Nicer place to live overall: Arizona -or- Florida ? (Phoenix, Tucson: HOA, crime)

[Snippet2]

Definitely Arizona for me! Lived in south Florida for 30 years, relocated to St. Augustine in northern Florida and then moved west (lived in California but visited AZ quite a bit). Like a dummy, I moved back to FL (northern) and have been here for several years. Taking a trip back to Cali and AZ on Monday to spend a couple of weeks. After return, we are planning on tying up loose ends and then relocating to AZ (Kingman/Bullhead area).

Florida Pros: Green everywhere, trees, flowers - lots of natural beauty; the ocean if you're into that (I'm not so much anymore); rare snow/ice and mostly warm weather - often HOT weather.

Florida Cons: HUMIDITY UNCHAINED! Threat of property and bodily harm annually from hurricanes (grew up in so. FL and they were minimal - not any more!); bugs, bugs, bugs; humidity; swimming in fresh water = possible water moccasins and alligators (we have waterfront property and have seen both multiple times); humidity (not great for arthritis, bronchitis, etc.); less to do (unless you are really into the ocean, water sports, night life - too humid to do much outdoor stuff otherwise); humidity!

Arizona Pros: The desert (you either love it or hate it - I love it!; minimal humidity; good old "dry heat"; nice lakes; mountains; wide open spaces (not talking Phoenex, of course); more to do; gold & mineral hobby prospecting; more laid back lifestyle

Arizona Cons: Lack of greenery; Hot!

I am almost retirement age and not looking for a large, expensive house or life in the fast lane. Each person is different and everyone has their own circumstances but for me (after living in Florida altogether for 40+ years!), the west is definitely best! But good luck to all now and future Floridians and Arizonians! Different strokes....

[ryneone]

Originally Posted by Barry Cox

Sounds like an exciting time for you. I really want to get to Florida this year since I have never made the trip. As for Arizona, I like it here. No bugs. Yay. Don't listen to people who say there's nothing to do here. I think the Phoenix metropolitan area is the 5th largest in the country now in terms of population. You can't be that large and have nothing to do.

Yeah, I just did a search and found this article:

Phoenix is 5th-biggest U.S. city | www.tucsoncitizen.com ®

It is indeed the fifth largest city. But its the 14 largest metro. And that does not mean anything about what to do. Florida hands down. I'm not in the minority. Since 2000 1 million people have moved into AZ while in the same period 2 million moved into Florida.


Population Estimates Change (http://www.census.gov/popest/states/NST-pop-chg.html - broken link)

[Barry Cox]

I guess your right. There really isn't much to do here. The only couple of recreational things I can think of are:

Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Rattlers, Coyotes hockey, Phoenix Mercury, FBR Open, Barret Jackson Auction, Tubing at the Salt River, 300+ golf courses, Batting cages, put-putt golf, water parks, snow boarding, water skiiing, boating, fishing, motorcycle riding, roller blading, tons of parks, lakes, hiking, swimming, Ben Avery Shooting Range, some of the best Elk hunting in the world, skydiving, five star resorts, shopping at the Biltmore, Westgate, Scottsdale Fashion Square to name a few, large concert venue's that attract top notch artists, the improv, opera, ballet, wine bars, millions of different restaurants to choose from, large selection of nightclubs, bowling, fitness clubs, culinary festival, Major League Baseball spring training every year, Grand Canyon, Tombstone, Sedona, close proximity to San Diego, Vegas and Palm Springs, major airports where you can travel and learn to fly, West World, numerous race tracks, parades, casinos, 4 wheeling, camping, movie theatres, softball leagues, 1000's of Churchs to choose from and their associated activities, softball leagues, jeep tours, hockey centers for the public, Pac 10 schools such as ASU and University of Arizona and all the activities associated with them, community colleges, dance studios ......

[londonbarcelona]

Originally Posted by Barry Cox

I guess your right. There really isn't much to do here. The only couple of recreational things I can think of are:

Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Rattlers, Coyotes hockey, Phoenix Mercury, FBR Open, Barret Jackson Auction, Tubing at the Salt River, 300+ golf courses, Batting cages, put-putt golf, water parks, snow boarding, water skiiing, boating, fishing, motorcycle riding, roller blading, tons of parks, lakes, hiking, swimming, Ben Avery Shooting Range, some of the best Elk hunting in the world, skydiving, five star resorts, shopping at the Biltmore, Westgate, Scottsdale Fashion Square to name a few, large concert venue's that attract top notch artists, the improv, opera, ballet, wine bars, millions of different restaurants to choose from, large selection of nightclubs, bowling, fitness clubs, culinary festival, Major League Baseball spring training every year, Grand Canyon, Tombstone, Sedona, close proximity to San Diego, Vegas and Palm Springs, major airports where you can travel and learn to fly, West World, numerous race tracks, parades, casinos, 4 wheeling, camping, movie theatres, softball leagues, 1000's of Churchs to choose from and their associated activities, softball leagues, jeep tours, hockey centers for the public, Pac 10 schools such as ASU and University of Arizona and all the activities associated with them, community colleges, dance studios ......

