Quality of life in Tucson (Phoenix, Oro Valley: condo, townhouse, neighborhoods)

[sickofIL]

Shove 10 cotton balls in your mouth and stand under a heat lamp. Thats what this place is like no matter how much water you drink.

There is NO shade in this area at all. Lush brownery is what we have, and ugly mountains when you compare them with the mountains of other parts of the country.

I did not experience anything like that when we were there. But I drink lots of liquids all of the time anyway. We didn't have any problem with lack of shade either. It was in the upper 90's/lower100's when we were there and it was just after very heavy rain. I still think it was much nicer than the average 80 degree day here. When you go into the shade here you are just not in the sun anymore and yoy are just as uncomfortable. In Tucson when you go into the shade you cool off. (evaporation..what happens when the humidity isn't 80-90% as it generally is here)

There is less green than the midwest but it isn't all brown. and we thought the mountians were spectacular! and the sunsets were undescribable.

Again, it's all what you like. If you don't like heat you won't like Tucson. If you want to be completely surrounded by greenery you won't like Tucson.

Yea, the greenery is nice but I can do without it. I am tired of cutting grass, trimming trees and bushes, picking up branches, pulling weeds and paying to get all of this stuff hauled away....not to say the time it takes to do all of this---every week! I am looking forward living with the Tucson landscape.

[New West 2020]

Hey Bexxer, I lived in Tucson on and off for years and it is really a nice place to move to, at least for a while, and would certainly meet your requirements for liberal, dog-loving, etc. The heat is definitely tough for about 4 months during the day, but if you get up early, it is absolutely stunning at about 5 AM in the summer, with the doves calling and quail running around. Hiking trails are all over in the mountains to the north. Also, Tucson has some very good bistros and wine bars, some decent art festivals, and proximity to beaches in California and Mexico.

[Bexxer]

If we get Tucson as a posting it'll be for about 4 yrs so I guess I can hack the heat for that long, I just hate sweating! I hate feeling lethargic from the heat too! I know him indoors says I'll get used to it so I will embrace it (and the sweat!).
Worry my dogs will hate the heat, can't leave them in the car here in the UK for longer than 10 mins in the height of summer so I guess its a no no there times a thousand percent! I appreciate everyones advice and didnt consider that I would just need to adjust my day routine and just get up earlier.

We are currently hoping for Col Springs as there is a job going at the academy and it looks like a mice place to live also. Manitou Springs does anyway! There is a lot of very religious people it seems in the USA (well, compared to the UK anyway) and we arent religious and don't have or want kids so I wonder if we'll fit in better in Manitou (its meant to be a bit more liberal and bohemian).

Anyway we won't find out until Oct so its a long nail-biting wait until then. I will keep reading posts and threads (be them good or bad) until then as its a great way to get to know small parts of a very large country that is the USA.

Somehow I'll feel more intimate with the country as a whole.

TripAdvisor seems useful for pix too!

[uk2fh]

Sorry Bexxer, but as a transplant from the UK I have to tell you that a very rare 110 degrees in Tucson is not the big deal it sounds whereas a not so rare minus 40 wind-chill in Colorado Springs certainly is! I know as I've experienced both. Warm beats cold anytime. Also Col Springs is a big, big center of born-again Christian organisations. I have no problem with that except during my time therethat they all seemed to want me to convert to their brand of Christianity! Arizona-including Tucson-still has far more of the old Western attitude of "keep out of another man's business". No contest.

[ArizonaBear]

The best word to describe Tucson would be 'schizophrenic'.

The foothills, etc. are gorgeous whereas the flatlands are borderline 'ghetto' IMHO-----factoring in the cost of living.

Sad because I probably would have loved the Tucson area 30 years ago

[New West 2020]

Yes, all good thoughts. Manitou is very very charming to look at, but "Bohemian" is kind of a misstatemet, coz when I lived in CO (5 years ago) Manitou was known for being a home to Paganist neo-witches and Devil-worshipers, while the Springs just next door was the conservative army town full of Born-agains. I would find CO Springs much more schizophrenic socially than Tucson.

Tucson is indeed "ghetto" looking on the south side, which is simply the nearest big US community full of Mexican nationals beyond Nogales on the border. Most of the trashy looking stuff in Tucson is cars on the lawn- they never rust so apparently everyone thinks they are worth keeping. However, all the German and English cars will fade and plastic will crack. The Tucson foothills are resort heaven, but "mid-town" is really the heart of Tucson, with bike-able and walkable streets, charming old adobe homes, the big university and professional scene, and all the cafes and bistros you would want - and Trader Joe's! The Broadway Corridor is about the safest area in Tucson, like near Broadway east of Downtown all the way out to Houghton. River and Campbell is a good location if you want a bit of the high class foothills life at a slightly lower than high-end price. Changing pounds into dollars will make any Brit feel rich in Tucson.

The crime scene and sun: Tucson has violent crime but 90% is drug dealers killing each other. Property crime is average for a US western city, lock your bike, doors and windows, etc. Place tint on your windows (car too), use covered parking or a windscreen cover, wear sun screen and a funny hat, and have an indoor day job and Tucson is about as comfortable as anywhere. Think Spain.

[mdtoaz]

Originally Posted by Bexxer

If we get Tucson as a posting it'll be for about 4 yrs so I guess I can hack the heat for that long, I just hate sweating!

If it's any consolation, during most of the year when you sweat it evaporates so fast it actually does what it's meant to do - keep you cooler. There really is something to the whole "it's a dry heat" argument.

I was back in Maryland two weeks ago and it was 91 degrees one day and super muggy - I was sitting outside (in the shade) and was just sweating. It was nasty. It definitely felt worse than 104 feels here.

Now, during monsoon season it does get a little humid so you'll get that lovely moist feeling.

[Mi_Mom]

Originally Posted by mdtoaz

If it's any consolation, during most of the year when you sweat it evaporates so fast it actually does what it's meant to do - keep you cooler. There really is something to the whole "it's a dry heat" argument.

I was back in Maryland two weeks ago and it was 91 degrees one day and super muggy - I was sitting outside (in the shade) and was just sweating. It was nasty. It definitely felt worse than 104 feels here.

Now, during monsoon season it does get a little humid so you'll get that lovely moist feeling.

I've been trying to tell my friends and family that. I'm not sure they believe me though.

[mdtoaz]

Originally Posted by Mi_Mom

I've been trying to tell my friends and family that. I'm not sure they believe me though.

I have family in MI too - and it can get pretty muggy up there, too. I was pretty surprised. I picked a good week to go out to Maryland, though. I talked to my mom yesterday and it's been 99. They're in for a icky, sticky summer!!

[twojulybabies]

Originally Posted by mdtoaz

I was back in Maryland two weeks ago and it was 91 degrees one day and super muggy - I was sitting outside (in the shade) and was just sweating. It was nasty. It definitely felt worse than 104 feels here.

I also agree. It's been 85- 95 here in Buffalo for 5 days or so. It is so freakin' humid. I went to the basement Saturday to grab my window air conditioner to install in the living room just for some kind of break. So NOT looking forward to heading up to the attic next week to pack the stuff there.

See you guys in a month...have the 110's ready for me. I can't wait!