GREAT PLACE TO LIVE!!!
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8/21/2006
My wife and I moved to Vail (near Tucson) almost two years ago from Portland, OR and absolutely love it here! The scenery is absoultely beautiful with four high mountain ranges surrounding the landscape.
We have almost 300 days of beautiful sunshine each year and although summers are hot, in July and August we have terrific monsoon thunderstorms almost daily in the late afternoons and evenings, which replenish the area with moisture. Late summer looks more like spring here with flowers, plants and grass growing everywhere. Winters are extremely mild (compared to Portland!)so you can go on family weekend outings whenever you wish!
The people are very friendly and warm here and since most of the Vail residents are transplants from somewhere else, everyone is accepted with open arms. We felt right at home as soon as we arrived! We do have tremendous housing growth going on in Vail, but our home values are also increasing rapidly.
The economy is still doing very well here and jobs are plentiful in many fields. We have plenty of shopping, medical facilities, parks and recreation within 30 miles driving distance from home. If you want BIG city amenities the Phoenix metro area is only 90 easy freeway miles away. The cost of living is less than the U.S. average overall.
If I were to list any downsides of living here it would probably be the roads, which are in desparate need of expansion and repair. The high crime problems here are principally concentrated in the south and central areas of Tucson within a very small area. Hence, they get all the media attention. We have never felt safer living out here in Vail.
Over a 35 year period we have lived in San Diego, Salt Lake City, Portland and now Tucson. I think my wife would agree that overall, we like it here the best!
GARY | Vail, AZ