Moving from Jacksonville, FL to Phoenix, AZ??

Question

I was recently offered a great career opportunity with my company for the position I've always wanted. These positions generally pop up all over the US. My boss is confident that I'll do good. He recently offered me a position in L.A, that I turned down due to the fact that it was too busy and far from my home. I have lived in Jacksonville, FL my whole life (23 years) and I'm scared to move, even though I know I will eventually have to imove somewhere else f I really want to follow my career path. In fact, the furthest south I've ever been was Dallas, TX. I need help. I have heard a few good things about it, but who really wants to leave FL? haha SO, why is Phoenix, AZ better than Jacksonville, FL? I need both positive and negative feedback. But, I don't want to know anything obvious like "No hurricanes or humidity". Thanks.

Yeah, I meant west, not south. Silly me!! Also, I am used to hot weather here in FL. It's almost unbearable at times. Today it is 97' plus the humidity. When I step outside it feels like I walked into a sauna. Also, Jacksonville is the largest city (in land mass) in the US, so I am used to driving like an hour or more just to get to another part of town. I really don't like driving that far or dealing with traffic.

Answer 1

The good: Pleasant aptmosphere, many friendly people, just hours away from the Grand Canyon, Mexico, Four Corners, Las Vegas, and the California coast. Scottsdale has great shopping, dining and entertainment. Home to ASU, the Orpheum and Gammage theatre. Mostly good traffic (only one rush hour around 5-6pm). Many easily navigatable freeways to save gas and time. Real estate is starting to go back down (slowly, but surely--MANY houses are for sale, so you can probably get a better rate right now). Downtown is very quiet and peaceful (VERY unlike NYC or SF/LA). One of the only places where saguaro cacti grow (you will see many of them). Diamond Backs rule (!). Lake Pleasant, Lake Roosavelt and other lakes surround the area, so fishing and boating are fun sports. Despite popular belief, there is a lot of plant and animal life here. Home of Westworld (Arabian Horse Show grounds), Paradise Turf (horse racing), and Firebird Raceway (auto racing and competitions). Kid friendly places (water parks). Many social events all over town. Sunsets are very beautiful. Sadona is an hour away (a must see!).

The bad: Phoenix has very bad drivers. I can't make enough emphasis on this. GET CAR INSURACE! Streets get kinda crowded in winter from snowbirds and the fiesta bowl (which is a plus if you like football). If you live near a preserve or a coyote area, small pets MUST be kept indoors (I've also seen an owl try to catch a cat). About 5% to 9% of people here (That I've heard of) have been stung by a scorpion or bitten by a rattlesnake (low number, but still possible).

So-so: I personally love dust storms, but they do make a bit of a mess and leave tumbleweeds all over the place. Gas right now is about 2.75 to 3.09 right now and will go higher over the summer, but then lower in the winter. VERY large hispanic community, but also a large Indian community as well. Not many stray animals here, but sometimes exotic birds get lose from the zoo or people's homes and they are fun to find. Very common symbols here: Kokipeli, lizard, gecko, cactus, fire bird (phoenix).

BIG no-no: Never cut down a cactus here (specifically the saguaro). People have been fined up to $25,000 for killing wild saguaro.

I think that's all the major stuff... If anything, I recomend visiting for a week or so.

(I feel like a real estate agent now, hehe!)

Answer 2

Well, in your addendum you described two things about Phoenix that will be either familiar or an improvement. Phoenix, like Jacksonville, is a sprawling town that requires driving. Unfortunate, and they're working on it - light rail is on its way - but there it is. So you'd be used to that. However, it's a smaller land mass than Jacksonville, so the traffic is a bit better. And, if you can't stand humidity, you'll like Phoenix, because as you pointed out, there's little humidity.

They are different cities, no question. Jacksonville is lush and Phoenix is a desert. But I think you'd find in terms of the culture, sports environment, things to do, the "type" of city, that it won't seem totally unfamiliar. You'd adjust quickly.

Also, there is one further advantage of Phoenix you might want to consider, and that's the surroundings. Florida is basically a swamp in every direction from Jacksonville. Drive two hours from the sunny desert of Phoenix in the winter, and you'll find yourself in the pine forests of Flagstaff, surrounded by snow.

