sara

has written 2 SperlingViews. Currently, sara is living in Tucson, AZ and has a little something to say:

Not THAT bad Posted On: 2/18/2010 8:20:32 AM

I was browsing through some of the reviews about Tucson, and the opinions seem a little unbalanced. So, for those of you relocating here...it's not that bad!! I have lived here for 25 years and have my fair amount of complaints too, but there are great things about Tucson. My husband moved here from the Midwest, and he loves that we can go out all year - no snow shoveling, blizzards or natural disasters. Our kids just got bikes for Christmas, and they could go out and ride them that day! We are very active and love the outdoors, Tucson is great for people like that. Even in the summer, you can hike in one of the surrounding mountain ranges (we're in a valley so they make up the perimeter of Tucson) and on many trails there is water about 2 miles up. Ending a hike there and playing in the water is a lot of fun and very refreshing! You drink water and wear sunblock when you're out, but it isn't the Sahara, it's manageable heat. There are also lots of great restaurants here, nice movie theatres, old-fashioned live theatre, lots of shows at the U of A (music, comedy, drama, kids performances, etc.), desert museums, botanical gardens, the BioSphere 2, Old Tucson (where they film many western movies), a zoo, the Air and Space museum...and much more. Most people do use water filters because of the CAP water system. And you have to hunt for the right school to send your kids to, in which case, there may be a distance between you and their classmates.

What you should know before moving to Tucson Posted On: 7/9/2007 1:41:28 PM

-Weather - I grew up in Tucson, so the hot weather doesn't bother me. However, I have had friends that moved to Tucson and had to be hospitalized for heat stroke or dehydration - be careful, it only takes a few hours in this weather! Summer lasts from about April to October. It then starts getting colder. No snow, but it gets below freezing at night.
-Recreation - The UA offers athletic games, museums, and some academic related activities for the community. There are several National Parks if you enjoy hiking and sight-seeing. Most concerts, shows, and athletic events are in Phoenix, which is about an hour and a half away. It's too hot to do things outside most of the year. Kids are always super tan from swimming all summer!
-Education - The UA is a great deal for a University Education. However, the public school system is not very good. It's ranked one of the lowest in the country. Catalina Foothills is probably the best public schools you will find here, but this is also one of the most expensive areas to live in. We educate illegal aliens and thus, have had to lower the bar to meet all students' needs (Thank Bush for No Child Left Behind).
-Government - Illegal immigration is an enormous problem here. Healthcare is in shambles because illegals come over for free medical care - they have no money and can't be turned away. Water shortages get so severe in the summer, residents are asked not to water plants and to abstain from using water during certain hours.
-Construction is everywhere. You would think this was Boston's Big Dig, but actually we just don't know what we're doing and it takes years to redo an intersection or just widen a street. I'm serious, no embellishments. Check out the I-10 makeover (our only highway). We are widening a section of our freeway, which spans several miles. All midtown exits are closed for 3 years.
-Age - This is a retirement town!!!! Do not move here if you are a young professional, there is nothing to do.