Moving from CT to AZ

[Mike B]

So, I've lived in Connecticut all my life ( I'm 31 ) and I feel that I just want out of New England. Taxes are outrageous, I'm sick of snow, not going anywhere in my current job, have no wife or kids, and 70% of my family has moved to airizona. I go out there once a year to visit them and I absolutely love it out there. So, I have not renewed the lease on my apartment and I put my last day for end of September so I should be out living in AZ come first of October.

Anyone have any suggestions as far as living in AZ ? Looking at a few apartments in Gilbert. Most of my family lives there, and my aunt + uncle just had a house built on a golf course in Florence. Can't wait to start a new life out west.

[G8RDPM]

Good luck to you. Never lived in either state. I bet you don't need to pack your snow shovel.

[Etschell]

Good move if you ask me. Not to far from Vegas, cali and hawaii.

[GerardoG]

My brother has been in Tucson for over 20 years; every time I visit, I am nicely surprised.

[Halothane]

Gilbert is great, but more of a family town. If you are single you may want to look at Old Town Scottsdale area / Lower Arcadia or South Scottsdale which has some up and coming areas.

Also, the Phoenix metro area is so spread out a central location is nice for airport pick-ups, going to ballgames, etc. For example from Gilbert to a Cardinals football game it's a 45 min-1 hour drive.

I lived in Chandler for about 4 years and Paradise Valley next to Camelback mountain for the last 6 years. The Paradise Valley/ Old Town/ Scottsdale area is great and tons of new apartments and condos going in.

[gmh1013]

I lived most of my life in Phoenix/Tempe....Ive been stuck in Texas for the past 8 years....but I will get home someday. Either you love it or hate it. If you like hot and sunny its the place to be.

[Hairdude1]

My family relocated from the Midwest many years ago and in Scottsdale and Phoenix area. They love it. Great place to be

[swils8610]

My parents are in Scottsdale. Very nice area. I'm a fan of Fountain Hills.


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[breitlings]

Honestly. I would look at the laws very closely. There are more protection for citizens on the east coast.

[socialpro]

Main thing is to move out here - you can always recalibrate which 'area' of Phoenix suits you best and what you are looking to get out of it.

I've been out here 10 years this year (boy does time move quick) - and came from Ohio - one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have since pretty much visited and/or been in to every major city in the US and still firm on the believe that Phoenix offers so much overall in so many areas - for whatever you are looking for

Pros - Mostly very clean everywhere, WEATHER (if you can stand constant sunshine!), great food, hiking, growing downtown, college feel (around tempe if youre into that), very reasonable / inexpensive to live (even in the nicest of areas), traffic (nowhere near as bad as other big cities), easy to get around, vegas, mexico, cali all within 4-6 hour drive, lots of opportunity in diverse fields, smaller clothing budget (well its either summer or summer here)...

Cons - No beach nearby (few lakes though), Weather (summer is a bit steamy so forces you indoors OR into the pool), Wildlife (bobcats, havalinas, snakes, scorpions) depending on where you live, 'desert landscape' (sometimes you do start missing all the green of the midwest / east coast)...otherwise I cannot nitpick on too much living out here.

As with living anywhere it still is 'what you make of it' --- but there are lots of opportunities to make a 'great' life in any part of phoenix, and it offers you a plethora of options depending on what you are into...

One thing I totally DO NOT miss though is the drawn out winters, constant gray skies, and humidity - thats for sure...

Good luck and keep us posted on your move!!

[Heff]

Originally Posted by breitlings

Honestly. I would look at the laws very closely. There are more protection for citizens on the east coast.

Lol. What does this even mean?

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by breitlings

Honestly. I would look at the laws very closely. There are more protection for citizens on the east coast.

Wait. What?





Love Arizona. Family in Fountain Hills and Scottsdale. Could be my home should I ever return.

[Star Ferry]

I don't know much about the area -- but between your family, the weather, and the lower cost of living, it sounds like you'll have a much better life out there. Best of luck

Only issue I can think of: when you visit your family in AZ, do you go in the winter or the summer? if you typically visit over Christmas, then I'd make sure you're OK with the summer weather

[BLACKHORSE 6]

Originally Posted by breitlings

Honestly. I would look at the laws very closely. There are more protection for citizens on the east coast.

That's hilarious.

[breitlings]

I'd ask some attorneys, in your family or friends, the differences in the laws; but feel free to disregard.

[Gaijin]

Ok..

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by BLACKHORSE 6

That's hilarious.

I have never been stopped by Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Glendale etc. or AZ police .....I had a flat on a motorcycle around Kingman once and the state Trooper gave me ride to get a new tire in KIngman.... LE is stellar in AZ
IMHO

In 8+ years....stopped 4 times and three tickets in this dammed state (TX)

[Tommyk]

Id say go were ever work is.
Ive been going to Arizona for several weeks a year for the past 20 years.
Family has a vacation home in the Catalina Foot Hills north of Tucson. Its a nice area but all of my neighbors are vacationers as well. Its not as hot there compared to the valley and there is more monsoon weather and air quality is better. Its about an 1.25 hour drive to downtown when i have to go visit family.
Gilbert and chandler have been growing areas and a good place for people to live.
Paradise valley is fantastic near camel back mountain.

