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My choice would be Flagstaff because of the natural beauty and weather. You can't beat a Flagstaff Summer, and I like cold, snowy winters.
Florida has never appealed to me. The heat, humidity, and lack of seasons is a big turn off for me.
However, it does appear that there is a major riff between you and your husband. You need to work out what is best for the two of you and your children.
A move ANYWHERE would be disruptive to the children. They are in their teens and need teen peers, and friends they can share school times with. Moving to Flagstaff would scar them forever.
I happen to like Flagstaff but I don't think I could find a decent job there, either. I don't like the cold but I also don't like humid, hurricane-like weather six months out of the year.
The children are not just your children, but your husband's children. (Women tend to take possession of children, why is that?) In the end, do what is best for ALL of you. There are worst places to live than Flagstaff.
My impression of flag,its cold!many drunken college students(of course flag is the only place with this!)that dam train runs thru town all the time.if you lived on the outskirts i guess its not to bad,sure is a lot different than florida!you could just move there and when you dont like it,just keep reminding your hubby how you didnt want to move there and make your lives a living hell.I would live there if i could actually find a decent job there.i lived in Williams,i just dont see many jobs in the area.on the other hand ive been to florida and id want to move away from there for sure.
So hard, if you stay he will hate you, if you go, you will hate him. I would laughingly say, lets flip a coin! Both agree to go with what the coin says, like fate. Then sneek a 2 sided coin into your hand and flip it. lol
My husband wants to move the family to Flagstaff, Arizona. I am very opposed to this for many reasons. He, on the other-hand, has reasons that he wants to move. I am interested in your feedback to see if our perceptions of Flagstaff are accurate.
My husband wants to move for the following reasons. I think that he is misguided in his thinking:
1. We currently live in a small, conservative, yet very posh retirement city in Florida. He thinks it is too conservative here, so he wants to move to a 'funky' collegetown like Flagstaff.
2. He thinks that Flagstaff is pretty and outdoorsy.
3. We bought our house at the top of the market and can't sell it. The company that is looking at him has a house buying option. But even if they buy our house we will still have to come up with $20K, because we are upside down due to the realestate crash here. So in essence the only thing the company in Flagstaff is doing for us is paying our moving expenses (which we would not incur if we did not move) and paying our realtor fees - that means about $25K pop - big deal, that isn't worth disrupting my kid's lives for.
4. He thinks the company is 'cool' and that he will be happier there. I think he is in fantasy land. ALL companies have warts. We moved here to Florida three years ago because he was chasing this same dream of more money and a more exciting company.
I do not want to move, and here are my reasons:
1. I have been to Flagstaff and I think it is a dirty, run-down poor looking town. And yes, I did go to the 'trendy' downtown area to eat. I was not impressed, if that is all the town has to offer.
2. There are no jobs in Flagstaff for me. What the heck would I do?
3. Flagstaff has a substantially higher violent crime rate per capita than where I live. Particularly the Rape and Aggravated Assault rates. In fact their violent crime rate per capita is higher than the national average.
4. Flagstaff is f'n cold as heck. I prefer our hot sunny climate.
5. The houses in Flagstaff are more expensive than they are here. And there are less jobs in Flagstaff, more crime in Flagstaff, and it is a much less attractive city in my opinion. Why would houses be so expensive in such an unattractive town? It just doesn't make sense. IF we moved there I don't want to spend any more than 450K on a house. I don't think I can get much for 450K in Flagstaff. Here for that price you get a newer 2400 square foot house with vaulted cielings, 4 bedrooms, three baths, pool, landscaping, and nice neighborhood.
6. I have heard that there is a serious water issue in Flagstaff.
7. A big issue is that I have two teenage boys and I don't want to disrupt their lives, particularly to move to a city with such a high crime rate per capita and with such little opportunity. I don't see any payoff here other than the lousy $25k pop we would get up front from the company.
I just went on a three month cross country trip this past summer, and of all the cities we visited, Flagstaff was the dirtiest and the biggest disappointment. I just cant imagine why in the world my husband wants to move there.
If you think flagstaff is paradise and I'm full of crud, then please tell me how this is so given the crime, dirtiness and low opportunity in the city.
If you think that flagstaff is a yucky place to move and have something to add, then please tell me that as well.
FLAGSTAFF has high crime? Are you serious? Flagstaff is NOT a high crime area. If you are worried about crime and something crimewise influencing your kids, I would be much more worried in Florida than Flagstaff.
Flagstaff is just filled with hotels (for tourists to the Grand Canyon), has nice skiing, is high elevation, and probably a great place for kids to grow up and spend time.
I certainly don't think it is paradise (and I don't know anywhere that is), but it certainly isn't high crime. The college town part is nice (NAU)...anyways, I think your husband has the better grasp on the town's reality.
My husband wants to move the family to Flagstaff, Arizona. I am very opposed to this for many reasons. He, on the other-hand, has reasons that he wants to move. I am interested in your feedback to see if our perceptions of Flagstaff are accurate.
My husband wants to move for the following reasons. I think that he is misguided in his thinking:
1. We currently live in a small, conservative, yet very posh retirement city in Florida. He thinks it is too conservative here, so he wants to move to a 'funky' collegetown like Flagstaff.
2. He thinks that Flagstaff is pretty and outdoorsy.
3. We bought our house at the top of the market and can't sell it. The company that is looking at him has a house buying option. But even if they buy our house we will still have to come up with $20K, because we are upside down due to the realestate crash here. So in essence the only thing the company in Flagstaff is doing for us is paying our moving expenses (which we would not incur if we did not move) and paying our realtor fees - that means about $25K pop - big deal, that isn't worth disrupting my kid's lives for.
