What is living in Palm Springs like? Possibly relocating... (Los Angeles: coop, houses)

[lala33]

I have just been offered a job in Palm Springs (currently in Seattle area) and had a few questions for those who live there or have visited... Thanks!

Is it too hot most of the year to do outdoor activities or can people actually hike/bike/run in the summer there?

How far is the nearest swimmable body of water. Lake, ocean, river, whatever...

Are people friendly? I am used to a very laid back way of life and have tattoos and don't golf. Will I be able to find my crowd?

If my assumptions are offensive sorry I don't mean for them to be. Just going from what I know from movies and googling 'Palm Springs'.

Also- Do YOU like living in Palm Springs? What do you like the most/least?

Thank you for any replies.

[murfslaw]

For most of us desert rats the heat is not a big issue. It gets hot form May through September but that's part of desert living. You usally swim in your back yard; the nearest body of water is the Salton Sea...you don't swim there! People are friendly for the most part; locals (you can't count on the snow birds!!!). Tat's are not a problem. Most of us love the desert year round.

[Twinkle Toes]

I agree with Murf. I've been a "desert rat" for over 15 years and I love it!

[sylvanarrow]

I live in Seattle, and love visiting PS for tennis and warmth, but I'm not sure I'd pick it for living (though if you have a job there, that can be a different story). I actually like hot, dry weather, and it's great there in March. A friend I stay with says you get up seriously early (long before dawn) if you want to do outdoors stuff in the summer. It was still 100+ during the day when I was down there last October.

As for the rest, I don't know that I saw too many tattoos when I was down there. Folks I've met have seemed friendly enough, though the word preppy comes to mind a lot for me there. None of the dogs I saw on the street were mutts if that says anything. All expensive looking pure breds, heh.

I also have yet to find a decent radio station down there, and the coffee scene is iffy if you're used to Seattle's options. No Whole Foods either, though there is a Trader Joe's. It's a smaller population base overall, so fewer options for most things.

[lala33]

Thank you for your replies guys (and any more are welcome)! The purebred dog thing (more specifically canines in clothing) is a little bit of what I'm afraid of as far as the people. The no amazing coffee is unfortunate as well but I could probably learn to do that at home. What do you do for fun in the desert then? Lay by the pool? Is the desert ATV friendly? Either of those activities I could get into I suppose... I'm still weighing my options but I think I may go for it... Just the idea of that much sunshine makes me smile!

[murfslaw]

I have to say that in 30 years of living in the area I've not seen many dogs with clothes on!? Most of our friends are regular folks (all interesting). Lots of parties. Swimming and laying by the pool to some degree; swimming on a warm summer's night is great. There are many places to hike like the Living Desert. Many day trips. ATV use is probably 30-45 minutes away from Palm Springs proper. Los Angeles is approximately 2 1/2 hours away

[Twinkle Toes]

Um, yeah ..... I can't say I've ever seen a dog wearing clothes either. And, we desert folk do what we do when we do it. I don't wake up extremely early to get outdoor stuff done before I melt - if I want to be outside in 100+ degree weather, I just go out. The heat hasn't killed me yet. People with tats? They're everywhere! There may be a few preppy folk here and there, but overall, I would say they aren't from here - they are snowbirds who fly the coop when the weather gets too tough for them to deal with. The desert has a fairly laid back feel to it. The dress is usually casual. People are typically dressy-casual when going out. Rarely will you see anyone sporting a ballgown unless they are drag queens.

[dogmom]

I agree with Twinkle Toes, very laid back..I am looking forward now to the snowbirds flying the coop and returning to their summer homes, then we locals can have the roads and facilities back to ourselves! I haven't seen many dogs parading around in clothes, lol..the seasonal folks are a whole different type and since most of them have the money to have two homes, maybe their dogs are wearing clothes..

We have everything you could want here in our desert..Costco, most chain stores, like Target, Walmart, etc...also in Palm Desert is Bristol Farms which would be closest to a Whole Foods, also love Trader Joes..there are plenty of Starbucks around, and having lived in WA state previously, I do miss the corner coffeehouses..but other than that, we have everything here..and if it's not here, its within an hour into Moreno Valley, or San Bernardino/Riverside. Temecula is about an hour and a half for wineries..and if you like the beach, a couple hours drive.

We do love the sun, but we do have cooler days in the winter, with occassional rain. And yes, it's hot from May-October, but everything is air conditioned and you just learn to do things early in the day, or after the sun goes down.

Hope that helps..

[userfriendly2]

What about job opportunities?
My family will be relocating though we are moving because I got a job offer. How far does $110k/ annual will go if my wife can't find a job as financial analyst. CA taxes are already that bad...

[Twinkle Toes]

Originally Posted by userfriendly2

What about job opportunities?
My family will be relocating though we are moving because I got a job offer. How far does $110k/ annual will go if my wife can't find a job as financial analyst. CA taxes are already that bad...

You won't be buying a private Lear Jet or a yacht anytime soon, but you can live very comfortably on $110,000 per year, assuming you don't blow all your money on crap like gambling at the casinos or spending way above your means.