Arizona is a terrible place, do not think about living here. (Phoenix: YMCA, agriculture)

[vegasgal47]

Ever been to Pinetop, Flagstaff or Prescott. They aren’t dry deserts. There are quite a few cooler mountainous areas of Arizona.

[fly_me]

Originally Posted by KurtAZ

Did you just call teddyearp a Troll? HA

There is a difference between trolling and irony. Just saying.

I stand corrected.

[_Charles_]

Originally Posted by retiredtxn

OK...I'm late to this party but just need to vent and put in my 2 cents worth.

My husband and I are retired (78/72 respectively) and relocated to NW AZ about 5 years ago from PA. We've lived in a few states (CA, MI, PA, SC, IL, TX) before moving here. My husband was raised in CA and I lived there briefly (thank God!) from 1997 to 2001, when he retired and we traveled for 3 1/2 years.

We were living in PA before we moved to AZ and can I just say I wish I would have never consented to coming here. I loved my home, my small town, my friends, and my shopping opportunities in PA. I loved the changing seasons (yes...even winter). My husband's pension was not taxed in PA (or TX) and our COL was slightly cheaper than AZ.

Why are we here, you ask? In 2012 my husband fell from a ladder and shattered his left ankle. After 4 surgeries within 10 weeks and a severe infection he decided he could not handle the cold weather any more. Besides, his kids lived in Anaheim and he'd be closer to them. Nevermind, my family was in PA and MI. So we moved.

Then 2 of his 3 kids moved here from CA, so I'm stuck here.

What do I hate about AZ, but particularly about where we live? First, we are seniors and the medical care here is scary. If you want decent doctors we would have to travel to a larger city. Second, there's nothing here. Sure Route 66 and I-40 runs through here, but there's only hotels and fast food places. There are a couple grocery stores and Walmart. That's it. Again, you have to travel to actually shop for anything. Third, there are no decent jobs here...so I'm told by people that's still working. All the new businesses are given to Phoenix, thanks to the governor. This is a forgotten area. Half the streets aren't even paved!

Why people come here is beyond me, but home construction is going gang-busters. There's a lot of CA people coming here because they can sell their home in CA for a fortune and buy a new one for dirt cheap. I can understand that. I get it. I guess if you've lived in CA (like we did) and had to drive hundreds of miles just to get to work, then driving 100 miles to Las Vegas to shop isn't a big deal.

Schools, I'm told, are terrible all over AZ. Teachers are quitting and moving out of AZ because they can get paid a decent wage elsewhere.

Sales tax in our town is almost 10%. Our pension is taxed. Last year we paid $90 to AZ...this year we owe $203. Our car registration is high...not as ridiculous as CA, but not far behind it. You pay according to what you drive and the year of the vehicle. Each year, it goes down...slightly...but then AZ decided in December to add an additional $32 for the Highway Patrol and road maintenance. So, this year, our registration for one vehicle (2017 Nissan Rogue...nothing fancy, mind you), was $350.

Could I go on?...you bet. My advice to anyone thinking of moving to AZ....DON'T. If you want to go to Phoenix, be sure to do your homework and really look at the crime rate.

Why not just move over to Nevada? It would be a very short move in terms of distance. NONE of your personal income will be taxed and the greater Las Vegas metro area will have the services you're wanting.

[jamies]

I am noticing a very concerning trend on this thread, of people extoling the virtues of Arizona. This misguided behaviour must STOP!

Yew people saying how great the high country is are failing to point out the entire place is a tinderbox waiting to ignite, AND it's full of wild, maurading BEARS who will eat your children, if they survived the cougar and rattlesnakes! And the owls, don't forget them, the silent killers of the night!

You fail to mention the TAXES! Why I bet you didn't know those crooks in the Statehouse actually REDUCED the state income tax this year, by half, to 2.5% for everybody. What a TERRIBLE thing to do! Can you imagine living in a place so horrible they give your tax money back?

(Edit: PS - the post above snuck in while I was typing. The hated $32 MVD car tax was repealled this year by those same terrible legislators. Also, if you live and shop in county areas the sales tax is a debilitaiting 5.6%, the only thing more terrible would be having to live in a no tax state.)

Ok, let's get this thread back on topic.

I hear Wyoming is nice.