KA-CHING!!!!!! lol

[dsonilane]

Originally Posted by nitram

There is a lot more to do in Florida compared to AZ, but I would question why so many Floridans move to AZ. Is it because we don't have the super high humidity, the hurricanes and the buggy bugs that FL has?
I've been to FL and couldn't wait to get out. My in-laws moved from FL for the same reasons as most do, heat and humidity. Since most of Florida sits on sand the termites are having a field day.
FL is a nice place to visit, like Disneyworld, the Space Center, Bush Gardens, and the other tourists venues, but once you've done that, what else is there to do besides keeping an eye on OJ Simpson and boarding up your house every year.

Hey, I've lived here for 20 years and have never boarded up my house. I have been stabbed by OJ two times though.

[dsonilane]

I'm sick of Florida. But I love Florida - it is beautiful in this area. And despite what everyone says - your chance of being affected by a hurricane in your life is as likely as being in an earthquake, tornado or tsunami - media just likes to hype all that - I'd like to live in AZ for the differences in topography, the climatic differences and the north part - especially - there are few areas on the planet as beautiful as Sedona. Both states are so vastly different so can't really be compared - except for sunshine - both plenty of it. But the heat in AZ can be horrific - and there is plenty of smog trapped by those mountains. So you want water or mountains? You want to trade houses?

[sheena]

Originally Posted by dsonilane

I'm sick of Florida. But I love Florida - it is beautiful in this area. And despite what everyone says - your chance of being affected by a hurricane in your life is as likely as being in an earthquake, tornado or tsunami - media just likes to hype all that - I'd like to live in AZ for the differences in topography, the climatic differences and the north part - especially - there are few areas on the planet as beautiful as Sedona. Both states are so vastly different so can't really be compared - except for sunshine - both plenty of it. But the heat in AZ can be horrific - and there is plenty of smog trapped by those mountains. So you want water or mountains? You want to trade houses?

Water for sure.

[JeepGirl118]

Originally Posted by Barry Cox

Sounds like an exciting time for you. I really want to get to Florida this year since I have never made the trip. As for Arizona, I like it here. No bugs. Yay. Don't listen to people who say there's nothing to do here. I think the Phoenix metropolitan area is the 5th largest in the country now in terms of population. You can't be that large and have nothing to do.

Yeah, I just did a search and found this article:

Phoenix is 5th-biggest U.S. city | www.tucsoncitizen.com ®

Sure there are bugs here. Plenty of them. In fact, whatever spider or bug it was that bit the hell out of my chin and neck last night when I was sleeping (took quite the chunk out of my neck too) - is PROOF there are enough bugs around here. Ah - yes - we do have bugs. Where do you think all of AZ's bugs are - vacationing in Florida? Or maybe the only bug in AZ bit me last night. It's safe people, it's in my home, you may sleep soundly tonight.

Newsflash to those here in Arizona - we DO have BUGS!!

[sierraAZ]

Originally Posted by dsonilane

I'm sick of Florida. But I love Florida - it is beautiful in this area. And despite what everyone says - your chance of being affected by a hurricane in your life is as likely as being in an earthquake, tornado or tsunami - media just likes to hype all that - I'd like to live in AZ for the differences in topography, the climatic differences and the north part - especially - there are few areas on the planet as beautiful as Sedona. Both states are so vastly different so can't really be compared - except for sunshine - both plenty of it. But the heat in AZ can be horrific - and there is plenty of smog trapped by those mountains. So you want water or mountains? You want to trade houses?

He-he, don't know about trading houses with your property taxes and insurances... , but I liked FL. Been there only once, 10 years ago, in April. Was in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Orlando. The first two were really cute. Didn't see much of Orlando itself. Well, it is humid... something I probably wouldn't have noticed in the past... but after living in AZ for quite some time I do. I grew up by a sea and I miss water...I'd take just about any body of water at this point... There's difference from humidity to humidity, though. After going from my home city by the sea to Acapulco (before even setting foot in AZ) I found it quite unbearable.

Probably I would've vacationed in FL if I weren't a smoker, didn't feel the need to get out of the country, and didn't live closer to Mexico. The funny thing is the weather is the only feature of AZ I do love. As cliche as it is, the dry heat is different and I'll take it any day over way lower temps with the same number in humidity... The only exception would be if this combination happens to be by an ocean/sea ., particularly if I'm laying under palm trees with a pina colada in hand. Granted, Phoenix is getting smoggy. It's not quite LA yet, but it's getting there. There's nothing like this in the rest of the state, though. I do hate the boring suburban sprawl, but even I have to admit I haven't seen more beautiful sky ever in my life! And the sunsets are up there with the best. This I can give to AZ in all honesty!

[BriansPerspective]

Originally Posted by JeepGirl118

Newsflash to those here in Arizona - we DO have BUGS!!

I just flushed a daddy-long-legs down the sink and I saw a moth flitterring about last night. Hey, I guess we DO have bugs!