quote:

Originally posted by SIGGUY (THE 1ST):
Scottsdale.

A number of good gun stores there, try them all and take your pick. You'll be more or less right in the midpoint between Ben Avery, Rio Salado, and Phoenix Rod and Gun Club if that matters to you. You can also take the easy way out of town through Fountain Hills and out into Tonto. If you have a Jeep or something with plenty of clearance and good offroad capability, the desert is your oyster. A retired guy who likes guns could do a hell of a lot worse than Scottsdale.

I grew up in Arizona, went to school here, worked 2/3 of my working life in the "Valley", retired there, etc. The Valley was good to me. We've visited quite a few other states, and had a few acres in Montana we considered building on, ultimately though, none attracted us enough to move out of Arizona. I always said, if not for the Summers, the Valley would have three times the population. They are still building like crazy down there, pretending there is not a water problem. Some scientists have indicated the big Southwestern cities, to include Phoenix, are not sustainable in future due to the water problem. Even though the progressive left has been elected to most state and Federal offices now, AZ. is still an excellent state for gun owners IMHO. Legal sale/trade of firearms without having to go through dealers or request state permission, etc.; Constitutional carry, CCW permits if desired, etc.

Still, the Valley is not the only area of Arizona that might be worthy of consideration. There is Tucson, pretty liberal, but is usually a few degrees cooler than the Valley in Summer. Other areas, that might see some snow in Winter, but be worthy of consideration are Rim Country, Flagstaff and Prescott. The Prescott area is an especially good area for firearms, shooting, training, etc. There are good gun shops all over around Prescott/Prescott Valley, and Gunsite is just up the road in Paulden...

quote:

Originally posted by sourdough44:
Yeah, I’d take AZ over NH in a heartbeat, kinda like Utah too. I know St George, Utah has been growing like crazy.

I was down to St. George today. The number of new developments down there is just insane. I live in Cedar City, its growing rapidly as well but nothing like St. George.
The State put in a new connector from I15 to Hurricane that opened last fall. (about 10-15 miles North of STG). There are 3-4 huge retirement housing tracks on that new stretch alone. Down near Copperrock Golf Course (Where they play an LPGA event) has the same thing.

Stay hydrated, with water.
Not pop, not coffee,
Water!

quote:

Originally posted by rizzle:
Right now more water is being used than we are getting in rainfall/snowmelt. Back in 1983 it was the opposite.
The cities and agricultural areas get hit hard from this lack of rain.
Then we get a season or two of massive moisture and every thing recovers.
Hoover dam is a good indicator of how things are going.
I wouldn't be concerned about lack of water in Arizona, it cycles, never constant.

The way I see it is that it is not so much the rainfall/snowpack that is the issue, but rather the MASSIVE population increase. Back in 1983, Las Vegas was a fun little town. Look at it now. A couple of million in the immediate area, and all of them need/want water and a nice green lawn...in the desert.

Heck, back then, St. George was a "if you blink you'll miss it" kind of place. Now? Pffft.

People is the problem in that area, not the weather.

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:

The way I see it is that it is not so much the rainfall/snowpack that is the issue, but rather the MASSIVE population increase. Back in 1983, Las Vegas was a fun little town. Look at it now. A couple of million in the immediate area, and all of them need/want water and a nice green lawn...in the desert.

Heck, back then, St. George was a "if you blink you'll miss it" kind of place. Now? Pffft.

People is the problem in that area, not the weather.[/QUOTE]


I agree that the population increase is a problem.
If we still got the massive rains from tropical storms that started out as hurricanes in the Gulf of America and the storms from the West coast like we used to, the water will recover.
Snow melt from the Rockies and Northern AZ play a big part too.
We haven't had much weather in the last couple years.
Time will tell, if we get dumped on like the good old days, won't be much talk of shortage.

All I know is that so far, this summer is feeling very different than the previous three, so I’m being cautiously hopeful for some monsoons this season.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
All I know is that so far, this summer is feeling very different than the previous three, so I’m being cautiously hopeful for some monsoons this season.

with the Super El Nino you should have a hot wet summer.

OP -

I did the same thing 2.5 years ago - I moved from Northern Virginia (Herndon) to Glendale, AZ for retirement. It sounds like the climate part of this deal is not an issue for you - which is the biggest part of the adjustment, in my opinion.

