Would I like Phoenix? (hotels, jobs, houses)

[Boatdrinks]

I would have really liked living here in my 20's. I think AZ is a great place to go to school, work part time, hang out, go to Vegas, CA, Rocky Point...fun bars in Tempe and Scottsdale too.

I agree that if you don't like the large PR population in FL, you may not like it here due to the high Mexican population. However, I've been to FL many times and it seems like the PR and Cubans are more intermeshed, or mainstreamed, into the rest of the population - if that makes any sense. Although I've only been to south FL - maybe it's different in Orlando. Here in AZ, if you live in the 'burbs or the better neighborhoods, it's not as much of an issue. To me, and this is JMO based on where I live in the Valley, the Mexican population isn't as evident on a day to day basis as the PR and Cuban population is in FL. Not sure if that makes any sense and I hope I'm not coming across as racist. But you asked, so that's my take on it.

I think drivers in FL are MUUUUUUCH worse then here. Every time I go to Miami, I'm amazed at the terrible driving there.

As for laying down roots - that's hard to say until you go somewhere and live there for a while. I wouldn't plan to move anywhere and lay down roots b/c I wouldn't know if I'd like it until I lived there for a few years. That's just me though.

I've never been to Austin, but it sounds like a really neat city and like it'd be a really fun place to live in your 20's. I'd definitely check that out too. Charlotte - not sure about that. It's on the east coast so trips to NYC, Philly, DC, etc., would be easy. Have you read the Charlotte board? They're very helpful over there.

Really, though, I'd probably decide which school I wanted to attend, then go from there. If you don't like it after living there for school, you can always move.

Good luck!!

[sheena]

Originally Posted by Boatdrinks

I would have really liked living here in my 20's. I think AZ is a great place to go to school, work part time, hang out, go to Vegas, CA, Rocky Point...fun bars in Tempe and Scottsdale too.

I agree that if you don't like the large PR population in FL, you may not like it here due to the high Mexican population. However, I've been to FL many times and it seems like the PR and Cubans are more intermeshed, or mainstreamed, into the rest of the population - if that makes any sense. Although I've only been to south FL - maybe it's different in Orlando. Here in AZ, if you live in the 'burbs or the better neighborhoods, it's not as much of an issue. To me, and this is JMO based on where I live in the Valley, the Mexican population isn't as evident on a day to day basis as the PR and Cuban population is in FL. Not sure if that makes any sense and I hope I'm not coming across as racist. But you asked, so that's my take on it.

I think drivers in FL are MUUUUUUCH worse then here. Every time I go to Miami, I'm amazed at the terrible driving there.

As for laying down roots - that's hard to say until you go somewhere and live there for a while. I wouldn't plan to move anywhere and lay down roots b/c I wouldn't know if I'd like it until I lived there for a few years. That's just me though.

I've never been to Austin, but it sounds like a really neat city and like it'd be a really fun place to live in your 20's. I'd definitely check that out too. Charlotte - not sure about that. It's on the east coast so trips to NYC, Philly, DC, etc., would be easy. Have you read the Charlotte board? They're very helpful over there.

Really, though, I'd probably decide which school I wanted to attend, then go from there. If you don't like it after living there for school, you can always move.

Good luck!!

I moved to Phoenix from NY in my 20's and I was bored as heck as a young person. This was in the 80's though I just liked the weather and the palm trees that's what kept me there.

[AZ_singlemother]

If your complaint is Puerto Ricans, you may have an issue anywhere in the US. Maybe Florida is not your choice but I would start to embrace other cultures as there are lots more Mexicans here. Wish there could be more Puerto Ricenos to diversify. Seems like you like to have fun, since you think Charlotte will not "cater to your lifestyle". Phoenix is laid back, have you checked out other cities? Seattle?

[he's so hott]

Op I can offer some insight. I was born and raised in Florida, in Jacksonville. I've live in Miami. I moved to Phoenix/Chandler from Jacksonville when I was 27 which was three years ago for a job. I'm now living in Raleigh/Durham since Jan of 07 b/c of a job. As some folks have stated, Phoenix is pretty much Florida minus the ocean, humidity and hurricanes. The people, attitudes about life and culture is pretty much the same as the two areas have a lot in common. The drivers in Phoenix are better drivers than we Floridians. They know how to use a turn signal and merge. Landscaping is pretty much the same and Phoenix is very laid back just like Florida, maybe even moreso. You can definitiely have fun in Phoenix. Hang out in Scottsdale if you want grown up fun.

