European and military maybe moving to Tucson (long) (Phoenix, Prescott: for sale, apartment)

[azhiker]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

Well, the area IS nice, but only as far as Tucson goes... and it doesn't go far...
...

Yeah, this is beautiful. It's too late for some of us.

My take is you don't hate Tucson, but on a scale of 1 to 10, you'd maybe give it a 4. And I always wonder why people stay in a place that they're not all that fond of. Here's a hypothetical, if you had the ability to move (and you've indicated that that's not possible), and your income remained the same as it is now, where would you live? Would you choose to live on less money to live in a place that you really like? Just sort of curious.

It took me 6 years to finally be able to leave a place that I didn't care for. Had to get my son through college first, and I had a good job there, and my son was making a regular career of college, lol.

All our situations are unique, so I'm sure you have your reasons for staying in a place you don't care for. I just have a curiosity about why leaving is not even regarded as a possibility, but then, you already said it's not, so, that's that, I guess.

Bah, probably Mrs. Pony ran him over. But if it were me, my sincere apologies for your loss of a good ally.

Jeez. Just slap me if I ever start challenging every suggestion that Tucson is not an earthly paradise.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by azhiker

All our situations are unique, so I'm sure you have your reasons for staying in a place you don't care for. I just have a curiosity about why leaving is not even regarded as a possibility, but then, you already said it's not, so, that's that, I guess.

Let's just say that some lives happen to be more complicated than others and leave it at that. I'm working with what there is at hand and I don't think my opinions expressed here are that extreme. As you know, I help newcomers with whatever I can and issue mild warnings only to those who I'm pretty sure would be unhappy here based on their backgrounds. I understand many can be as content as you are.

[azhiker]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

... I don't think my opinions expressed here are that extreme. As you know, I help newcomers with whatever I can and issue mild warnings only to those who I'm pretty sure would be unhappy here based on their backgrounds. I understand many can be as content as you are.

I know, Sierra. You always seem even keeled and honest in your assessments. I don't think your views on the place are extreme at all. Didn't mean to be nosy about your personal situation. Like I said, 'All our situations are unique.' (yep, I just quoted myself).

I just meant in general terms I'm curious about the people remaining where they don't like (less you personally).

Anyway, finito. I always thought Pony's views were extreme on the other side (that's fine too, people are all over the scale on Tucson). My views are on the positive side, but I thought fell way short of my "ally" Pony's.

[xwideopenskyx]

Originally Posted by sierraAZ

That's a cheap shot and you know nobody's talking about the few tourist attractions!

Why so sensitive Sierra? Do you live with self imposed city boundries also?

The borders the OP listed pretty much eliminate most of the activities a 20 something can enjoy and most of the city.

The "tourist" attractions do a good job in catering to the locals as well, just in case you haven't noticed.

Hmmm Let's see, what could a 20 something do southwest of
River/Craycroft/Grant border?

1. Theatre/Concerts....Rialto, AVA etc.
2. Dance clubs.....Pearl etc.
3. Events at TCC
4. Kino Sports Complex
5. Shopping...4th Street, Plaza Palomino, Tucson and Park Place Mall, Main Gate Square.
6. Hike in the Tucson Mountain Park
7. Golf at Starr Pass Resort
8. Get lucky at one of the Casinos
9. Check out the Botanical Gardens, Zoo, Reid Park
10. Myriad of shops and restaurants, from high-end to low-end.

Shall I go on?

Lets be honest here. Tucson has the beautiful, the good, the bad, and the ugly. It makes sense to be selective in choosing your residence, but to draw boundaries for shopping/entertainment etc. and generalize large sections of the city is absurd.

Yep, there is plenty of ugly, but there is also this:

MLS 20827891 2.8 mil , 20832304 500k, 20813948 329k, 20832376 550k

PS....My 62 year old coworker strickly prohibits his wife from going anywhere south of River Road... reason---she's too pretty!
Now that is a good one! LOL

[Julia_Italy]

Originally Posted by xwideopenskyx

Wow! You put yourself in a little box, didn't you?

That might be a clue as to why you perceive Tucson as "Boring" on another thread in this forum.

Since you try your best never to cross your "border" there isn't any breathtaking sunsets at Gates Pass in your future, or educational strolls through the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, or a romp in the wild west of Old Tucson Studios, or the quiet spirituality of San Xavier del Bac, or awe-inspiring stargazing at Kitt Peak............I can go on and on..............

Unlike you, I am free as a bird to go wherever my interests take me and haven't had one boring day since I moved to Tucson over 2 years ago.
I constantly run into the opposite dilemma -- not enough hours in a day to fit it all in.....LOL

Vive la difference!

You might want to try and live outside of your little box once in a while, you never know what kind of gems you might discover.

Why are you so bothered by the fact that I dislike "the rest" of Tucson? What makes you want to lecture me?

1)

Normally, I am NOT AT ALL in favour of social segregation, extreme gentrification, urban sprawl, etc.

In fact, these were some of the very factors that caused me to hesitate about moving here in the first place.

However, I acknowledge the (sad and unpleasant) fact that Tucson IS somewhat socially segregated. There are probably worse cities in this regard, but still!

Therefore, since Tucson IS somewhat socially segregated, I prefer to live in the "nice and proper" ghetto, rather than in the "poor" ghetto or in the "hippie" ghetto.

