Maggie’s What to know about Arizona

[Lapuapalooza]

So my wife and I are planning an exodus out of Colorado. We have talked about Ohio, but our conversation has recently turned to Phoenix. What do I need to know about the Phoenix area? Life, jobs, general attitude, etc... I haven’t spent any time there in the last 25 years, and the time spent prior to that was not long at all.

 

[Thumper580]

Flat as a plate and hot as hell...... and good amounts of traffic..... hence "The Valley of the Sun".

 

[jungle45]

Wind, dust, scorpions, rattlesnakes a lot of people!

 

[smoooth1]

Just spent 3 weeks in and around the Phoenix area. Seems like plenty of work to be had, though, I have no idea of pay rates compared to other areas. Lots of BLM areas to off road, hike and shoot. The BLM shooting areas up around Lake Pleasant are a fucking disaster area giving all shooters a very, very bad name!! Shame on those who caused such a horrid mess!!
There are plenty of other areas to shoot, though.
Depending on your means, it is a fairly expensive area to live it seems and rules will vary from county island areas (horses OK) to city areas (no horses).
Traffic sucks, but that is true of every major city. The aged snowbirds and retirees driving golf carts up and down the streets - not paying any attention to their surroundings and cutting cars and other golf carts off constantly is something to behold!
Gas prices are much higher than CO and you WILL KNOW when you are in the bad part of town as the gas price will be much lower.

Get away from the city and North, East and West (I didn't go South) are awesome mountain ranges and National Forests. Beautiful area, at least in winter, have no desire to experience the 116* "dry heat", lol.

EDIT: Lots of smog and everything mentioned in the above posts + Lots Commiefornians moving in and doing what commies do best.

You may be well off to just spark up a doobie and go with the flow of CO, man?

 

[W54/XM-388]

Can you do Prescott instead?

 

[smoooth1]

Can you do Prescott instead?

Or Flagstaff?

 

[Basher]

We’re full... that about sums it up, I’m afraid!

 

[D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷]

It's horrible. Don't come here. You won't like it and we won't like you.

 

[RNWRKNP]

Flat as a plate??? Try mountainous subtropical desert and refugee destination?

 

[bigdaddydmd]

I like it here, but if it wasn't for work I'd park my ass in Prescott or Payson quick as hell. I don't mind the heat at all, and in fact enjoy the summers because all the snow birds leave and traffic gets immensely better. Air quality sucks ass between dust, pollution, lack of rains, and pollen. One thing I didn't count on was allergies. Never had them before until I moved here. I get them pretty bad in spring and late summer now. Wife and kids suffered from seasonal allergies back in OR and really suffer here. Its so bad that the wife has to wear a mask if she goes outside. Every swinging dick that moves here from all over the nation brings their stupid ass plants and flowers with them and plants them. They all bloom year round at different times. Sucks big time. Citrus pollens, olive tree pollen, Palo Verde pollen, sage brush, etc. The list just goes on and on. So if you or family have significant seasonal allergies expect it to get much, much worse. The inversion bowl that is Valley of Sun just doesn't get purged enough by wind and rain. head up onto the Mesa's and high country and it is so, so much better.

That being said, I like the liberty and independence that is prolific in AZ. Unfortunately, it is changing and changing fast. To say this is a purple state is being naive. The population centers of Tucson and PHX are quickly learning they can control the rest of the state. I can see this wonderful state going the way of NY or CO shortly. Lots of hardworking, freedom loving, blue color workers being nanny stated to death by the "city elites". Jobs are a plenty, some things cost more than others, but overall I am glad I am in AZ instead of OR anymore. Miss the green and the rural people of OR, but not the socialist policies and laws being passed there.

 

[hermosabeach]

Friends that live their are all retired and enjoy the state... it is rapidly becoming California East....

As far as - Life, jobs, general attitude, etc.. - Take a look at your profession in the state... Arizona is healthier in many ways over Ohio... Ohio is still dealing with all manufacturing being outside of the US.... so housing is or at least was very cheap. AZ also have strange utility prices.... Snottsdale has some of the highest utility costs as a way to show they are better and to keep the riff raff out

 

[Lapuapalooza]

Ok... you guys really aren’t selling Phoenix very well! I get the smog, the traffic and all the BS that goes with the city nonsense. I’m not sure there are any “good” places left. Everything sounds like it is being over ran with Kalifornia Locusts.

