Just returned from Phoenix, how can people live there?

I know I've dissed your home. But some of your points I did indicate as areas of strength. The low humidity makes the heat more tolerable (but man it is hot). The worse thing is the toxic sun. Its extremely unpleasant and damaging.

Then there is the hundreds of miles of desert. Its a desert. That is not pleasant. It will be a desert all for seasons. Not like snow which is sandwiched between a beautiful fall and the renewing spring.

Finances. Phoenix is not kind to the working middle class.

Life long residences of Phoenix who are over 40 look old in my opinion.

I'm glad that during your brief visit to AZ you were able to determine that everyone in Phoenix over the age of 40 looks old. Well done chap!

Arizona Liver wrote:

seriously its a barren area wrote:

I know I've dissed your home. But some of your points I did indicate as areas of strength. The low humidity makes the heat more tolerable (but man it is hot). The worse thing is the toxic sun. Its extremely unpleasant and damaging.

Then there is the hundreds of miles of desert. Its a desert. That is not pleasant. It will be a desert all for seasons. Not like snow which is sandwiched between a beautiful fall and the renewing spring.

Finances. Phoenix is not kind to the working middle class.

Life long residences of Phoenix who are over 40 look old in my opinion.

I'm glad that during your brief visit to AZ you were able to determine that everyone in Phoenix over the age of 40 looks old. Well done chap!

Valid criticism and let me rephrase. Most of those over 40 that I met looked older that those in other areas of the country. More of the lizard leather skin types than I can remember. (Tell me you haven't noticed this!)

Nope, I haven't noticed it. I've lived in several other states as well. To me, people in Arizona look as good or better than elsewhere. The good clean air and sun make for a more youthful appearance. Were you by chance in Sun City? That may explain some of your confusion.

Phoenix is fine. I'd rather live in California, but Arizona is okay.

-- low cost of living, but high paying jobs with california-like salaries are still available.

-- PHX is a big city, plenty to do and see. lots of sports events, conferences, good golfing, good mexican food, etc. downtown could be better, but is improving.

-- close to many great natural wonders mountains ocean and more

-- "live and let live" west coast vibe where liberals and conservatives co-exist in relative harmony

-- filled with transplants from other areas, so less "you're not from around here" provincialism. generally a friendly mindset.

-- good running opportunities, trails, etc outside of summer. many fitness-orientated people around

-- yes it is hot, but i prefer low humidity heat to sweltering east coast humidity not to mention the horrid bleak midwest nad east coast winters

-- the desert landscape is a bit stark at first, but is beautiful in it's own way (red rocks, hills, cacti). some cool hikes right there in phx proper.

personally would much rather live in phoenix than just about any city east of denver

was there an extended time right in the middle of summer. woke up at 5am to run every day and it was already pretty warm out 85+. but it was cool running through the quiet streets/trails in semi-darkness and calm desert air. every run was finished by jumping in swimming pool. best way to start a day and beats racing down the turnpike for stale dunkin donuts coffee 100 times out of 100.

where the living is easy wrote:

. best way to start a day and beats racing down the turnpike for stale dunkin donuts coffee 100 times out of 100.

You were writing a reasonable and effective post until the ending. Racing down the turnpike....for a stale donut........huh?

I prefer places with lakes, ponds, creeks and beautiful green foliage all over.........places vibrant and full of life. I am sorry but deserts are really neat places to visit but I'll pass on living there.

Running down a turnpike for stale donuts I wouldn't like either.

My sister lives in Glendale, love visiting and running around there in the winter. It's a really nice change of pace from D.C. People are actually nice, and there's plenty to do in the area and the state, especially if you like the outdoors.

Sure, it gets balls hot in the summer, but the rest of the year makes up for it. If you're worried about getting zapped by the sun, wear sunscreen. Even if you're not, wear it anyway.

I'm not so sure about jobs. The sis is a nurse, and her boyfriend's a mover. I don't think they're making bank, but the real estate is much less expensive. I have tortured myself looking at Redfin in my area and then looking where she lives. I guess this is why people look forward to retirement.

That said, I don't know if AZ would be for me all year long. I don't like how you have to drive everywhere (I don't own a car at home), and the sis admits she misses having four seasons. As friendly as the people are, not sure they're really my cup of tea (probably some of that DC snobbery rubbing off on me).

where the living is easy wrote:

was there an extended time right in the middle of summer. woke up at 5am to run every day and it was already pretty warm out 85+. but it was cool running through the quiet streets/trails in semi-darkness and calm desert air. every run was finished by jumping in swimming pool. best way to start a day and beats racing down the turnpike for stale dunkin donuts coffee 100 times out of 100.

Agree with the guy ripping Phoenix and especially when he ripped this last part of your post. Run at 5am??? What time did you go to bed, 8:30pm? Sounds like a fun life.

newsflash:if you run virtually ANYwhere at 5am, it will be *relatively* bearable. (well, except maybe phoenix)

"calm dessert air" = no breeze.

