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

[meo92953]

Last night I kept the window open to enjoy the cool air. Shortly after 3am there was a commotion of howling & yipping. I get the howling was from wolves but what does all that yipping?

What kind of weird animals live in this terrible place?

[teddyearp]

I honestly do not know if you were hearing any wolves. Coyotes though for sure.

[wase4711]

probably vampires returning home after Halloween..

[meo92953]

Originally Posted by teddyearp

I honestly do not know if you were hearing any wolves. Coyotes though for sure.

I just realized that. Wolves=Minnesota, Coyotes, Arizona. That explains the howling but do they also yip? Sounded like a bunch of them out there.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by meo92953

I just realized that. Wolves=Minnesota, Coyotes, Arizona. That explains the howling but do they also yip? Sounded like a bunch of them out there.

Meo, this article may be helpful:

https://www.desertusa.com/animals/coyote.html

[meo92953]

Originally Posted by Colt AZ

Meo, this article may be helpful:

https://www.desertusa.com/animals/coyote.html

That was very helpful. Thank you Colt. I didn't realize they yelped as well as howled.

[teddyearp]

One night while camping in the woods near here several years ago, I heard some really terrible noises with a tiny bit of howling and yipping mixed in. It was spooky. Maybe a pack of coyotes cornered a big foot? LOL.

Seriously, they can make some serious noise.

[bigbuglf]

Yes, coyotes can be quite vocal! I love hearing them though. AZ has some wolves, Mexican gray wolves, over in the White Mountains.

[once-upon-chicago]

Originally Posted by PNW2AZ

I talk to people frequently about living in AZ and it's commonly the same displeasures about heat, drugs, desert landscape, rocks, dirt, etc.

As a native to the PNW, I cannot tell you how appealing the HEAT... HOT HOT CLIMATE really is. Crime, drugs, extremely high priced housing, ridiculously snobby people, homeless population is insane the population continues to grow at an alarming rate...etc, etc. All of these things continue to plague the state of Oregon. So much rain, gray skies for so much of the year, HORRIBLE traffic and no grid system to accommodate the continuous growth.

I have to wonder if those who have grown up in AZ have dislikes simply from a lifetime of exposure, where my wife and I actually enjoy spending time during the summer in AZ. The triple digits are the most appealing to us. People use sun lamps around here to try and counter the depression they experience from the months gray, dark and rainy weather we get every year. I have never heard of anyone living in a sunny climate who needed a cloud lamp to offset the frequent sunlight.

I'm sure it's all relative, but my wife and I will be calling Arizona our home by the end of next summer. Phoenix, Gilbert, Peoria...all being looked at. I can understand desert setting may not appeal to everyone, but there is so much openness and room to grow in AZ. Genuinely cannot wait to have our home sold and make a life where we can dry out after more than 45 years in the PNW.

You will also encounter crime and traffic, snobby people, and homelessness here in AZ as well. You really can't get away from any of that here (this article came out 2 years ago but is still relevant: https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/...ear-stuck.html). My experience with many who are from colder, wetter, dreary climates (my husband included) is that they love it here. I've been here long enough to be considered a native and I can tell you that I myself get tired of the blue skies, the lack of rain (its been MONTHS since its rained), the pollution, etc. (I suffer from migraines because of it - the pollution and dryness. Often can tell when it will be a high pollution day just on how my head feels). Long term water availability will most likely become an issue in the future. BUT I do travel and when I return I understand the lure of the open sky. We do have some of the most beautiful sunsets (thanks in large part to the pollution).

I don't think Phoenix is any worse then anywhere else. If we have the heat they have soggy days; if we have monsoons, they have tornadoes; if we have dryness, they have 3 feet of snow AND they have to drive in it. Its really personal preference. At the end of the day, maybe its more of an issue about familiarity breeds contempt?

[wase4711]

There is crime and traffic and snobby people everywhere in the usa, so of course you will see it here too..
The same goes for pollution, and since moving here from northern illinois, I have gone from daily allergy meds to never taking a single pill, for almost 3 months.
And, the trade off of months and months of sunny gorgeous weather, versus, rain/cold/weeks of clouds/snow/sub zero,and all the other krap you encounter almost every where else in the USA makes Phoenix a home run in my book.
Everyone obviously has their own opinions, but I cant fathom every wanting to leave this paradise...