EDIT: Lots of smog and everything mentioned in the above posts + Lots Commiefornians moving in and doing what commies do best.

You may be well off to just spark up a doobie and go with the flow of CO, man?

Good info, thanks for that! The problem with CO is they are shoving everything down my throat that I completely disagree with, and they have been for the last several years. No doobie is going to change that for me.

Can you do Prescott instead?

I thought about Prescott, but I know less about it than I do Phoenix.

Big daddy... I have a daughter that is a severe asthmatic. So I really do appreciate your input.

 

[hollowoutadime]

I live in Ohio but have some property in the high country south of Ouray (north of Durango). So Colorado is a vacation spot for me.
My brother recently left Durango and moved his family to Phoenix. Has kids in school and didn't like the weed atmosphere. Curious as to what part of Colorado you're leaving? I like the state but it is getting overrun by libs. As for the pot, in Durango and Montrose you see college age students holding signs for money - here in Ohio (and not to be rude) we generally see mostly homeless alcoholics - 50yr olds, on the corner, not youthful aged dropouts - it's disheartening. Phoenix is brutally hot.

 

[bigdaddydmd]

I thought about Prescott, but I know less about it than I do Phoenix.

Big daddy... I have a daughter that is a severe asthmatic. So I really do appreciate your input.

Prescott has 4 seasons. Pretty mild winters and summers don't get so hot there. Big thing is the air quality is better there. I would recommend a long trip to PHX with your daughter to see how her asthma is here. It may not affect her at all, or it will greatly effect her. 4.3 million in Maricopa county (pretty much Phoenix) and growing quick. That is a lot of automobiles. It isn't uncommon to get poor or dangerous air quality warnings on the local news here and burn bans are pretty common in the winter due to the air.

 

[Lapuapalooza]

I live in Ohio but have some property in the high country south of Ouray (north of Durango). So Colorado is a vacation spot for me.
My brother recently left Durango and moved his family to Phoenix. Has kids in school and didn't like the weed atmosphere. Curious as to what part of Colorado you're leaving? I like the state but it is getting overrun by libs. As for the pot, in Durango and Montrose you see college age students holding signs for money - here in Ohio (and not to be rude) we generally see mostly homeless alcoholics - 50yr olds, on the corner, not youthful aged dropouts - it's disheartening. Phoenix is brutally hot.

We are in Weld County. My wife’s family lives in Knox County Ohio.

 

[SuckitTrebek]

Or Flagstaff?

now there is a real tiny shit hole

 

[VP47PPC]

My family came here from Ohio about 130 years ago first stop Flagstaff and then Prescott and finally Phoenix.. The air quality here is still better than Salt Lake Valley any day and no worse than the front range when it gets little bad there. The further north you go Deer Valley, Anthem and New River the better the air. Lots of organized shooting competitions here, couple PRS groups, couple Silhouette groups, long rang and F Class etc. Yeah it gets hot but I am used to it. I miss Utah a little bit, good area not to Californicated, shooting and hunting there. Best option after Phoenix is Boise Idaho. they get some winter about like Salt Lake or Denver booming area and still bit of Mormon Mountain West to it (not going lib to soon what I mean) good luck. What kind of work you looking for?

 

[RNWRKNP]

Kidding aside, you’ll get me outa this state in a pine box. Ya, the 4 months of summer suck but the rest of the year is pretty outstanding. Drop the quad in the desert, mark and enter the gps and disappear. We have our share of knuckleheads but show me a state that don’t? trees and snow in an hour if ya had the itch (especially this year). My allergies are actually less here than Seattle area in the spring as an example but everybody has their own experience. 2A friendly.....hell ya! Want to meet some of those folks, join Cow Town or one of the local PRS clubs. Your ride home sometimes looks like this...

 

[Dirty D]

Flat as a plate??? Try mountainous subtropical desert and refugee destination?

Dude shut up!

AZ sucks so don’t move here.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

It's a dry heat.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Lapuapalooza]

What kind of work you looking for?

I’ve been in the automotive collision industry for 36 years, so anything but that! ?

Kidding aside, you’ll get me outa this state in a pine box. Ya, the 4 months of summer suck but the rest of the year is pretty outstanding. Drop the quad in the desert, mark and enter the gps and disappear. We have our share of knuckleheads but show me a state that don’t? trees and snow in an hour if ya had the itch (especially this year). My allergies are actually less here than Seattle area in the spring as an example but everybody has their own experience. 2A friendly.....hell ya! Want to meet some of those folks, join Cow Town or one of the local PRS clubs. Your ride home sometimes looks like this...

