New found appreciation for Phoenix after visiting New York... (neighborhoods, movies)

[pac10devils]

Well I just got back from a week long stay in New York and let me tell you, I have a new found appreciation for Phoenix.

I was always one to complain about the heat and urban sprawl, but all that has changed.

I spent some time in New Jersey, mid-town Manhattan and Queens visiting friends. I will never complain about Phoenix again. We have it good here, the atmosphere, the weather, the palm trees, the whole "west coast feel," no tolls, lower prices and it almost feels like I am on vacation!

I will never complain about Phoenix again. The traffic is not really even that bad (compared to L.A. or New York).

I'm off to go hike up Papago Butte now - something I could not do in New York.

[vegaspilgrim]

Good post. Funny, I feel the same way about Phoenix now after living in LA for half a year. I think Phoenix is actually better than the west coast. And it goes without saying that Phoenix blows away the east coast. In fact, I remember feeling grateful I lived in Phoenix just after watching movies set in places like Boston.

[ibarrio]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

Good post. Funny, I feel the same way about Phoenix now after living in LA for half a year. I think Phoenix is actually better than the west coast. And it goes without saying that Phoenix blows away the east coast. In fact, I remember feeling grateful I lived in Phoenix just after watching movies set in places like Boston.

Ditto...Since moving away a year and half ago I haven't had any desire to return and visit L.A....

[sheena]

Originally Posted by pac10devils

Well I just got back from a week long stay in New York and let me tell you, I have a new found appreciation for Phoenix.

I was always one to complain about the heat and urban sprawl, but all that has changed.

I spent some time in New Jersey, mid-town Manhattan and Queens visiting friends. I will never complain about Phoenix again. We have it good here, the atmosphere, the weather, the palm trees, the whole "west coast feel," no tolls, lower prices and it almost feels like I am on vacation!

I will never complain about Phoenix again. The traffic is not really even that bad (compared to L.A. or New York).

I'm off to go hike up Papago Butte now - something I could not do in New York.

That's pretty funny because I have a new found appreciation for NY after visiting last year. I hadn't been back in 20 years.

[santos]

Originally Posted by pac10devils

I'm off to go hike up Papago Butte now - something I could not do in New York.

Right...NY doesn't have Papago Butte, but they have everything else.

[exit2lef]

I spent the first half of my life in New York and have lived the second half in Phoenix.

Returning to New York these days, I find it better than I remembered. It has been cleaned up and seems much safer. Still, it lacks the outdoor recreation of Phoenix, and it's a remarkably difficult place to get around. If traveling by car, there are tolls everywhere. If traveling by transit, there are numerous disconnected rail networks to deal with. The famed NYC Subway was originally built as three separate systems, making some trips more complicated than they need to be even today. A trip from Westchester, where I grew up, to Long Island, where a close friend lived, required four separate train rides because of all the disconnected rail lines.

Ideally, I'd like the best of both worlds -- the scenery, outdoor recreation, and sense of opportunity of Phoenix combined with the walkable neighborhoods and extensive transit of many East Coast cities. Slowly, one step at a time, we seem to be getting closer to that goal.

[country pride]

As a Californian myself, have to admit I even hate driving through L.A. Or any other big city myself, no matter where it may be. Never been to NY, but have thought about visiting sometimes, just to 'see what its like'. If its anything like what you see on tv, where 99% of the traffic is taxi cabs, I can see why people wouldnt want to drive through there...let the cabbies do it, lol.
Im thankful though that we live out in the rural, out of the city areas.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by silverbear

I spent the first half of my life in New York and have lived the second half in Phoenix.

Returning to New York these days, I find it better than I remembered. It has been cleaned up and seems much safer. Still, it lacks the outdoor recreation of Phoenix, and it's a remarkably difficult place to get around. If traveling by car, there are tolls everywhere. If traveling by transit, there are numerous disconnected rail networks to deal with. The famed NYC Subway was originally built as three separate systems, making some trips more complicated than they need to be even today. A trip from Westchester, where I grew up, to Long Island, where a close friend lived, required four separate train rides because of all the disconnected rail lines.

Ideally, I'd like the best of both worlds -- the scenery, outdoor recreation, and sense of opportunity of Phoenix combined with the walkable neighborhoods and extensive transit of many East Coast cities. Slowly, one step at a time, we seem to be getting closer to that goal.

As you stated.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by santos

Right...NY doesn't have Papago Butte, but they have everything else.

NY also has bad winter weather coupled with hot, sticky summers.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by silverbear

Ideally, I'd like the best of both worlds -- the scenery, outdoor recreation, and sense of opportunity of Phoenix combined with the walkable neighborhoods and extensive transit of many East Coast cities. Slowly, one step at a time, we seem to be getting closer to that goal.

scenery, outdoor, sense of opportunity? San Diego?