about your 3rd summer there, 109 degrees will make you watch what you touch in the car,

about 113 degrees you will star planning your days to be home by noon.

Prescott, Williams, Flagstaff or Kingman. There may be some snow but not so crowded.

I forgot to mention the horrible "Snowbird" traffic in Tucson during winter months. Peak month is late November thru December for these out of towners who can't drive worth a shit.

Also, it sometimes does get very cold and windy even in the desert at night. A few years ago we had Tucson temperatures in the upper teens in January.

I was born, raised, and educated in Oklahoma, I now live in Tucson, and have for the last 42 years. There is no way I would move elsewhere.....I love it here. Anyone that leaves the Tucson area in the winter time is nuts!!

quote:

Originally posted by GWbiker:
I forgot to mention the horrible "Snowbird" traffic in Tucson during winter months. Peak month is late November thru December for these out of towners who can't drive worth a shit.

Also, it sometimes does get very cold and windy even in the desert at night. A few years ago we had Tucson temperatures in the upper teens in January.

I remember dealing with the snowbird traffic when I was stationed there, and that was '77-'80. I can only imagine how much worse it is now!
I rode motorcycles then, and you really had to watch your ass.

I also remember being careful in the summer on where I parked my bike. Some asphalt was too soft to hold the weight, and the kickstand would sink into it.

I lived in Phoenix for a time and have visited Tucson several times (but over 10 years ago). If you're retired I guess you don't have to worry about going to work, but while Phoenix has a freeway to go almost anywhere you want to go, Tucson essentially has none. I-10 and I-19 almost completely bypass the city, passing to the south of it, which leaves you on crowded surface streets for all your driving. On the other hand, without every square foot of ground paved over to create a "heat island" effect, Tucson won't be as oppressively hot on summer nights. Sierra Vista - mentioned already - looked pretty nice, big enough to have services but not so big as to be a "concrete jungle."

I have friends that live in Buckeye and Oro Valley. They both like the areas.

If you liked Buckeye, check out Maricopa.
But Prescott seems better from the climate standpoint. Medical care not as good as closer to Phoenix or Tucson.

I lived on the east side of Tucson from '79-'91. Jr. High - College) That's my favorite part of town.

Todd

Regardless of some of these negatives about Tucson,
I live in Green Valley...twenty-five minutes from Tucson. The Tucson area is bi-lingual but not in
Green Valley. A criminal would starve to death in Green Valley. 17,000 residents and belonging to Green Valley Recreation gives you access to all of the rec centers.
It's my understanding 1/3 are full time residents, 1/3 are winter residents and 1/3 renters. (most of these in the winter) GV isn't incorporated so no
double taxes for two commission. two LE departments, and so forth.
Agree about S.Tucson. However I don't consider it as bad as some here have said. Compared to all the rest of the Tucson area....then not near a nice.
Weather is outstanding. Yes, a couple of months of very hot...but 5% humidity! Also during those two months is monsoon season. So, those triple digit days get broken up/ heavy rain and boomers.
Leaving Tucson going South on I-19 there's no bad
areas. Oh! I-19 is the only metric interstate in the nation. KLM markers in place of mile posts.
Posted speed limits normal. Distances metric.
You'll have to go way South or way any direction to avoid HOA's. Not too far actually.
Buying in Green Valley and leaving home for the summer time....your house will be secure.
You'll find our nice climate...boring as you watch he nation's weather channel.
Now, if you're buying (Anywhere in the country) locate a "Buyers Agent". Be sure they're a registered buyer's agent. They look for you and will negotiate for you! You pay them nothing. They get their commission from the seller and the seller's agents.
Welcome to Tucson!
Oh! Prices in Green Valeey vary from 80's to close to a million. There are no "low rent districts" or other.
Two BR and 2 bath ....one hundred thousand + or - a bit.
My sis in law just spent this last winter with us. She's back home now (Greater KC area) and is looking to move! To Green Valley!

What's the deal with these monsoons I hear about? How bad are they and how long do they last? Are they a danger? Do the areas they hit flood as we are seeing in Nebraska?