As others have pointed out, you just plan your life around it. Unless you are very experienced with this type of weather (temps), don't plan major outdoor activities in mid summer when temps hit 110-115! Although others have commented on the low humidity, once it gets over 100 degrees, the heat can kill you regardless of humidity.

Taxes are quite a bit lower here - state income tax about 1/3 of Virginia's, real Estate Tax about 1/3 of Virginia's. Arizona's state tax is a flat 2.5%, and Social Security is not taxed at the State level. No personal property tax. Sales tax is about the same as Virginia's. NO toll roads either!

One weird thing here in AZ - Circuit Breaker panels are on the OUTSIDE of the house! I find this very strange. Occasionally I hear when kids get into mischief they run around and turn people's circuit breakers off, so I put a lock on mine.

Power seems VERY reliable here - I've only had one outage in 2.5 years. I have no lawn to cut! It's all decorative gravel. I do have a pool which I never had in Virginia, so I had to learn how to properly take care of it. Lots of homes with Solar Panels - since Phoenix has typically 300 days of Sunshine here, it's solar panel heaven.

Overall, I am glad we moved here, and we are enjoying it!

About 13% of the land is privately owned. BLM and State cover pretty much cover the rest of it.
I have noticed that people move here and don't use the public lands much, just stay inside, do local town things.
These people will vote to protect the spotted penguin in some desert area that off roaders use.
Tends to mess up things, especially when the couch potatoes out number the off-roaders.

Congrats! We got stationed here in Tucson at Davis-Monthan AFB in 2001 following a 4-year tour in Germany, and bought a house. When I retired from the USAF in 2006 we stayed because we liked it a lot. A few months ago I retired from civil service and I expect this is where we’ll stay. We still like it, but since 2020 we’re in Marana, just NW of Tucson. Our grandkids are here, so that’s the main thing keeping us here. That, and I hate the thought of moving again!

Tucson has turned much more liberal from when we first got here in 2001, and it makes me sad. The weather is great about 9 months of the year, so the 3 really hot months are a small price to pay for being able to sit outside to eat with few, if any, bugs. I grew up in Daytona Beach, FL, and you couldn’t go outside without slathering on bug spray. I do not miss the Florida humidity, either.

Welcome to Arizona - I think you’ll like it. Hydrate or die! Lol

Also keep in mind there are a lot of different climates in AZ, mostly due to variations in geography and altitude
Moved from western NY to the Prescott area 11 years ago, only regret is not doing it sooner!
Phoenix metro has that fry an egg on your car hood heat, but up my way 5-6K foot elevation change ) we are a good 15-20 degrees cooler than Phoenix.
I call it Goldilocks weather. We get cold in winter with overnight lows in the 20’s, but it warms to 45-50 during the day. Rarely is the summer daytime temp over 100.

Flagstaff is higher and cooler but is a deep blue lefty college town.

Much like limiting activity in the northeast in winter, most in the valley stay in the AC in the summer - some of the various competitive shooting leagues take a break for summer due to the heat.
Lots of people use the massive open national forest land for shooting but this is prohibited for a good 1/4-1/3 the year during drought season.
Great 2A environment no harsh winters wife and I are very happy here

Please spend some time on YouTube reviewing this subject. There are about a dozen videos between 30 minutes and two hours long. Big city vs. country. Active outdoorsman vs. retiree. It's all out there with reasonably accurate commentary.

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Stay hydrated, with water.
Not pop, not coffee,
Water!

And definitely not booze

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:
Also keep in mind there are a lot of different climates in AZ, mostly due to variations in geography and altitude
Moved from western NY to the Prescott area 11 years ago, only regret is not doing it sooner!
Phoenix metro has that fry an egg on your car hood heat, but up my way 5-6K foot elevation change ) we are a good 15-20 degrees cooler than Phoenix. I call it Goldilocks weather.
-
Lots of people use the massive open national forest land for shooting but this is prohibited for a good 1/4-1/3 the year during drought season.
Great 2A environment no harsh winters wife and I are very happy here

I’m up here with the captain. (Chino Valley) We actually have seasons up here.
Couldn’t be happier!

Drive any direction for 2-3 hours and you can be in a completely different landscape.
My wife and I would never live in the valley again but if you want heat, you’ll have it.
(Fire restrictions are in effect now until at least late August)