Want to move to AZ, help me with some ??'s please!

itsme · Mar 23, 2004

luckymichelle, I thought your other post said you were moving to wisconsin?? Well, wherever you go, good luck, and enjoy the sunshine!!!!:)

movealong · Mar 23, 2004

Movealong -
Did I write your post? LOL, I could have! We've been looking at Flagstaff seriously also - I'm in Wisconsin, and love the outdoors and want to enjoy them YEAR 'Round! Now, if only I could get done with nursing school so we can move....
Michelle

I have added Payson to my short list, darn it. Now I have to decide between the 3 cities. ( Payson, Flag and Prescott).

I'm planning a short trip again in May to look all 3 over and make my decision. I do telephone triage and work from home. And I can take my job with me. I just have to be sure wherever I move has a fast internet provider. So the issue of finding a new job is moot and doesn't factor in. Which is very nice.

I'm alittle nervous, it's a big move and I'll be doing it by myself. Home prices will be a factor, and I think Flag is the most expensive. I've been doing alot of research online....

Kabin · Mar 23, 2004

I have added Payson to my short list, darn it. Now I have to decide between the 3 cities. ( Payson, Flag and Prescott).
I'm planning a short trip again in May to look all 3 over and make my decision. I do telephone triage and work from home. And I can take my job with me. I just have to be sure wherever I move has a fast internet provider. So the issue of finding a new job is moot and doesn't factor in. Which is very nice.
I'm alittle nervous, it's a big move and I'll be doing it by myself. Home prices will be a factor, and I think Flag is the most expensive. I've been doing alot of research online....

We were looking at Prescott for a summer home, its pretty but can be expensive. After the recent droughts, bark beatle infestation, and fire danger it sort of lost its luster for us. It's still growing up there and I think property is still appreciating. The realtors will tell you to make sure you get a job before moving to some of these more tourist-type destinations as there may not be much industry (considertion for spouse). Prescott salaries tend to be lower, and the cost of living higher than Phoenix. As far as living expense I'd would guess Payson, Prescott and Flag would be similar.

luckymichelle · Mar 23, 2004

luckymichelle, I thought your other post said you were moving to wisconsin?? Well, wherever you go, good luck, and enjoy the sunshine!!!!:)

LOL! No, I live in Northeastern WI now, but am looking to move to a warmer climate as soon as possible... WI has a lot of nice benefits, but I need sun... :) *only after applying a full layer of sunblock of course* :)

Aurora · Mar 23, 2004

I have a friend who worked in Yuma -- liked it alot, but declares she will end her days in Payson.

jnette, ASN, EMT-I · Mar 23, 2004

Flagstaff is QUITE expensive. Prescott is beautiful. If you like pines, high altitudes, etc.

Tucson is great ! Of course that's a whole different scenery... cactus, etc. Although usually about ten degrees cooler than the phoenix area as the elevation is higher ibn Tucson. And in 45 minutes you can be on top of Mt. Lemmon with a good 20+ degree drop in temperature... great camping, etc. up there ! Az. has a LOT to offer... so much variety. :)

Nygirl · Mar 28, 2004

If you are making the trip to Arizona in May,don't leave Tucson out of the loop. I relocated to Tucson 2 years ago from NY,and I haven't regreted it at all. The town offers many ammenities without the big city congestion,and the temps.are about 5 to 10 degrees lower than Phoenix. The job market is excellent. Currently there is a brand new hospital under construction in Oro Valley (about 15 miles north of Tucson) slated to open next spring. Good luck with your search........Tracy

Kabin · Mar 28, 2004

Traffic in Tuscon depends on where you work and live. From 1998 to 2000, We lived in the foothills just west of Sabino Canyon and commuted to the airport. Those 18 miles took 45 minutes one way down Kolb Rd through numerous city stop lights.

