[cityflower]

Originally Posted by SoCalCpl2

Try living in California.. Any of the major cities.. Things are far away... And if you came from DC you should be able to tolerate the heat...

You have to make an effort to do things.. I have been to DC plenty of times and have NEVER considered it a place I would want to live.... Heck why not just drive around the city and find things to do... Shoot whenever we are in Vegas we just like to people watch.. Grab an outside table somewhere and just watch the parade....

Shark reef aquarium is a great place to just sit and watch sea creatures... go to one of the hotels and use the pool... etc, etc....

Back home we have uncomfortable humidity. But here the 100+ temps are dangerous. Ive never had to buy and wear so much sun block. My skin feels like I sat in an oven all day. Lol

[qingguy]

Originally Posted by UTES

I find the lack of empathy displayed on both sides of this issue to be painful. There's just no need to portray a Las Vegas supporter or a Las Vegas detractor as sick or twisted. Where one chooses to live is a personal preference. It does not make any of us better than others because we do, or don't, want to live here.

As a fellow Ute I’ll cut you some slack here (kidding of course); overall I agree with you, however, when someone titles a post “Living in las vegas: thinking of moving here? The real truth” and then posts such truths as:
“They cater to the Mexican community here” - My wife is Hispanic and I just asked her if she feels catered to and she replied “no, now in California we were catered to” Straight from a Hispanic’s mouth.

“There is really nothing to do but gamble, see shows if anything good is out, party, swim if youre lucky to have a pool, or walk the strip or Fremont street” – Really, that’s all there is to do here? Remember, these are truths.

“Drivers are retarted. You are guaranteed a fender bender at most within your first year living here” – I don’t believe the mentally challenged are allowed to drive here. Also, I’ve lived here three years and no accidents so that’s not much of a guarantee the OP has going there. No accidents for the Hispanic wife either. By-the-way, notice the OP misspelled retarded, just saying . . .

Unless you like burgers and Mexican food, cook at home – Really? Scoop where do you work, In-N-Out or Taco Bell?

“Unless you have family or friends already, you will be lonely” – We moved here three years ago not knowing a soul and just today I was complaining because we’re so busy socially that between now and mid September we have one available weekend date to schedule dinner with a neighbor. At this point I’d welcome not having anything to do and being lonely! Oh, and the neighbor took us up on the date so we are booked through mid September now.

Sure I parsed the OP’s message to make my point and I do agree with the OP that we need to do better with our education system and if you move here without a job it’s going to be difficult, hell if you move almost any place without a job it could be difficult, not impossible but difficult. However, don’t try and pass off your other comments as truths because they’re not, they’re your opinion and experience. Next time title your post, “my experience” because that’s exactly what it is, your experience, it’s not mine and obviously it’s not others either. My experience has been pretty kick-ass and I’m not even a gambler, drug addict, whack-job (at least I don’t think I am) or otherwise goofy or damaged, imagine what a good time I’d be having if I was!

I think the good news is I’m not sure how much credit someone reading the original post will give truths coming from someone who admits they were tricked into moving someplace – “I feel I was one of those people who let the illusion of vacationing here trick me into wanting to move here.”

To quote Joe Dirt, “life’s a garden, dig it”

[logline]

Originally Posted by Raiderman

I think that may be the difference. The "real" feeling is what I love about living here. I work during the day, and have virtually endless possibilities in the evening. My wife and I are both in our early 40s. Some nights we stay at home and watch movies, throw something on the grill, etc. Other nights we go out. At least here we have the opportunity to have 100 options of things to do on any given day, even if it's just floating in the pool, not worrying about weather.

We have been going to the strip more, mostly to see our friends' bands. We've learned how to "do the strip" very inexpensively, and it's just another option for a night out. Pair that with the dozens of live music venues around the valley, and we've found that this city, even the suburbs, are anything BUT strip malls and chain restaurants.

Other than Roberto's a couple times a month, we have yet to find the need to eat at a national chain. There are just too many other places to have that need.

I could have written this myself. We need to get together and meet up for the Sin City Sinners or something similar at Vamp'd, Raiderman. You guys sound just like us. My wife and I love Las Vegas... we're never bored. The musical talent in this city is amazing.

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

It has been my experience that the people who love, love, love it here are either homebodies and it doesn't matter to them where they live (and thus the cost of living being the driving factor); or they love smoking, gambling, strip clubs, clubbing, narcotics and the rest of what makes Las Vegas world famous. So those people are living in their vacation wonderland.

Since I'm not interested in gambling, smoking, clubbing and doing drugs, nor am I interested in hanging out with people who enjoy these things, I find the social scene not just lacking but pathetic.

Back home, I used to be out nearly every day. Here, what's the point? I have no desire to watch stage-one and stage-two addicts going through their daily addiction routines.

So I've made travel my touchstone. The less time I spend in this city, the better. People don't even know when I'm gone because I post a few throw-away comments here and on Facebook from where ever I happen to be. Last week it was Mexico. Next week, who knows? Maybe I'll catch a break and get a few days off in a row again and go somewhere.

