Hi Guys,
Im retired now (SSDI) with the wife still working for a number of years. She can work anywhere there is internet.
My oldest moved to AriOna a few months ago and jaut loves the climat and insists my wife and I would love it as well.
We decided to go and see him a few weeks ago for a week.
Well, I stinking loved it!!
Anyways I said a 100 z while we were there that I love and want to move there. She finally agreed. Sun, temps, gun laws etc were great!
Planning on selling the House et al and move out there!
No income tax for seniors and only small sales tax (5%). I know I have no taxes in NH except my property taxes which have increased from $2.400 in 2002 to $10k next year as well as a 100 other things that are ruining my city.
NH has the best laws as far as firearm ownership goes. It appears that AZ has similar laws.

I was standing outside at 106F and I was comfortable………… the heat is “dry” and makes “ALL the difference in the world”! It was so beautiful!!

Any guidance guys?
We will move into an apt community with all the pools, work out facilities, clost o hospitals, shopping.
Any Arizona peeps care to lend info/ advice? All is appreciated!!
Understood about the heat during the summer.

Thank you in advance guys!
Sigguy(the 1st)

Congrats brother. But just know most retires go home for the summer

I am happy for you guys.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGGUY (THE 1ST):


...I was standing outside at 106F and I was comfortable………… the heat is “dry” and makes “ALL the difference in the world”! It was so beautiful!!

Any guidance guys?

Hydrate

Congrats! I retired May 1. It takes some getting used to.

I moved to Arizona for the reasons you mentioned: free state especially for gun rights, low taxes (not no taxes, 401k and pensions still get taxed at 2.5% for anything above your deductions), etc.

The most important advice I can give you: drink plenty of water each day and use sunscreen.

When we got here, the thermostat in the house was at 77 degrees and my wife and I were both freezing. Then we learned it’s because of the lack of humidity causes the moisture on your skin to evaporate which gives you a cooling effect. And the evaporation is constant so you’re losing all that water and you need to replace it. When your lips get parched, you’re too late.

I didn’t drink enough during my first year and ended up in the emergency because I had stones which was quite painful and I didn’t know what it was.

In winter when it gets cold, you can lower your heating bill by using a humidifier. The humidifier slows down the moisture evaporation from your skin and therefore slows down the cooling effect. I use humidifiers year round just for the health effect.

I live in 5000 foot elevation and high temperatures doesn’t feel warm especially when the wind is blowing. But I’m that much closer to the sun and the UV rays are much stronger so sunscreen is good insurance against skin cancer along with a brimmed hat.

I can’t count the number of people I know who had to go get some patches of skin taken out because it was cancerous - top of the head, top of the nose, ears, temples, etc.

Congrats. Whereabouts in AZ?

quote:

outside at 106F and I was comfortable………… the heat is “dry” and makes “ALL the difference in the world”!

You got that right.

Congratulations on your new chapter in life.

Congrats on a new chapter in life.

My son has been in AZ for a few years now. He and wife were in Phoenix for a couple years and it cooked them out. They moved to Flagstaff and love it. Temps can be high but usually not homicidal. Winter is definitely a separate season and he is fond of the pace of life.

My wife and I have enjoyed the climate on our visits there and we've hit all 4 seasons.

In addition to the previous advice, bring your sweaters, jeans and jackets. It can and does get cold here in the winter, we even get snow every 5 years or so in the Phoenix metro area.

Learn about our dust storms (haboobs) and “monsoon” pop up thunderstorms that can cause flash floods.

Traffic is bad when the snowbirds are here, and reservations are needed at restaurants then as well. Come summer, less traffic and walk in to restaurants.

We have a number of very good hospitals.

If you like hiking, there are a lot of trails. Also, Sedona is under 2 hours away and in addition to a couple hundred trails, has some of the most beautiful scenery in the US, if not the world.

A lot of people freak out about rattlesnakes, but scorpions are more of a problem. Check your shoes before you put them on.

Congrats on your retirement! Enjoy life in Arizona. Drink plenty of water.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGGUY (THE 1ST):
Hi Guys,
Im retired now (SSDI) with the wife still working for a number of years. She can work anywhere there is internet.
My oldest moved to AriOna a few months ago and jaut loves the climat and insists my wife and I would love it as well.
We decided to go and see him a few weeks ago for a week.
Well, I stinking loved it!!
Anyways I said a 100 z while we were there that I love and want to move there. She finally agreed. Sun, temps, gun laws etc were great!
Planning on selling the House et al and move out there!
No income tax for seniors and only small sales tax (5%). I know I have no taxes in NH except my property taxes which have increased from $2.400 in 2002 to $10k next year as well as a 100 other things that are ruining my city.
NH has the best laws as far as firearm ownership goes. It appears that AZ has similar laws.