Before that we lived in Oro Valley and I recall regular conjestions on the highways to/from Oro Valley. I can't imagine its has gotten any better since then

wjf00 · Mar 28, 2004

Personally I would NEVER work for Banner: Desert Sam, Good Sam, again. When I was there, they had just raised the new grad pay, but never adjusted the pay of nurses who already worked there. I came in as a new grad making more than nurses already there. Nurses only seemed to get raises by quitting, and then reapplying and demanding a higher step. I'd look elsewhere.

skypilot · Apr 1, 2004

there is another place in AZ to consider - that is the White Mountains, north eastern AZ. It is at a bit lower elevation than Flagstaff, the winters are not as cold, not as much snow, and the summers are nicer than Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Payson! There is a nice hospital there - Navapache Regional Medical Center - the town there is Show Low. There are also many other communities there that are served by that hospital - such as Pinetop, Lakeside, Snowflake and more. It is a beautiful area! I lived there for several years. It costs less to live there than in Flagstaff - way less. Pay rates are comprable (did I spell that right??). On the other hand, Payson is a nice community - nice hospital - cost to live there is not much below Phoenix, but the pay rate is way below Phoenix. And by the way - Phoenix, Flagstaff, Tucson, Show Low all seem to be about the same pay wise, but not Payson (I applied there - wanted to go there to live, but could not accept $4.00 / hr less than in Phoenix!) And a ticbit about AZ snow... it does not last! It is hear today - gone in a day, or if lucky, maybe a week! It is definitely not like snow in the midwest or the east. Just as the sunshine is different here - and so is the heat and humidity! We need you here - as you are needed everywhere - we need more RN's! welcome to the profession!

Karen:balloons:

movealong · Apr 1, 2004

Even though I did not start the thread, thanks for all the info.

I bring my job with with me, since I'm a telephone triage nurse and I work from my home. So worrying about a job at the local hospitals is not a concern for me....although maybe at some point I may switch, who knows. My rate of pay won't change and it seems comparable to what is being mentioned for AZ in general. I do need a fast internet connection to work, so that is the one requirement I have for whatever town I move to. It must be dependable.

I thoght about ShowLow but they had that huge fire last year, didn't they? How hot does Showlow/Snowflake get? I don't want Phoenix type summers.

I'm a little nervous about it all. I'm going to do this move all on my own. it'll be the first time I do it all. I've relocated before, but always had my ex in the picture. This time I am deciding where to move to, etc.....

skypilot · Apr 1, 2004

Show Low and the White Mountains did indeed have a huge fire, summer of 2002, in the area. The fire did take some homes and other buildings, none in the town of Show Low. The towns hit by the fire included Heber and Overgaard. The fire was stopped before it burned into Show Low or Pinetop/Lakeside. Snowflake was not hit by the fire either, could have been, but was still outside the path the fire took.

In the Show Low area there are fewer options for internet connections - the fastest being DSL, no cable connection available there so far.

The White Mountains enjoys MUCH cooler summers than Phoenix, Tucson a bit cooler than Phoenix (hardly noticeable in my opinion), Flagstaff is cooler also. The elevation at the cooler spots is about 5000 ft higher than Phoenix, thus the cooler temperatures, year round.

I moved to Show Low back in 1996 - first move on my own, away from an ex also! I do not live there at this time. Regretably, but there are down sides of living there as well as the good things. It is a SMALL RURAL town - WalMart is the biggest store in town! Good place to raise children. Below average income and education levels among adults there I would guess. Few jobs, few industries to support jobs... but it is beautiful there! It is a service community, by that I mean it relies on tourism for most of its income. I think it is growing though, so the future is wide open up there. Lots of good people there! It is about 3 to 4 hours from Phoenix, and from Tucson too, about 2 to 3 hours to Flagstaff, and about 3 to 4 hours from Albuquerque (about an hour or less to the NM border).

Good luck in your plans!

Karen

Even though I did not start the thread, thanks for all the info.
I bring my job with with me, since I'm a telephone triage nurse and I work from my home. So worrying about a job at the local hospitals is not a concern for me....although maybe at some point I may switch, who knows. My rate of pay won't change and it seems comparable to what is being mentioned for AZ in general. I do need a fast internet connection to work, so that is the one requirement I have for whatever town I move to. It must be dependable.
I thoght about ShowLow but they had that huge fire last year, didn't they? How hot does Showlow/Snowflake get? I don't want Phoenix type summers.
I'm a little nervous about it all. I'm going to do this move all on my own. it'll be the first time I do it all. I've relocated before, but always had my ex in the picture. This time I am deciding where to move to, etc.....