I've lived in Reno, and I've lived in the southeast, so I know what 105 and dry feels like and what 90-95 and humid feels like. Yes, dry is better than humid, but Phoenix still has the hottest heat index (which takes into consideration, and even exaggerates in my opinion, the effect of humidity on how hot it "feels") of any city in the country. 115 and very low humidity (maybe 108 on the heat index) its just plain hell. I'll take 90 and humid over that any day (which might rate as 98-100 on the heat index).

As far as "jumping in a pool" to end a run....do you think Phoenix is the only place in the world with pools? And do you think anywhere on the East Coast that has "sweltering east coast humidity" has any oceans to jump into?

As far "racing down the turnpike for stale dunkin donuts coffee ", do you think that only people in the northeast (assuming that is your reference) drive to work on a "turnpike" (i.e. a highway) ?? Let me guess, everyone who works in the phoenix area walks to work? Also, every donut eaten in phoenix (or do they not eat donuts in phoenix?) was made 3 seconds ago, and is fresh (or refreshing) as a jump in the pool?

When you start to oversell a place with major exaggerations and bizarre "points", you've already lost the argument.

i prance when i dance wrote:

. It's a really nice change of pace from D.C. People are actually nice,

I've never lived in D.C. so maybe people are jerks there, but I've lived all over the northeast, the south, and the west (and visited many other places), and I've NEVER found people to be much more friendly in one region compared to another, and have no idea why people bring this up regularly. I think it's just a stereotype of certain regions. Firstly, there are jerks and nice people everywhere, secondly, in most major cities, there are so many transplants, the jerks and nice people from around the country have spread out and infiltrated every big city, so.....they are similar in my opinion.

I've met plenty of A-holes in the south, San Fran, L.A, Boston, N.Y, Denver, Phoenix, and other places in between (and suburbs surround all these cities). And many nice folks too. I found southern folks to be more more "charming" or "friendly" (as they are often characterized) than anywhere else. Sometimes on the surface they were, but 5 mins into a conversation with them, things often changed. I thought the people of Boston were plenty friendly (but was only there a year).

So.....no, I don't buy this "people are jerks here, but all so nice over here" theory. Never experienced it. People are people, and if it is a big enough group such as a city, you will find a mix.

Bottom line it is a desert. You can have irrigation and air conditioning and good restaurants and nice people and great sunsets and nice areas and swimming pools but IT STILL IS A DESERT!

Enough said.

gggggggggooooooooonow wrote:

Bottom line it is a desert. You can have irrigation and air conditioning and good restaurants and nice people and great sunsets and nice areas and swimming pools but IT STILL IS A DESERT!

Enough said.

Exactly. You can dress up a donkey, but it's still a donkey.

Arizona Liver wrote:

I'm glad that during your brief visit to AZ you were able to determine that everyone in Phoenix over the age of 40 looks old. Well done chap!

Phoenix is a fairly spread out, metropolitan area with some great qualities. Training here in the summer isn't one of them. I have to say it's an inferno most of the time. You know how most people in the US stay indoors in the winter? Well the opposite is true in Phoenix over the summer. It's one of the worst places in the US imaginable to do summer base mileage - you might as well become a gym rat. I go to Flagstaff or somewhere up high for weekend long runs. I can't do anything too meaningful in terms of running here in Phoenix over the summer except at 5:30 a.m. or 11 p.m. If you can find a way to get away between June and October you've got it made here. Otherwise, not so much.

Not just old, but women who have "crows feet" around there lips at a young age. Something to think about before moving.

I wonder if life long Phoenix runners have greater health issues.

Certainly everyone knows about the dangerous associated with repeated long term exposure to the sun but I would also worry about kidney stones. Often runners who don't hydrate sufficiently over a long period are susceptible to kidney stones. It's hard to stay fully hydrated in that region.

How many trolls on here or simply jealous. Just saying.

old man and the sea wrote:

I wonder if life long Phoenix runners have greater health issues.

Certainly everyone knows about the dangerous associated with repeated long term exposure to the sun but I would also worry about kidney stones. Often runners who don't hydrate sufficiently over a long period are susceptible to kidney stones. It's hard to stay fully hydrated in that region.

Kidney stones do not developed in people living at low altitudes. It's strictly a high altitude disease.

Pretty basic stuff here.

Phoenix SUCKS wrote:

I've lived in Reno, and I've lived in the southeast, so I know what 105 and dry feels like and what 90-95 and humid feels like. Yes, dry is better than humid,

I've ran in 100 degrees and humid in the east, and 100 and dry in Arizona. Arizona damn near killed me within 1 kilometer. Both can overheat you, but Arizona will dry you up like a turnip too.

And I have always been.

It is the opposite of winter in the midwest as was stated..You stay inside after 10am.

OR go have a blast indoor someplace, but you don't have to shovel anything to get out.

Between 5am and 10am GREAT.

Backs are GREAT to watch..the fan experience is GREAT..

There is actually more to do in the summer here than in the winter.

It's great when the snowbirds go home (but we do appreciate them and their wallets!)

As far as it being "barren"

That is true, but as pointed out, it is so spread out that the barren part just stands out..

Everything you want is here though...