4. He thinks the company is 'cool' and that he will be happier there. I think he is in fantasy land. ALL companies have warts. We moved here to Florida three years ago because he was chasing this same dream of more money and a more exciting company.
I do not want to move, and here are my reasons:
1. I have been to Flagstaff and I think it is a dirty, run-down poor looking town. And yes, I did go to the 'trendy' downtown area to eat. I was not impressed, if that is all the town has to offer.
2. There are no jobs in Flagstaff for me. What the heck would I do?
3. Flagstaff has a substantially higher violent crime rate per capita than where I live. Particularly the Rape and Aggravated Assault rates. In fact their violent crime rate per capita is higher than the national average.
4. Flagstaff is f'n cold as heck. I prefer our hot sunny climate.
5. The houses in Flagstaff are more expensive than they are here. And there are less jobs in Flagstaff, more crime in Flagstaff, and it is a much less attractive city in my opinion. Why would houses be so expensive in such an unattractive town? It just doesn't make sense. IF we moved there I don't want to spend any more than 450K on a house. I don't think I can get much for 450K in Flagstaff. Here for that price you get a newer 2400 square foot house with vaulted cielings, 4 bedrooms, three baths, pool, landscaping, and nice neighborhood.
6. I have heard that there is a serious water issue in Flagstaff.
7. A big issue is that I have two teenage boys and I don't want to disrupt their lives, particularly to move to a city with such a high crime rate per capita and with such little opportunity. I don't see any payoff here other than the lousy $25k pop we would get up front from the company.
I just went on a three month cross country trip this past summer, and of all the cities we visited, Flagstaff was the dirtiest and the biggest disappointment. I just cant imagine why in the world my husband wants to move there.
If you think flagstaff is paradise and I'm full of crud, then please tell me how this is so given the crime, dirtiness and low opportunity in the city.
If you think that flagstaff is a yucky place to move and have something to add, then please tell me that as well.
If I could chime in, albeit maybe too late, I think your husband needs to sit tight for a while. At least until your oldest graduates high school. You'll be in the hole by selling your home, and moving costs, downpayment, etc. for a new home. The kids will be uprooted. You'll be uprooted. Plus, you are moving to a city that you don't even like.
Not that I know your husband, but it sounds like--from the information provided by you--that he is chasing some happier life by moving all the time.
I'd recommend you both go to a counselor together and work out this issue. But my opinion is to sit tight in Florida for a couple years. Wait for your kids to get through HS, and for the economy to get better. Then, revisit the idea if he is still pumped about it.
. Is there racial tension between the native american population and non-native americans in the general town? at the schools?
No there is not any tension.
If we move we plan to send our oldest son to Flagstaff High. What do you think of the school?
I would send my kid to FALA.
My husband wants to move into the flag high boundary, while I'm more interested in the Country Club neighborhood.
CCLub is dull and on the wrong side of town.
Wha areas in the flag high boundary would you reccomend?
Coconino Estates w. of Ft Valley rd.
In the flag high area we thought that the foothills around cheshire might be nice.
Its all ok in cheshire. Coconino Estates is better for the same price.
What do you think? Any other nice and affordable areas in the flag high boundary? By affordable, we are looking for single family homes that are currently priced under 550K.
For 550 in FLg, you get you pick.
We thought about Kachina and Mountainaire (which we have not seen in person yet), but the real estate agent did not take us there and implied that it was 'tacky' and 'red' out there. What do you think?[/quote]
If you have 500k SKIP kachina and mountainaire.
Also, since there are VERY few places to pay moving costs. I will venture that your SO is being recruited by GORE. If that is the case TAKE THE JOB. They are a fantastic company.
nowannamove, I hope you keep us posted on your decision.
I live in Lake Havasu and I have lived in Chino Valley, AZ. Both towns are nice to live in. It is all based on where your heart is. Arizona generally the people are friendly. I think Arizona is one of the friendlier states in the west. Large percentage of people are from elsewhere. I have been to Flagstaff many times. I love Flagstaff in the summer time. I just can't stand the traffic there. I have to agree with you on many issues you brought up. I have a suggestion. Rent your house out in FL and rent a house in Flagstaff. Live there for a year, if it doesn't suit you, move back to FL.
My husband won this one. I caved in and we are now in Flag. It's working out much better than I thought, but it is still a struggle for me personally. Here are the Pros and Cons as I see them to date Pros 1. Our boys are adjusting well. There is less affluence here, so their peers have a better work ethic and are more real, less shallow. 2. Hubby loves his job and the company he works for. 3. Folks here are very laid back. Nobody is too uptight or worried about rigidly adhering to rules. 4. Enjoy seeing mountains and trees from just about any viewpoint in town. 5. Virtually no traffic and getting across town takes under 10 minutes. 6. Pace of small town is enjoyable. Went to courthouse the other day and didn't even have to wait in line. 7. Found a great church, with a wonderful pastor Cons 1. Tough, tough job market. (For Marketing Communications and Internet Marketing) 2. Lonely due to lack of stimulation - see #1 above 3. Substantially less affluence here means that the yoga market here has much less opportunity 4. Lots of transients/homeless/druggies, maybe a bit too many 5. Still adjusting to dry, scrubby, landscaping all over town 6. Houses overpriced for what you get (but we found a beautiful house to rent for reasonable price, so we are OK for now - will buy after the market settles) 7. Losing BIG money on our home in Florida.
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