Posted: 10/2/2006 4:49:34 AM EDT
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Hello AZ, I retire from the navy in about 699 days (not that I'm counting..) and I think I'd like to settle in AZ. My dad and very good friend live there and you guys seem to have some of the best gun laws.  I know most of you will tell me "AZ is full, go elsewhere", but I've already made my mind up. The reason for my post is that I'm looking for info / suggestions on which city to call home. My primary concerns are things like: -a good job / employment opportunities -good schools -crime rate -shooting range  What are some pros / cons on where you live? I know there is a problem with kalifornia taking water from you guys, or that's what I hear. Is this really a problem, do you anticipate it to be? I was looking at flagstaff, of course it will depend on where I can find work. thoughts / advice welcome. Thanks, Gene |
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Get as far from the southern border as you can, the situation around the border is going to get worse before it gets better. Also, the higher in elevation you go the cooler it will be in the summertime. Stay out of the valley unless you like very hot summers, smog, crime and traffic. Other than ASU I don't know about schools, I was long out of school when I moved her 12 years ago. Emplyoment is probably best in the valley, but I don't really know what other areas are like. I know I'll piss some people off, but if you have to be near, or in, the valley I recommend you avoid Phoenix, specially the west and south parts. North Phoenix isn't bad, but for my money I'd go to Cave Creek or Carefree instead if I needed to be close to the valley. Avondale/Goodyear area is nice, but if you have to drive into Phx to go to work or school the sun will be in your face for the drive both ways and that really sucks. East Mesa is still pretty decent, but growing daily, and Apache Junction has some good guns stores and is still kind of the boonies. Rio Salado shooting range is close to both E. Mesa and AJ. The range in south Phoenix is nice, but the part of town it's in isn't so nice. Further west, say Wickenburg, is also nice, but it's still hotter than the armpit of Hell in the summer. Me, as soon as I can get out of the valley I'm headed north, probably Prescott and maybe Flagstaff. I'm sick of 110+ degree summers as well as some other things like air quality, our esteemed visitors from the south, traffic, crime, etc, etc. |
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I moved to Tucson for the retirement reason. I am not near retirement, but wanted to get in while it was cheap, and needed to get the fark out of Kalifornistan. I have no regrets. If you time the realty market, you will find some good buys. You gotta steer around the ones who over paid or have re-fi'd themselves into oblivion. Once those are weeded through, you may find some great deals. I agree with the post above, Phoenix is very similar to Los Angeles and very undesirable to me. |
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Depending on what kind of employment you'll be looking for I'd suggest finding an area that you like and buy the property to build on now if you're wanting something out in the country. When I was stationed at Luke AFB I intended to retire someday on one of my Arizona acreages I bought up in Show Low. Met my wife and she said she wanted to be closer to beaches and salt water so we bought acreage in Panhandle area of Florida on our honeymoon. Moral of the story is buy now once you have a general idea where you want to be. "and the never ending flow marginal genetic material from Ohiowa"...that's funny because we keep getting YOUR illegal immigrants up here!  
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I've lived in Prescott for the last 28 years. IMO it's one of the nicest towns in AZ. I don't know what you do for a living but I will say that finding a GOOD paying job here isn't easy. The weather is wonderfull, not as cold as Flagstaff during the winter and not as hot as Phoenix during the summer. We do have a lot of good dirt to shoot at - most of the time you don't even need the front sights..... |
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there are 3 big outdoor ranges in the Phoenix area, some in Tucson, and other parts of the state. Ben Avery shooting Facility is probably the best in the world. about 25 independent ranges from 10 meters to 1000yds Phoenix Rod & Gun Club has a retired navy guy as chief range master just waiting for you to come sign up as a member. if you're posting here, you probably like AR's we have service rifle and 3-gun shooting all over the state, some manufacturers AMEETEC and others and 2 of the nation's best AR gunsmiths (Accuracy Speaks and Arrington Accuracy) Crime is not an issue in the good neighborhoods but on paper the state is higher than others. you CAN get a CCW. On paper statistics, our schools are weak... Employment is probably stronger than average, heck thousands of folks walk north 40 miles thru the blazing desert to get at thosse jobs. Lots of public land to hunt on but the huntable land area and animal population is getting smaller, human population much much larger. check out my website http://arizona.rifleshooting.com/ if you are interested in competition see u on the line Poole http://arizona.rifleshooting.com/ |
... Oh yeah, it's just this State that's gone to hell  ... Been to SoCal lately? Even once-safe-haven bastions like Idaho and Wyoming have their share of methlabs, liberals, illegals and trailer trash. Home is where you make it. I'm happy and proud to be laying the groundwork to retire near Christopher Creek below the Rim in AZ. I ain't running - there's no place to run to! |
Preach it Winston!  As for where to move, I suggest South Central Phoenix. It's nice and close to the Ball Park and you can go shooting any time of the day or night. |
First I'd like to say thanks for the info. I know it's going to be a crap shoot no matter which city I choose. I'm just trying to make an informed choice. I'll be 38 when I retire. Skills? Well the majority of my work / training has been in working with explosives (underwater mines). A majority of my career has been working "ammo admin" which is basically the supply/management of ordnance. Initially I'll look for work in some type of supply management. It's what I'm good at. Not sure I want to do for another 20 years though. How much do I want to make? As much as I can of course. I've been underpaid for the past 20 years and would like to move up in life now. My son is 3 now, 5 when I retire. It's a scary thing to have to leave the only thing you've known for 20 years and go to do something totally different. I change jobs/friends/houses/countries every 2-3 years but it's always to a familiar environment. This change will be something new for me... Thanks, Gene |
| For you, like me, Sierra Vista. Military Post with PX Comissary, Ft. Hospital for Tricare Prime. Great schools, job opportunities for military retirees, you have 5 point preference. Great gun ranges in fact they are looking for someone to run the Plinking ranges on post. A lot of folks who aren't military retired don't realize how much the PX and Commisary will save you and Tri-Care is better than any insurance these folks can have. But you have to be near a post to make it worthwhile. (We pay nothing for perscriptions, nada, nothing) and the FT H Pharmacy is a good one. Sometimes you have to wait, but what the hell, have a cup of coffee and relax. |