6 yrs living here, I can't help but miss the ocean and greenery! (Miami: hotel, job transfer)

[LagunaMom]

No fooling myself at all. I don't even think about having one foot in each state. My heart's been in two places for decades. We live in AZ, but our business is in CA. We pay AZ taxes; we pay CA taxes.

We're in our mid-60s, and it's physically impossible to move right now. Even if that weren't a problem, we couldn't afford to live where and how we wanted to live there. On top of that, our son and grandkids moved back from SoCal last year because they couldn't afford to stay. That said, they hope to return in a few years. Hopefully, we'll be able to figure out a way to make it work for us to go, too.

AZ is a beautiful. It still is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. I never regretted moving from Chicago. Still, I would deal with the June gloom, sluggish traffic, wildfires, smog, and the chance of major quakes to be able to live near the ocean.

[hikethesky]

LagunaMom: AZ is a beautiful. It still is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. I never regretted moving from Chicago. Still, I would deal with the June gloom, sluggish traffic, wildfires, smog, and the chance of major quakes to be able to live near the ocean.

It's such a strong disposition: which environment a person is drawn to. I lived and worked along coastal California during my career, but I grew up in the Central Valley (Fresno). My heart has always been with the mountains and desert, since I was a girl. I'd always wanted to leave the coast. Being close to the ocean doesn't do much for me. I really disliked June gloom. And I spent every summer as a girl with my family in Morro Bay. To me, the ocean, as beautiful as it is and as fascinating as its inhabitants are, is like a cold curtain. The mountains and desert, on the other hand, have vistas and distances that feel expansive and never ending to me. The call of a certain geography is hard to deny.

[Colt AZ]

Originally Posted by hikethesky

LagunaMom: AZ is a beautiful. It still is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. I never regretted moving from Chicago. Still, I would deal with the June gloom, sluggish traffic, wildfires, smog, and the chance of major quakes to be able to live near the ocean.

It's such a strong disposition: which environment a person is drawn to. I lived and worked along coastal California during my career, but I grew up in the Central Valley (Fresno). My heart has always been with the mountains and desert, since I was a girl. I'd always wanted to leave the coast. Being close to the ocean doesn't do much for me. I really disliked June gloom. And I spent every summer as a girl with my family in Morro Bay. To me, the ocean, as beautiful as it is and as fascinating as its inhabitants are, is like a cold curtain. The mountains and desert, on the other hand, have vistas and distances that feel expansive and never ending to me. The call of a certain geography is hard to deny.

Well said!

[asufan]

Originally Posted by hikethesky

LagunaMom: AZ is a beautiful. It still is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. I never regretted moving from Chicago. Still, I would deal with the June gloom, sluggish traffic, wildfires, smog, and the chance of major quakes to be able to live near the ocean.

It's such a strong disposition: which environment a person is drawn to. I lived and worked along coastal California during my career, but I grew up in the Central Valley (Fresno). My heart has always been with the mountains and desert, since I was a girl. I'd always wanted to leave the coast. Being close to the ocean doesn't do much for me. I really disliked June gloom. And I spent every summer as a girl with my family in Morro Bay. To me, the ocean, as beautiful as it is and as fascinating as its inhabitants are, is like a cold curtain. The mountains and desert, on the other hand, have vistas and distances that feel expansive and never ending to me. The call of a certain geography is hard to deny.

That's one of the things I loved about the area I grew up in in South OC, the topography near the ocean. It's not like the East coast where it is mostly boring flat lands running into the Atlantic, I love the cliffs and mountains near the water. Not to mention being a climate sweet spot

[barbaz]

I live in Maricopa and Love it. No flies by me. Have only been here 1 year and love the weather even the heat. I have learned to get out in the morning and walk, ride my bike and do yard work. I refuse to be stuck in the house due to the heat. We swim alot throughtout the day. I moved from the southeast and yes miss certain things like living right on a lake but I am learning fast on loving the desert.
Sounds like you might be lonely and need some friends. That is probably my only complaint is having left many friends behind and not having meet to many friends yet. There's alot of parks in my neighborhood where I see mother's and there kids every morning hanging out.

[thenewtexan]

Originally Posted by beachbuminAZ

Any tips on overcoming me missing the ocean, beach, greenery, mature trees? Originally from NJ where I was 30 mins away from NYC, 40 min to the ocean and 20 min to hiking trails.

I've done a Sedona trip, but it just doesn't cut it. I don't like that my kids are growing up indoors during the summer, instead of playing outside with neighborhood kids.

Am I crazy to think about leaving AZ, when so many desire to move here?

Just take a vacation back. It's good for the soul. It will also remind you of the reasons you left. I moved from MA to TX. Just do it. Stop overthinking it.

[beachbuminAZ]

Originally Posted by thenewtexan

Just take a vacation back. It's good for the soul. It will also remind you of the reasons you left. I moved from MA to TX. Just do it. Stop overthinking it.

The problem is I have ZERO interest moving back to NJ. So everyone that just simply says to move back doesn't get it. I left NJ and am never going back. They can keep their corrupted government, politics, horrible roadways and ridiculous taxes.

I am trying to find a happy medium for myself and my family. I like the sunny, mild temps of Phx and the affordability but just need to live under an hour to the ocean. I will take a mild winter over a warm one if it gets me to the coast. So essentially I am looking for a state that doesn't quite exist.

I am thinking North Carolina coast since it has four mild seasons, the beach and is much more affordable than the North East without the snow

@LagunaMom - Thank you for the suggestions. I do have beach decor, both of my bathrooms are decorated with serene beach colors I've listened to my soul and learned I need to be near the ocean. I need to smell it, touch it and live it. I am a beach girl through and through.

I tell people all the time Arizona is a wonderful state. If you are a desert/mountain person who enjoys hiking, biking, fishing, golfing and camping...you will just love it!

The heat is hot, but it isn't unbearable. Just like July Florida heat is bearable with A/C. I just simply want to be closer to the ocean. We can't afford to stay in Cali a few times a year, it just doesn't cut it.

[stevek64]

Originally Posted by beachbuminAZ

I am trying to find a happy medium for myself and my family. I like the sunny, mild temps of Phx and the affordability but just need to live under an hour to the ocean. I will take a mild winter over a warm one if it gets me to the coast.

The inland empire region of CA(cities like Corona, CA) is about as close as you're going to get on those fronts but I think home prices have risen quite a bit over the last few years in that region.

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by beachbuminAZ

I am trying to find a happy medium for myself and my family. I like the sunny, mild temps of Phx and the affordability but just need to live under an hour to the ocean.

If I knew of this place I wouldn't tell anyone about it.

Since about 40% of the US population live in coastline counties, finding cheap, less known, good places is difficult.

[beachbuminAZ]

Originally Posted by Phxrider

Maricopa is a dump in the middle of the desert , I will say it also, no wonder lol. Move up to the valley and I think you will see things different .

Honestly, we thought about moving to Chandler/Gilbert but to sell our house, pack everything and up and move 30 miles away just doesn't make sense. Also home prices are higher in that area, so for us I'd rather spend that amount on a house on the East Coast.

Our parents live here also, so that adds to us feeling stuck here.