Posted on 03/15/2014 7:23:40 PM PDT by Ghost of SVR4
So I am thinking seriously about moving to Phoenix. I have lots of job opportunities out there but am at a loss of the topology as of current. I have a friend out there in Maricopa and he loves it. I will have to rent to start off so I am looking for decent rent for a 3 bdr. Looking for a quiet place or as quiet as I can get it. I currently commute an hour one way. So long as I can keep that, I am open to quite a bit of travel I believe. Also, and this may sound lame, but can I do home garden's out there? Is it simply too hot? What about water? (I'm looking at this from a SHTF perspective as I am accustomed to my area now and its abundance and ease.).
Any input would help...thanks!
You don’t say where you are coming from so it could be quite a lifestyle change. I am a native from the valley of the sun and live in the East Valley. The commute into downtown Phoenix is not fun via the freeways unless you carpool. Some people don’t mind the drive, I do and so I have always worked near home. Yes it gets very hot here. We do our outdoor activities in the winter and spring, hiking, off-roading etc. The valley is surrounded by mountains so you can pretty much go hiking when you want. This time of the year it gets very crowded with Snowbirds from the north. Lots of canadians all out on the roadways and in the stores. They leave as soon as the temp reaches 90 degrees so they should be leaving here in the next couple of weeks. You can escape the heat in the summer pretty easy, we have the mogollon rim 1 1/2 hours away or Flagstaff and temps are about 20 degrees cooler there. Plus everyone has pools. If you can afford higher cost of living then check out Scottsdale.
City of Phoenix is California without the ocean. Left wing-nuts everywhere. Move to the County.
Maybe look into renting in the ‘county island’ in the Chandler/Gilbert area. Ask a realtor about the term/area.
I’m in it with 1 acre, 20 minutes from downtown where I work. You can farm. Lots of year round alfalfa farms. Corn. I have oranges, peaches, figs, grapes, grapefruit. I’m thinking of turning over some dirt here soon. Find a place with flood irrigation. Maybe consider rent-to-own.
What you are looking for is possible.
There are a lot of nice areas to live in the Phoenix metro area but what will work for you is entirely dependent on your age, what you like to do, and if you are married, married with children, or single. I would look up a real estate agent and ask questions about lifestyle match to area neighborhoods. It is a good place to live but it isn’t terribly cheap and it does get hot. I grew up in Montana and I do not miss the cold.
If that's the case, you need to choose another place. In fact, you sound like you should stay put and make it work.
I lived in Phoenix in the early 70s, before they built the freeways. Getting across town was a bear — traffic was horrendous. And it seemed that they were always digging up the major streets — they would have lanes blocked while they put in, say, a water main, then cover it up, then put in electrical lines, then cover them up ... etc., etc. Summers were not pleasant — many days exceeded 105 degrees, and it was often still 100 degrees at 10 PM, sometimes later. Asphalt softened and high heels sank, and it seemed like you were constantly running between your refrigerated house and your air conditioned car. You could easily burn your hands on the steering wheel or gearshift - never mind touching the car to get in. Winters were fine, but crowded with “snowbirds” (adding to the traffic issues). If you wanted to drive to San Diego or Los Angeles, your best bet was to leave around 1 or 2 AM to get across the desert before it got hot. Then the monsoon season when the rains rolled through — high humidity with that heat — ecch. If I had to live there again, I would go up to the foothills, like Carefree or Cave Creek - still in the area, but not quite so hot as in town. Prescott, Sedona or even Tucson would be even better.
I've only ever driven through Phoenix - in on 10 from the south, out 17 to the north. I may have a chance to visit a friend there next month for a couple of days.
I've spent time in the desert southwest. I like the heat. I'm one of those nuts whose idea of fun was to take off early and go hike up and down mountains and washes in 100+ heat.