My wife and I are native AZ. I worked pretty much all over the state during monsoon seasons. Google "2018 az monsoon" if that's of interest.

Monsoon season is pretty much all summer from about June to late September. It generally rains everyday. While summer temperatures drop slightly, the humidity increases. Maybe not what other states have, but it's still significant. It's why most people spend monsoon summers inside with air conditioning. It is miserable.

With monsoon rains come major dust storms and sometimes hail. The lightening strikes that occur with the storms frequently causes the devastating wild fires and forest fires we've experienced every year. The intensity of the winds and rain will knock down decades old trees, power poles, flood washes, flood roads and highways.

There isn't any part of the state that doesn't experience the monsoon. However, the northern part of the state does not generally have the dust storms.

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
What's the deal with these monsoons I hear about? How bad are they and how long do they last? Are they a danger? Do the areas they hit flood as we are seeing in Nebraska?

Think of 2 days of steady rain falling in 20 minutes.

We have the famous "Wash" where water pours across roadways and washes out road pavement and motor vehicles driven thru these "Wash". You will get a citation if driving thru a wash and seen by Police.

Vehicle and driver usually found down stream several days later.

Weather in Southern Arizona: very heavy rain one day.....dry the next day.

Send me an email if you decide to look around Sierra Vista, I have been around Cochise county since 1994 and can show you around the area.

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog7972:
What's the deal with these monsoons I hear about? How bad are they and how long do they last? Are they a danger? Do the areas they hit flood as we are seeing in Nebraska?

The monsoon season starts in july and you get epic short rainfalls. Monsoon means seasonal wind change and it brings moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to Arizona. The storms build quickly and in a couple of hours go from no clouds to clouds pushing up to the stratosphere. Then they dump incredible rain and lighting. the rain can cause the temps to drop afterward and give a bit of a reprieve from the summer heat. I love the monsoon season. the clouds, lightening and the sunsets are worth the move in my opinion.

That you for all your response, it’s been really helpful.

I’m excited about this.

Of course I’ve still got a couple years before retirement but I believe in learning and researching all you can.

I may, maybe, be able to make a quick visit to AZ in late May.

Have you looked at the Verde Valley? It’s pretty awesome here. Winter mornings in cool, but not terrible. Summer isn’t as hot as PHX or Tucson. Mountains to climb, millions of places to shoot, no city issues, a decent river system... the list goes on.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Have you looked at the Verde Valley? It’s pretty awesome here. Winter mornings in cool, but not terrible. Summer isn’t as hot as PHX or Tucson. Mountains to climb, millions of places to shoot, no city issues, a decent river system... the list goes on.

I have. It looks like a wonderful area to summer, I’ll definitely visit that area in summer.

However it looks like the winters are just too chilly for me, I’m looking for warmer weather from roughly Dec 1 to probably end of April. I’ll shut it down then and go someplace else for the hot summer months. I’ll definitely visit your area in summer.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I have a brother with a home in OK, he spends almost all his time in Phoenix, where summers are just too darn hot. He’s probably selling his OK property soon and buying a summer place in your Verde Valley area. I think it’s a great plan for him, Phoenix in the winter, your area in the summer.

Cowboy, you have mail.

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Have you looked at the Verde Valley? It’s pretty awesome here. Winter mornings in cool, but not terrible. Summer isn’t as hot as PHX or Tucson. Mountains to climb, millions of places to shoot, no city issues, a decent river system... the list goes on.

I have. It looks like a wonderful area to summer, I’ll definitely visit that area in summer.

However it looks like the winters are just too chilly for me, I’m looking for warmer weather from roughly Dec 1 to probably end of April. I’ll shut it down then and go someplace else for the hot summer months. I’ll definitely visit your area in summer.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I have a brother with a home in OK, he spends almost all his time in Phoenix, where summers are just too darn hot. He’s probably selling his OK property soon and buying a summer place in your Verde Valley area. I think it’s a great plan for him, Phoenix in the winter, your area in the summer.

If you make it this way for a visit, hit me up. We can go to one if the many outdoor ranges/areas and throw some lead. If you’re into it, I’d be happy to take you out four wheelin as well.