Pros and Cons of Retiring in Desert Communities

[modhatter]

Originally Posted by ABQ2015

I like the brown. It doesn't detract from the muted beauty of the desert or the surrounding mountains. The beautiful sunsets and the clear blue skies with big puffy white clouds provide all the color I need. Don't know if the below will open but I consider it hideous.

Splashy Saguaro Hotel Colors Reflect Desert Wildflowers - Desert Guide - February 2013 - Palm Springs, California

See pictures at bottom of article on "splashy" hotel.

Hmmm. That looks like Howard Johnson's in drag.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by matisse12

What do you think about Palm Springs, CA as a place to live?

I have some friends (gay couple) who live there. They are in their mid to late 50s. They love it. But they also have a 1BR condo in Maui where they go for 8 weeks in summer. It is unbearably hot in summer there, The average July high is 109. Lows in summer often don't get below 80. 4 months of the year, the weather there is hellish. The other 8 months the heat is tolerable or it is downright amazingly beautiful

Palm Springs is the gay capital of the area, but there are plenty of neighboring cities that are not all that gay oriented.

I like visiting, but it has a very suburban, "drive everywhere" type of suburban layout (which I see as a negative, but other people might like). There are lots of fun things to do. The cost of living isn't exactly cheap, but is reasonable by California standards. Also, San Diego is only 3 hours away if you want to escape to cooler weather. L.A. is even closer.

I wouldn't recommend it for anyone who has to work for a living. But it's great for retired people who like suburban living and who don't mind (or have a means to escape) the heat.

Also, keep in mind it is in a major earthquake zone and Southern California is overdue for a major earthquake of 7.0 or greater.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Gandalara

Average high in July is probably 105
Average low in July is probably 70

Actually, those numbers are too low.

Average July high/low for Palm Springs is 108/75 and I think even those figures are low compared to recent years.

Now that the area is getting built up, they are seeing more of an urban heat island effect where it doesn't cool off as much at night. I wish desert communities would get serious about trying to mitigate this, as the heat island effect is very strong in deserts. It doesn't even seem to be on their radar, unfortunately.

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA - Climate Summary

[volosong]

In Southern California, Palm Springs is in what is commonly called the "low desert". That's because it's elevation is right at sea level. Yeah, it is bloody hot in the summer. The annual professional tennis tournament held every March is a hit-or-miss with the weather. It could be extremely hot, or very pleasant, light sweater weather.

I live in what is called the "high desert". We're at about 2,500-3,000 feet above mean sea level. The Antelope Valley part of the Mojave Desert, (which is a part of the much larger Sonoran Desert). Since I like doing stuff outside, especially on my free days, I don't care much for rain. The desert is the perfect place for me. Sure, I miss the green. The mountains are not far away, in any direction. I love the low humidity. We do get snow every few years and it rarely sticks around for more than a few days.

I enjoy the arid steppe climate so much that I will be retiring in an area with that climate. High East-coast humidity would kill me in short order.

[Gandalara]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Actually, those numbers are too low.

YMMV. Which is why I wrote probably.

I was using the numbers from my front porch thermometer. Not that far from Palm Springs