Arizona versus Florida (cost, bridge, road trip, beach)

[sungrl01]

Hey guys..have a dilemma here. I got two job offers one in Panama City Beach, FL and the other in the Bullhead City, AZ area. I know I like the job and pay better in Arizona but have never lived in Arizona but Florida has the beach and is closer to family but the job is just okay to me and the pay is not very good. I have a good dilemma here but is stressful..so any tips or advice would be helpful..thanks!

[BlueWillowPlate]

I live in Florida, but wonder if you should at least consider Arizona.

Panama City has beautiful beaches, but is not exactly a mecca of high culture.
I say this having happily lived just a few miles away from there for almost two years.

It all depends what you want. What is Bullhead City like? It looks nice enough, but does not look all that more sophisticated than Panama City.

What are you used to?
Do you want a change?
What other strengths and weaknesses can you see?

[MAK802]

You couldn't pay me enough to live in AZ.....it would never, ever, ever happen. FL all the way!

[slackjaw]

I live in Arizona and have lived and worked in Florida.

Bullhead City is a small city along the river across from "mini Vegas" Laughlin, Nevada. I suspect you'd find a good percentage of the people who work at the casinos in Laughlin live in Bullhead City and drive across the bridge to work. Nearest bigger city (relative reference here) is Kingman, AZ. Vegas is a bit farther and is the nearest large city.

The comment about never living in AZ vs. FL is silly, they are both diverse states culturally and (moreso in Arizona's case) geographically. Scottsdale AZ is a world different than Yuma which is a world different than Flagstaff. Miami is no Ft Walton Beach, etc. It is silly to name a state over another and say everywhere is better, too much variation.

One thing to note on Bullhead City is that it is hot, and I don't mean Tampa or even Phoenix hot, it is often the hottest spot in the country. I've been here in Phoenix when it is 105 and seen the weather forecast in Bullhead City at 120+, it is nuts. I've never lived there but have been thru plenty of times, and to me it usually means almost to Vegas when on a road trip. It is desert and not lush desert like in Southern Arizona, the area around there is pretty much dirt with lots of elevation changes, the river is low but on both sides you have mountains and hills so it changes levels rapidly. I guess it is pretty in a way, but to each their own. I think the biggest hill in FL is the Sunshine Skyway.

Suggest you post in the AZ and FL forums, you'll get more insight. Good luck either way, and congrats on the job and life change.

I'd probably take Panama City for the oysters alone.

[wit-nit]

AZ has many fascinating and interesting places. Bullhead City is not one of them. As slackjaw said, unless you like to cross the river to gamble there's not much to do or see. You need to go to Vegas, or Phoenix for big city lifestyle and things to do. The heat in the summer can be ferocious there also. With gas approaching the 4-5 dollar mark, traveling outta town is gonna cost ya.
You should google Bulhead City for specifics and see if you'd like that lifestyle. If you do decide to come, I hope the pay is good enough for your to bear it.

[David Einstein]

I'd do Bullhead City.

[tijlover]

All depends on what you can tolerate and not tolerate.

I'm such a heat/humidity sissy-wimp, I'd crumble to the sidewalk with FL heat and humidity, as I once lived there.

At least with Bullhead City, at 700 feet in altitude, you can merely go up the hill to Kingman at 3700 feet and get a little relief. Or go furthur to Flagstaff and cool off in summer. It's also warmer in winter, by 5-10 degrees, from Las Vegas at 2165 in altitude.

Myself, I don't like Bullhead City because it lacks a central core, way too spread out. Down the river a ways, Havasu has much more of a central core and more attractive, altho' even hotter, lower elevation.