I had much rather not live within self-imposed boundaries, and I would prefer to live in a more compact, mixed (diverse), integrated city without such enclaves, but I am trying to make the best of what Tucson has to offer. I am trying to be realistic.

Urban revitalization would be even better, but I simply do not see it happening any time soon.

Note that, although I am quintessentially middle-class, I have nothing against living in bohemian and artsy urban neighbourhoods as long as they REALLY are urban and creative. In fact, I lived in such a neighbourhood in a large European city while I was a student, and I loved it.

2)

Besides, there is a huge difference between being emotionally attached to a place and judging it objectively.

For example, my hometown, Udine, IS objectively and undeniably a little boring.

I am very fond of it and it has its charms, but I will readily admit that it is no Stockholm / Munich / Copenhagen / Frankfurt / Berlin / London / Paris / Vienna (just to mention a couple of cities I am particularly familiar with).

Of course, I could find a million things to do in order to keep busy and be entertained in Udine: We have the Alps, the sea, and efficient, cheap connections to several NEARBY Italian cities with countless museums, monuments, theatres, etc. Moreover, we are located very close to Austria, Germany, Slovenia, Croatia, Switzerland, etc.

Likewise, I can find a million interesting / pleasant things to do in "my" Tucson.

However, Udine per se is a little boring, and so is Tucson. All in all, I like them equally.

In conclusion, if it were not for the unbearable summer heat, the part of Tucson north and north-east of my "border" would be much less boring and much more stimulating than my native hometown.

[Julia_Italy]

Originally Posted by azhiker

Brava, Julia.

Benvenuti ad America! Hai scelto bene il suo quartiere. Mi piace tanto quell'area della citta.

Grazie mille, azhiker! Parli benissimo italiano! Ti ringrazio tanto per il tuo benvenuto caloroso e per la tua gentilezza e simpatia!

I hope I made at least a bit of sense with that.

Perfetto!

Sorry all. Couldn't resist trying out my meager bit of Italian that I know. It's likely incomprehensible at this point anyway.

My apologies as well!

Amavo vivere in Italia (per un anno e mezzo, nel Mezzogiorno).

Sono contenta che ti sia piaciuta l'Italia! Forse il clima al Sud è più simile a quello di Tucson.

Ciao, Julia.

Ciao and thank you for your friendly encouragement!

[Julia_Italy]

Originally Posted by Quinn99

Hi Julia,

[...] You want to look around the "Sam Hughes," neighborhood. It is expensive in some places but there are still homes to be rented or bought. You can ride your Vespa there and get to a decent coffee shop and out door feel in a restuarant. It is a community that is historic so it does have a close proximity to most that you need as well as the community of the University of Arizona which has it's own little "town," attached.

You know, I really like that area (although it is beyond my "borders"), but most of the homes there seem to be renovation objects! Actually, I would love to renovate an old house, but my husband, who is always busy, very practical and not much of a dreamer, politely vetoed my proposal!

[...] Yes, this is materialistic country and yes, there is a bit of racism directed to our culture, mostly thinking we are "mob." It's easy to deal with though and I've found it amusing.

I had the same problem in Germany and Sweden a couple of times, but here everybody has been simply wonderful. Besides, Italy (especially in the North) has become pretty materialistic as well.

If I were you, I would weigh your husband's chances of career in Italy before I made the move for the air force. My husband is retired Navy after 20 years and it is harder for him to be in an air force town, which this is.

No, the military are taken care of in Arizona and more so than other places in the country.

I have to say that you are right: Here everybody has been extremely nice to my husband (strangers have even gone up to him and thanked him for serving), while in Europe most non-military American expats seemed to be rather prejudiced against the military.

Quinn

Thank you very much for your kind and helpful reply!

[Julia_Italy]

Originally Posted by azhiker

Ha! Yeah, funny. I saw that. I was thinking how that's reconciled with: [...]

Well, Tucson is no London, NYC, Berlin, etc., nor does it posses the level of natural beauty of (for instance) Maine or Minnesota, but it is still very pleasant. A little boring (i.e. sleepy), just like my hometown, but very pleasant indeed.

PS: I apologize for being so inconsistent. I guess I was thinking about the heat when I wrote that... It makes it so hard to go anywhere during the summer months!

[azhiker]

Originally Posted by Julia_Italy

Well, Tucson is no London, NYC, Berlin, etc., nor does it posses the level of natural beauty of (for instance) Maine or Minnesota, but it is still very pleasant. A little boring (i.e. sleepy), just like my hometown, but very pleasant indeed.

PS: I apologize for being so inconsistent. I guess I was thinking about the heat when I wrote that... It makes it so hard to go anywhere during the summer months!

It's true that it's a relatively sleepy town. I totally understand how you can both like the place and find it not as stimulating as other places you've been to.

And just as an aside, I think your command of English, for being a non-native speaker, is remarkable. Brava, Julia.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Julia_Italy

I had much rather not live within self-imposed boundaries, and I would prefer to live in a more compact, mixed (diverse), integrated city without such enclaves, but I am trying to make the best of what Tucson has to offer. I am trying to be realistic.

I think your boundaries (unless you generalized too much) are way too restrictive. While I'm not somebody venturing into the City of South Tucson, for instance, there are plenty other nice and safe areas. Granted, one doesn't have much of a reason to go to some, but as it was mentioned many of the attractions and real natural beauty happen to be on the West side, and there's nothing wrong with this particular area.