Answer 3

I live in Phoenix. We moved around for four years and didn't care for the East or the South or even the Mid West. We came back to Phoenix and are so happy we did. It may be hot in the summer but that is what air conditioning is for, just like they have heaters for those cold winters back East. We like the fact that it is always bright and sunny every single day... If it rains, nine times out of ten it does so at night. We love it here and will never leave again. My hubby and I were both born and raised in Southern California. Also job advancment is very good here in Phoenix. Give it a try.

Answer 4

I lived in many places in US for my almost 10years stay here from my country.
I lived in Lakeland and Orlando Florida for a year, a year in Santa Maria California, a year in Great Lakes in Chicago and 7 years in Queens, NY. Currently I live in Phoenix Arizona... If I have the chance to move out from here I WILL MOVE OUT TOMORROW and move back to Santa Maria California! But because it is too expensive there and there is no job, unless you are a nurse or a farmer... You will be good...

But since being said so that I cannot move to Santa Maria California, my second choice is Jacksonville Florida.
I HATE I HATE I HATE Phoenix! There is NOTHING TO DO HERE unless you LOVE TO HIKE, BIKE, and DRINK! Other than that... NOTHING! I miss the beach, I miss the SMELL of the shore, FISHING, CRABBING and SWIMMING in the SALT WATER! What? We have lakes here? Yeah! We have lots of lake and you have to drive hours and lucky you to catch anything!

I want to move to a place where I can grow old with my kids, family oriented and more on outdoor fun!
I believe Florida can offer these things to us. Yeah I know people will be against for what I am saying here, oh well... To each is own! I did UBER just to drive around Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, Tempe... Just to see the entire area, and one thing I found out... THEY LOOK THE SAME! Unless you go to Prescott, Flagstaff, Sedona, Jerome... Those are nice places, BUT ONLY FOR VACATION! But if you are a family person who has young kids and has the choice to stay in Florida I would!

Well like what I ve said... TO EACH IS OWN... Good luck!

Answer 5

HI!...My name is Greg, I am 41 and I've lived and visited LOTS of places in the US and Europe, and I currently live in Brunswick, GA...I love this area and have been here 5 1/2 years. I have a cousin in Phoenix which I have visited, and I love it there! It has allot to offer. Night life is fun, lots to see and do...Grand canyon is about a hour away...Mexico is hop, skip and jump...Life is what you make of it...take a chance and don't ever look at it as a mistake...look at it as an opportunity to try new things in life! You won't regret it!

Answer 6

Jacksonville To Phoenix

Answer 7

It's so HOT there you'll feel like you're walking around in a blast furnace!!! But in Dec, Jan, Feb...it is PERFECT!!! But Phx is almost too big now...and it's spread WAY out!! Van Buren still is the hooker central so you can avoid that...but you definitely have everything that you could want right there.

Skiing is only 1 hr away (Flagstaff) Mexico is a couple hrs away Disneyland is only eight hours away and Laughlin is right there too! And don't forget about the lakes!!! (A constant party in the summer) It's beautiful in it's own way though you should enjoy yourself!!!

Answer 8

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Answer 9

You should have taken LA . The distance between PHX and LAX is negligible But bc you would be using LAX as your primary airport, flights to JAX will be cheaper ,faster and more frequent.
In addition if you need to escape from LA you have the entire state of California to escape to -from the sea to the snow in under 3 hours.
Phoenix is basically a small town in the middle of a very hot empty desert.
Because it's one of the cities -in- a -bowl of the West it tends to get really polluted in summer as does LA.
I lived in Phoenix for two years and quite honestly I can't for the life of me figure out it's appeal.
I'm also really curious about exactly how one gets from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon in an hour. Anybody ?

Answer 10

PHOENIX IS WEST NOT SOUTH OF JACKSONVILLE FL. ITS A GREAT PLACE, EXTREMELY HOT IN THE SUMMER. GIVE IT A TRY, IF IT DON'T WORK OUT MOVE ON TO ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.