Thinking of moving to the Prescott area (Phoenix, Tucson: low income, 2009)

[oboe_chic]

I currently live in Wisconsin, and I don't really want to leave but I need to find somewhere that is better for my health. I won't be able to move until at least December 2009, so right now I'm just trying to get a feel for different places. I have asthma, and my main triggers are cold air (under 10F and especially below 0), smoke, and mold (mostly structural mold that is hard to avoid in humid places). Dust may also be a trigger. I don't have any specific allergies though. Since Wisconsin is very cold for most of the winter, and very humid in the summer making the mold problematic, I'm pretty sick most of the time. I also have some other health problems that aren't affected as much by the weather, but make it difficult to find any asthma medications that won't make me sicker. After doing a bit of research on different areas of the country, it looks like the Prescott area fits my criteria at least for the climate.

I'm wondering though about what it's like to live there. I'm 22, and right now I work as a PCW in a few group homes. I will hopefully get my CNA license sometime before I move. I also have experience in factory work and autism therapy, and I'm open to doing pretty much anything that I can physically handle. I know it probably won't be easy, but is it possible to find a job? I was going to school as a music major, but that's on hold right now. I'm a classical musician and my main instrument is the oboe--it's not a big deal, but if at all possible I would like to find a few woodwind and/or piano students in the area, and maybe some playing opportunities for myself. I also tune pianos and do basic repairs, and I buy used woodwind instruments and repair them and sell them, and I have done my fair share of babysitting...I can be quite resourceful about finding ways to make additional income if I need to. I grew up in a small town of about 6,000 people, and I love the small town feel, but I also went to school for a while in the Chicago, IL area and then in WI in a town of 60,000 and felt equally comfortable in each area. I currently live in a town of 20,000 and I work in 3 different towns that are each 20 miles away in different directions. I would like to get involved in a church, possibly before even moving there. I was raised Lutheran but I am open to other denominations as long as they believe and follow everything the Bible teaches. I love the outdoors and especially hiking, biking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking, and even though I can't do any of them very much anymore I like to have the opportunity. As far as finding a place to live, I don't need much space and I don't mind roommates, so as long as I can find a place to rent for around $500 a month I'm fine.

Sorry, that's kind of a lot of information, so here are the main questions I have: Since I have some health problems, does anyone know much about the quality of the health care system? Is there anything I should know (about smog, dust, etc) that might make this not such a good choice for my asthma? Would I be able to find a job, and is there any possibility of finding one before I move there (I would come visit at least once)? What kind of things are there to do for fun in the area? What kind of opportunities are there for me as a musician (paying or not)?

[Gretchen B]

Hi Obe Chic - Prescott might work for you. Kind of pros and cons. Let's see, I guess I'll start with the pros first.

• Very nice weather. Winter daytime highs are usually low 50's. Nights are usually 20's. Once in a while we'll hit a cold snap and be in the teens for a few nights. It's rare to be in single digits, but it may happen once or twice a year.
• Nice dry air. Maybe a little too dry. However, it makes our summers very comfortable. While we may hit 90 during the day, we always cool into the 50's/60's at night.
• Lots of health care jobs here.
• Opportunity for you to use your musical talents/skills here.
• Lots of outdoor acitivites like the ones you mention, especially hiking and conoeing. Lots of people love to canoe on Watson Lake in the Granite Dells or Goldwater Lake in the mountains just outside of town.
• Nice friendly town . . . by most people's opinion.

Now for the cons:

• The Nat'l Forest Service conducts prescribed burns in the area every winter. There are some days when the wind changes and the smoke settles in the town. Not good for asthma sufferers.
• Somewhat of a doctor shortage here in Prescott. New hospital and clinics are enticing more doctors to relocate here, but right now it can be tough to find a primary care physician that is taking new patients and one who will take insurance.
• It will be tough to find a rental for $500, unless you do have a roommate to share costs with. You can rent a nice duplex for $650-$750, and apartments rent for less, so you may find a few in that $500 range.

It might be worthwhile for you to check out Prescott - several of the things you mention would be a good fit. Best wishes to you.

[oboe_chic]

Thanks for your reply. I think I will definitely be checking into Prescott a little more. I especially love the weather--we have finally had some days with highs in the 50's and it is wonderful. I wouldn't mind having it this warm or warmer year round. I'm also glad to hear about all the health care jobs. It seems like that is one of the only fields that it is still possible to find jobs in with this economy. I think it would be ok with the doctor shortage. It doesn't seem like much more can be done for any of my health problems right now, so I wouldn't necessarily need a primary care doctor in the area. I can always drive to Phoenix if I really need to. As long as I'm prepared for the prescribed burns that the Nat'l Forest Service does, I will probably be ok. How long do those usually last? As for finding a rental in my price range, it wasn't easy here either since I'm so close to the Twin Cities, but I have found that if you really do your research and you're persistent, something is usually available. In this case it took me 3 months to find a place, but the one I found is better than a lot of the higher priced ones I was looking at. I have at least 9 months before I'm even able to move, so that will hopefully be plenty of time to find a place. Oh, and I have read in other threads about people's comparisons of Prescott to Prescott Valley and Chino Valley--what are the some of the differences? How far are they from each other? From what I described in my original post, do you have any idea which one would be best for me?

[Marcus707]

Originally Posted by oboe_chic

Sorry, that's kind of a lot of information, so here are the main questions I have: Since I have some health problems, does anyone know much about the quality of the health care system? Is there anything I should know (about smog, dust, etc) that might make this not such a good choice for my asthma? Would I be able to find a job, and is there any possibility of finding one before I move there (I would come visit at least once)?

