A REAL Account of Life in Phoenix
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9/10/2009
Some of these posts make me laugh…and not just about Phoenix, but about most cities in general. The reason, they’re barbed with opinion, comparison, and emotion based on experience. Let’s face it, every city has crime, but every large city has more crime, and more heinous crime. All large cities have traffic problems (although at least we don’t see grid-lock on a daily basis here), poverty and seedy areas, the good, bad, and ugly when it comes to the “people” or jobs, large taxes, and so on are prevalent in most large cities. What I aim to do is list what’s UNIQUE only to this city with as little opinion as possible. That way, you can decide whether Phoenix is right for you.
• Jobs – Yes, there are good ones. If you’re in hospitality, retail, some technology, and medical. This place is a Mecca for the elderly & snowbirds, which brings a lot of hospitality and medical opportunity.
• Entertainment – Yes. Not quite like NY, but the arts are a live and well. Also gaming establishments are becoming more prevalent – if that’s your thing.
• Sports – 4 major league teams and plenty of golf year-round.
• Outdoor activity – Most large cities do not have outdoor activity, either because it’s too cold or too inconvenient. For the months of temped weather we enjoy, there’s plenty of outdoor activity, Farmer’s Markets, parks, water parks, etc.
• Desert Landscape – more green and colorful (if you can imagine) than Las Vegas’s, but if you don’t like desert landscapes, steer clear. Most people have xeroscape yards because water is depleting and heat kills them anyway. Although, those with green thumbs do prevail.
• Heat, heat, heat – 5 months of the year are hotter than hell. Period! (Okay, this is where my opinion does count for something.) For those of you who don’t think May and September are hot, you’re nuts. 100+ is HOT. People, especially the elderly, die of heat exhaustion and heat strokes often here. And because of Phoenix’s location & being a “concrete jungle,” there are no winds to cool it down at night, so 100+ is not uncommon at night, June – August. (Oh, and you’ll replace your car battery at least every 2 years because of the heat.) And another thing, electric bills are high here and your A/C runs continuously for months. (I’ll get off my soapbox, now.)
• Weather, other than heat – Fairly decent October – April. If you pine for snow or to ski, Flagstaff & the White Mountains are close enough. (Alternatively, they are also wonderful respites from the heat during summer.)
• Education – Poor education system. Ranked 49th in the union. What does that mean? You do the math (unless of course you’re from here). Joking, of course.
• Water – Rapidly depleting. Currently, we boast 6 major lakes, but I’ve been to one in the summer and I would call it a pond. Why, I wonder, does the state of AZ have more boat registrations than any other if there’s no water? Hmm. Anyway, even some of the outlaying areas have water ported in (e.g., New River and some Indian Reservations).
• Water, again – Has more calcium and minerals than most cities. It’s hard on EVERYTHING (laundry, pipes, skin, and even hair dye strips easily); it tastes pretty bad and can begin smelling of sulfur. It is recommended you flush your water tank twice a year here. Most people buy spring water to drink.
• Illegal Immigrants – We are a border state and have as much, if not more, illegal immigrants living here as in Texas or California.
• Public Transportation – Not where it should be for a city this size. Phoenix is REALLY spread out and has no rail, subway, or decent bus systems. (Word of unsolicited advice, live close to where you work.)
• Budget – I think the city’s broke as of this posting (Sept. 2009).
• Gun laws – Git yer gun, Annie! If you are an owner, getting a license is easy for concealed weapons and carrying them unconcealed on your holster is acceptable (although rarely seen).
• Housing – Really shouldn’t comment on this now. It’s the same as everywhere…with a recession you can get a good bang for your buck. But, the question is, do you want to live here?
And if you care to know, I live here because my partner and I have found good jobs, consistently, in the technology industry. And, the pay is comparable to most well-paying cities in the union. He is a native and we have several family members and friends here. Until retirement, I doubt we’ll move for those reasons alone. Other than those reasons, I’d be out of here faster than an egg can fry on the hood of my car in summer! (But only because I'm a native 'water baby' and need a big lake, river, or ocean. If Phoenix had any of those, I'd stay...heat and all.)
Enjoy!
Liz | Phoenix, AZ