[_Charles_]

Originally Posted by Casey73

I've lived in Arizona for 40 years. Moved here from Wisconsin after another cold sub zero, deep snow winter. This past summer of 2020 was the hottest summer I've ever experienced in Arizona and I'd still rather live here than Wisconsin. Wisconsin is great in the summer but it only lasts 3, maybe 4 months a year.

But I appreciate your gloom and doom assessment. Maybe it will keep some of the crazies from other states from moving here.

I agree with you! Way to many folks moving here. Benn here since 1986. Moving here was one of the best perosnal decisions I ever made. Arizona is OZ to me. Hey doom and gloomers please help us - convince people to go elsewhere!

[citizensadvocate]

I was looking at Arizona, I guess another negative in addition to blazing summer heat except in the highest elevation is how the schools start in middle of July in many Arizona Districts. Which is just shocking, the trend of starting earlier in August in other parts of the country seems already bad enough. I be curious does this mean kids would need to spend PE and recess in air conditioned buildings/multi use rooms, or gyms during July and August? At least until later in the school year when temperatures are cool enough that sports/play equipment and the blacktop/playground surface won't cause serious burns with just a few seconds of contact? Though its true that most outdoor playgrounds/activities in Arizona unsafe for kids due to the heat even if school is out unless their parents could have them spend their summer in other destinations or higher elevations. Though if kids start mid July arranging family reunions could be tough especially if other relatives live in states where schools don't let out until mid/late June and may have summer school to contend with afterwards.

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by citizensadvocate

I was looking at Arizona, I guess another negative in addition to blazing summer heat except in the highest elevation is how the schools start in middle of July in many Arizona Districts. Which is just shocking, the trend of starting earlier in August in other parts of the country seems already bad enough. I be curious does this mean kids would need to spend PE and recess in air conditioned buildings/multi use rooms, or gyms during July and August? At least until later in the school year when temperatures are cool enough that sports/play equipment and the blacktop/playground surface won't cause serious burns with just a few seconds of contact? Though its true that most outdoor playgrounds/activities in Arizona unsafe for kids due to the heat even if school is out unless their parents could have them spend their summer in other destinations or higher elevations. Though if kids start mid July arranging family reunions could be tough especially if other relatives live in states where schools don't let out until mid/late June and may have summer school to contend with afterwards.

you are right; there are so many negatives to this state, its hard to fathom why anyone would want to live in this Devil's Cauldron...kids burning up during recess, every man, woman, and child carrying multiple guns on them, and, soon, there wont be a single drop of water to drink..

So, for the love of god, get out while you can, before they lock the borders down, and no one will be able to come or go...

You've been Warned..

[LongLeggedOne]

Originally Posted by fly_me

I thought I replied but don't see it. I will study towns in NC. People I know there are very happy. Thank you for the suggestion.

Why I want to go also. SC is too backwards if you're open minded so don't do that one. NC is the way to go I feel.



I want to be one of those happy people too in more of a socially liberal environment without being too extreme.

[KurtAZ]

Originally Posted by citizensadvocate

I was looking at Arizona, I guess another negative in addition to blazing summer heat except in the highest elevation is how the schools start in middle of July in many Arizona Districts. Which is just shocking, the trend of starting earlier in August in other parts of the country seems already bad enough. I be curious does this mean kids would need to spend PE and recess in air conditioned buildings/multi use rooms, or gyms during July and August? At least until later in the school year when temperatures are cool enough that sports/play equipment and the blacktop/playground surface won't cause serious burns with just a few seconds of contact? Though its true that most outdoor playgrounds/activities in Arizona unsafe for kids due to the heat even if school is out unless their parents could have them spend their summer in other destinations or higher elevations. Though if kids start mid July arranging family reunions could be tough especially if other relatives live in states where schools don't let out until mid/late June and may have summer school to contend with afterwards.

Actually...AZ parents don't care about their kids...that is why we send them to suffer 3rd degree burns on playground equipment and die of heat stroke at school. Then the parents can enjoy lazy days drinking margaritas by the pool while the kids suffer with sub-standard education and possible maiming from the school system.

[teddyearp]

I have to remind folks about the high country, especially the Show Low area and how terribleâ„¢ it really is.


I mean, you can read many threads right here that the whole place is run by the LDS church, so supposedly unless you are part of that church, you're a thief and drug user. In other words, you won't succeed. And then there's all those SQUADrons of wild pigs (javelinas), don't forget that!