Either way you will enjoy it. I would live their if i wasn't spoiled with life in Southern California

[Runnin' Rebel]

Some strange responses on here...

I love Scottsdale, absolutely love it

And Tuscon is right up there with it. My dad was Station at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base.. I broke my arm there swinging on a swing set while eating watermelon. The reason I brought up the Air Force Base was that my dad punched out over desert because of a flame out

Reason I brought up broken arm is the laws are a bit different, true about broken arm though

[gmh1013]

Originally Posted by gmh1013

I have never been stopped by Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Glendale etc. or AZ police .....I had a flat on a motorcycle around Kingman once and the state Trooper gave me ride to get a new tire in KIngman.... LE is stellar in AZ
IMHO

In 8+ years....stopped 4 times and three tickets in this dammed state (TX)

Its funny up until you see the flashing lights in the RVM...

[christianj]

I just moved to CT so I am on the other side of the coin as you. For us it wasn't a huge adjustment since we moved from MD and other than it being a couple of degrees cooler here I don't see much of a difference.

Moving to a HOT climate area can have it's benefits but honestly I haven't known a single person that did it and loved it long-term. I think people get charmed by it when they visit a couple of times and it feels like vacation but living there permanently is a different animal.

For me the choice of where to live really boils down to job opportunities and quality of life.

[TheVTCGuy]

My whole family is in the Phoenix area, so I visit quite often. It is a nice place, but since I already live in one of the most beautiful places in the world (IMHO) near the beach in San Diego, it's hard to beat. Best of luck to you!

[wantonebad]

I tagged azguy to see if he might have some tips for you, he's a fellow east coaster who escaped a while back. He hasn't been active lately so we'll see if he responds

[triethylborane]

Originally Posted by breitlings

I'd ask some attorneys, in your family or friends, the differences in the laws; but feel free to disregard.

find that *rare* family or friend attorney that is licensed in an east coast state and in AZ to give you a briefing on the differences between the laws or "protections for citizens."

Why not just say what you mean? This is a friendly discussion.

[breitlings]

Originally Posted by triethylborane

find that *rare* family or friend attorney that is licensed in an east coast state and in AZ to give you a briefing on the differences between the laws or "protections for citizens."

Why not just say what you mean? This is a friendly discussion.

http://www.lpdirect.net/casb/crs/18-9-111.html

[Mike B]

Thanks for all the responses !! Some awesome feedback ! I knew I could count on you guys to give me some advice / create a discussion on my move haha
I visit mostly around march / may time period so I've really never experienced a "summer" there. From what my cousins told me, their summer is like our winter. You stay indoors in the ac during the summer months. I just find it amazing that the weather is always sunny. They said they have dust storms, and occasional monsoons ( I was actually there when one of them happened ) but I'd take that over rain 3-4 times a week, and snow any day of the week.

[triethylborane]

Originally Posted by breitlings

http://www.lpdirect.net/casb/crs/18-9-111.html 90% of drivers in nyc/ct/nj would be in violation.

Lol, given our decades-long influx of east coast transplants to Colorado, I can tell you that is not a problem. Besides, that is CO, not AZ.

[breitlings]

my point is it is important to know the laws and their differences.

[AzPaul]

If you're looking to live in a city of any size (where there isn't snow), Arizona offers only two metro areas, Tucson and Phoenix.

Phoenix is much bigger and the economy in the metro there is much more vibrant than what we have down here in Tucson, but it is a bit cooler down here and the surrounding area is quite varied and beautiful. We have 'actual' mountains buttressing Tucson, and if you enjoy the beach, Rocky Point is only 4 hours away.

I would say this, though, if you've never spent any time here in the summer, it's worth coming out for a week in August, just to see what you might be getting yourself into. The winters, fall (about two to three weeks here) and spring are usually wonderful but summer does present its challenges and it isn't short. The 100 degree temps usually start up sometime in May and keep going well into September.

[arizonapaul]

[QUOTE=swils8610;7612040]My parents are in Scottsdale. Very nice area. I'm a fan of Fountain Hills.

I have lived in Fountains Hills since 1997 and love it. Its a great place, but very laid back and not for an active single guy. Scottsdale has all anybody would ever want, and if you can swing the slightly higher rents, it will be worth it.

Summers suck, buts its nice to have a cabin an hour away in Pine. 40 degrees cooler when the sun goes down and 25 degrees cooler during day

Not sure what car you drive but Vehicles registration is pricey if you play by the rules.

Just got my renewal on my almost 4 year old car,

The vehicle registration for your 2013 MERZ XXXXXX will expire June 15, 2017. Please pay on or before this date to avoid penalty fees.
NO EMISSIONS TEST REQUIRED
Fees for a 1 year renewal are:
Veh License Tax $900.00
Registration $8.25
Air Quality $1.50
Special Plate $50.00
Total $959.75