I went to Tuscon High and the UofA there before moving to CA after graduating. Still got relatives there.
You’re right about describing it as a big small town - the whole area has almost a million people, but because it doesn’t have all the big suburbs like Phoenix, it feels a lot smaller. And the surrounding mountains are a lot bigger. It’s nice to be able to escape to Mt Lemmon when it’s really hot in the valley.
As long as I have air conditioning I can’t tell if I am in 107 degree heat or 97 degree heat. Back in Va Beach when it’s 97 and humid it feels worse there than 107 and dry heat here. At least when I go out from the house my glasses don’t fog up like they do when I visit relatives in VA. I love how almost all the major roads are like a giant cross, N/E/S/W and if you recognize the mtn. ranges you always know which direction you’re going. Very easy to get around.