View attachment 7041263

That is basically what my cousin used to tell me about Phoenix. He lived there for 10 years. The dust storms and smog effecting my daughter are my biggest concerns so far, maybe a little north may be the way to go. She is going in for more extensive testing later this year, so we’ll see what we are in store for.

Dude shut up!

AZ sucks so don’t move here.

Sounds great! Thanks for your input. We’ll be right down! Can you PM me you address so we can camp out at your place until we can find jobs, a place of our own, and learn the layout of town? It shouldn’t take us more than 2-5 years! ???

 

[Lapuapalooza]

So why is everyone busting on Flagstaff? Is it because of the liberal stronghold? The country looks great around that area.

 

[RNWRKNP]

So why is everyone busting on Flagstaff? Is it because of the liberal stronghold? The country looks great around that area.

College town with all things liberal that it brings.

 

[antithesis]

With your daughters condition, you may want to reconsider. Lived there for a while, mother lives there, I am actually there (here) on a BT. When the air is clean it is great, when its bad if frigging bad.

If you are looking for warmer weather you may want to look at St. George/Hurricane UT. For cooler climate ID, for the best place for your daughter, probably going to be something like FL based on where parents I have known have moved because of asthmatic kids.

 

[bigdaddydmd]

Like RNWRKNP said. It is awesome here and the only way I'm leaving AZ is when I turn to ash, hopefully on a nice longboat pyre. That will be quite a site at Lake Pleasant since the ocean is unavailable. Just know that every where always has some drawbacks and issues and we wanted to give you as much info as possible to make an informed decision. yes, there is a great group of shooters out here, local PRS matches, places to shoot, and firearm friendly. those are a big plus.

Too bad you don't want to do collision damage down here. You would have your hands full between all the grey haired, slow, shitty drivers mixed in with the insane drivers from Boston, mixed in with all the uninsured motorists from across the border. Do be prepared for a significant rate hike in auto insurance. I talked to my rep about why it was so much higher here than OR and he said it is because so many people are uninsured motorists here in PHX. You only need proof of insurance to register. After that they cancel their policy and run uninsured because it takes the system about 12-18 months to catch up and MVD to send them the bad boy list letter telling them to get insurance. They then sign back up for one of those shitty online insurances again, send in the proof,and then cancel the policy. repeat ad nausuem. Accidents are pretty common and you run 50-50 odds the other guy is uninsured.

 

[Lapuapalooza]

That insurance game is a live and well here too. The last numbers I heard were 40% uninsured. We have had so much hail damage in the last 5 years that everyone is paying more for insurance, with or without any claims history. I always have a fall back into my industry if I need to, but part of our elaborate plan would be to move and not move into a mortgage. Then we can focus on spending time with our kids and working for groceries and retirement. So if I could do something I might enjoy instead of fighting insurance companies in an industry full of people with drug and alcohol dependencies and the inability to maintain a drivers license,,, that would be ok with me.

I have looked at jobs via Indeed, and yes, there are a lot of jobs available that I could walk right into.

 

[Dirty D]

It's a dry heat.

Cheers,

Sirhr

During the monsoon season it gets fairly humid so there’s that.

AZ sucks, don’t move here.

 

[Lapuapalooza]

During the monsoon season it gets fairly humid so there’s that.

AZ sucks, don’t move here.

I appreciate your offer you gave me in my previous post, but I’m still waiting for your PM with your address. Really, truly it is an amazing offer to put me and my family up while we relocate and find a new home in Arizona. It’s only the four of us, and one rabbit. Unless of course you count all the foster kids. There are only 15 of them (I think... don’t hold me to that “exact” number). A few of them are good kids, they have just had a hard life handed to them. Most of them though are a PIA... barely worth the gubment finds that go along with them. But maybe a couple of them are down right psychological and like to start fires at 3am. So if you have a couple extra rooms with cinder block or padded walls and asbestos sheets on the beds, that would probably be a good thing.

Please don’t praise me for helping out all these foster kids. After all it’s for the kids... and the subsidized funds that go in my bank account every month. Without the extra income they wouldn’t be able to eat their hamburger helper while watching me eat grilled ribeye every night. ?????

 

[shootist2004]

Flat as a plate and hot as hell...... and good amounts of traffic..... hence "The Valley of the Sun".

flat as a plate? Flagstaff has an elevation of 7000 feet.............

