Appropriate clothing to bring to Sun City (Phoenix: HOA, homes)

[Mauveroe]

I am currently living in North Carolina but am thinking about relocating to Sun City AZ. Should I give away all my winter sweaters, coats, boots etc? Also, what types of outdoor tools should I keep - in other words, is there much outside upkeep? Thanks for any advice from inhabitants - not visitors please.

[Susanks1]

I have been there in January a few times when it gets cold. I was wearing a heavy sweatshirt. If you have specific sun city questions, check out talkofsuncity.com and ask questions there. Everyone is great about answering your questions.

[borregokid]

December and January are fairly cool. You wont need winter boots like Sorels but you will wear coats and jackets. Two years ago there were quite a few nights that fell below freezing. Daytime highs of 57 or less are not uncommon in December and January. Almost all the homes are low maintenance with rock yards. Quite a few homes have orange and grapefruit trees. The HOA's might provide maintenace for the trees depending on where you live. A lot of gardening in Arizona is patio gardening with pots and maybe small flower bed areas. A weed sprayer might be handy all the HOA might spray for weeds also a few hand tools.

[ibarrio]

Keep your sweaters and light jackets (your body will adjust and yes 40-50 degrees will feel cold). Keep your heavy gear if you plan to visit the mountains during winter.

[thinkalot]

The upkeep depends on what you buy. Some people still have grass. If you buy a typical SC home you will need blower and a few basic garden tools.


I would keep all of your winter clothes, except maybe the boots. You may go up north some time. You will get a lot of use with the sweaters, you just won't need a coat on top. I have seen some people wearing winter coats but they were really old. For me a hooded sweatshirt is the most I ever needed. The lowest its been since I moved here was 23 and that was only for a few hours. It warms up quick here and if your not out in the early morning you wouldn't care.

I would ignore talkofsuncity. I don't feel it is a true representation of SC.

[cactusland]

If you plan on visiting anyone during the winter you will need that heavy gear.

[8to32characters]

Winters in the Phoenix are mild, but definitely not "warm" in the same respect as winters in, say, South Florida--a very common misconception of outsiders.

Low temperatures in the Valley often dip into the 40's on many a winter night and into the upper 30's in the outskirts of the Valley, up to and including Sun City. Although high temperatures usually range in the avenue of 60-75 degrees on most winter days, that's only for about an hour or two in the mid-to-late afternoon. Mornings, from sunrise to about 11:30am, are usually very chilly (i.e., 40's & 50's). For example, I wear a toque, gloves, and heavy sweatshirt or jacket on my daily 5:30am runs from December 1 - March 1. Not much compensation for our hellish summers, if you ask me.

The longer you live here, the chillier the winters will feel, so while you may not wear traditional winter clothing during your first couple of winters here, you will certainly need it after that. But hey, this is Arizona after all, one of the nation's most transient states, so chances are good that you won't even be living here after a couple of years anyway...

[chaparrito]

Are plaid pants and white shoes still all the rage for men in SC?

[thinkalot]

Originally Posted by chaparrito

Are plaid pants and white shoes still all the rage for men in SC?

Of course not. We wear plaid shorts and white socks with our sandals. For times we want to dress up we wear Hawaiian shirts. I am glad we have a no halter top or tube top rule at the rec centers. Don't really want to see that.

[wit-nit]

We dress like this 9 months out of the year, the other months we add a sweater or light jacket.