski in, play hockey on real ice ponds, etc.

Most non active people hate the winter because they just are in it from their car to house.

I used to be more Winter active, by Ice Skating, X-Country Skiing, and Tobogganing. I've just grown more tired of cold numb hands, feet and face along with shivering every morning and night. Even my Dog who always loves to go for a walk no matter how bad the weather just hates the Snow and Cold and always runs back inside.

Give me Phoenix and Tuscon Arizona Winters any day!

[Havikats]

And... let's not forget that the older you get the less tolerant one's body is of the cold.

[pinda]

I get soooooo cold in Wisconsin. My cat starts laying by the refrigerator in September already to get warm. He will also love the warmth. I actually turned the heat on in September and use an extra electric heater in the bedroom. Charlie my cat will LOVE the warm weather and so will I.

[nebulous1]

Originally Posted by miamiman

We have a lot of vegetation in the Valley that is NOT on a drip or sprinkler line. Many of the trees in the Valley are drought tolerant such as the Eucalyptus, Ficus, Citrus, Palm, and Aleppo Pine trees that are planted around. Let's not forget about the native Palo Verde, Mesquite, and Acacia trees, also Ocotillo, Cholla, and Saguaro are drought tolerant.

I think your characterization of the Valley being some completely uninhabitable wasteland is a bit much.

I see one kind of "tree" here, the Palo Verde, which does not have real leaves, but thorny fronds. I see the lower branches cut off, and they are staked to grow tall, but you can see ones not pruned this way and they just look like big bushes.

I doubt the palms are native to here.

[nebulous1]

Originally Posted by backtochitown

There is a better than even chance that the ole Bear is a typical AZ hypocrite...lives here supposedly because of the weather but has trees/grass/etc in his yard...when the Valley is miserable dry desert and imports most of its water from CO...such incredible waste of pottable water!

NOTHING lives in the Valley that isn't on a drip line or sprinkler system...on the other hand I just got back from a nice run in suburban Chicago in a beautiful green neighborhood with nary a drip line or sprinkler in sight!

Fact is most people move to AZ because of cheap houses (NOT the weather) and the fact the under or uneducated can easily get jobs which dominate most of the AZ economy.

The whole desert ecology is being transformed by the irrigation, misting of stores and restaurants, grass, etc.