Now, Florida cities do have a large number of Ricans and other Spanish peoples. However, as one posted stated, they tend to be more integrated in the community. In Phoenix and Charlotte a large number of Mexicans aren't integrated into the community. As someone stated earlier, in Phoenix if you live in certain areas, i.e. east and west valleys, excluding South Phoenix (Baseline rd area west of I-10) and parts slightly west of downtown Phoenix, you won't really see a lot of Mexicans. I lived in Chandler and I didn't see a lot of Mexicans. It's the total opposite here in North Carolina. In Raliegh/Durham and Charlotte, Mexicans live all over the place. Here in Durham I live in a very nice upscale area, but .5 miles down the road from me is a large, rundown apartment complex with nothing but Mexicans. Go to the grocery store and they're there. Gas station, they're there. You have to go out to some really outer suburban areas in Charlotte or Raleigh to get away from that. So if you don't want that, you're going to have to look into moving to the outer edges of Charlotte.

If it was me, I would chose Phoenix. Nothing against Charlotte as you can certainly have fun there b/c is a lot of stuff to do, but if you're looking for something similar in culture and attitude to Florida, then Phoenix is a no brainer. However, if you're just looking for a good place to live with good job ops, Phoenix and Charlotte are good options. Like I said before, I left Phoenix b/c of my job situation. I love Phoenix and it holds a special place in my heart. As a Floridian, it was just a natural fit for me when I moved out there. North Carolina isn't as natural of a fit and as a result it is taking more time for me to adjust. You gotta think about culture and attitude of a area as that'll decide whether you're in hell or heaven when you step foot in either city.

[Cj81]

geeez, there sure are a lot of racist people here! I guess nobody wants to be near or even see the MEXICANS OMG, the MEXICANS are coming!! There is obviously a large hispanic population in the Phoenix area which is just a part of the Phoenix culture. You can get damn good mexican food 24 hours a day here, I know some good taco stands you can hit after a good party. I would also say the the majority of hispanic people I know are very nice. Yes there are A-holes in every race in every city. don't blame it on the Mexicans.

Regarding traffic, what I have found is that if you don't drive during rush hours you will never have a problem. I live in central Phoenix and my work is about 2 miles away, so I never have to deal with traffic. I have noticed that when I get on the freeway during rush hour everyone is in a hurry and I get cutt off a lot , so just live near your work and don't commute across town. Or just buy a place on the light rail line (opening 2008) and get a job on the light rail line and just drive when you have to. obviously you can't do that right now but soon.

As for things to do, There is always something to do in this city, problem is that most people live out in the burbs and there is nothing going on out there. Downtown Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale always have events, festivals, art shows, etc. Plus they all have cool bars and clubs. My advice is if you are young and moving to the Phoenix area, don't move to the burbs, get a place downtown. Our downtown is a little rough around the edges and its still dealing with some growing pains but it is a great place to live. Lots of cool stuff here. great art scene with First Fridays and Third Fridays. Good restaurants, Carly's , Fate, The Roosevelt, Cibo. The list goes on and these places are really still a secret to most people in Phoenix. I find that a lot of people in Phoenix don't leave their own neighborhoods on the weekends so they don't have a clue about what's actually going on in other parts of the city. Phoenix is actully very segregated in that sense.

As for the heat, yeah the summer is hot, but people make it out to be much worse than it is in my opinion. First of all the summer is only about 4 months long.
APRIL- well today the high is 82. very nice!
MAY- it will start to heat up mid 90's and prob inot the low 100s by the end of May.
JUNE - Uhh its jut hot.
JULY--well its really hot and by mid July it starts to get a little humid. AUGUST- generally the worst month for me, its really hot and humid due to the monsoon.
SEPT. starts to cool off a little, humidity levels drop. Sept, still dropping. By the end of Oct , you will need a jacket in the evening! I have lived here for over 13 years and thats the reality of it.

The rest of the year has awesome weather! mid Sept. through mid May are perfect. Everywhere has its share of crappy weather except SoCal, but Phoenix has more good than bad in my opinion. Hope this helps!

[TurcoLoco]

Cj, I think people were referring to the 'illegal' ones as Mexicans, otherwise it would indeed be racist and silly since most southern and south-east/west states have a large hispanic occupancy.

