Is Phoenix worth it if you don't like the heat? (Tucson: how much, house)

[AliveandWell]

Well, I've been thinking about this question for several days. I'm wondering if Phoenix is worth it for year round living if someone like me doesn't enjoy the heat? Is it still doable? I think that I'd rather put up with the dry heat over the humid even though it leads to dry skin which is an annoyance. Some people can even get nosebleeds but I've been lucky that in 26 years of living in Southern CA I've only had nosebleeds once.

I'd like to talk about another reason I thought about PHX. Here is my situation: I am still living in the L.A. metro and I'm happy to be here. I enjoy the diversity of L.A. and I grew up as a Lakers basketball fan. I also think that the Mexican food here is amazing. I also enjoy good rock and heavy metal concerts. However, L.A. is a VERY expensive place to live. I have only been to AZ once but it is a pretty state and this is one of the reasons that I am considering AZ as a future place to live. It is close enough to CA so that I could visit family anytime I wanted to. These are some of my reasons. If on the other hand, any of you think that PHX is not worth it if you don't really like the heat, then what can I do? Are there any other areas of the US that have a climate similar to PHX(except Las Vegas) that may be a better fit? I know I'm probably contradicting myself but I just want to make sure that I make the right decisions. I am definitely NOT moving anywhere now. I just want to let all you people know that AZ is a beautiful state with so much to offer. So, is PHX worth it if the heat is so bad?

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by AliveandWell

Well, I've been thinking about this question for several days. I'm wondering if Phoenix is worth it for year round living if someone like me doesn't enjoy the heat? Is it still doable? I think that I'd rather put up with the dry heat over the humid even though it leads to dry skin which is an annoyance. Some people can even get nosebleeds but I've been lucky that in 26 years of living in Southern CA I've only had nosebleeds once.

I'd like to talk about another reason I thought about PHX. Here is my situation: I am still living in the L.A. metro and I'm happy to be here. I enjoy the diversity of L.A. and I grew up as a Lakers basketball fan. I also think that the Mexican food here is amazing. I also enjoy good rock and heavy metal concerts. However, L.A. is a VERY expensive place to live. I have only been to AZ once but it is a pretty state and this is one of the reasons that I am considering AZ as a future place to live. It is close enough to CA so that I could visit family anytime I wanted to. These are some of my reasons. If on the other hand, any of you think that PHX is not worth it if you don't really like the heat, then what can I do? Are there any other areas of the US that have a climate similar to PHX(except Las Vegas) that may be a better fit? I just want to let all you people know that AZ is a beautiful state with so much to offer. So, is PHX worth it if the heat is so bad?

If you don't like the heat??? Hmmm, I don't know that's a hard one, probably...NO, not worth it. That would be like asking if it would be worth living in Alaska or Minnesota if you hate the snow and cold. It is easier to live in the heat than winter conditions, but if you hate heat, hard to make that distinction for you.

[ArizonaBear]

To the OP: you may want to take a look at places like Kingman or communities in the Verde Valley (Cottonwood. Camp Verde, etc.) or SE Arizona (Sierra Vista). Each of the above places has some winter but nothing like back east plus the summers are about 10F cooler than Phx. Another option may be Tucson.

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by ArizonaBear

To the OP: you may want to take a look at places like Kingman or communities in the Verde Valley (Cottonwood. Camp Verde, etc.) or SE Arizona (Sierra Vista). Each of the above places has some winter but nothing like back east plus the summers are about 10F cooler than Phx. Another option may be Tucson.

Tucson for sure. Sure it can get up to 105, but it actually cools off at night. But Tucson is kind of hard to get around

[SpeedyAZ]

I don't think anyone really likes the heat, we tolerate it. For me it's getting through 4 months of 100+ temps for the tradeoff of 8 months where it's quite pleasant to live here!

[Greg Rider]

There seems to be some missing ideas in this post. WHAT would you be doing here? Working, retiring, setting up a meth lab, starting a private prison, or just enjoying the drive back an forth to L.A. ? What do expect to find of value in a general sense, besides the beauty? I like the desert myself. It's the heat that attracts me. I'm thinking that the Phoenix area is now probably more poluted than L.A. because there is no wind of the ocean. Now, if you like to have some rock culture to enjoy, you won't find squat in central AZ. Kingman is an absolute cultural vacuum compared to the L. A. area, Cottonwood, Sedona, Jerome have a quaint little bit of a music scene but you might not be real impressed.
So what's up? What all do you like to do?

