Pheonix, Arizona

[eflat]

So after next semester, it will be time for my obligatory and annual move to an area that is the complete opposite of where I am now.

I am currently residing in a tiny village of hippies in Northern California. It is wet, humid, rainy and cold. And really modly.

So I want big, and I have decided I hate driving, so it has to be a city.

There cannot be even the possibility of mold and I do not want any more rain, so it will have to be the desert.

So I have decided upon Phoenix, Arizona. Anyone lived there? Any thoughts on the area or the city?

 

[MX2]

I grew up near Tucson. I enjoyed it as a kid. That was in the 80's though, and I am sure things have changed a little. If Heat doesnt bother you and you like dry arid conditions, go for it

 

[tyler811]

nice place I heard

 

[Skel]

I lived there for years and hated the place.

 

[PoPPeR]

I just moved from Northern California to the Phoenix area. I dont know why on earth, if you decided to move anywhere in arizona, why you wouldn't choose the Phoenix metro area. Yeah housing prices have exploded but there are still many areas (mesa, tempe, chandler) that are still reasonable. Tucson is a freakin dump. I've been there many times already in the 3 months I've been here. It's not exactly Compton, but think of it as Tucson = Oakland and Phoenix = San Francisco. It's not horrible, because it does house UofA so it has to be liveable. But it is very close to the border and the hispanic population is very large. And yeah this may not be PC, but with that situation comes crime and Tucson has plenty of it.

The desert is not always hot. It's just dry. It's getting very cold around here at night right now, and Tucson is even colder. It's not norcal cold yet, but it comes close.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: Skel
I lived there for years and hated the place.

well I hate you but that doesn't say or mean much unless I back it up with some details.

Why did you hate it?

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
I just moved from Northern California to the Phoenix area. I dont know why on earth, if you decided to move anywhere in arizona, why you wouldn't choose the Phoenix metro area. Yeah housing prices have exploded but there are still many areas (mesa, tempe, chandler) that are still reasonable. Tucson is a freakin dump. I've been there many times already in the 3 months I've been here. It's not exactly Compton, but think of it as Tucson = Oakland and Phoenix = San Francisco. It's not horrible, because it does house UofA so it has to be liveable. But it is very close to the border and the hispanic population is very large. And yeah this may not be PC, but with that situation comes crime and Tucson has plenty of it.

The desert is not always hot. It's just dry. It's getting very cold around here at night right now, and Tucson is even colder. It's not norcal cold yet, but it comes close.

I am not sure why I said Tucson. I think some writer I used to like was from there, maybe that is why it stuck out in my mind.

I meant to say whatever the biggest city is, so let me revise it to Phoenix

Any thoughts on Phoenix?

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug

Originally posted by: Skel
I lived there for years and hated the place.

well I hate you but that doesn't say or mean much unless I back it up with some details.

Why did you hate it?

how old are you, what can you afford, what's your career situation? You want a big city? I hear Tucson's population is halved when summer comes around.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
I just moved from Northern California to the Phoenix area. I dont know why on earth, if you decided to move anywhere in arizona, why you wouldn't choose the Phoenix metro area. Yeah housing prices have exploded but there are still many areas (mesa, tempe, chandler) that are still reasonable. Tucson is a freakin dump. I've been there many times already in the 3 months I've been here. It's not exactly Compton, but think of it as Tucson = Oakland and Phoenix = San Francisco. It's not horrible, because it does house UofA so it has to be liveable. But it is very close to the border and the hispanic population is very large. And yeah this may not be PC, but with that situation comes crime and Tucson has plenty of it.

The desert is not always hot. It's just dry. It's getting very cold around here at night right now, and Tucson is even colder. It's not norcal cold yet, but it comes close.

Where in Northern California did you move from? Crescent city?

 

[TitanDiddly]

It's freaking hot. Also, the airport security there could make diamonds from coall with their asses.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug

Originally posted by: Skel
I lived there for years and hated the place.

well I hate you but that doesn't say or mean much unless I back it up with some details.

Why did you hate it?

how old are you, what can you afford, what's your career situation? You want a big city? I hear Tucson's population is halved when summer comes around.

Lol. Well maybe I'll move back to my hippie commune in the summertime.