I was standing outside at 106F and I was comfortable………… the heat is “dry” and makes “ALL the difference in the world”! It was so beautiful!!

Any guidance guys?
We will move into an apt community with all the pools, work out facilities, clost o hospitals, shopping.
Any Arizona peeps care to lend info/ advice? All is appreciated!!
Understood about the heat during the summer.

Thank you in advance guys!
Sigguy(the 1st)

Went to school in AZ and lived in Vegas for 10 years. Also currently live in Southern Utah.
The only downside weather wise (especially in AZ) is the seasonal monsoons. You will get some humidity with that heat and it can be unpleasant.
Having said that, unless you are roofing houses you just plan your day around it. Kind of like you plan your NH days around snow storms/cold now.
I actually feel better in the dry climate of the West. Enjoy.

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 too love Arizona and would like to move there one day. But I'm concerned about the water supply and it's eventual depletion. Is that a valid concern or do I worry too much?

Scottsdale.

Welcome to Arizona! I'm not fond of big cities and traffic, Not much help with those areas.
Do the move and I'm certain you will get assistance if you need it.
You won't regret it.
Stuff like vehicle registration costs might surprise you, but other things cost less.
It all evens out.

I loved Arizona too, and had to move on with my job. I lived there quite a long time, both in the desert, and up on the Plateau. My brother has a home north of Fountain Hills, and we like going down there to escape Wyoming winter.

I’d suggest living outside the big city, I think the traffic is horrible, although the Phoenix area is well served by their highway system.

You are absolutely correct about the Sonoran Desert’s dry heat, my wife and I were married June 25th in Wickenburg. The day was hot, I believe somewhere around 105°, but our reception was in the evening and outdoors—very pleasant. One caveat to the “dry heat” mantra. It’s not always dry. In monsoon season, from anytime after the Fourth of July, all through August, and into September, you may or may not get thunderstorms, but you’ll get higher humidity. That can be really unpleasant. I bet you won’t regret the move though.

I moved here from Merrimack 11 years ago and haven't looked back.

Drop me an email and we can chat. I can send you my phone number. Note that I live in Tucson (outside the city to the east).

As far as retirement, yes it is an adjustment that takes about a year. For a while, there is a feeling like being halfway through a week of vacation, where you don't have to do anything today but there is a lingering feeling that you have something hanging over you in a few days. Just allow yourself to have lazy days and then days when you are motivated to do too much. You'll establish your new normal eventually, so no guilt or pressure to be all settled into retirement right away.

For me, the biggest adjustment was financial, going from saving to spending. We try to be responsible savers for all our lives, but now you're allowed to spend your savings. The key is to understand and accept that your plan is good, and whatever your plan allows you to spend is what you should spend. Rainy days are built into your plan, so you don't have to further save for rainy days.

If your budget is $X per month spending, you can and should spend it. There's no benefit to you to not enjoying it. Obviously, I'm not advocating waste. But not going out on date night with the wife to "save' money is the wrong choice if it is in your budget. Unlike while you were working when you'd sometimes choose to save rather than enjoy a non-essential spend.

If you have allowance money left over at the end of the year, find a good use for it. Give it to charity. Go on a trip. Buy your wife something that she has always wanted. Give it to the kids. Change your plan to include more fun things that you like doing. Dying with the most money in the bank is not winning.

The more strongly you've been a responsible saver up to now, the harder it is to allow yourself to spend your monthly "allowance" in retirement.

Congratulations on your retirement!

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
I too love Arizona and would like to move there one day. But I'm concerned about the water supply and its eventual depletion. Is that a valid concern or do I worry too much?

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.

Lots of good thoughts, sigforum comes thru again.

Hydration is not an issue for me as I never leave the house without a bottle of water and I am continually drinking water.

Back a few years ago I got MRSA in the Dominican Republic. A year and 7 surgeries later half my foot was removed, and my professional career was over.
Fortunately, I landed a p/t job at our local gun store. It keeps me busy, puts a few dollars in my pocket and great deals in firearms world!
That being said, I need to hobble to the range more than I do to use them !

The plan as of now is to sell everything in a year and move west!

NH Tag, Ill reach out to you.

Sigguy(the 1st)

Ps ill give more reasons which prompted the decision to move!

Thanks guy's !!