Army recruiter soon moving to Mesa (Phoenix, Gilbert: to rent, house, school)

[thegoo34]

How ya'll doing this fine evening? I was selected to be a recruiter and found out my wife and I will be going to a recruiting center in the Mesa area. My wife works on base here where I'm currently stationed and would like to continue to work on a military installation. Unfortunately Luke AFB is about 50 minutes from where I'll be working.

Is there a decent area to live that's about 25 minutes from base and the superstition springs area, kind of a middle ground for the both of us? From what I can tell one of us would have to drive through phoenix and deal with the traffic but thenot again we've never been there so we don't know for sure.

Is there nice dirtbiking, lakes or rivers within anormal hour drive? It'll be nice to be somewhere where in the lakes you don't have to worry about gators or water moccasins. My wife is a beach going girl, are there any lakes with a Sandy beach that may fill her beach fancy?

We are moving from the Savannah, GA area so we aren't new to the heat albeit a different heat. And I have searched this forum and received answers for other questions I had but would like first hand knowledge about these specifics as well. Thank you.

[LBTRS]

No, there isn't anything that is going to be ideal for both of you. One of you is going to have to sacrifice and I recommend it be her. You're going to have limited time as a Recruiter (I was a Navy Recruiter here in the Phoenix area for many years) and the last thing you want to be doing is commuting across the valley every time you need to be in the office, visit a school, pick up a kid and take to MEPS, etc.

She should be looking for a job in the east valley and close to where you'll be working/living. Luke AFB is too far from your office in Mesa to try and split the difference. Doing that will make it miserable for both of you.

[mzbk2l]

LBTRS pretty much summed it up. Plenty of the recreation you mentioned in the east valley, though, so maybe that will help offset the fact that your wife may find herself in a different career path than she was on in GA. In the Superstition Springs area you'll be about 20 minutes from dirt biking, hiking, tubing the river, and Saguaro Lake, and less than an hour from Four Peaks (the tallest mountain in Maricopa County) or - in another direction - Canyon Lake and its many amenities.

[adriver]

The drive from superstition springs to LAFB is about 45min-1hr. You don't have many options, its pretty much surface streets or I-10. If you try that during rush hour (M-F 6am-9am & 3pm-7pm). It will be 1 1/2 - 2 hrs. All that outdoor stuff you mentioned is half that distance in the other direction.

& Not much sand, mostly sandstone.

[thegoo34]

Appreciate the replies guys. I figured there wouldn't be a middle ground or anything like that but didn't hurt to ask. So what are the good areas to look for a house to rent around the Mesa area? 10-20 minutes would be my ideal commute time to work from the house. Budget would be $1400 a month and under. Thanks guys.

[ajonesaz]

Originally Posted by thegoo34

Appreciate the replies guys. I figured there wouldn't be a middle ground or anything like that but didn't hurt to ask. So what are the good areas to look for a house to rent around the Mesa area? 10-20 minutes would be my ideal commute time to work from the house. Budget would be $1400 a month and under. Thanks guys.

Southeast Mesa is nicer. South of the US 60 is going to be better for any part of Mesa and it will be close to Superstition Springs. You will also be very close to water and desert recreation.

Canyon Lake has a few sandy beaches - but they are islands and you will need a boat

Canyon and Saguaro lake are about 30 minutes from East Mesa.

[Jkgourmet]

Originally Posted by ajonesaz

Southeast Mesa is nicer. South of the US 60 is going to be better for any part of Mesa and it will be close to Superstition Springs. You will also be very close to water and desert recreation.

Canyon Lake has a few sandy beaches - but they are islands and you will need a boat

Canyon and Saguaro lake are about 30 minutes from East Mesa.

I TOTALLY disagree. I think NorthEast Mesa (north of Power road) is far nicer and more attractive than South East Mesa. Furthermore, NE Mesa gets him closer to Saguaro and Canyon Lakes. Saguaro Lake has at least one sort of sandy beach - Butcher Jones Beach.

I will, however, admit, that SE Mesa is somewhat more convenient to shopping and chain restaurants.

[ShampooBanana]

Where in Mesa will you be working out of? Keep in mind that Mesa is a huge city in area (~140 sq miles), so if you lived in far east Mesa but worked in far west Mesa that's still a pretty big commute. Assuming you'll be somewhere in the middle of the main part of Mesa (north of US60), I'd look into areas north/northeast of, say, University and Lindsay in Mesa or almost any areas south of US60 which will be either Mesa or north Gilbert. From any of those places it's not that long to get out of town for some recreation - just hop on the 60 East, 87 North, or Bush Highway and you're there.

[thegoo34]

Thanks guys. I'll be working in the superstition springs area. I'll look into those areas. I'm looking forward to moving there. Seems like a nicer area to be in than Hinesville, Ga.

[Sandduner]

Thank you for your service.
The superstition springs area is 30 to 45 min away from some nice off roading , and 2 lakes. Saguaro has a beach that you don't need a boat to get to. Off road areas, include 4 peaks, Montana mountain, queen valley and Florence junction. They are all pretty close. You can also be up in pine trees around Payson within 75 minutes.
For the wife to be at Luke, that's a drive. I live in queen creek and have to make the drive once a week. I can pretty much pick what day, but to beat traffic I leave at 6am and it's a good 75 min with no accidents or traffic delays. If I leave later then I start to hit traffic and it can add 30 min to the drive.
Perhaps you should look at homes west of superstition springs, maybe around the 60 and country club dr. I'm not sure of what's avail in that area, but it would lessen the wife's drive a little. A lot can depend on when she has to be at luke. I'm sure there's more who are familiar with that area and can help also.
I also believe MEPS is downtown phx, so you will be driving some also.
Either way, welcome and let me know if you need some places to go riding when you get here.