I'm 22 and will probably get work as a phlebotomist at a hospital. Will probably share a house with some students or something. Maybe enroll at the local city college if it appeals to me. I keep pretty busy with my photography and writing and music and what not. I'll have some money saved up and make friends easy enough, so that is not really an issue. I just need a change of scenery and climate every so often.

 

[DAGTA]

I live in Mesa, AZ (about 20 minutes East of Phoenix, but still part of the metropolis). I love it here! Any kind of food you like can be found here. There is always something going on, so you won't find a shortage of activities. You can get out into the desert for hiking and nature in 30 minutes of driving. Mountains aren't far away if you miss snow for whatever reason. Plenty of culture and gorgeous weather. Jobs are easier to find than other cities, too.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
Tucson is a freakin dump. I've been there many times already in the 3 months I've been here. It's not exactly Compton, but think of it as Tucson = Oakland and Phoenix = San Francisco. It's not horrible, because it does house UofA so it has to be liveable. But it is very close to the border and the hispanic population is very large. And yeah this may not be PC, but with that situation comes crime and Tucson has plenty of it.

Damn, you sure sound like a racist to me. Please stay out of Tucson and in your safe white crime free metropolis.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
I just moved from Northern California to the Phoenix area. I dont know why on earth, if you decided to move anywhere in arizona, why you wouldn't choose the Phoenix metro area. Yeah housing prices have exploded but there are still many areas (mesa, tempe, chandler) that are still reasonable. Tucson is a freakin dump. I've been there many times already in the 3 months I've been here. It's not exactly Compton, but think of it as Tucson = Oakland and Phoenix = San Francisco. It's not horrible, because it does house UofA so it has to be liveable. But it is very close to the border and the hispanic population is very large. And yeah this may not be PC, but with that situation comes crime and Tucson has plenty of it.

The desert is not always hot. It's just dry. It's getting very cold around here at night right now, and Tucson is even colder. It's not norcal cold yet, but it comes close.

I am not sure why I said Tucson. I think some writer I used to like was from there, maybe that is why it stuck out in my mind.

I meant to say whatever the biggest city is, so let me revise it to Phoenix

Any thoughts on Phoenix?

i hate to turn this into something that can be done in a PM but maybe people will be interested. When I first moved here (in August to attend ASU) and my friends came down to visit, the first thing that came out of their mouths was "This is Arizona?" People expect barren desert with sand and cacti everywhere and crap like that. When we went down to Tucson, the first thing they said was "this is what we thought arizona was supposed to look like." Yeah that's probably more ignorant than anything else, but consider it anyways.

Scottsdale is very nice. I know many friends from my hometown (Walnut Creek) that have sold their california houses, came down here, built their dream house for half the price and pocketed the rest. Don't let the stories scare you. 115 degrees isn't going to kill you. It's hotter than our summers in california of course but hot is hot.

Anyways, reasons I'd suggest moving here:
-Despite the housing boom it's still reasonably affordable.
-Home to an extremely large population of hot girls, both college and older.
-Companies like it. Google opening major operations in area Intel and Ebay here as well

There's a lot more but you didn't say what you were really looking for besides the weather and such

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: Ned
It's freaking hot. Also, the airport security there could make diamonds from coall with their asses.

Heh well that is what AC is for. I am more of a nighttime kind of guy anyhow and I hear the evenings are great in the summertime.

I'm pretty sure I have stopped over in Pheonix quite a few times. If I remember right they had a really cool airport. But maybe I am thinking of a different city.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
Tucson is a freakin dump. I've been there many times already in the 3 months I've been here. It's not exactly Compton, but think of it as Tucson = Oakland and Phoenix = San Francisco. It's not horrible, because it does house UofA so it has to be liveable. But it is very close to the border and the hispanic population is very large. And yeah this may not be PC, but with that situation comes crime and Tucson has plenty of it.

Damn, you sure sound like a racist to me. Please stay out of Tucson and in your safe white crime free metropolis.

the numbers speak for themselves. Are you going to sit here any deny that Tucson has a lot of crime? Come out of the box and face reality. You're that close to the border. A lot of crime is going to happen. Who lives across the border? Yeah. It's not racist, it's reality.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: CitizenDoug

Originally posted by: Ned
It's freaking hot. Also, the airport security there could make diamonds from coall with their asses.