But yeah, I agree with you a bit since, for a second, I started to think the others were referring to them like they were zombies or something (almost like a Rodriguez/Tarantino movie called "The Day of the immigrating Mexicans"! )

You can get damn good mexican food 24 hours a day here, I know some good taco stands you can hit after a good party.

I wonder if this is an outcome or a cause of all the illegal aliens in the area? lol

[Ponderosa]

I' ve been wondering how to handle this. Racist remarks are not allowed, of course. After some thought, I came to the same conclusion as TurcoLoco that "Mexican" is used as a synonym for "illegal immigrant" in this part of the country and so have let this stuff go. It is incorrect of course. Not all illegal immigrants are Mexicans and not all Mexicans are illegal immigrants.

[jlhct]

I'm a little shocked at what I am reading as well.

I can only hope it is the illegal status that people are discussing.

[irwin]

Uhh....you don't need a jacket in Oct!
It's still in the 90's.

Today is warm, but it was downright hot just about a week ago. It was mid-90's in April!

[sheena]

Originally Posted by he's so hott

Op I can offer some insight. I was born and raised in Florida, in Jacksonville. I've live in Miami. I moved to Phoenix/Chandler from Jacksonville when I was 27 which was three years ago for a job. I'm now living in Raleigh/Durham since Jan of 07 b/c of a job. As some folks have stated, Phoenix is pretty much Florida minus the ocean, humidity and hurricanes. The people, attitudes about life and culture is pretty much the same as the two areas have a lot in common. The drivers in Phoenix are better drivers than we Floridians. They know how to use a turn signal and merge. Landscaping is pretty much the same and Phoenix is very laid back just like Florida, maybe even moreso. You can definitiely have fun in Phoenix. Hang out in Scottsdale if you want grown up fun.

Now, Florida cities do have a large number of Ricans and other Spanish peoples. However, as one posted stated, they tend to be more integrated in the community. In Phoenix and Charlotte a large number of Mexicans aren't integrated into the community. As someone stated earlier, in Phoenix if you live in certain areas, i.e. east and west valleys, excluding South Phoenix (Baseline rd area west of I-10) and parts slightly west of downtown Phoenix, you won't really see a lot of Mexicans. I lived in Chandler and I didn't see a lot of Mexicans. It's the total opposite here in North Carolina. In Raliegh/Durham and Charlotte, Mexicans live all over the place. Here in Durham I live in a very nice upscale area, but .5 miles down the road from me is a large, rundown apartment complex with nothing but Mexicans. Go to the grocery store and they're there. Gas station, they're there. You have to go out to some really outer suburban areas in Charlotte or Raleigh to get away from that. So if you don't want that, you're going to have to look into moving to the outer edges of Charlotte.

If it was me, I would chose Phoenix. Nothing against Charlotte as you can certainly have fun there b/c is a lot of stuff to do, but if you're looking for something similar in culture and attitude to Florida, then Phoenix is a no brainer. However, if you're just looking for a good place to live with good job ops, Phoenix and Charlotte are good options. Like I said before, I left Phoenix b/c of my job situation. I love Phoenix and it holds a special place in my heart. As a Floridian, it was just a natural fit for me when I moved out there. North Carolina isn't as natural of a fit and as a result it is taking more time for me to adjust. You gotta think about culture and attitude of a area as that'll decide whether you're in hell or heaven when you step foot in either city.

Let me clear this up for people looking for accurate info. The Mexican border surrounds Arizona and they are indeed everywhere. I lived in Gilbert and I seen them all over. I worked in Awhatukee, Chandler area and went out and shopped and ate every single day and they are everywhere. They work in every restaurant, every McDonalds, every fast food place, every hotel you name it everywhere. I have lived in AZ for 19 years all over the metro Phoenix area so I know.

I now live in the Charlotte area and work uptown and. I have not seen any Mexicans uptown, I have not seen any Mexicans in the stores I shop in, I don't see them working in the fast food industry, well maybe 1 or 2 here and there. The young people (teenagers) can actually get a job here easy. In Phoenix you have to be a Mexican to get the minimum wage jobs.

Now is Charlotte going to get more of an influx?.. probably. Is it even close to what Phoenix has? No way!

BTW the Phoenix drivers do not know how to merge. The next time you are in Phoenix get on the 60 and see how many people stop on the freeways trying to get on. I'm not talking about the little stop lights on the freeway either. I'm talking about when they get past that.

Now Raleigh may be a different story I don't know but Charlotte is not Phoenix in regards to the illegal situation.