Another Transplant...With Questions (Phoenix, Flagstaff: 2010, rental, low crime)

[Nikki Shinn]

Hello

I've been browsing the Az forums for about a month trying to get feedback and finally decided to register and ask some of my questions I've not stumbled across so far. I would greatly appreciate all who would take the time to respond.

Okay, here's me: married, 45, female with a 10y/o son. Husband is in the Army - we're currently at Ft Hood in central Tx. I'm from northwest La. He's from Az (Grand Canyon). I hit the road a decade ago with my oldest son and we passed through Prescott, PV, Chino Valley, Jerome, Sedona, Flag and eventually to Page where we stopped because I fell head over in love with Lake Powell. I moved back and forth to there a few times and now we're 4 months shy of returning to Az (Feb 09) to settle in for the next year or so because hubs is going to be deployed again for the duration. I am now officially on the hunt for finalizing where, exactly, I should be moving to - we're doing this blind too, for the record and while that's somewhat risky, it's less than it looks on the surface. What I mean by blind is, the next chunk of time he gets to take off is Feb (taxes back are going to be quite helpful) so we are basically packing up and heading west and will have to root out just the right spot with the right residence in a short period of time, cold and get us moved in and then he will be returning to Tx to get ready to deploy.

We will be looking for a rental house of decent quality, 2 br 1+ bath with a fenced yard - we have two dogs who are potty trained and out of the chewing/digging phase, and other than being general spazzes, they're well behaved. They are family though so getting rid of them isn't an option anymore than getting rid of my 10y/o is an option.

When hubs gets out in 2010 he's looking to hook up with Lockheed or Embry - one of those since he's in the aircraft specialty, and when he's out we will be looking into actual buying something somewhere in Az. Meanwhile, deployed I won't necessarily be forced to go look for work. I also homeschool my 10 y/o.

For this upcoming move, however, and because of his general plans when he's out, we've been focusing on Prescott/Chino Valley area. I don't remember a lot of either but that I found the drive out of or through Chino Valley very nice and refreshing. Had a nice comfortable laid back feel to it, while Prescott seemed pretty alpine and something sort of like Flagstaff, what I recall, which is fading.

I'm looking for the standard package - low to zero crime, I want to be able to leave a door unlocked at night and not wake up with a knife at my throat and all my stuff stolen...that sort of thing. Low crime, friendly and decent people but not necessarily uptight and anal. Fun, outgoing, sense of adventure, little quirky is cool but overall stable. I'm more familiar with Az weather - I love Arizona more than any state I've been to or lived in, it's perfect as far as I'm concerned...and any state that has practically zero tornados except maybe once ever 20 years is perfect! Monsoons are gravy next to the trailer twisters! I'm not huge on winter and hate the cold but I'm experienced with Az winters and it's not an issue.

I'm looking for an area that's kid friendly so my son will be able to make friends, or have them nearby - or at the absolute least, secular oriented homeschool groups and we'll go from there.

We are not religious at all, don't buy it and don't have any desire to be converted. We're open minded but private, mind our business, but are receptive to getting to know the neighbors and having some sort of civil open friendliness going on. Neighbors who live on a street for 15 years and couldn't tell you the name of who lives immediately next door are not my sort of people...but then neither are the sorts who try to get in your business and do a write up in the local gossip rag every time some new car pulls up.

I am personally interested in treasure hunting, history, metal detecting, geocaching, treasure quests, LOVE Halloween, steampunk, anything Native American (powwows, etc), love camping, lakes - and would love the opportunity to complete my open water dive certification I had to shelf in this town - and to enjoy the lakes, swimming, hiking, diving, exploration etc. and to find people who enjoy those too who are not "drunken old farts who fancy themselves cowboys" as they suggested for Tombstone, but rather them than the new age spirit crystal junkies of Sedona's angle (unless that was a rumor then my apologies!).

I am scared to death we will end up there and I won't be able to find people I can relate to and will end up bored to death, same for my son.

Phx area and suburbs are out of the question, nothing on this planet would entice me to live anywhere around there. I like open space and room to move, nothing congested. Don't mind a short half hour or less drive to a bigger town/city for main shopping.

All this being said, Chino Valley or Prescott - am I looking in the right spot? If not, could you guys suggest something closer to the mark in the general central Az area? Incidentally, my son was born in Lake Havasu and while that was about the WINDIEST friggin place I've ever been in, it was truly a nice place - I'd consider that if it had something of substance there other than drunken Californians, frat boys and girls gone wild parties (not that I'm against it, but 22 y/o attention hos are a little too flakey to be hangin with at 45...but then I'm way young spirited in looks and nature so I'm not all gung ho about having a band of 50-60 somethings as my only option for friends ;p

Do I have a chance in these areas or do I need to refocus my location?

Thanks a bunch for all who pop in to give me some feedback.

[esselcue]

Sounds to me like you have done your homework. I can really only speak for Chino with any amount of expertise as I have lived there for almost 23 years now. I have three grandsons involved in Chino schools and activities and they have many friends and are busy all the time. The eldest grandson graduates from Chino High this year, the other two are in elementary school and doing well. The only thing on your list of "wants" that Chino does not offer is a lake to get your open dive cert but I am fairly sure that can be attained at one of the Prescott area lakes (Goldwater, Lynx, Willow, etc).

If you enjoy mild four seasons and views of grazing land and low hills and mountains, then Chino might be a perfect fit. It is compiled mostly of young families nowadays... not so much retirees (like myself very soon-lol). It is laid-back, lot of horses kept out there, quite a few law enforcement folks live out in Chino also. In my almost 23 years there I have never had a theft nor a vandalism of any kind...then again, I live on a dirt road so I don't get a lot of "lookie loos" passing by. If I were looking to locate in the tri-city area myself, I would choose Chino again, as I did many years ago.