Heh well that is what AC is for. I am more of a nighttime kind of guy anyhow and I hear the evenings are great in the summertime.

I'm pretty sure I have stopped over in Pheonix quite a few times. If I remember right they had a really cool airport. But maybe I am thinking of a different city.

sky harbor (phoenix international) isn't anything special. SFO is much nicer.

 

[PoPPeR]

If you find people to live with you can live very cheaply here. ASU has 60,000 students (including graduate). There are very cheap apartments around here if you get a few roomates.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
Tucson is a freakin dump. I've been there many times already in the 3 months I've been here. It's not exactly Compton, but think of it as Tucson = Oakland and Phoenix = San Francisco. It's not horrible, because it does house UofA so it has to be liveable. But it is very close to the border and the hispanic population is very large. And yeah this may not be PC, but with that situation comes crime and Tucson has plenty of it.

Damn, you sure sound like a racist to me. Please stay out of Tucson and in your safe white crime free metropolis.

the numbers speak for themselves. Are you going to sit here any deny that Tucson has a lot of crime? Come out of the box and face reality. You're that close to the border. A lot of crime is going to happen. Who lives across the border? Yeah. It's not racist, it's reality.

I never said there wasn't crime, only that you sure sound like a racist, and you've just confirmed my assessment.

That is the reality here.

Shame on you!

 

[TBone48]

My sister moved to Phoenix 2 years ago. Mywife and I visited this June and we LOVED it. Yeah, it was hot as hell (110-115F.), but it's so different from the humidity we get in NJ in the summer. The place is beautiful and there are lots of different kinds of resteraunts and night life. We're actually thinking of relocating.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: PoPPeR

Originally posted by: feralkid

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
Tucson is a freakin dump. I've been there many times already in the 3 months I've been here. It's not exactly Compton, but think of it as Tucson = Oakland and Phoenix = San Francisco. It's not horrible, because it does house UofA so it has to be liveable. But it is very close to the border and the hispanic population is very large. And yeah this may not be PC, but with that situation comes crime and Tucson has plenty of it.

Damn, you sure sound like a racist to me. Please stay out of Tucson and in your safe white crime free metropolis.

the numbers speak for themselves. Are you going to sit here any deny that Tucson has a lot of crime? Come out of the box and face reality. You're that close to the border. A lot of crime is going to happen. Who lives across the border? Yeah. It's not racist, it's reality.

I never said there wasn't crime, only that you sure sound like a racist, and you've just confirmed my assessment.

That is the reality here.

Shame on you!

ok i'll retract my statement. Go ahead and move to Tucson and their high larceny rates. I have no idea who is committing the crimes. I'm sure it's equally distributed among all the races.

edit: and yes Phoenix/Tempe has high larceny rates too. Again, no surprise, we're not that far from the border either. Take a trip down here if you really want to see it. Tickets are not that expensive, on offpeak season you can easily find a roundtrip ticket for <130

 

[Babbles]

I have visited there a few times, and I would have no problem moving down there. In fact in the future, Pheonix would be on my list of potential cities to move to.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: TBone48
My sister moved to Phoenix 2 years ago. Mywife and I visited this June and we LOVED it. Yeah, it was hot as hell (110-115F.), but it's so different from the humidity we get in NJ in the summer. The place is beautiful and there are lots of different kinds of resteraunts and night life. We're actually thinking of relocating.

You should take a trip down here right now. 70-80 degrees all day long, 60 at night. I'm sort of missing my california autumn/winter right now but i can deal with it

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: TBone48
My sister moved to Phoenix 2 years ago. Mywife and I visited this June and we LOVED it. Yeah, it was hot as hell (110-115F.), but it's so different from the humidity we get in NJ in the summer. The place is beautiful and there are lots of different kinds of resteraunts and night life. We're actually thinking of relocating.

What I am really wondering is how bad my allergies will be.

Arizona used to be a haven for allergy sufferers but with all the people came lots of plants and I hear it is pretty much like everywhere else now.

But at least no mold. Or rust, for that matter.

That would be very nice

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: PoPPeR
If you find people to live with you can live very cheaply here. ASU has 60,000 students (including graduate). There are very cheap apartments around here if you get a few roomates.

Really 60,000?

That is perfect. I'll bet I could even make use of the library with that many students.