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We touched on this a little bit with MadMan's recent Las Vegas thread. In addition to Vegas, I wonder what it's like to retire in various other desert communities. As I recall several people on this forum have done this (especially to Albuquerque). Any thoughts on the pros and cons of desert living for retirees?
Wow, you sure get around, from ocean to mountains to desert . I have to say I admire your energy.
I would not consider a desert location for myself, because I am very attuned through experience to what it is like when prolonged power outages occur. I know I can survive the cold weather anywhere with my little wood stove, but I also know I would not want to try to keep myself alive in old/older age in any utilities emergencies in the hot dry seasons of the desert. That said, there is a special natural beauty there that I could appreciate, if younger. I wonder, like others do, about water issues, but these may not be likely to reach a crisis in our lifetimes.
I think a lot of this discussion turns around one's tolerance for, and even liking of, dryness versus humidity.
If one is not a native or familiar with either dryness or humidity (i.e., is new to it), in either case one has to learn to use survival tactics. Both can be brutal at the extreme. Learning to acclimate probably comes easier than most of us think. This involves using common sense so as not to suffer unduly. When I hear 118 degrees in AZ, I shudder as much as one does hearing 100 degrees and high humidity in New England. We all cope. If one is really and truly not cut out for a certain climate, the instinct will kick in to leave.
I haven't retired, yet. Probably 3 years down the road. I did live/work in Tucson, AZ for several years. I enjoyed it immensely. Hot weather doesn't present problems/much discomfort to me ... at this point in my life. But I do wonder if it will in years ahead. Tucson is one of the places I've been looking at as a possible retirement location (full time/seasonal). I've also spent a considerable amount of time in Palm Springs. Now, that's hot! I think I'll prefer hot/dry to hot/humid ... if I have to pick between the two climates.
Wow, you sure get around, from ocean to mountains to desert . I have to say I admire your energy.
LOL LOL if only you knew..... these threads are my way of recharging. Too many things wanting my energy today, since we just got back from a trip and have contractors working on the tile in our master bath tomorrow.
So my day has gone like this.... spend energy unpacking the luggage. Then recharge while pondering threads on international retirements. I paint a wall, then recharge by reading posts on the pacific northwest... do a load of laundry, then take time to ponder the joys of retirement in the mountains... finish painting... and unwind by reading about what it would be like to retire in the desert
One thing that makes desert living appealing to me is desert cities seem to have a more relaxed, laidback culture than many major cities. At least that's what my friends who live in Arizona and NM say The deserts are home to some fairly big cities, but those cities seem more balanced and slower-paced than similar sized cities in other parts of the country.
I have a friend who retired to Los Alamos, NM and loves the intellectual stimulation there. Not every town has the scientific population of that town, of course.
I don't really think of our location at the eastern edge of Albuquerque as desert...more the interface area between desert and the mountains. We have a 10,700 foot peak 4 miles (as the proverbial crow flies) from the house.
I will confess our yard does not belong in this environment, though. The lush, green landscape was here when we bought the place about 24 years ago, and we just haven't given it up yet. We really hope to sell the place first...and it does look like an oasis. We have lots of birds and deer hanging out just about all the time.
Someone mentioned "dry eye syndrome." Yep...that's me. I guess I'm used to dealing with it (eye drops several times a day and frequently wiping the tears out of the dry one). I get to take some days off from this when I visit family in southeast Texas.
Heat? At our elevation (6100+ ft), it's not a problem for me. We hit 100 degrees about once every 5 years at this elevation. Still, my wife says it's too hot. She bicycles at sunrise in the summer. I wait till it's early afternoon when I can enjoy uncrowded trails (hiking and biking).
Los Alamos is a neat place in my opinion...though it would be a bit cold for me.
If I had my "druthers," I'd move to a small town in Colorado...west of the front range. I would visit the true desert from time to time to enjoy its unique beauty...but brown is just not my favorite color.
The deserts are home to some fairly big cities, but those cities seem more balanced and slower-paced than similar sized cities in other parts of the country.
I have a friend who retired to Los Alamos, NM and loves the intellectual stimulation there. Not every town has the scientific population of that town, of course.
The deserts are home to some fairly big critters. I'm not sure I could sleep through the night imagining them, but then again I did see a bear crossing in front of me on my rural excursion today. I don't tend to have nightmares about bears though. I would not want a garden near any desert. (oops. no gardens in deserts, right?)
Any place super hot is laid back and relaxed because it's super hot.
Intellectual stimulation is not only found in the desert.
Hot dry heat as opposed to that awful intolerable hot, humid heat
Shorter milder winters.
Beautiful desert plants and red rock formations where my second home is.
Lots of hiking trails, generally.
Fewer things to be allergic too.
Con's
Haven't found any yet to St. George, Utah. Possibly its too small to attract real high quality restaurants and such. However, we like the fact that it isn't too big.
Cons = Hot as Hades . . .dry, ugly, barren, drab, boring, uninspiring, parched, scary big bugs, crazy old hoots, etc.
You got one right. It does get very hot during the summer months. I don't know about Hades since I do not recall ever being in Hades. Have you been there?
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. I have to say I admire your energy.
I paint a wall, then recharge by reading posts on the pacific northwest... do a load of laundry, then take time to ponder the joys of retirement in the mountains... finish painting... and unwind by reading about what it would be like to retire in the desert 
(oops. no gardens in deserts, right?)
