Why are SO many Illinois folk attracted to Arizona? (Chicago: power lines, public schools)

[linicx]

I know what mountains look like between Smokey in TN to CA. I lived in the Ozark Mountain Range in Indian Territory. I was in one of the highest points and wandered around in the mountain bed of the Ozarks North of the Boston Mountains. It doesn't take too much of that reality for man to figure out we're an insignificant players in the natural ebb and flow of life.

There isn't anything quite as nice as to look out over a snow covered field of winter wheat early in the morning and discover a doe with her babies. It is the price farmer pay. Illinois has so many forests and sources for water it is hard to keep foraging animals out of fields.

I never had a particular desire to visit the mountain states, the pacific northwest, or the northeast. Otherwise I did a fair amount of traveling in North America. It is an interesting part of the world.

[pnwmdk]

Originally Posted by linicx

I never had a particular desire to visit the mountain states, the pacific northwest, or the northeast. Otherwise I did a fair amount of traveling in North America. It is an interesting part of the world.

That's too bad, it is, without a doubt, the most impressively scenic region.

[linicx]

During one of my forays I discovered I am quite allergic to mountain pine and some desert plants. There is a back road in the Boston Mountains where the curves are marked 6mph, and you can look deep and find tree tops. On a clear day you see forever. It is particularly interesting in the spring when the dogwoods bloom. It's as white as snow with a few scattered patches of pink.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder from white sands and massive bat exit from caves at sundown to great bodies of water, to the wolf, and elk, and bear, to great architectural achievements, to the song of the night bird, and the stars at night. If you are looking for it you can find it. Sometimes the small surprises are the best.

Originally Posted by pnwmdk

That's too bad, it is, without a doubt, the most impressively scenic region.

[easherly]

Illinoisans tire of mowing their lawns and shoveling snow and trade it all for rock gardens and Saharan summers. Not having to lay in a box to get a tan year-round is another plus. The cost of living is comparable as well.

[RyanPatrick]

May be the climate it is so different to each other..

[linicx]

The weather and geography of the desert southwest is very different than Chicago. When one leaves Chicago for the desert, there is more than traffic, four seasons, crime, high COL and 30 hours left behind.

[thesunisstrying2killme]

just chuckle cubssoxfan

[Zoness]

Fwiw, I'm not interested in moving to the Southwest. I've spent time there and its enjoyable in the short term but I have too many complaints about areas like metro Phoenix. That said, I generally really like the West and especially the Pacific Northwest. I'd move there first and then secondly, somewhere else in the Midwest out of Illinois long before I'd move to the Southwest.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Zoness

Fwiw, I'm not interested in moving to the Southwest. I've spent time there and its enjoyable in the short term but I have too many complaints about areas like metro Phoenix. That said, I generally really like the West and especially the Pacific Northwest. I'd move there first and then secondly, somewhere else in the Midwest out of Illinois long before I'd move to the Southwest.

Me too, I find the SW repulsive.

[linicx]

If I was forced to live in the desert southwest my first choice would be Palm Springs followed by New Mexico. Winslow was the only thing I ever liked about Arizona.