 

[hollowoutadime]

We are in Weld County. My wife’s family lives in Knox County Ohio.

I've been fortunate and have traveled all 50 states. I see you're near Greeley (or Ft Collins area), you're actually pretty near heaven (which is anywhere near a line between Yellowstone and Durango). I'd find a smaller town like Salida or somewhere in Northern NM. Less noise and traffic, reasonably affordable, and an hour from 12-14K peaks.

 

[Thumper580]

flat as a plate? Flagstaff has an elevation of 7000 feet.............

Talking about Phoenix..

 

[Dirty D]

I appreciate your offer you gave me in my previous post, but I’m still waiting for your PM with your address. Really, truly it is an amazing offer to put me and my family up while we relocate and find a new home in Arizona. It’s only the four of us, and one rabbit. Unless of course you count all the foster kids. There are only 15 of them (I think... don’t hold me to that “exact” number). A few of them are good kids, they have just had a hard life handed to them. Most of them though are a PIA... barely worth the gubment finds that go along with them. But maybe a couple of them are down right psychological and like to start fires at 3am. So if you have a couple extra rooms with cinder block or padded walls and asbestos sheets on the beds, that would probably be a good thing.

Please don’t praise me for helping out all these foster kids. After all it’s for the kids... and the subsidized funds that go in my bank account every month. Without the extra income they wouldn’t be able to eat their hamburger helper while watching me eat grilled ribeye every night. ?????

Will any of them fit in my bbq grill?

 

[Threadcutter308]

I appreciate your offer you gave me in my previous post, but I’m still waiting for your PM with your address. Really, truly it is an amazing offer to put me and my family up while we relocate and find a new home in Arizona. It’s only the four of us, and one rabbit. Unless of course you count all the foster kids. There are only 15 of them (I think... don’t hold me to that “exact” number). A few of them are good kids, they have just had a hard life handed to them. Most of them though are a PIA... barely worth the gubment finds that go along with them. But maybe a couple of them are down right psychological and like to start fires at 3am. So if you have a couple extra rooms with cinder block or padded walls and asbestos sheets on the beds, that would probably be a good thing.

Please don’t praise me for helping out all these foster kids. After all it’s for the kids... and the subsidized funds that go in my bank account every month. Without the extra income they wouldn’t be able to eat their hamburger helper while watching me eat grilled ribeye every night. ?????

Nicely done...... .......

 

[Threadcutter308]

Will any of them fit in my bbq grill?

"How big is your crowd" seems to be the more appropriate question.......

 

[Dirty D]

"How big is your crowd" seems to be the more appropriate question.......

The appropriater question is does Lapuafloozie have a purty mouf and can he/she/xe squeal like a pig?

 

[Threadcutter308]

The appropriater question is does Lapuafloozie have a purty mouf and can he/she/xe squeal like a pig?

Nighty, night, sleep tight.....

 

[flyer]

Pheonix is a weird place. I wouldn't want to live there.

Arizona gave us John McCain, so it's pretty fucked in my opinion.

I don't see it getting any better in the short term.

 

[Matches Malone]

I hear Arizona is trying to be the new California.

 

[Laseredge]

Phoenix is an eastern suburb of LA.
20 years ago Tucson was a way nicer place than Phoenix, don’t know about now.

 

[Basher]

Phoenix is an eastern suburb of LA.
20 years ago Tucson was a way nicer place than Phoenix, don’t know about now.

If you think Phoenix is liberal and Tucson ain’t, you’ve got more than just one screw loose! Tucson is WAAAY down the rabbit hole compared to here.

And Phoenix isn’t awful. Or wasn’t. I’m not a fan of the summer heat despite being native, and yes, it is slowly becoming Cali East. But we’re still better off than a lot of places.

That having been said, we won’t be here much longer. Hoping to get a flying gig here to build hours for a few years, and then we’ll likely be gone. Too hot, too many stupid drivers, and too many political zombies moving here and bringing their mental disorder (liberalism) with them.

 

[Dirty D]

Pheonix is a weird place. I wouldn't want to live there.

We agree, you should all stay away.

 

[Waorani]

I spent a couple of years in Phoenix 07-09. My house was broken into, brand new Excursion stolen, ICE busted a drop house a couple streets away, hit & run w/ illegal, nose bled for first couple months, learned not to leave unopened beer/soda in vehicle w/ windows up, etc, etc. Other than that, I kinda liked it (seriously!).

