ATOT: Tell me about Phoenix, AZ

[Fenixgoon]

I currently live in Los Angeles, but absolutely hate the cost of living. It's ridonculous. $500k should buy you a mansion, not a 1500 sq ft row home with shared garage space (FYI, no way I could currently afford a 500k house, just pointing out how little you get in LA).

I found out today that my company has need of personnel with my particular set of skills </liam neeson> in Phoenix, AZ. Originally I was looking to move to Texas and possibly switch companies altogether, but I have it pretty good at my company as far as the type of work, pay, benefits, flexible hours, and whatnot. The nice part is that I could still do the type of work with my current boss (who is awesome) as well as expand into some other work, possibly.

The downside is that potentially, I could be stuck with the same type of workflow - absolutely hammered, and then twiddling thumbs (all depends on projects brought in). There's also the possibility that I would end up engaged in a type of work I have absolutely 0 interest in.

So anyway, let me hear the good and bad about the Phoenix area.

 

[IronWing]

Phoenix is just like LA except cheaper. And no ocean, no culture, no restaurants, no music, and it's hotter. More guns.

 

[Humpy]

Phoenix has the Black Mountain BMX track which was the top track in the nation for 2014.

 

[Sulaco]

I lived for 3 and a half years just a few minutes outside of Phoenix (Peoria/Glendale) while my dad did a fellowship at Barrow.

I've lived all over the country, quite literally; from San Francisco, Ca to Palatka, FL...Ann Arbor, MI to Phx, AZ.

I honestly really enjoyed it, as did my family. The climate is of course a culture shock for most, but coming from LA you'd be used to it.

The thing that stuck out to me about the people for the most part is

A) Most everyone comes from somewhere else, and is damn proud of it (like LA)
B) It has the feeling of a permanent weekend. That is to say, there is a much greater emphasis on R&R then anywhere I've ever lived. People go about their work week in anticipation of getting the dirt bike out on Saturday and Sunday. There's nothing wrong with that, but again, coming from a family with a very rigorous academic outlook it was a shock.
A T-Shirt is formal attire (casual is usually a beater) and footwear beyond flip flops and folks will ask you if you're going to a funeral.

All kidding aside, there were some great people there and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and if a job opportunity opened up and I could convince the SO I'd probably move back.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Phoenix has all of the bad parts of a large city and few of the good. You think California politicos are crazy, you ain't seen nothing like the ones in Phoenix. The heat is crazy, almost as crazy as all the office workers wearing sweaters in the summer because the office buildings run at 60 degrees.

 

[ThatsABigOne]

Jlee lives there and he is ready to get down nekkid!

 

[rednas]

I live in Houston and I think the weather in Arizona is miserable hahahahhaha

 

[rednas]

one thing I miss about California and I know you also will if you decide to move is losing the ability to laneshare on a motorcycle.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Jlee lives there and he is ready to get down nekkid!

when can i move?

 

[Mixolydian]

It's a dry heat.

 

[rednas]

It's a dry heat.

I love it when people say this. When its 120 degrees out it does not matter. It sucks.

 

[Mixolydian]

I love it when people say this. When its 120 degrees out it does not matter. It sucks.

Of course. Anyone who lives there is fucking nuts.

Plus the area is running out of water.

 

[rednas]

Of course. Anyone who lives there is fucking nuts.

Plus the area is running out of water.

He is coming from SoCal, its nothing new for him but atleast in Arizona every person does not try to maintain a perfectly green acre of grass in front of their home.

 

[sdifox]

I swear the city hates me. I was there for three days. First day ran into thunderstorm, apparently that was their rainfall for the year.

second day got dragged to a american football game /wrist

third day bush jr drived by next to me while I was having lunch.

 

[Fenixgoon]

He is coming from SoCal, its nothing new for him but atleast in Arizona every person does not try to maintain a perfectly green acre of grass in front of their home.

truth. it's kinda sad now to see so many displays involving water. it's like, come on people, there's a goddamn drought. even if it's almost fully recycled, you still have vapor losses, which can be considerable over time.

I swear the city hates me. I was there for three days. First day ran into thunderstorm, apparently that was their rainfall for the year.

second day got dragged to a american football game /wrist

third day bush jr drived by next to me while I was having lunch.

ouch

 

[K1052]

Phoenix is just like LA except cheaper. And no ocean, no culture, no restaurants, no music, and it's hotter. More guns.

You forgot old people. Lots and lots of old people.

Edit: And now I have just depressed myself looking on redfin what I can buy in LA compared to SF.

 

[Jeeebus]

I went from Phoenix, Arizona all the way to Tacoma Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A....

