Posted: 1/16/2012 6:44:00 AM EDT
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Posted this over in the travel forum and was told I may have better luck over here. I am currently looking to relocate. I am incredibly sick of NJ for obvious reasons and i have always loved the desert climate. I was thinking about taking a trip out there in a few weeks just to kinda get a feel for the place, my GF has begun looking into a technical institute there and I am a few credits away from earning a bachelors degree. My credits are transferable and if I like it out there and can find work, I plan on finishing up school. What I am wondering is, what is the job situation out there like? I know if its anything like it is here, jobs are few and far between. Out here in NJ all labor jobs have been taken up by mexicans, and being as Arizona is right on the border I can't imagine it being any different, but I suppose I could be wrong. I am willing to do just about anything to make ends meet and start fresh in a new area. I have been to Nevada before and I am assuming the climate is similar, I am drawn to Arizona simply because it seems as though there is a bit more opportunity there right now then there is in Nevada as far as work is concerned, I love the desert climate, scenery and the freedom it provides for those of us who are involved in the hobby of shooting. After living behind enemy lines my entire life I feel like its time for a change. Can anyone from this area chime in with some info regarding life out west. I am not posting a classified ad for a job, I know this isnt the place for that. I am just curious how things are going out in that part of the country economically and if there is any opportunity out there at all for a new resident who is yet to have graduated college. Someone from Sierra Vista also mentioned in my other thread that Phoenix is too congested for them, while I am ideally trying to get away from congestion and city life and it is my dream to live in a sparsely populated desert area, I fear that it would be a massive waste of time effort and money to travel out to a small town somewhere with the hopes of finding work. If I were to travel out to Phoenix, would I be basically trapped in another urban densely populated area? or would an hour drive take me out someplace a bit more to my liking? I have done research on google but would prefer the more personal input of some fellow arfcommers.
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Holy wall of text. First off, have you been here during the monsoon season? That's make or break time, IMO. I was around for the tail end of it. It's not bad, to me, but if you're not expecting it, it can be brutal. Jobs, do you have a profession or vocation? It took me a couple of months to get into a "real" job. In the mean time, I just trolled the shit out of Craigslist and sent resumes to pretty much every opening there was. Literally, you'll see 200 plus jobs a day pop up on CL. I had a job within a week of moving out here. It didn't pay a whole lot, but it was kinda fun, the boss was cool enough, and I didn't just totally burn savings. I also had numerous interviews, and turned down a couple of other jobs. Work is out there. Traffic? Phoenix has completely surpassed it's infrastructure, IMO. The 51 usually isn't horrible, but the 101 or 17? Fuck me. If you don't have to go somewhere on rush hour, don't. Or get a bike or a buddy and use the HOV lane. You'll spend a lot of time in the car anyway, because that's just how it goes out here, but traffic can be pretty bad. Small town Arizona isn't as romantic as you probably think. I could do Carefree, Anthem, Cave Creek, etc no problem. Something like Wikiup or Congress? Fuck you. You get into small town Arizona and there's a lot of meth and alcoholism, and the problems that come with. And small towns can be really inconvenient. Do you really want to spend an hour in the car every time you want to go to a Target or Albertson's? It's pretty easy to escape the noise and congestion of Phoenix. I can leave my house and be totally alone in the National Forest in under an hour. And I mean dead quiet, just me for miles alone. You need goods, services, and employment to live. I'd suggest you try to stay close to those things. |
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Phoenix is weird man but I love it. You can live on one square block and have everything you need and be in a great neighborhood, or you can live another mile down and be surrounded by meth labs and not be close to anything. I'm in North Phoenix and I love it. I'm about 15 minutes away from the spot in the desert that I shoot at and Ben Avery the largest public range in the world is just a 15 minute drive for me as well. Houses are cheap and as easy said it does seem like the jobs are out there as long as you aren't an occupier. Sadly to say though our illegal work force is pretty big. Luckily we have a great Sheriff, you have probably heard of him: Joe Arpaio. He is amazing and he treats illegals like illegals and criminals like criminals. The left hates him for being tough or dirt bags but that makes the logical thinkers like him even more. Also lets face it Arizona has the best gun laws in the nation and some of the best laws in the nation. I have traveled a huge area of the world. I have been all over Europe and seen most of the states and everywhere I go I just want to come back to Arizona. |
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I posted the below comment in another thread, but it also applies here, take it from a very happy NJ transplant, pack your bags and get out of Dodge. Also, take the traffic comments with a grain of salt, some of these guys have never seen Route 17 rush hour traffic. With a few very specific exceptions, traffic really isn't that bad, and with a little planning much of it can be avoided. I would be happy to assist in helping you explore a couple geographic locations that might meet your needs. PM me if you would like to talk more.
I came out here from NJ five years ago. Leaving that State for AZ may be the most satisfying thing you ever do. I was born and raised in NJ and left a very solid personal situation to pack it all up, and come out here to start a new life and a new business. I'm in the land development and growth market, so the last couple of years have been by far the most difficult of my career (the market crashed hard). BUT, even with the significant business challenges, I have never been happier in my 50 years than I am right now. No State is perfect, but for someone who enjoys the shooting sports and other outdoor activities, I'd say AZ has to be top three. It is easier to make friends out here and the attitudes are much more relaxed than the east coast. AZ isn't for everyone, but I've met more people who came here not expecting to stay that are still here, than those who are anxious to leave. I’d give the move serious thought. Also, housing values are below replacement cost in many areas and mortgage rates are at all time lows. |
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Quoted: Also, take the traffic comments with a grain of salt, some of these guys have never seen Route 17 rush hour traffic. With a few very specific exceptions, traffic really isn't that bad, I agree. Unless you have to drive on a highway from 4pm to 5:40pm then you really wont see too much traffic. When I absolutely have to drive during those times its better to have a passenger or ride a motorcycle and then take the HOV lane and totally avoid the traffic. |
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Quoted: The traffic isn't that bad. It's just that the Phoenix area grows OUT instead of UP. So you may be commuting anywhere from 10-60 miles depending on where you live and work. It is nowhere near as bad as california freeway traffic in rush hour. You are always moving you just average about 20-30 mph on the freeway from 4-6pm so it is a long drive if you are going far.Quoted: Also, take the traffic comments with a grain of salt, some of these guys have never seen Route 17 rush hour traffic. With a few very specific exceptions, traffic really isn't that bad, I agree. Unless you have to drive on a highway from 4pm to 5:40pm then you really wont see too much traffic. When I absolutely have to drive during those times its better to have a passenger or ride a motorcycle and then take the HOV lane and totally avoid the traffic. |
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I work 38 miles from home. Each way. I take the 60, in and out.
Going in at 0630 it takes me 40-50 minutes. Going in at 0700 it takes me an hour. Traffic is nowhere the level of suck, that socal has. Not yet, anyways. I also commute on a motorcycle from time to time, and it's a huge time saver. Just beware, every bad driver, from every state has moved here. Keeping your head on a swivel is mandatory. Get satellite radio, as our radio stations, all 5 of 'em, suck balls. There's jobs all over out here, if you've got skills. I'm a mechanic, and if something happened at work, I could literally have a job the same day. I love this state, and I love Phoenix. I've lived all over the west, and this place is bar my favorite. Yeah, the summers suck, but I can't stand snow, and rain, so it all works out for me! |