Looking to hear ONLY from current or former residents of the Midwest that live or have lived in Phoenix area (Chandler: rental, HOA)

[goolsbyjazz]

[quote=green2819;48544422]Im sick of the gray overcast days especially in winter. Im sick of the lack of sunshine no matter what season. Today for example....no sun this morning....sun came out for a few hours and now its overcast again. The cold I can tolerate but I'm sick of driving in snow and lack of sunshine. This winter I swear we went two months without seeing the sun. SAD is something I'm pretty sure affects me. I loved fall and even that anymore I dont care for because I know what comes after. I've thought about moving to the Phoenix area even before it was the cool spot to move too.[/QUOTE]
I know you didn't mean it in this context but I read this during our extreme heatwave and couldn't help but chuckle! Also, I was not aware Phoenix was now considered a hip place to move to?

[goolsbyjazz]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

I grew up in the UP and northern Wisconsin. I had rich friends who lived on the lakes and my teen years were spent water skiing and such. I ache for that lifestyle. It is just not here. We have lakes but it is so damn hot in the summer (some fellow died the other day of heatstroke launching his boat) it can't be enjoyed. The lakes here have no homes on them. Few have swimming areas and they are all overcrowded to the point that they have to be closed on weekends. The beaches there are are shut down because of high coliform counts! Mountains? Sure, if you can endure bumper to bumper traffic for three hours up and potentially five hours back.

I get it that people don't like a MI winter. The grey skies are depressing. But so is endless heat in summer and relative frigid temps here in winter. We have only one good "month" - mid October to mid November- and with each year even that is getting too hot to enjoy.

The grass is not greener here. It is scorched and brown.

As a writer, I gotta give you kudos for this witty line.😉

[Still Seeking]

Originally Posted by green2819

Thank you for your post! I appreciate your honesty. That makes sense to stay as that is a long time to live somewhere. I love the UP. I think one of the best places in the country.

What is "UP" ?

[Dave in Phoenix]

UP I assume is upper peninsula

25 years in Phoenix from Minneapolis area (Midwest). No tornado's, heating up the car to start, sliding in snow and in Mpls 88 degrees was as miserable as about 110 in Phoenix due to the humidity difference.

Only really hot months are June-Sept and the Monsoons are a source of excitement (I overlook most of the N Valley and see the storms come in).

I just go from air conditioned home, office car with far less trouble than in the Midwest (Mpls) winters. Do miss all those tall trees and lakes at time (had a cabin on a lake just West of Mpls). But still am very happy I made the move.

[take57]

Originally Posted by hopsonkl

We are from West Michigan and have lived in Phoenix for almost 2 years. I hate humidity and mosquitoes. I love the constant sun. In Michigan you never know what the weather is going to be and you have to plan accordingly. Snowstorms can make traffic dangerous. I love the landscapes, colors of the desert and housing. It's cleaner here than Michigan. Tap water is kind of gross and I don't like not having cold tap water in the summer. I hike a lot and love the smell of the desert. I don't even like visiting Michigan anymore.

Grand Rapids ex-pat here. You pretty much nailed it. I would only add I don't miss getting put back together by an orthopedic surgeon every two years because I slipped on a patch of ice during the interminably long winters.

[The_Cadillac_Lawyer]

I will never miss Michigan weather. No matter if it gets 130 degrees here in Phoenix. Sure they've had some mild winters the past couple years but you know those brutally cold days will return.
I remember having to boil water to unfreeze the locks on my car. Why on earth would anyone put up with that if they don't have to.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by The_Cadillac_Lawyer

I will never miss Michigan weather. No matter if it gets 130 degrees here in Phoenix. Sure they've had some mild winters the past couple years but you know those brutally cold days will return.
I remember having to boil water to unfreeze the locks on my car. Why on earth would anyone put up with that if they don't have to.

I'm with ya! I often ask folks that I know who still live back there "You know you can leave, right?"

[Minntoaz]

Originally Posted by Dave in Phoenix

UP I assume is upper peninsula

25 years in Phoenix from Minneapolis area (Midwest). No tornado's, heating up the car to start, sliding in snow and in Mpls 88 degrees was as miserable as about 110 in Phoenix due to the humidity difference.

Only really hot months are June-Sept and the Monsoons are a source of excitement (I overlook most of the N Valley and see the storms come in).

I just go from air conditioned home, office car with far less trouble than in the Midwest (Mpls) winters. Do miss all those tall trees and lakes at time (had a cabin on a lake just West of Mpls). But still am very happy I made the move.

How long have you been in the Valley? I lived in Central Minnesota until I was 18 then made the move to the Valley... it took at least three years before the heat/lack of "normal" summers wore on me so we packed up and moved to Minneapolis burbs. As is life, we will be returning to live in the valley (after living in a few other places) for a few years which we never thought we'd do.

OP, the biggest thing that wore on me being from the midwest (granted Minnesota winters are actually pretty sunny even though they're are some frigid days) is the lack of season differentiation and how summers are dead down there. In the midwest summer is LIFE. Fall is pretty up there too and well spring is just as welcomed. So seasons are what life revolves around in the midwest. Back to summer though, in Phoenix people are INSIDE... that was never a pill I could not swallow. Summer means going on the lake, being outside all day, eating ice cream in the evenings on the patio, having bonfires... and that isn't the case in Phoenix.

In a perfect world, you escape Phoenix from June-August and all is good in the world. Working on that...

[locolife]

MntoAZ- I've been in Phoenix for 15 summers now, we of course spend mid-days inside or in the water but I never spend extended stretches inside here. the other 8 months I'm outdoors nom-stop. I'm glad you moved back to where you're happy but spending all summer inside was your own choice and not a requirement.

[BIG CATS]

Originally Posted by ElleTea

I'm with ya! I often ask folks that I know who still live back there "You know you can leave, right?"

Statements like that are what make us Zonies seem arro most people prefer greenery and changing seasons? Michigan, IMO, is the most underrated state in the nation. Its gorgeous beyond words. If I lived along MI's upper Western shoreline, I wouldn't leave it for AZ, that's for sure.


I love the desert, but to pry me away from this? It would take A LOT of convincing.


https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com...-the-ojays.jpg


http://res.cloudinary.com/simpleview...b903d2cdd1.jpg


https://snaphappygalphotography.file...pg?w=960&h=640


https://i0.wp.com/discoverwmi.com/wp...fit=1000%2C667






And the UP's beauty is superb, too.
https://philipschwarzphotography.fil...5-10-_2449.gif


http://cdn.onlyinyourstate.com/wp-co...io-700x525.jpg


https://photos.smugmug.com/Nature/Wa...20Autumn-L.jpg


http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q.../BondFalls.jpg


https://images.trvl-media.com/media/...land-34845.jpg


https://www.google.com/search?q=west...=1498834279416