 

[esquared]

I went from Phoenix, Arizona all the way to Tacoma Philadelphia, Atlanta, L.A....

Good one.

 

[zerocool84]

I visited for three days earlier this year, spent most of my life in the LA area. It was nice, went during spring. Obviously if you love the beach like I do, you can't get that there. You basically HAVE to love desert/dirt sports like mountain biking, off roading, hiking etc etc since it's desert, didn't seem like much else to do locally. Lots of cheap beers though which I liked. Not my type of place to live when you literally cannot go outside during the summer months because it's too hot.

And yes, it seemed like most people moved from other places.

 

[DAGTA]

I live in Phoenix and have been here nearly 12 years.

Pros:
- weather! Sunshine almost every day and I don't own a snow shovel
- hiking
- cheap cost of living compared to most big cities
- no earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes
- less bugs than most places
- plenty of restaurants (IMO)
- plenty of event venues (IMO)
- Able to eat outside without bugs or cold

Cons
- illegals affect healthcare, schooling, crime, and insurance rates
- snowbirds

Phoenix is in a good location for variety. Want to ski? drive two hours into the mountains. Vegas is 5 hours away. LA is drive-able for a weekend trip. Mexico is a few hours away if you would like to go.

 

[tortoise]

Tell me about Phoenix, AZ

Cartel City

 

[XavierMace]

Also keep in mind that asking what Phoenix is like is like asking what Los Angeles is like. Different suburbs vary quite a bit. Obviously things like the weather are the same across the board. Traffic isn't as bad as places like LA (yet) because we keep building out rather than up so the population density is much lower. However, we only have a couple of freeways so that makes up for it. Suburbs to downtown in traffic is usually about an hour to an hour and a half drive.

Everything is way cheaper here than LA (and most other places), not just housing. Gas, Electricity, Food, etc is all cheaper. I went to LA two weeks ago to pickup equipment from a client's site, gas was $0.80-$1.10/gallon more expensive there (Visalia/Sun Valley area).

Yes, the heat is ungodly hot. But we don't get snow, earthquakes, tornadoes, or hurricanes. Very little rain. Meaning you'll probably get a lot more time on your bike than just about anywhere.

Other than Tempe, Phoenix pretty much dies off after 9p or so. San Diego, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Mexico are all less than a days drive from Phoenix. City is laid out largely in a grid. A few streets pretty much go all of the way across town. In regards to the suburbs....

Phoenix Proper: Kinda like actual LA. Wouldn't recommend it. There's pockets of nicer, but overall, not so much.

Guadalupe: If you're a legal resident, probably don't want to live here.

Scottsdale: Mostly rich douche bags. Way overpriced housing by AZ standards. Obviously being ATOT that's not an issue though. You'd have to go here to get your Bentley serviced anyways.

Tempe: Home of ASU, therefore you pay the college tax on most residences. Most of the "night life" is in this area though if you're looking for that.

Mesa: Cheaper part of town, but most of it is still less shitty than Phoenix.

Gilbert: Nicer, newer neighborhoods. Tries to retain some of the areas farming heritage. Good place to live, but you'll be commuting to some other neighborhood for work.

Chandler: Wants to be like Scottsdale, but feels more like Mesa most of the time.

Apache Junction: Nothing but old people and meth houses here. No reason at all to look here.

Anthem/Goodyear/Surprise: Newer neighborhoods, but stretching the limit of being "in Phoenix". I personally don't see the point in living that far from downtown.

Final note, you can't live far enough "out of town" to avoid eventually being in town. Metro Phoenix

 

[bbhaag]

It's my least favorite city of any I've visited. It's hot and it smells. The only saving grace for Phoenix is Sedona, Flagstaff, and the Verde Valley are just a short drive up north.

 

[John Connor]

Hot, hot and TOO FUCKING HOT! Pretty bad when it's 90 out at night. Vegas can be like that.

Been there twice.

Plus you have cacti and rock for a yard. No mowing though.

 

[zerocool84]

I live in Phoenix and have been here nearly 12 years.

Pros:
- weather! Sunshine almost every day and I don't own a snow shovel
- hiking
- cheap cost of living compared to most big cities
- no earthquakes, tornadoes or hurricanes
- less bugs than most places
- plenty of restaurants (IMO)
- plenty of event venues (IMO)
- Able to eat outside without bugs or cold

Cons
- illegals affect healthcare, schooling, crime, and insurance rates
- snowbirds

Phoenix is in a good location for variety. Want to ski? drive two hours into the mountains. Vegas is 5 hours away. LA is drive-able for a weekend trip. Mexico is a few hours away if you would like to go.

But when it's really hot do people even go outside? Plus it stays hot at night as well.