How many people are from the Chicago area? (hotel, job transfer)

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by gbpakrfan

Thank God, Phoenix is NOTHING like Chicago. We're originally from Wisconsin but were exiled to Lake County, Illinois for six years back in 2007. Outrageous property taxes, income tax hikes, toll roads, traffic...not to mention being surrounded by Bears fans...

Well, duh, of course you were surrounded by Bears fans in ILLINOIS.

I wouldnt move to WI and then complain about being surrounded by Packer fans. Why, you ask? Because I wouldnt subject myself, by choice, to be around all those Pack morons. What a dumb bunch, the lot of em!

[gbpakrfan]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

Well, duh, of course you were surrounded by Bears fans in ILLINOIS.

I wouldnt move to WI and then complain about being surrounded by Packer fans. Why, you ask? Because I wouldnt subject myself, by choice, to be around all those Pack morons. What a dumb bunch, the lot of em!

Unfortnately, the move to Ill Annoy was not our choice...it was a job transfer. It was either move to Ill Annoy or find another job. Since I was too old to start over with a different company, we had to make the move. So I think that entitles me to complain about the Bears fans...and everything else that's horrible about that hell hole of a state.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by gbpakrfan

Unfortnately, the move to Ill Annoy was not our choice...it was a job transfer. It was either move to Ill Annoy or find another job. Since I was too old to start over with a different company, we had to make the move. So I think that entitles me to complain about the Bears fans...and everything else that's horrible about that hell hole of a state.

Sure, IL has its faults, but so does EVERY state (your beloved WI included). Had you settled in an area outside of Chicagoland, Im sure you wouldnt complain nearly as much.

[DougStark]

Originally Posted by BIG CATS

Sure, IL has its faults, but so does EVERY state (your beloved WI included). Had you settled in an area outside of Chicagoland, Im sure you wouldnt complain nearly as much.

Sadly, the entire state of IL is in terrible financial shape right now. Just moving further away from Chicagoland wouldn't be the answer, IMO. I'd leave the state entirely.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by DougStark

Sadly, the entire state of IL is in terrible financial shape right now. Just moving further away from Chicagoland wouldn't be the answer, IMO. I'd leave the state entirely.

Sounds like they moved from a more rural setting in WI, right into the heavily-taxed, overcrowded, busy-busy-busy lifestyle of Chicago, with not much outdoorsy-type stuff nearby. Chicago does a good job of setting aside lots of "forest preserves" for people to get out and enjoy, but its nothing compared to WI's outdoor stuff. Had they moved to, say, Galena, IL, where the terrain is hilly, the lifestyle is laid back, and the taxes are less, they wouldve had a much better time, Im sure.

[LagunaMom]

I first came for a few months when I was a kid in the early '60s. Returned with hubby in '73.
He's from Rodgers Park (Senn HS). I'm from LSD/Sheridan (Lake View HS).
Only miss the greening of the river on St. Patty's Day, the holiday lights along Michigan Ave., my old temple, and the country club in Northbrook to which we belonged when we were kids. Oh, and Fahey Flynn on Channel 2, but he died eons ago.
Nice place to visit, they say, but I wouldn't want to live there. Flat, concrete jungle, too friggin' cold, weeks of barely a peep of sunshine in the winter, and horribly humid summers. Yuck.
I lived in D.C. for a few months, but being a Westerner is in my blood. Give me mountains, an ocean, and lots of sun and land anytime.

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by LagunaMom

I first came for a few months when I was a kid in the early '60s. Returned with hubby in '73.
He's from Rodgers Park (Senn HS). I'm from LSD/Sheridan (Lake View HS).
Only miss the greening of the river on St. Patty's Day, the holiday lights along Michigan Ave., my old temple, and the country club in Northbrook to which we belonged when we were kids. Oh, and Fahey Flynn on Channel 2, but he died eons ago.
Nice place to visit, they say, but I wouldn't want to live there. Flat, concrete jungle, too friggin' cold, weeks of barely a peep of sunshine in the winter, and horribly humid summers. Yuck.
I lived in D.C. for a few months, but being a Westerner is in my blood. Give me mountains, an ocean, and lots of sun and land anytime.

you'll be glad to know there has only been one snow so far this season, and the temps havent been below freezing since Thanksgiving; better than Phoenix, as far as that is concerned!

I'm from Albany Park, but lived in Rogers park and by LSD; you'd be amazed at how crime ridden, and run down those areas have become in the last few years.

We're fixing up our house in hinsdale now, with the hope that housing prices will continue to creep up here, and we can get what we paid for this place 10 years ago; but, Illinois is rapidly spinning down the sewer, and, if we dont get out of here within a year or so, we fear there will be no way of getting out.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by wase4711

We're fixing up our house in hinsdale now, with the hope that housing prices will continue to creep up here, and we can get what we paid for this place 10 years ago; but, Illinois is rapidly spinning down the sewer, and, if we dont get out of here within a year or so, we fear there will be no way of getting out.

Aint that the truth! People are fleeing en masse.

That aside, Hinsdale is a lovely town. I loved walking around the downtown there, and then driving around and looking at the massive mansions around there.

[annam726]

I am still in Chicago, Niles to be exact, but will be moving to Phoenix this Spring. We have already purchased a home in North Phoenix about a year ago that we have been renting out while wrapping up things here. I am leaving for all of the reasons noted above; taxes, politics, weather,etc. My husband and I also fear that if we don't leave now, it will become more difficult to leave due to the large migration out of IL. We dont want to risk our property value and equity. I'm sure Phoenix also has many downsides, but overall, I expect it to be better than Chicago.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by annam726

I am still in Chicago, Niles to be exact, but will be moving to Phoenix this Spring. We have already purchased a home in North Phoenix about a year ago that we have been renting out while wrapping up things here. I am leaving for all of the reasons noted above; taxes, politics, weather,etc. My husband and I also fear that if we don't leave now, it will become more difficult to leave due to the large migration out of IL. We dont want to risk our property value and equity. I'm sure Phoenix also has many downsides, but overall, I expect it to be better than Chicago.

Just do us all a massive favor and keep the notoriously bad voting habits (that Chicago is plagued with) at home with you in Chicago. Move here with a positive outlook. Do your part to keep AZ clean, too. Dont turn this into Chicago west.

Welcome to PHX!