Every city has advantages and disadvantages - Tucson is one of them. My folks lived moved here in the 70's and changes have occurred. They are from Ohio, upstate New York and lived in MN a short time - so they probably will relate better to people from those areas sharing pluses and minuses:
Dislikes
1) Don't bother with termites, the woodpeckers will arrive on your wooden house multiple times a day to hammer them out of your home.
2) Life (weather) is not great here from Late June to October - temperatures go over 100 degrees, and with monsoons (heavy rainfall) the humidity increases and yes, for a few months humidity makes the heat - wet heat.
3) Between Late October to Mid-April Snowbirds arrive (people that come here for a pleasant winter season) expect an increase 3 times the traffic and no local parking spaces during that time. In fact if you own a business you will make your year's profit during these months to carry you through the rough summer and dead retail season.
4) Yes, there is crime - the East side (broadway and wilmot) that was wonderful in the 70's happens to be in the middle of town now - my parent's neighborhood has changed and they have a neighborhood watch on it - due to an increase in cheap apt. complexes - the neighbor's house was robbed (and they have two dogs), trailers are stolen (even when they are chained down - we lost two in the neighborhood) and twice my car was broke into (did not need the jumper cables and spare tire anyways) - but then others' cars were hit and now the majority of homeowners have changed their carports to garages to protect their automobiles.
5) You will have a high A/C bill unless you have a fully insulated house.
6) For those that have wet coughs and asthma - you might enjoy it here, for the others like myself - I have had multiple respiratory problems (pneumonia, whoping cough) which were aleviated when I visited humid areas up North.
7) There is no lakes or rivers here. One manmade one at/near the zoo - but no place to fish or boat - there is Lake Pleasant and Lake Havasu several hours away if you need to see water. Greenery is in cactus form - not shade trees and green - although the older parts have added both which affects the water resources we have left. If you come here - either add a greenhouse or hyponics in your backyard and don't try to add a full yard of grass and trees to re-create someplace else. It's a waste of water, the non-native plants die fast unless you water them four times a day - and plus the tomatoes will not taste very good, if your plants survive outdoors at all - the poor quality top soil or added soil will not add the rural taste you had back in Ohio for the veggies.
8) Places go out of business in a few years - don't pick a location based on stores near it - or you will be disappointed - retail season is November to April and the profit from those months carry the stores through the year - eating locations that have not been established and older die first.
9) Bugs and wild life are common here - Javelina (mini wild hogs) eat flowering plants in your front yard (even in the city as they travel through the run off tenches), animals left outside with or without supervision can be eaten by coyotes (they come out all times during the day), crickets are a plenty in and out of your house - but if you have crickets you will not have scorpions. Every year new bug happenings occur two years ago I had two dozen bees show up dead in my front hallway, last year it was the crickets and mosquito bugs, this year only the cochroaches have appearred once - because I keep all the drain holes covered
. If you love wildlife - this is the place for you. Ants are summer invaders like in California and the Midwest.
10) The heat will effect some people - if you are from the north, cabin fever that occurs from Nov. to March will parallel the cabin fever of being inside from May/June to October. You need an A/C in the summer.
Does this mean you will not like Tucson - No - if you get a chance I would encourage travel and a change of location for anyone; if only for the appreciation of what you thought was boring or dull - coming from a Northern/Midwestern state - the following pluses will be very apparent on your arrival.
1) No Snow (okay - it's on Mt. Lemmon 45 minutes uphill if you need to see it in january).
2) See #1 - No Snow - which means NO RUST on your cars, if you like a 1965 - chances are you can find a dandy deal on one with no rust and owned by two or three owners. (Pre 1965 or older need no smog check/emissions check $15-20 each year).
3) From November to April - weather will be sweet and in the 70's - if you can live with 20-40's in the evenings, you can cut down on heavy winter heating bills by wearing all the Winter long-sleeved items you brought with you - otherwise, you will be wearing shorts and short-sleeves.
4) Tucson is built out - not up - that means the East and North sides are growing - downtown is more new wave and old - galleries and state depts. and law offices and older retail stores line the streets. Most people head to the major malls and/or strip malls for their items. I would not recommend a two story house here - heat rises and in the summer it's not good. However, Tucson is a mom and pop store haven - those that can make it appreciate your business and places like Barley's and Gus's can serve $1.75 breakfasts (although you have to wait 20-30 minutes in a line outside to get in usually from 6 am-2 pm) - but the food is good.
5) Bookman's! Among other reasons - my favorite they have three locations and you can trade your books, ipods, cds, DVDS etc and even odd stuff where you can recycle, re-use (Tucson's motto) and get the more pricey stuff for half of it's original cost at this store they run mini-concerts and bingo, and belly dancing and other fun activities throughout the year - so if you don't like to spend a lot on entertainment - these stores are for you!
6) They have usual places to learn, explore and shop - the Desert Museum, the bug museum, Collosal Cave, U of A's Observatory, a Zoo, tons of antique stores and thrift shops (yes, the rich and wealthy donate tons - you can find name brands sometimes there - Coach, Ann Taylor, Nieman Marcus etc.)
7) Once in Arizona - you can explore the state - from cool Ghost Towns like Bisbee and Jerome to New Age Sedona, Beautiful wilder locations up North by the Grand Canyon (Eager/Springerville/Payson), old mining atmosphere in Superior/Globe where the breakfast cafe serves coffee in typical every day coffee mugs, or do a day trip to Mexico (bring your passport too).
8) Minimal Yard Work - typical yards are rock, and native vegetation - if you like cactus, yucca and agave - this is your space - plus the botanical gardens holds a sale every year to add more plants to your location.
9) Tucson is very diverse - yes there are hispanics (good and bad ones) like there are good and bad white people - but then there are spots of Korean culture, campus culture, a gay culture, western culture, and a military base, oh and golf culture
(for those that like sports). If you really love sports Phoenix (2.5 hours away) has tons of stadiums with football, baseball, basketball - you name it. Tucson has spring training for many national leagues - so that is a plus too.
10) There are parts that are mobile and some parts that are community based - which means if you need a social life beyond bars - you have to inniate it, otherwise people tend to leave you alone for you to have your own space. There are clubs and organizations all over to meet people - from Service clubs Kiwanis, Lions etc., to Science fiction gatherings, from plant and bird watchers to cultural poetry and book reading ones, cycling and hiking clubs etc. - who you choose is up to you.
Oh - did I mention no snow?? Well, no large water masses either.
Anyways - I am sure you will find pluses and minuses no matter where you go - Tucson has a 4.8% unemployment rate and if you come here without a job - it could be several years before you get one. Alas - it is a beauty of a location and offers plenty for those who adopt and see it's beauty.
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