Best place to move to? Mohave County, southern AZ? (Tucson: sales, apartment)

[chesterlands]

I am looking to move to Arizona sometime later this year. I've been reading some of the topics on here and doing some research- I am planning to take a trip out before I move to scout out a place to rent.

I need some help narrowing down which places I should visit to scout out. Here is my situation:

The weather is important to me. I have Raynaud's, which literally means I'm allergic to any temperature under 75 degrees. This is really difficult for everyone to understand but just realize that I'm uncomfortable like 80% of the time if I'm under that temperature. It is worse in damp conditions. Right now I live near Chicago and it's cold and damp, and I am probably comfortable less than 1 month out of the year. I don't like dying of heat stroke but a dry, hot climate is going to considerably improve my health. Here I am literally in constant pain, numbness, etc so it's really not an option for me to stay here. Also I can't take the medications for it so... The two doctors I saw literally said "move".

For this reason, the warmest areas (I'm sort of going by the "agricultural zones" here) seem to be along the Colorado River and near the Cal/Nev/Ari borders. I know it gets under 75 degrees there, obviously, but as long as it stays above freezing, and is drier, I'll be considerably happier (and healthier).

Right now I work from home, I'm an artist and I sell my art online. I'm looking for a cheaper place to rent just so I don't have to worry about getting a part time job. So, I am not really taking into account looking for a job since I already can make money as long as I have an internet connection.

I honestly like desolation and open space. I don't think open desert is ugly and I find strip malls and new buildings more offensive than a collapsed ghost town. I would rather not be in an apartment and instead would like to rent a small house or mobile home with a little space around it. This is because I can't stand not being able to garden or surround myself with plants

As for social/nightlife... Honestly... Zero importance to me. I don't hate people, I'm just not into that kind of stuff. Seeing other people around is a-okay, just not a deciding factor in my search.

I have found some places that fit my criteria in the Bullhead/Mohave Co area. Does it just come down to the fact that I should visit there and determine if it's a good fit for me? I am okay with rural settings.

I've heard mixed things about artsy places like Bisbee. It might be nice to be in an arts-centered community but that isn't my deciding factor here. Art galleries aren't essential to me selling my art but I'm not opposed to trying them. What about places like Jerome? Patagonia? I'm open to suggestions. I just want to know what is worth visiting to determine a potential move/scout out rentals.

Also, what about a small town... With free wi-fi somewhere so I wouldn't have to pay for mine? I ship my sales once a week... Would really not even need internet in my house to be honest.

Thoughts?

[curly5759]

Jerome is probably to cold for you. It snows there and below 32 is not uncommon. Bullhead/Mohave might be best for you considering your needs. Also, the other towns along the river, Yuma and surrounding towns (Wellton might be a good fit) as well as Parker or Lake Havasu.

Curly

[wpme]

Jerome is on top of a mountain and it gets pretty cold up there in the winter. I like Mohave county, Kingman is ok, I'd prefer to be a little ways out of town. Dolan Springs has a funky charm, they just need to get rid of the tweakers and some assorted dead wood. Meadview is nice, but you will definitely need a car to get to town, not sure about internet out there, my cell phone rarely works there, sure would be nice if they could get some service upgrades.

Southern Az gets too hot in the summer for my tastes, at least northern Az cools down at night in the summer.

[jamies]

Bullhead City is what you want. It is above 75 probably 320 days a year with about six percent humidity. Cheap rent, river, mountains. It gets HOT. It has it's share of tweakers, but the cops try to keep them in check. I have a love - hate relationship with it. Way better I think than by the border. And we need fresh meat.

Welcome to Arizona. Buy a gun!

[chesterlands]

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I'll definitely do the majority of my searching along the river. Any specific areas of Bullhead to avoid? Or will it be fairly obvious when I visit there?

I sort of figured Jerome might be too cold, also maybe a little expensive compared to what I could get further west.

Any more info about Parker? Most of the images I could find were of the river rather than the town itself.

[rambrush]

Parker is a set of cross roads but maybe that would work you need to come explore and verify as there is a lot of out lying places not really in the parker city limits. I was thinking Mohave Valley or Bullhead. Like up in Montana we head towards McKenzie Pizza or McDonalds for wifi. In Bullhead I know Buffalo Wild Wings and Mcd's have wifi.

[Packard fan]

Originally Posted by wpme

Jerome is on top of a mountain and it gets pretty cold up there in the winter. I like Mohave county, Kingman is ok, I'd prefer to be a little ways out of town. Dolan Springs has a funky charm, they just need to get rid of the tweakers and some assorted dead wood. Meadview is nice, but you will definitely need a car to get to town, not sure about internet out there, my cell phone rarely works there, sure would be nice if they could get some service upgrades.

Southern Az gets too hot in the summer for my tastes, at least northern Az cools down at night in the summer.

Uh; Bullhead IS northern Arizona and does NOT cool down at night here in the summer. Many people think of Flagstaff and Prescott being "up north". Prescott is due east of me looking at a map.

[WilmaWildcat]

Pick anywhere in the Lower Colorado life zone, meaning lower altitude. The lower the altitude, the hotter it is. And probably avoid agricultural areas, as they irrigate and increase humidity. The hottest, dryest place I remember was in the Mojave in California.

Make a visit to Death Valley and see if you like that area. Low altitude, less precipitation than the Sonoran desert, which gets rain twice a year (winter and summer). The Mojave gets rain only in winter for the most part.

Anza-Borrego is another place; visit that California state park. It's technically Sonoran desert, but again, the Lower Colorado life zone.

I totally agree with you about the gorgeous beauty of these areas. I'd live there in a second if I could get my husband to. He likes the big job market of Chicagoland; and he does make a good salary here. But I'm from Tucson, and I miss it a lot.

[jamies]

Originally Posted by chesterlands

Thanks for the suggestions so far! I'll definitely do the majority of my searching along the river. Any specific areas of Bullhead to avoid? Or will it be fairly obvious when I visit there?

I sort of figured Jerome might be too cold, also maybe a little expensive compared to what I could get further west.

Any more info about Parker? Most of the images I could find were of the river rather than the town itself.

What Packard said, Parker is a very small town surrounded by reservation. Weekend playground for Californians.

Bullhead areas to avoid... everything east of the river and west of the mountains. Oh, wait...

OK seriously. There are million dollar homes on the river, half million dollar homes on the hill, aka the "Parkway," and $15,000 trailers that rent for $450 a month in the middle. There are good people and a lot of slimebags.

The roads might be the worst in the western US, but there are three dog parks. There are 11 casino hotels across the river that provide jobs. There are big name entertainers nearly every week, especially if you like country music. There's a very nice library. I guess it is what you want it to be.

It is the "most affordable" place in the country. Aka the poorest. If we could get the abanonded junk buildings buldozed (the city is trying, I think 30 are going this year) and get more small shops this would be as good as anyplace, especially for those who like dry heat.

[Bruce Jackpot]

Originally Posted by jamies

OK seriously. There are million dollar homes on the river, half million dollar homes on the hill, aka the "Parkway," and $15,000 trailers that rent for $450 a month in the middle. There are good people and a lot of slimebags.

So much variety in a city of just 40K. "Something for everybody!"

Fascinating place