I will be honest here. Prescott is known as one of the WORST places in the USA for allergies. It is at the junction of three different eco-systems - the Southwest Desert, the Western High Plains and the Western Rocky Mountains - the Prescott area has the dubious honor of being the worst place in the United States for allergies. If you have asthma, remember Prescott is at 5,300 feet elevation, that means less oxygen and it will make your asthma worse.

Dr. Richard Zeschke, a Prescott allergist, said it was the worst place, period. In most parts of the country doctors test for about 35 different allergens. In Prescott they test for 64.

If you go to www.Pollen.com, Prescott is noted as one of the top 5 worst pollen places in the entire country. 1 out of 12, with 12 being the worst pollen count, Prescott is at 11.7

I would consult with a doctor, but I would NOT recommend Prescott if you have asthma. The mile high elevation (less oxygen) and allergy count will wreak havoc with you. They also do PRESCRIBED FOREST BURNS in Prescott. With 11.7 pollen count, low oxygen level due to the elevation, smoke in the air, your asthma would be very bad. Add to that the DUST in the area, the area is VERY WINDY and VERY DUSTY, this will make breathing even harder.

I believe the health care system is very lacking. Also, jobs up here are scarce and low pay, especially now that tourism has fallen. Tourism was one of the main draws to this area, many hotels now sit mostly empty during the weekend as people are not traveling.

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by oboe_chic

Thanks for your reply. I think I will definitely be checking into Prescott a little more. I especially love the weather--we have finally had some days with highs in the 50's and it is wonderful. I wouldn't mind having it this warm or warmer year round. I'm also glad to hear about all the health care jobs. It seems like that is one of the only fields that it is still possible to find jobs in with this economy. I think it would be ok with the doctor shortage. It doesn't seem like much more can be done for any of my health problems right now, so I wouldn't necessarily need a primary care doctor in the area. I can always drive to Phoenix if I really need to. As long as I'm prepared for the prescribed burns that the Nat'l Forest Service does, I will probably be ok. How long do those usually last? As for finding a rental in my price range, it wasn't easy here either since I'm so close to the Twin Cities, but I have found that if you really do your research and you're persistent, something is usually available. In this case it took me 3 months to find a place, but the one I found is better than a lot of the higher priced ones I was looking at. I have at least 9 months before I'm even able to move, so that will hopefully be plenty of time to find a place. Oh, and I have read in other threads about people's comparisons of Prescott to Prescott Valley and Chino Valley--what are the some of the differences? How far are they from each other? From what I described in my original post, do you have any idea which one would be best for me?

As far as the weather goes, I think you'd probably love it. I'm from the midwest, too, so I love that we have about 6 months (3 in the spring and 3 in the fall) of really nice upper 60's/70's.

We call the area of Prescott/Prescott Valley/Chino Valley the "tri-city area". It's basically pretty difficult to tell where Prescott ends and Prescott Valley begins. If you're driving on Hwy 69, you've got maybe 3 miles between the city limits, but it's populated the entire way. Chino Valley is a little further away - takes about 10 minutes from the Prescott airport (north end of town).

As far as housing, Prescott Valley and Chino Valley are much cheaper, plus the new hospital and clinics are in Prescott Valley. Chino Valley is more rural. The only problem living there would be that you'd most likely have to commute to Prescott or Prescott Valley for work.

I don't think you'd find it difficult to find a job in healthcare here. It is the one sector that remains fairly strong, and since doctors are in such high demand up here I honestly think you'd find it easier to get a job here than someplace where they have an abundance of healthcare professionals.

I'm sure everybody is different, but I have a lot more problems with air quality down in Phoenix. I'm sure it depends on whether you're sensitive to pollution or to certain types of vegetation. Some people are allergic to the juniper trees up here in Prescott. I do notice that the smoke from the prescribed burns bothers me if the wind doesn't keep it from drifting into town. I would say they probably do prescribed burns about once every week or two for about three months. Most of them are a long ways away, but they probably conduct about 5 burns a year that are relatively close to town and have the potential for the smoke to drift in.

Hope this info gives you some more insight into the area. Flagstaff has a good healthcare system, but they're quite a bit colder than we are, and they do prescribed burns there even more frequently. Kingman or Tucson might be possibilities for you. I don't know a lot about air quality or health care jobs, but they don't do the prescribed burns in those areas.

[Evelyn123]

Hi
Are there any Senior Citizen low income housing complexs available?? I live in one now and I would like to move to the same type of building. $500.00 is too much for me unless it's a two bedroom.

Evelyn

[smilinpretty]

Evelyn123,

Yes, I believe there is Senior Housing not far from the hospital in Prescott. It is very lovely.

[Evelyn123]

Hi
If you feel like it would you pls post the name and address or phone number for me so I may check it out?? Thank you in advance.

Evelyn

[Gretchen B]

Originally Posted by Evelyn123

Hi
If you feel like it would you pls post the name and address or phone number for me so I may check it out?? Thank you in advance.

Evelyn

One is Canyon Run Senior Village (about 3 yrs old) on White Spar and Copper Basin. There is another one that's brand new on Bradshaw. Sorry don't know the name of that one, and Prescott Valley has a low-income senior housing apartment complex, too.

[Evelyn123]

Thank you so much Gretchen B., you are the greatest!! I will see what I can do with this info. Have a really great day!!