what is tucson really like?

[Jukesgrrl]

If the existence of snowbirds would add too much stress to your life, Tucson is probably too big a city for you.

[Wrenchy DeSquirt]

now tell'em how you found relief from the stress..!


If you want to live away from people who labor for a living
then north of the river is the place to be.
There is a small area in the Tucson Mtn. foothills that almost fits that description as well.
Move South of the river & the income & education level
drops by the mile.
Near downtown is pricey BUT
will re-appreciate once the market adjusts itself, a great investment.

Tucson made it's money on the railroads & the people who serviced them,
the people that got off the train and
those too poor to make it all the way to California
....oh & the well-to-do midwesterners,
big fish from small ponds who assumed a little money made them somebody. They all were taken for a ride
by the people who owned all the land & THEIR salesman
which made for a profitable tiny operation.
So profitable that the Mob moved in when the BIG war came along, liked it
& vacations or "retires" here
...they don't like attention called to that fact
& because they are here relaxin there is NO big organized crime
like up the road where it's paved for an hour in any direction
TOTALLY paved.

Tucson has a reputation in it's working class from the midwest,
you come here to escape the winters
& you accept 50% of the wages you are used to getting
...and it's likely you never leave
because you'll never make enough to escape & get a new start
....the flypaper effect.
On the other hand,
if you were moving from Wilcox this might be heaven!

The towns historic neighborhoods AND buildings have been torn down
out of official embarrassment, the history along with it
and they have elected dozens of "visionaries" with RE(?) vitalization plans
when they have FAILED completely in any EXPANSION plans
...there is NO fast way to cross town in any direction,
you go AROUND it on the freeway..the ONE and ONLY freeway.

Property valuations are outrageously out of whack & increase with each passing year.
They cannot find enough ways to gut the education of our youth or build enough "facilities" to house the elderly who have lost a mate & cannot leave due to advanced age.
A lot of people trying, a few succeeding,
a bunch more with hope & most just making it day to day
smilin' & knowing it would only be worse in Phoenix, El Paso or Cincinnati.

My advice....move to Los Cruces & never look back.

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by Wrenchy DeSquirt

now tell'em how you found relief from the stress..!


If you want to live away from people who labor for a living
then north of the river is the place to be.
There is a small area in the Tucson Mtn. foothills that almost fits that description as well.
Move South of the river & the income & education level
drops by the mile.
Near downtown is pricey BUT
will re-appreciate once the market adjusts itself, a great investment.

Tucson made it's money on the railroads & the people who serviced them,
the people that got off the train and
those too poor to make it all the way to California
....oh & the well-to-do midwesterners,
big fish from small ponds who assumed a little money made them somebody. They all were taken for a ride
by the people who owned all the land & THEIR salesman
which made for a profitable tiny operation.
So profitable that the Mob moved in when the BIG war came along, liked it
& vacations or "retires" here
...they don't like attention called to that fact
& because they are here relaxin there is NO big organized crime
like up the road where it's paved for an hour in any direction
TOTALLY paved.

Tucson has a reputation in it's working class from the midwest,
you come here to escape the winters
& you accept 50% of the wages you are used to getting
...and it's likely you never leave
because you'll never make enough to escape & get a new start
....the flypaper effect.
On the other hand,
if you were moving from Wilcox this might be heaven!

The towns historic neighborhoods AND buildings have been torn down
out of official embarrassment, the history along with it
and they have elected dozens of "visionaries" with RE(?) vitalization plans
when they have FAILED completely in any EXPANSION plans
...there is NO fast way to cross town in any direction,
you go AROUND it on the freeway..the ONE and ONLY freeway.

Property valuations are outrageously out of whack & increase with each passing year.
They cannot find enough ways to gut the education of our youth or build enough "facilities" to house the elderly who have lost a mate & cannot leave due to advanced age.
A lot of people trying, a few succeeding,
a bunch more with hope & most just making it day to day
smilin' & knowing it would only be worse in Phoenix, El Paso or Cincinnati.

My advice....move to Los Cruces & never look back.

That's about right, short of the last sentence. I personally see nothing more exciting about Las Cruces or NM in general, with the exception of Santa Fe.