If Phoenix is that hot, why do so many move there? (Goodyear: amusement parks, living in)

[tina3219]

Originally Posted by Howard Roark

If you have very good Air conditioning, I mean so good that you have to put on an extra blanket on your bed at night to stay warm enough, and you are in Phoenix, what is the problem?

My A/C in Phoenix is not good, unfortunately. It seems to only work in the living room and dining area. I have to have a fan in the bedroom to blow the air on me and it helps just a little. But the three uncomfortable months per year where the morning lows are 70 and above are so insignificant when you think of Pacific states' earthquakes, the tornados in the midwest, the ice storms in the midwest and northeast, and hurricanes in the gulf states.

You just reminded me of why I picked AZ. No earthquakes, tornado, hurricanes, black ice/snow storms, ice storms. Just dirt storms and I can handle that. I thought I wouldn't have allergy problems but that was a myth. At night something rolls across the desert and gives me the symptoms. I think I am allergic to spring in the desert.

[sheena]

Originally Posted by TootsieWootsie

This is not meant to be sarcastic at all, but a real question: If it is so gawdawful hot there--and I really have never been there but am interested--why do so many move there? It seems folks there are stuck in the air conditioning for 4-5 months of the year. Can someone clarify this for me?
I'm seriously looking to move there because there are so many baby boomers there, but people in the Midwest keep telling me how hot it is there and that I will not like it.
The Phoenix region surely has to be better for my allergies than Houston was where I had cold-like symptoms way more than I ever should have had.
But, if people are getting stuck living in their homes for 4-5 months of the year due to the heat, that's just like living in Chicago where folks get stuck in the house for 4-5 months of the year due to the chilling cold. Dang!

It's not that hot.

[tina3219]

Originally Posted by azriverfan.

Because it's only that hot 4 months out of the year, the same amount of time that it's "that cold" everywhere else. Most of us realize a hot summer is much better than a cold winter. Hot summers are annoying but doesn't disrupt your life like a cold winter meaning flights are not cancelled, school is not cancelled, roads are not closed, driving is safer, not having to wear multiple layers of clothing everywhere, not having to check your coat in every time you go to a restaurant etc.

Yes, high school kids exercise in the heat here. I've seen kids with full football gear practicing in the heat. It's not dangerous as long as you are well hydrated and take breaks. Dryer weather allows your body to cool faster because high humidity inhibits the body's ability to cool itself. Your body cools down by sweating and then allowing that sweat to be carried off (evaporate). If it's humid, the surrounding environment has a high water vapor so the sweat on top of your skin isn't easily lifted off and your body struggles to get rid of that heat buildup. One's risk of acquiring heat related illness is greater in high heat and humidity versus high heat alone. This is why most heat related deaths in young athletes and people exposed to a limited amount of time in heat occur in humid states like Florida and the deep South. I've personally treated runners for this when I was an intern. These runners were running in 95 F in extremely humid weather. They felt fine until they crashed and their body temperatures reached 104 degrees F.

The heat is more like 5-6 months. It starts by the first of May hitting over 100 and last year did not quit hitting 100 until after October 1st. I know because I was moving to Goodyear during that time. If you do not like heat do not move to Goodyear recently it is the hottest part of Phoenix for some reason.

[psr13]

Originally Posted by garxhap

I live in Houston and here's my question: In July and August people here play softball, soccer, etc. even during the hottest part of the afternoon. We may sweat a lot but we get used to it and don't really find it uncomfortable. In Phoenix do people actually play softball, soccer etc. when it is 112 or more outside? Wouldn't that be dangerous?

While not 112, I've played extremely competitive softball games in the central California valley when it was probably between 105 and 110. No one passed out as far as I know.

[backtochitown]

People move to Phoenix for cheap homes (most very cheaply built too)...then find out the heat lasts for most of the year...and realize the economy is service driven...notice everything is brown...get tired of paying $500 a month AC bills...then leave.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by tina3219

The heat is more like 5-6 months. It starts by the first of May hitting over 100 and last year did not quit hitting 100 until after October 1st. I know because I was moving to Goodyear during that time. If you do not like heat do not move to Goodyear recently it is the hottest part of Phoenix for some reason.

It is lower elevation in GY than Sky Harbor so it is reasonable to expect a little bit higher temp.
Still, I seriously wonder about that gauge at the Goodyear airport. I have a pretty high-quality weather station at my place (in Estrella) and I see about 2 degrees warmer than Sky Harbor report. I am a tad higher up than the Goodyear airport, though. The PHX-GY airport sometimes is 5-7 degrees higher with higher dewpoints which seems a bit much. Anyway, it cools off much more in GY than in Phoenix. We are often 5-10 degrees cooler at daybreak. But yeah, it is a couple degrees warmer on the peaks. I don't know if someone can tell the diff between 109 and 111 without a thermometer.

[TootsieWootsie]

Originally Posted by backtochitown

People move to Phoenix for cheap homes (most very cheaply built too)...then find out the heat lasts for most of the year...and realize the economy is service driven...notice everything is brown...get tired of paying $500 a month AC bills...then leave.

I don't think those same homes were cheap 5 years ago.

If Phoenix has so many negative things about it, why do so many move there?

That is one of the many mysteries in life/existence. I also feel that way with Las Vegas and El Paso.

[ambermerci]

I'm from the east coast. 1 hour from boston, and I lived in tucson for several years. I loved arizona and would do it again. The southwest has a unique culture, its cheaper, the people are friendly, and its close enough to california, nevada and new mexico..I also loved el paso.
Border towns have so much culture. How could you not love them? Here on the east coast, we don't have as much of a Mexican/chicano influence so it was very nice to live and experience it in az. In my neck of the woods, the dominant Latinos are Dominicans and Puerto Ricans. Being half Dominican myself, I love it..but long live the difference...I'm sure this thread was mostly about the heat/homes and not the culture but just adding my 12 cents.

[singlegurl]

Some people from states where there is extreme cold and snow want to get away some place were there is heat and no snow.