 

[Bandaid]

I live in Prescott and would not change it for the world. I tried Phoenix and lasted about 2 months in july....I much rather visit. Only takes me 1hr 20min to get to the local prs matches at cowtown.

As far as Prescott goes its 5000ft elevation mountains all around an great weather with all four seasons. It's mostly a retirement economy meaning (good) jobs can be a little hard to find depending on what industry your in and how much money you expect to make. Overall it's great I highly recommend it and I have heard that people with lung problems who worry about air quality flock here.

 

[Lapuapalooza]

The appropriater question is does Lapuafloozie have a purty mouf and can he/she/xe squeal like a pig?

Man, What is wrong with you? I posted a question asking for honest answers about a new and better location to raise my family. Forget the fact that I need to sever ties to all I’ve worked my adult life for, cut the roots from a very decent life we carved out for ourselves, and the only stability that has ever been in our existence. All you can offer up is some sophomoric humor about a redneck homosexual love affair, and eating my foster kids? Seriously?! That is some seriously messed up thinking in your brain buddy! If the FBI raided your home, I don’t know if I’d feel more sorry for you, or the prosecutor who would have to rummage through your computer looking for evidence! Not to mention his mother or the cost of his therapist after you would have ruined his career...

Your mental condition and thought process is like... It’s Like... we’re related some how! ???

#sikfuk #familyreunion #pigsexfantasy #aloneonbrokebackmountain #fosterkidsarebettergrilled #WTFBro #ThatThereIsSomeFineSwine #MakinBacon #HogSaddle

 

[Dirty D]

That’s hot

 

[Bandaid]

Man, What is wrong with you? I posted a question asking for honest answers about a new and better location to raise my family. Forget the fact that I need to sever ties to all I’ve worked my adult life for, cut the roots from a very decent life we carved out for ourselves, and the only stability that has ever been in our existence. All you can offer up is some sophomoric humor about a redneck homosexual love affair, and eating my foster kids? Seriously?! That is some seriously messed up thinking in your brain buddy! If the FBI raided your home, I don’t know if I’d feel more sorry for you, or the prosecutor who would have to rummage through your computer looking for evidence! Not to mention his mother or the cost of his therapist after you would have ruined his career...

Your mental condition and thought process is like... It’s Like... we’re related some how! ???

#sikfuk #familyreunion #pigsexfantasy #aloneonbrokebackmountain #fosterkidsarebettergrilled #WTFBro #ThatThereIsSomeFineSwine #MakinBacon #HogSaddle

Thank God you turned that around at the end there.....

 

[shootist2004]

If you need to be close to Phoenix move to Scotsdale.

 

[Lapuapalooza]

Thank God you turned that around at the end there.....

Turned it around? I thought telling someone they might be related to me would be the worst part.

 

[Lapuapalooza]

If you need to be close to Phoenix move to Scotsdale.

Scottsdale looks spendy. We are in the early stages of conversation, but I think I prefer the out laying areas compared to the metro area. More research ahead, and I thank everyone for their feed back! You guys do truly make an awesome forum community!!

 

[Greg Langelius *]

On memorial weekend, I'll be here permanently for three full years. Ex-NY refugee, and it's fully night and day, freedoms-wise.

But my initial expectations of being in a shoot anywhere desert environment is not so by any means. Lots of farms, ranches, and other restricted spaces. Not to despair, there are places both official and unofficial where shooting can be done. Other limitations include drought-related wildfires, and shooting gets shut down on public lands then too, mainly May and June.

i live in the High Desert (4250ft ASL) in the SE corner of the state (Cochise County), 50mi N of the border (Douglas, AZ). Douglas has a Municipal Shooting Park, managed by DR&PC, and shared with CBP/ICE, a former Army Reserve Base Range, still well maintained. It reaches to 300yd/m on the rifle range, has a separate handgun range, and can handle shotgun and other disciplines with some prior arrangements. $60/YR.

In Phoenix is a premier 1000yd venue, Ben Avery Range, and it's well worth checking out. Shot there once at the Berger SW LR Nationals, F T/R MR 600yd with .223. Fabulous venue.

The metroplexes are not free lands. Libs from Cali and Colo have shitted up the political (and some of the physical) landscape. But that's where the jobs are, and moving outward as we have done results in very long distances for shopping and medical, so it's a serious tradeoff. Realty costs a ton more than here in Cochise high country.

I'm staying out here in the High desert.

Greg