ATTN: Arizona Residents... I'm thinking of moving

[taylorRichie]

Hey all you Arizonians... I'm contemplating a move to the Greater Phoenix area...

I Love where I'm at, and I know it's going to be tough to leave, but I'm flirting with the idea of Change.

I'm thinking I'd like to ditch winter... I like it occasionally but I'd rather visit winter than live it ;)

What do you guys think about where you live? I figure 3 months of extreme heat is better than ~4 months of winter/soggy/dirty weather. (for me) I've stopped snowsports so I don't really get excited for winter.

Don't have a timeline for moving, nor is it a definite thing, maybe it's just crazy talk.

Just looking for some insight/opinion etc. Housing market is down everywhere so it's hard to really see what's going on as far as that's concerned.

If I did make the move I would look into something hopefully with ~1 acre lot, ~2,000 square feet, and within a reasonable commuting distance of the city. How much $$$ would a local say that'd run me ;)

[Triathlete]

I would say stay away from the greater Phoenix are unless you are into extreme heat (Tucson is usually 10 degrees cooler) and near L.A. type traffic and crowds. There are some nice places fairly close to Phoenix though. I would look north...Payson, Prescott, and Wickenburg are nice small towns within 1.5 hours of Phoenix. Also Sierra Vista is a nice small town east of Tucson. Tucson is nice and Larger than the other places I mentioned but much smaller than Phoenix. Of course it all depends on what you plan on doing for work also. If you come down to check things out let us know...maybe we can get together.

[taylorRichie]

Thanks for the info and suggestions... it's really all going to hinge on work of course. We're actually planning on driving my motorcycle down in December to go for a ride, and look things over. I'm definitely not used to extreme heat... we get about 15 days of triple digit weather here... Sometimes more but not generally. I stay inside those days, or try to go camping at high altitudes.

I'll let you know if/when we make a run down.

[circmand]

I got here in may the 130 degeree temp is great

[Triathlete]

I got here in may the 130 degeree temp is great

But, you'll love the winters (except for the snowbird population increase:eek:).
You still thinking about making the November camping trip?

Taylor, there are a lot of 'zonies on the board from all areas so someone will have info on what ever you need to know. I am in Tucson, VXCaver is south in Tubac, Victor (VCamillo) is in Phoenix and circmand is up north/west in Bullhead city...we pretty much got it covered!

[taylorRichie]

Awesome... More than likely I won't make the November Trip, but I plan on coming down in december. I'll just keep doing research on what region will offer the best balance of work and weather. I'll keep everyone posted.

[Ldub]

[QUOTE=taylorRichie;135973]I figure 3 months of extreme heat is better than ~4 months of winter/soggy/dirty weather. [QUOTE]

Dude...that's not winter...:rolleyesg

It's not really winter until it hits -30 or lower...:smilewink

[Solitude]

if you gonna scooter ride it to phoenix in december..make sure you check weather in flagstaff.. unless you plan on traveling via vegas. or trailering your ride.

Phoenix is the 5th largest city in the country.. passing Houston a few years ago.. its a huge city..

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=phoenix,+az&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox&um=1&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&resnum=1&ct=image

the triple digits start in may and last till september, and there is nothing like going to a concert in july and its 108 at 8pm.

four wheeling is great though.. not sure about the pay structure compared to SLC. specialized careers are lucrative though FYI

hope that helps.. there's a lot of good deals on houses.

[JoFotoz]

Move to San Diego...

...its where all the Phoenix crowd hang out all summer anyway!


Quick access to Mexico...and skiing is only 4 hours away....PLUS the BEACH!

House prices...OUCH...but some bargains given the present mortgage B/S.


jo

[pbkid]

richie...i find this thread interesting because im looking into the bullhead/havasu area around end of next summer....

the vx population will be growing in AZ maybe :)

which is interesting also because there isnt all that much where you would need something like a VX down there unless you do a lot of offroad....

colorado, ya the VX makes sence since it kicks arse in the snow...

just thought i would throw it out there...

[taylorRichie]

[QUOTE=taylorRichie;135973]I figure 3 months of extreme heat is better than ~4 months of winter/soggy/dirty weather. [QUOTE]

Dude...that's not winter...:rolleyesg

It's not really winter until it hits -30 or lower...:smilewink


http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/snow02.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/snow02.jpg)http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/thumbs/snow01.jpg (http://www.vehicross.info/gallery/data/500/snow01.jpg)

Dude if this isn't winter I don't want to experience your winter. :D I don't think COLD=WINTER I think SNOW=WINTER, and I had plenty. Living at 4500 feet, and on a mountain not in a valley like Denver, Salt Lake etc.