[sully7133]

I hope to be moving out there about the end of March, myself. I have tests for the sheriff's dept in Feb, so I might have an answer by that time. If not, I hope to line up something else when I'm there in Feb, and keep my fingers crossed that I get a call soon. My girlfriend lives out there, and I need to be close to her. This LD thing is for the birds.

I was stationed at Hood from 83-85. I also did 2 years at Polk, 3 in Germany, and my last yr at Stewart.

As my girlfriend has kids, I was also looking into renting a 2br out there. I saw a bunch in the low 500 a month range, but as most just had phone numbers to call, and not the specific location, I didn't proceed much further.

Best of luck to you and yours. Hope to run into you guys at Tim's sometime.

[rueladyjane]

i am from okla city, moved here in july 1st. to prescott vally. let me tell you crime is low. kids can play, cars are moving slow. becouse of the posted cameras around town. no one speeds. 25 miles an hour and you see police all the time. but do watch out for the speed vans setting around town in crazy spots. you will get your cars picture taken . people leave doors unlocked over on Williamson Valley road. they dont lock doors. i do house cleaning so i have met some of the nicest people. . so if you consider this area it is nice. new stores going in like crazy. new sams club just opened in oct. new Home Depot across road. and 6 miles over to Preecott is just a hop for the other things. mall in between here and there. nice friendley people. I come out here to meet and stayed with the nicest man i have ever met and i am nearley 57. jane on robert rd street. housing is priced right now. if you arent here come on over. there is alot of back roads to get out and drive. things to explore.

[sbayphilly]

Any African-American or biracial people in Prescott??? The demographics for the area look very low but some time that is not a reliable indicator. My daughters have grown up in rural areas where they were one of the few minorities in their schools we never had problems, but the older ones tell me at times they felt a little strange being the only one of color in a class. I tend to be a bit color blind and if people are the outdoor type, in to horses and dogs and outdoorsy stuff I'm usually at home. Though I am the mostly of African American descent parent. How would my now single parent family get on in Prescott, my girls are 11, 11, 17 and 20.

[esselcue]

Very few African Americans...although in Chino one of our finest policer officers is Black and has a very blonde wife and several gorgeous kids and they are a big part of the community. There is a large Hispanic population, of course, and many "mixed marriage" with Mexican and Caucasion, which is simply a day to day occurance.

[LBear]

Prescott is too expensive, don't even waste your time with it. I would recommend Chino Valley or even Dewey. Chino Valley will be more windier than Dewey, as CV is out in the plains and Dewey has the mountains somewhat shielding it. Also, highway 89 has brutal traffic. That is the only main road in and out of CV.

Dewey is kind of the forgotten town but it is actually faster to get to Prescott from Dewey as Highway 69 moves quickly and you do not have the traffic like Highway 89 does. Dewey is closer to the Bradshaw Mtns. I think Dewey has better scenery than CV. Chino is flat and only has hills on the outskirts of the area.

[chinodeb]

Hi Nikki,

I think Williamson Valley is a good choice but on the pricey side. Chino Valley, you get alot more for your buck, imho. The only drawback with CV, is during the spring months the wind blows. Not much greenery, and you will find yourself driving into Prescott at least once a week for major shopping.

I use to live in CV and I was off Road 5 North. I could drive to the mall in 23 mins. There are very few signal lights betwn here and the mall. I suppose one day that will all change.

You will like this area I feel. You have major shopping, 2 nice lakes, hiking trails. Not a far drive to Phoenix. From Chino Valley to Vegas is 3 1/2 hour drive. Not a bad drive either. The weather in Prescott is not too hot in summer and not too cold in winter. Prescott, you can get as involved in as you like. Very Holistic Community.

[Nikki Shinn]

Thanks for the replies. I found a site the other evening with a gallery and was blown away. It looks remarkably like where we are now...though I am familiar with Az and the dry bleached dirt look. It doesn't bother me. The winds I can handle, as long as it's not a constant thing like it was in Lake Havasu without even a few seconds break. Plus, the storms that raced through here last night sported 80 mph winds...we didn't lose our garbage can this time ;-p

One question since it came up just now - about the lakes - what is the story on no swimming in the lakes? I think I asked somewhere else but lost the spot so ask again. Is it not allowed at all anywhere? That's bogus, what's that about? So say you were out one summer afternoon for a day drive and found a neat lakeside spot, there's nobody around for miles and you decide to jump in anyway...and then out of the woodwork comes the game wardens, park rangers, Navajo reservation cops, SWAT and the black helicopters - and those guys in the jeeps out at A51.

What would "they" do to you if you went swimming anyway in a no swimming lake? Wave it off with warning? Gripe? Citation? Beatings? Prison? Prison and cellmate Bubba?

We're in Texas/Louisiana and there's not a body of water anywhere in either state you can't swim in, especially the lakes. I've never heard of a lake with swimming prohibited and it'll be hard, hard to not break that law ;-p On the other hand, there are rarely places in either state you can pull off the road, hike, explore, camp without going to jail...unlike the desert lands where it's probably not advised but isn't specifically unlawful and chances are you'd never be seen anyway.

Ahh culture. Anyway, see ya Tuesday!

[buzzratley]

hey I agree about the lakes man - its because of the fishing... so you know - but yea it stinks huh.
I believe Fish and game fund the lake side parks so they keep the bodies out to keep the fishies in.