How would you describe Phoenix to someone who has never visited? (Glendale: crime, neighborhoods)

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

I would guess the majority of Phoenix has roots in the Midwest. When I was in Phoenix, it felt like the Midwest. Phoenix is like a Midwestern town, such as Peoria, Des Moines and Indianapolis only it's out west and in the desert.

[Nasudesu]

Originally Posted by The Global Citizen

Yes. Night and Day from Boston.

The best life you can live in Boston can be realized in parts of Philly, NY, DC and Baltimore.

The best life in Phoenix/Scottsdale is unmatched anywhere in the country. They are different. They both possess superior beauty at their very best. People don't retire in Boston. People don't retire in San Francisco. For the most part, people retire in places where they offer the highest quality of life at their core.

PS - I went to grad school in Boston. I know the city well and am a huge fan.

People certainly retire in San Francisco and other urban areas. Not car dependent. Better healthcare. Just stay away from crummy areas.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

I would guess the majority of Phoenix has roots in the Midwest. When I was in Phoenix, it felt like the Midwest. Phoenix is like a Midwestern town, such as Peoria, Des Moines and Indianapolis only it's out west and in the desert.

I disagree. The Midwest is outgoing and friendly. People tend to be way more introverted/socially awkward/shy here.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I disagree. The Midwest is outgoing and friendly. People tend to be way more introverted/socially awkward/shy here.

That has not been my experience at all in the last 20 years, otherwise I'd probably have no friends here. I'm pretty outdoorsy so maybe that makes a difference but I find most people interested in chatting it up if you strike up the conversation. They will not necessarily go out of their way to talk to you but if I say hi how's it going when I'm on a trail, at a sporting event, or other I usually get into a pretty lengthy chat about life. An easy one, where are you from?

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by locolife

That has not been my experience at all in the last 20 years, otherwise I'd probably have no friends here. I'm pretty outdoorsy so maybe that makes a difference but I find most people interested in chatting it up if you strike up the conversation. They will not necessarily go out of their way to talk to you but if I say hi how's it going when I'm on a trail, at a sporting event, or other I usually get into a pretty lengthy chat about life. An easy one, where are you from?

You’re making my point. People here will rarely strike up a conversation and go out of their way to so much as say, “hey, how’s it going”. That is not the Midwest experience.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I don't know about most, but I'm certainly not one of them. I don't live right in midtown or downtown, but I'm close enough to commute to those locations fairly easily if I have to. Roosevelt Row is up & coming, but still not quite there yet. The last time I went through there (Roosevelt Street east of Central Avenue), it was a few short blocks of newer bars, restaurants, and midrise residences mixed with a few older buildings & "murals", but nothing too impressive. I certainly wouldn't call it the "be all, end all hip spot".

Who said it was the be all end all? It's walkable/interesting/non-chain oriented area of the valley. I do see an out of town visitor who loved the area and seemed pleasantly surprised by what it offers, you know why? Because it's pretty solid with interesting bars, locally owned food, art galleries, performing arts centers and most of everything you'd expect in an urban setting.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

You’re making my point. People here will rarely strike up a conversation and go out of their way to so much as say, “hey, how’s it going”. That is not the Midwest experience.

My midwest big city experience has not been different than here, (Chicago, St Louis) but rural areas of both places I find people more talk-able. Maybe it's the pace of life?

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by locolife

My midwest big city experience has not been different than here, (Chicago, St Louis) but rural areas of both places I find people more talk-able. Maybe it's the pace of life?

I don’t know. I’m specifically thinking Detroit, Milwaukee and Chicago. In my experience people are way more outgoing and apt to strike up a conversation with a stranger than people in Phoenix.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Ivory Lee Spurlock

I would guess the majority of Phoenix has roots in the Midwest. When I was in Phoenix, it felt like the Midwest. Phoenix is like a Midwestern town, such as Peoria, Des Moines and Indianapolis only it's out west and in the desert.

Definitely not Des Moines or Peoria, IL. Phoenix's metro population is nearly 6 times the size of Des Moines, and nearly 14 times the size of Peoria's. There's a Phoenix suburb called Peoria, and even that's larger than the Peoria in Illinois. Just because a fair amount of people have moved here from the Midwest doesn't mean Phoenix is anything like a Midwestern town. I noticed you didn't mention the largest city in that region (Chicago), and that's where a lot of our Midwestern transplants are from.

[The Global Citizen]

Originally Posted by Nasudesu

People certainly retire in San Francisco and other urban areas. Not car dependent. Better healthcare. Just stay away from crummy areas.

Not going back and forth on the small percentage of people who retire in SF. SF is currently experiencing a reverse migration. The people who retire in SF are not traditional American earners. To "retire" in SF you're going to spend $1.5m unless you live in a $800k 1BR condo. The average home in America is less than $250k. So do people retire in SF? Yes. You are correct. Are we pulling hairs to really act like people are retiring in SF? Yes. We are pulling hairs. SF is simply unattainable and unaffordable to 99.5% of the population.