That fence is a ~4 1/2 feet And my audi was on Jackstands in that picture (turbo swap that didn't get finished because of the weather :D

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Jack, cool you're looking into AZ as well... I have some friends who moved to Bullhead/havasu area for a few years, just as hippies doing hippie jobs ;) Awesome area though. I just got back from Denver an hour ago, I love CO, and Denver, but it's quickly becoming $$$$ and too much like where I'm at, with a further drive to the slopes (I'm 20 min from Snow Basin)

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Jo.. San Diego is awesome, and I'd LOVE the ocean, but I can NOT afford to live there, the dude I bought my V-strom from was paying $2400 RENT for an 850 square foot house in South San Diego (Encinitas)

I'm paying about $1,400 for a Mortgage in a 2400 square foot house on a 1/2 acre lot. So moving out there I might be able to rent someone's shed for what I'm paying ;)

Other than that, I'd move that way in a heart beat, love the area.

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Solitude.

Thanks for the heads up on trailering or going through Vegas. I'll definitely plan around the weather, and take whatever route will work out. As far as wages Salary.com has my field rated at about 15-20% more, probably because it is a niche/specialty position.

This is the route I'd try to take: Here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=ogden,ut&daddr=40.545113,-111.404114+to:S+Main+St%2FUS-191+to:US-163+to:US-163+to:AZ-64%2FUS-180+to:phoenix,+az&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3BFeJ5TAIdXGR4-Q%3BFXPJNAId-xRv-Q%3BFdL5MQIdztRt-Q%3BFWlaJQId0ilR-Q%3B&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1,2,3,4,5&sll=40.482471,-111.947937&sspn=1.650344,2.471924&ie=UTF8&ll=40.743095,-111.678772&spn=1.64392,2.471924&z=9)

[Solitude]

well.. thats definately a very scenic route.. might think about heading to prescott az out of williams.az. not sure the route number..but its south.. just remember.. every elevation over 5280 ft is effin cold in the winter.. and cold does = snow in the mountains..

[Triathlete]

Definately want to add Sedona, Prescott, Wickenburg to that route!

[taylorRichie]

Depending on weather, it may have to be a spring trip... I'm just hoping winter doesn't start till January... Really. And I'll be wearing heated gear for sure.

Revised Link (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=ogden,ut&daddr=US-189%2FUT-40+to:S+Main+St%2FUS-191+to:US-163+to:US-163+to:AZ-64%2FUS-180+to:AZ-89A+to:34.567645,-112.458801+to:phoenix,+az&hl=en&geocode=%3BFTzUagIdvMtb-Q%3BFeJ5TAIdXGR4-Q%3BFXPJNAId-xRv-Q%3BFdL5MQIdztRt-Q%3BFWlaJQId0ilR-Q%3BFRDGEwIdoqBV-Q%3B%3B&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=7&sz=9&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7&sll=34.976002,-112.088013&sspn=1.827389,2.471924&ie=UTF8&ll=35.176053,-110.76416&spn=1.822915,2.471924&z=9) Feel free to edit it and make suggestions.

[Triathlete]

Looks good. For something a little different on the return trip you might take 87 out of Phoenix and go through Payson and Pine.

[nfpgasmask]

Phoenix was one of the cities we checked out before moving to Reno. But, the heat and the already overcrowdedness were a MAJOR turn off. Flagstaff was the only place I could see living in AZ, and there are no jobs there. Sedona is a paradise however. Reno is great because we still have 4 seasons but in the city proper the snow does come but rarely in heaps, unless you go up to the mountains, in which case, its great for skiing and boarding.

Aside from the extreme lack of culinary choices and the fact that there is pretty much no subculture here at all, Reno is a sweet place to live if you enjoy the outdoors.

PS - You will have some nice herping in AZ!!!

[Triathlete]

PS - You will have some nice herping in AZ!!!

Yea, but you'll be okay if you stay away from those girls!:bgwo:

[nfpgasmask]

Yea, but you'll be okay if you stay away from those girls!:bgwo:

No, no, Billy, this is what I am talking about:

http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20487&highlight=monsoons

Looks like loads of fun, and it can all be done in a VX!!!

Bart

[taylorRichie]

Herping is cool...

I get lizards every now and then... I'm more likely to find a rattler in my yard though...

I don't like that though...

[nfpgasmask]

I'm more likely to find a rattler in my yard though...

I STILL haven't seen a rattle snake out here. :mad:

Bart

[taylorRichie]

I had one in my yard the first month I moved in. Just a little guy and then this guy (attached) was just 1/4 mile behind my house on the local trail system. (mountain bike/hiking etc.)

[nfpgasmask]

I had one in my yard the first month I moved in. Just a little guy and then this guy (attached) was just 1/4 mile behind my house on the local trail system. (mountain bike/hiking etc.)

http://www.duncancumming.co.uk/photos/lucky.jpg

[Mark B]

Heat in Arizona is dry heat not the 90% humidity heat we get in Florida in the summer.