That's basically all I live for until leaving this town becomes the mature, responsible choice. I could sell everything and move anywhere I want tomorrow. But I'd be shirking my responsibilities if I did.

EDIT -- I neglected to mention a third group that loves, loves, loves it here: Whackjobs. Baked in the sun whackjobs. Religious whackjobs. Conspiracy theory whackjobs. And just run-of-the-mill whackadoodles. Las Vegas is like a magnet for them.

Or there are those of us who are normal, make well into the six-figures, and enjoy life to its fullest.. I make more money than I spend, I do gamble, I do smoke, but don't live to do either. Music is my passion. We hope you find a place that makes you happy, because, for the majority of us in the valley, this is what makes us happy..

[qingguy]

@logline and @Raiderman - were either of you at Vamp'd for the Bobby Blotzer's Ratt Experience? If not you missed a hell of a show, lead singer has some pipes and Bobby sounded great too! Hope they come through town again. Oh wait, there's nothing to do here, carry on.

[Golfinnova]

Originally Posted by cityflower

Back home we have uncomfortable humidity. But here the 100+ temps are dangerous. Ive never had to buy and wear so much sun block. My skin feels like I sat in an oven all day. Lol

So you'll take the equivalent of carrying your own weight in sweat when you can't even breathe because the air is so heavy over the dry 105 heat here??

Reading 11 pages of this diatribe just again makes me shake my head at some of you that once again you claim all bad things occur in Las Vegas. To the OP, did you not do your homework and see that Vegas is NOT back home. Vegas didn't have the Smith Center when I came here 8 years ago but I knew that as well as I knew there was no Redskins, Caps, Wizards, Nationals games or the equivalent. I knew that nightlife here was not the same as going to Georgetown or Fells Point, I knew that the school system wasn't the best in the country.

But, I did know that I could drive from the NW to Henderson in 35 minutes whereas that same drive on the Beltway is 3 hours, I knew that the chances of me having to shovel snow like DC got the last 2 years would NEVER happen here. I knew that the COL is just over half what it costs especially in good ole Maryland where everything is taxed to death. Finally, I knew that because the weather is so good here that I can play golf every day compared to back home where I often experienced the carrying the weight in sweat, my mother can go gamble as she likes to do and my family has so much to do thank goodness I don't have to sit in traffic.

Now once again for all you naysayers, you tell me where EXACTLY this utopia exists where there is no crime, no drugs, just harmonious living?

[ND_Irish]

Originally Posted by momofvegasgirls

I beg to differ. My children and their Grandparents would LOVE to take them to these sorts of places, if they existed. But they don't exist, and it doesn't look like any of these places are on the radar, for the city to build.

While there is not one central zoo, all of the following places in Clark County provide an opportunity to see wild animals and marine life up close.

1. Shark Reef Aquarium at Mandalay Bay
2. Roos-N-More Zoo in Moapa
3. Lion Habitat Ranch
4. Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden & Dolphin Habitat at The Mirage
5. Springs Preserve

[cityflower]

Originally Posted by Golfinnova

So you'll take the equivalent of carrying your own weight in sweat when you can't even breathe because the air is so heavy over the dry 105 heat here??

Reading 11 pages of this diatribe just again makes me shake my head at some of you that once again you claim all bad things occur in Las Vegas. To the OP, did you not do your homework and see that Vegas is NOT back home. Vegas didn't have the Smith Center when I came here 8 years ago but I knew that as well as I knew there was no Redskins, Caps, Wizards, Nationals games or the equivalent. I knew that nightlife here was not the same as going to Georgetown or Fells Point, I knew that the school system wasn't the best in the country.

But, I did know that I could drive from the NW to Henderson in 35 minutes whereas that same drive on the Beltway is 3 hours, I knew that the chances of me having to shovel snow like DC got the last 2 years would NEVER happen here. I knew that the COL is just over half what it costs especially in good ole Maryland where everything is taxed to death. Finally, I knew that because the weather is so good here that I can play golf every day compared to back home where I often experienced the carrying the weight in sweat, my mother can go gamble as she likes to do and my family has so much to do thank goodness I don't have to sit in traffic.

Now once again for all you naysayers, you tell me where EXACTLY this utopia exists where there is no crime, no drugs, just harmonious living?

I did my research. why do you think I posted this? people don't give realistic reviews about living here. And I had family swear on their lives vegas was so fantastic. AND we barley got snow storms. people who hate the east coast love to exaggerate our winters. its not that serious.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Raiderman

I do gamble, I do smoke, but don't live to do either.

Quit both for six months then if it's so easy.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Golfinnova

So you'll take the equivalent of carrying your own weight in sweat when you can't even breathe because the air is so heavy over the dry 105 heat here??

Why does it have to be a choice between insanely hot and dry (Las Vegas summers) and slightly less insanely hot and unbelievably humid?

How about mild and dry all year long? Why not choose THAT? No matter what climate floats your boat, it exists somewhere. My idea of perfect is "highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s with a 20% chance of rain." EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE YEAR.

I've found quite a few places that fill the bill. And a few of them are in America -- so I don't need to worry about visa concerns.