Moving to Phx area from WI: Honest Opinion (Phoenix, Chandler: housing, travel)

[Balco9]

I am possibly relocating to the Phoenix from Tacoma, WAshington to be closer to family, but it sounds very congested, high crime rate, poor schooling, super hot, and full of cookie cuutter homes with strip malls...
Why would anyone want to relocate to the Phoenix area? I am having second
thoughts now. I been to Phoenix in the past, but it's been 4 years since i been there. How bad is the traffic, is it gridlock?
Thanks

[Ponderosa]

The Phoenix area grows by somewhere around 100,000 per year. They come for jobs and low housing prices. Although prices for housing have shot up, they are still lower than the metro areas that "feed" people to Phoenix. All major cities have the issues you mentioned. Most have them are much worse than Phoenix area. Unlike many cities, problems in Phoenix are driven by growth not decay. The growth rate strains infrastructure - roads, schools, health services, police strength etc. But few other cities have 300 days of sunshine, a booming economy, and boundless recreational opportunities. Only you can decide if the pluses outweigh the minuses and you want to be a part of the fastest growing city in America - with all that implies.

[Nea1]

I am from Portland Oregon and I have to say I love AZ, we live in Chandler, where I have found great schools and low crime as well as some really great fmaily neighborhoods. It is a very large area and there will be many negatives but so many more positives. I had big doubts before coming here but after being here a little while I am sure glad we came. BTW the weather right now cannot be matched!! I am always calling my mom in Portland and teasing her!!!

[irwin]

It's November and the temps have been close to 90 for weeks now. That is not "great weather," at least in my book. The sun is fine from time to time, but get ready for no change in seasons and little to no change in weather.

You can tell the local around here because by the age of 30 they look like a catcher's mit...nasty.

[Ladywithafan]

Originally Posted by irwin

It's November and the temps have been close to 90 for weeks now. That is not "great weather," at least in my book. The sun is fine from time to time, but get ready for no change in seasons and little to no change in weather.

You can tell the local around here because by the age of 30 they look like a catcher's mit...nasty.

Okay....I thought the locals in my area at 30 looked same way (Tampa Bay area of Florida).....Is the dry heat worse on the skin than what we deal with in the humidity of Florida?

I'm 44 but have basically stayed out of the sun for the past seven years...get carded all the time...probably could pass for 30...lol

[RedSoxNation]

Dry heat is SO much worse for the skin....and you feel like you are frying in the sun without the humidity. AZ has the highest rate of skin cancer in the country. With 300+ days of sun its hard to not get your daily dose while driving around in your car. I would be suprised if people here put sunscreen on every day. I was tan year round when I first relocated here from the eastcoast(land of pasty white skin), now I always where a hat and sunscreen after I started seeing the "fine lines" start to appear after a couple years of this sun. Another thing to adjust to is breathing this dry air and dust. I was sick (strept throat) alot the first yr while I adjusted to the climate. Otherwise, I like the dry air. Your hair and clothing dry fast LOL.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by irwin

It's November and the temps have been close to 90 for weeks now. That is not "great weather," at least in my book. The sun is fine from time to time, but get ready for no change in seasons and little to no change in weather.

You can tell the local around here because by the age of 30 they look like a catcher's mit...nasty.

LOLOLOLOLOL Now THATS funny!

As for dry heat, it beats you up. It feels ok if the temps are low, but in the summer, you might as well walk around with a heat lamp strapped about 4" from your body, thats how hot it gets. Temps inside cars in teh summer are absolutely insane (Ive seen 135 degrees inside my car before in Scottsdale)!!!!! Its just too hot to do anything, dont let the locals tell you anything different. From May to the beginning of October, forget outside activities (sports wise), its the the equivalent of Alaskan Cabin Fever, only the seasons are reversed. Be prepared for MASSIVE A/C bills!!!!! The scenery is ok, the "mountains" are a bit drab, but the desert flora and fauna are very interesting.

As for humidity, it only gets humid following their tropical monsoon storms, and its NOTHING like Florida's humidity. I never accustomed to the dry heat. It gives bloody noses, dry throats, cracked skin (bring LOTS of chapstick and lotion)... just feels flat out weird. The area will suck any moisture from your body, so be prepared and drink LOTS of fluid if outside.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Its just too hot to do anything, dont let the locals tell you anything different.

No, always better to get your information from a guy who lives in Chicago!

Here's the truth from a local: It is hot (defined as over 100 from mid May to mid October. From mid-May to about July 4th, it is a dry heat. It is relatively cool and comfortable until about 10am. And as soon as the sun sets in the evening it cools and people are out and about. From July 4 to about labor day it gets hot (110+) and somewhat humid. AZ people are very sensitive to humidity because they seldom experience it. It gets pretty miserable during this time. But people are not shut in by any means unless they want to be. In two hours you can be in the lakes and the mountains and get away from it. Try getting away from 10 below in the midwest without getting on an airplane. And everyone drives to work in air conditioned cars and shops in ac malls. Even in the worst of it, it is better than places like Houston or Atlanta or Dallas. That's misery. In early Sep the humidity ends though it is still hot and you are sick and tired of it and start hating the desert. By Halloween, it is all over with and it cools down to lovely weather and you are oh so happy you live here. Until June.

The fact of the matter is that the weather here is less restrictive and more benign than just about anywhere. Weekends never get rained out, your house will never be blown down by a tornado, you will never skid off the road on black ice, your tongue will never freeze to a door knob.

It's going to be in the upper 70s tomorrow. In keeping with tradition, we are going out into the desert to a little spot in the millions of acres of public land with 20 miles of my house, frying the turkey, ride around on the ATVs, watch the game on satellite TV, and have a Thanksgiving picnic. Later this weekend we will go up to our home in the mountains to catch a little winter "chill" and get us in the spirit of the season. That's AZ living.

[azloafer]

"As for dry heat, it beats you up. It feels ok if the temps are low, but in the summer, you might as well walk around with a heat lamp strapped about 4" from your body, thats how hot it gets. Temps inside cars in teh summer are absolutely insane (Ive seen 135 degrees inside my car before in Scottsdale)!!!!! Its just too hot to do anything, dont let the locals tell you anything different. From May to the beginning of October, forget outside activities (sports wise), its the the equivalent of Alaskan Cabin Fever, only the seasons are reversed. Be prepared for MASSIVE A/C bills!!!!!"

That is the horrible truth!

[irwin]

“Cool” during the summer is relative. Sure, when it is 100+ during the day, the high 80’s at midnight is “cool” but I would hardly call it comfortable. To the non-natives and people from normal climates, the weather here during the summer is absolutely miserable. Just look at the number of people that leave here during the summer.

The weather during the “winters” is pretty good. Right now it is hot (close to 90), but in the evening it is nice outside (high 50’s/low 60’s). The absence of sun also helps because it can be brutal year round. Wearing sunscreen and protecting yourself is important here.

All and all, if you have the time, traveling out of town is the way to beat the brutal weather in Phoenix and get a little variety (you know, like seeing clouds). Flagstaff is very nice this time of year and it hardly every snows up there lately what with the drought. You’re also close to San Diego which has nice weather.