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I grew up in Phoenix, I visit family there at least once a year but I have no intention to move back there in retirement. I love all the mountains but the lack of green in the Valley is really pretty dull (Palo Verdes & cacti just don't do it for me). I've lived in North Carolina, Georgia, Tenn & currently Illinois and I've really come to love the green--although I much prefer the dry hot AZ summers to the humid ones, humidity sucks.
I can see a lot of the appeal though, the cost of living isn't bad, there is plenty to do there, they don't tax social security, and pensions are only partially taxed...you never have to worry about shoveling snow or a hurricane either. Also if you like the idea of retirement communities there are lots to choose from. If I had to choose between my current home in Illinois and Arizona I'd choose AZ hands down.
The lack of trees in Arizona and the forests don't count (lol) is not for me.
I "get" what you are saying about trees. There are trees, and then there are trees. I like the maples, oaks, here in NY state. I used to like pine trees at one time. Pretty at Christmas time. But when I moved to TX in 1993, I discovered I have an allergy to pine trees. I lived in Tyler where the pretty rose gardens are, while there and sitting under some pines, I got very uncomfortable with what I at first thought was a bad sinus problem. Have been back in NY since 1994 and still have a problem with pines.
I am really the "odd duck". After a lifetime lived in SoCal, I moved to North Idaho for my retirement years. After two winters here, I'm finding that I love it! I cannot imagine living anywhere else.
The snow and ice have not slowed me down, (well, except for not being able to ride my bicycle on the roads). Three season cycling is replaced by cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the wintertime. Sometimes fat biking.
If a northern Rocky Mountain state didn't work out for me, I would have probably relocated to the mountains of central Arizona. Not Flagstaff, (which I consider a "zoo"). Probably closer to Payson.
Yeah, we are moving to a tropical climate, to a place with all 4 seasons. The heat and humidity bother me now, and I do better with my RA in more temperate climates, and even colder.
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I've never understood the part about moving to AZ or FL to escape snow. There are many places that have very mild winters with little to no snow. And why move someplace that's hot hot hot??
I don't get it. I've always assumed that people who retire in AZ or FL must like to follow the crowd.
"No trees" is the first thing my husband said when we visited Arizona. I didn't even notice "no trees." I guess if you are comparing it to the Midwest, then yes in comparison there are no trees. We have lots of trees. My husband even commented on how loud everything was (traffic mainly) without trees to buffer the sounds.
I was thrilled with no mosquitoes or flies or other bugs swarming me and my food when we sat outside and ate pizza in Scottsdale.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I could never understand the trend of retirees moving to Florida or Arizona with their hot climates. First, on retirement income they will have big electric bills for the AC. We left California (Bay Area) in part due to the heat, and even here in the Seattle area the hottest summer days in the 80s are hotter than I would like. We retire in 2-3 years and plan to find a smaller home on a larger lot within an hour or two of where we live now, staying in the nice cool, wet climate of the Northwest. Every year we get at least a month, sometimes two when neither the furnace nor the AC needs to be turned on, like today with daytime in the high 70s and night in the low 60s.
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