low quality of life
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6/2/2009
I moved to Phoenix from Michigan in 2005 and am disappointed by my experience in the Valley. The one thing I will never get used to is the heat—unbearable from late May to most of October. I don’t find the people to be very friendly either, and they don’t seem to have any desire to get to know you. They often seem guarded, unfriendly, no particularly conversant and uninteresting. People in places like Scottsdale fit the sterotype as materialistic, superficial, snooty, and unhappy, and will asociate with you only if you have the same socioeconomic status as they. Housing is not very attractive, where everything looks the same. I don’t know how people can distinguish their house from their neighbors. The housing is fairly affordable (compared to where you come from) but it cant offset the not-so-good quality of life, in my opinion. And then there is the bad air. Phoenix is not the best place for those suffering from bad allergies. And air pollution is awful in the summer. The crime is also high, due to the huge presence of illegal immigrants. Its hard to find someone who speaks English in McDonalds anymore—incredibly annoying. People in the Valley also have bad driving habits and road rage. Phoenix also seems very dull for its size; there is no metropolitan sophistication, culture, architecture or cuisine. There’s also not many high-paying jobs; Phoenix has so many service jobs and not much “365-day” economic activities. And the education is HORRIBLE. Perhaps why there isn’t many good jobs anywhere and why Walmart is the state's largest employer. If someone wants to move to the southwest, most places in Texas would probably suffice. The best way to view Phoenix is looking in the rear-view mirror heading outta town. I don’t understand why so many people want to move here. To me, Phoenix is just a fat concrete oasis in the middle of the desert. I cant wait to leave and go back to the Midwest!!
Darren | Phoenix, AZ