Best State for Retirement (pensions, conversation, federal, retirees)
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I know of many "snowbirds" from the northwest that winter in Arizona and I have met an increasing number of "reverse snowbirds" coming up here to escape the summer heat of the southwest. That seems like a viable solution to the dilema for some.
I know of many "snowbirds" from the northwest that winter in Arizona and I have met an increasing number of "reverse snowbirds" coming up here to escape the summer heat of the southwest. That seems like a viable solution to the dilema for some.
IF I had the means I would definitely be a 'snowbird'. I lived on the coast of OR for 11 years and loved it. Now, though, my body can't take the wetter climate. My arthritis flares and makes me miserable. No problems like that here! I like eastern OR but if I want that topography I may as well stay here! lol
Summers on the Oregon coast are always interesting too. It can be 70 degrees on Highway 101. Get in your car and drive two miles to the beach and it is 60 degrees and foggy. This temperature differential creates some wild winds. Great for kite flying!
Shouldn't there be a white hood on that smiley face?
Quote:
Originally Posted by LivingDeadGirl
Actually sounds rather appealing to me after living in NM for near 40 years. It would be nice to be around a conservative, hardworking population where most aren't on welfare. I just wonder how I'd adapt to the winters.
The snowiest weather is along the I-80 corridor. Northern Wyoming has milder winters because it's not as high. Come to Yellowstone and Cody for a vacation. You'll like it. Then come up in late January. You may think it's not so bad.
It's a hard land for harder people. It's no wonder that folks here are mostly the descendants of a people who domesticated the wolf and the horse, invented the wheel and the wagon, then left their heritage over two continents. When I moved here I came home. I hope that you'll come home too.
.... invented the wheel and the wagon, then left their heritage over two continents.
Happy is correct that it takes a hardy soul to thrive in Wyoming. I have great admiration for settlers of that gorgeous country. However, I think giving credit for the invention of the wheel may be a little over the top. For my own well being let me add "with all due respect to Happy in Wyoming".
"According to archaeologists, the wheel was probably invented around 8,000 B.C in Asia but the oldest wheel as we know it dates back to Mesopotamia in 3,500 B.C. "
Summers on the Oregon coast are always interesting too. It can be 70 degrees on Highway 101. Get in your car and drive two miles to the beach and it is 60 degrees and foggy. This temperature differential creates some wild winds. Great for kite flying!
Last time I was up there was August 2012. They were having a real heat wave at the time, about 105 all the way up the I-5 corridor to Portland! Got over to the coast for a few days and it's in the low 60s. Having lived there I knew what to expect so didn't have to run out and buy sweats or anything. lol One of the nice things about living on the coast, as you say, is driving a bit inland and it would be very nice!
Last time I was up there was August 2012. They were having a real heat wave at the time, about 105 all the way up the I-5 corridor to Portland! Got over to the coast for a few days and it's in the low 60s. Having lived there I knew what to expect so didn't have to run out and buy sweats or anything. lol One of the nice things about living on the coast, as you say, is driving a bit inland and it would be very nice!
I'm in the I-5 corridor and we are into our second week of 90+ degree weather. Somewhat unusual. But I can (and do) hop in the car and in an hour I can be on the beach if I drive west and on the passes of the Cascade mountains if I drive east--both cooler than the valley. I feel very fortunate.
Funny how everyone equates Arizona with Phoenix. I noted that one poster said Az doesn't have any mountains, except for the 26 that are over 10k feet, which is 26 more than any state east of Colorado. Flagstaff is one of the snowiest cities in the country with over 100 inches per year.
Southern AZ is high desert, which is really grassland and mountains. Parts of Az have forests that would have you thinking your in the PNW. I love both Arizona and New Mexico, but NM taxes everything, to include SS.
So Phoenix is NOT Arizona, just like New York City is not New York.
As I post this at 4:00 pm PDT in Green Valley, another storm is coming over the mountains and it will be in full force in another hour. The storm will last 45-90 minutes and the temperature will drop from 101F to 78F meaning that by 7 pm, I will be taking our nightly hike in the arroyos.
We will be turning off the AC very shortly and opening the windows. This will be the 18th day in July with recordable rain of some sort.
I cannot speak of Phoenix, but here, I see a lot of green. When I visited in January, I expected to see a lot of green but expected it to be more brown in the summer. However, it has been more green in the summer. Also, most of the cactus plants in the area are in bloom, at least for a short period.
From my window in the valley, I can see at least two mountains over 9,000 ft. When I walk to the top of the street, I can see a panoramic view of mountains in all directions.
I do not like the low desert based on my experiences in the Imperial Valley (CA/BC) as it is rather monotonous.
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