I do garden a bit. You can build a raised bed garden and put really good soil in it and put up a shade screen to help with the scorching sun. I do most of my gardening in early spring or fall. Zucchini is a great crop here. We store water in case of shtf. If you do want to have extra food on hand then you need to factor that into the sq footage of your house as you will need to store all food indoors due to the heat.
driftdiver
on with you on many posts, but that simply isn’t true. I’m in Chandler surrounded by year round citrus and alfalfa farms, not to mention horse ranches, cattle, goats, sheep.
when I first got here, i thought it would be desert and it is in certain places. but not where I am. and this is a big area with a lot of open land alternating with subdivisions.
i’ve got oranges, peaches, lemons, figs, grapes, grapefruit. i’ve got 1 acre that i’ll probably farm this year. the guy next to me has 10 acres of alfalfa. 3 horse properties on the other side.
flood irrigation has turned the desert into great farmland.
My friends all tell me that Tuscan’s the best.
Don’t forget to write your Mom and Dad, when you have the time.
Let your brother and sister know how much you miss them.
Wow..lots of responses to read through. I am in Western PA currently. I have a couple acres, stream across the road; easy gardening. My reasons for moving are purely social (i.e., getting away from undesirables who won’t leave me alone). I grew up in very southern CA. I was exposed to 108+ degree days most of my life. The problems I am facing now are very high costs to keep my home warm across long winters, (again) escaping a family of crazies, and possibly increasing my wealth. The down side is it sounds like I will have to be very choosy about location in order to grow anything and I have LOTS to read about the water and water table out there (here, 30 inches down is natural shallow springs).
Tucson is not as nice as the metro Phoenix area. The are only a few places in Tucson that are nice mostly the resort areas. I always dislike going down to Tucson unless I can stay at a 4 star resort.
Moved here about 15 months ago and probably will retire in a year. Give us an idea of your age, type of work you plan to do, and approximate house budget after you rent and that will give us an idea where to suggest you look first and what you should expect.
Keep in mind that the valley is huge — think 90 miles by 110 miles, or better.
You don’t want to spend all your time on freeways but the fringes are the best for most people past 35.
Unlicensed open and concealed carry is legal.
What else do you need to know?
One plus living in Phoenix is the close proximity to southern CA and the beaches etc. We go to San Diego every summer.
I miss my family and friends, but I don't miss Phoenix any more. I don't miss the pollen or the air so dry my nose would bleed. I used to love the heat, but am glad to be away from it. I like all four seasons, but I do miss the smell of the desert after a rain.
My brother and I have hiked up to the top of almost all the mountains around the valley. One day sitting on top of one of the mountains looking down at the valley, I got to thinking about what happens if things go bad and I got stuck in that bowl in the desert with millions of others and only a few ways in or out. It got to me and I never could shake that off.
Once upon a time, they used to say to go there for your health, now they tell you to get out, and not just for the seasonal pollen and blowing dust.
The valley of the sun is like a bowl and in the winter the air often gets trapped in that bowl by the stagnant cold air and the bowl fills with all the pollution and all the dirt and dust. Not good for breathing. Nor is valley fever.
I've had the best times of my life there, met some of the best people I've known there and used to just love being there before it got so popular and then so crowded. But now? I could see moving up north, maybe Prescott or Flagstaff or in between, but not Phoenix.
It is a very unique place and has almost everything you could want in a place to live. Go out and see for yourself. It may be exactly what you're looking for.
Air conditioning costs are considerable. Our 1200 sq ft house highest summer bill is $200. We have a single level ranch though. Watch out for 2 story homes, summer utilities can be much higher.
It depends what you like. Extemely expensive electricity for the AC. If you like heat you’re in the rigt spot. If you like desert you’re in the rigt spot.
Myself, I prefer mountains with trees snow and rivers. You will have to driveto Flagstaff for treed mountains. I don’t care for heat so I couldn’t live there again.
One thing that is great are the evenings. It seems everyone invites you to a backyard BBQ and the nigt life is great in PHX and Scottsdale.
It depends what you like. Extemely expensive electricity for the AC. If you like heat you’re in the rigt spot. If you like desert you’re in the rigt spot.
Myself, I prefer mountains with trees snow and rivers. You will have to driveto Flagstaff for treed mountains. I don’t care for heat so I couldn’t live there again.
One thing that is great are the evenings. It seems everyone invites you to a backyard BBQ and the nigt life is great in PHX and Scottsdale.
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