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by Greg Rider

There seems to be some missing ideas in this post. WHAT would you be doing here? Working, retiring, setting up a meth lab, starting a private prison, or just enjoying the drive back an forth to L.A. ? What do expect to find of value in a general sense, besides the beauty? I like the desert myself. It's the heat that attracts me. I'm thinking that the Phoenix area is now probably more poluted than L.A. because there is no wind of the ocean. Now, if you like to have some rock culture to enjoy, you won't find squat in central AZ. Kingman is an absolute cultural vacuum compared to the L. A. area, Cottonwood, Sedona, Jerome have a quaint little bit of a music scene but you might not be real impressed.
So what's up? What all do you like to do?

I have the same feelings about the area and heat; but no Phoenix will never be more polluted than L.A., not in 100 years as L.A. is one of the most polluted in the world unfortunately. Phoenix actually is the 9th worst city for short term ozone...but not in the top 25 for pollution over all and in general. However, I still think if the OP hates heat, they won't be happy here at all except between October-May...

[AliveandWell]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

If you don't like the heat??? Hmmm, I don't know that's a hard one, probably...NO, not worth it. That would be like asking if it would be worth living in Alaska or Minnesota if you hate the snow and cold. It is easier to live in the heat than winter conditions, but if you hate heat, hard to make that distinction for you.

I wouldn't say that I hate heat, unless it is super humid. I don't really enjoy dry heat BUT I find it more tolerable. I've experienced both humid and dry heat. I actually visited Vegas twice in the summer. It is true that it does not cool off at night but at least you are not going to be sweating. One day I remember it was 110F and dry we're talking 5-6% humidity and in all honesty, it was NOT too bad. My heat tolerance has increased over the years. If it is 91F and dry, I can deal with that better for the most part. I'd say if it is 98F and the humidity level is over 20%, that is when I would start feeling like I have to run inside the house or some cool place. I'm not a heat lover, but I'd like to talk about the advantages of heat.
1. You don't have to worry about frostbite or hypothermia.
2. No need to worry about slipping on ice.
3. No need to be concerned about crashing into other cars because of snowy road conditions.

But yeah, I admit it would be a challenge to deal with the PHX summers. In L.A. I've noticed the heat seems to come and go. This past summer, we didn't have too many 100 degree days in my area. The highs were usually in the mid to low 90s. But on the other hand, I've been in L.A. since 1983 and we get heat here too and I'm still alive and healthy, so I'm thinking how much worse could PHX be?

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

If you don't like the heat??? Hmmm, I don't know that's a hard one, probably...NO, not worth it. That would be like asking if it would be worth living in Alaska or Minnesota if you hate the snow and cold. It is easier to live in the heat than winter conditions, but if you hate heat, hard to make that distinction for you.

I second that for sure after living in both!

[Grannysroost]

Originally Posted by AliveandWell

I wouldn't say that I hate heat, unless it is super humid. I don't really enjoy dry heat BUT I find it more tolerable. I've experienced both humid and dry heat. I actually visited Vegas twice in the summer. It is true that it does not cool off at night but at least you are not going to be sweating. One day I remember it was 110F and dry we're talking 5-6% humidity and in all honesty, it was NOT too bad. My heat tolerance has increased over the years. If it is 91F and dry, I can deal with that better for the most part. I'd say if it is 98F and the humidity level is over 20%, that is when I would start feeling like I have to run inside the house or some cool place. I'm not a heat lover, but I'd like to talk about the advantages of heat.
1. You don't have to worry about frostbite or hypothermia.
2. No need to worry about slipping on ice.
3. No need to be concerned about crashing into other cars because of snowy road conditions.

But yeah, I admit it would be a challenge to deal with the PHX summers. In L.A. I've noticed the heat seems to come and go. This past summer, we didn't have too many 100 degree days in my area. The highs were usually in the mid to low 90s. But on the other hand, I've been in L.A. since 1983 and we get heat here too and I'm still alive and healthy, so I'm thinking how much worse could PHX be?

Maybe somewhere more moderate like Albuquerque...that is awful to spell...