Kahuna Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Just out of curiousity Kahuna, if you have ever visited Bisbee, Flagstaff or Green Valley what was your take on them for long term settling? Costs, culture & cuisine are definitely factors for me as well as good nearby medical facilities, maybe the smaller cities are only worth vacations in? Can't tell you much about Bisbee...had to look it up on the map...but Bisbee looks like a very nice quiet place to live...Problem is that it is about 100 miles or so to Tucson where major medical facilities are...But I am sure Bisbee has doctors and clinics for everyday medical care...but if you're gonna have some major cutting done you're gonna have to drag your ass to Tucson...Tucson is home to the University of Arizona with a metro population of nearly 1 million so it has everything... Green Valley is a suburb of Tuscon...about 30 or 40 miles south and is included as a part of the Tucson metro area...I have driven through a few times on my way to Nogales but never stopped...But that is a great feature...Maybe only an hour from the border and Nogales is the cleanest border town I have ever seen........Used to catch the train there all the time and just leave my car...never a prob...get on the train at 5 pm have a bite wake up in the morning and you're in Mazatlan........and Mexico is a great Place for old folks cause medication is very inexpensive as is dental and eye care...I make a run to buy meds and booze every few months to Los Algondes but that is a couple hours from my place....I live in Buckeye...about the same distance to Phoenix as Green Valley is to Tucson...everything is convenient...Most folks don't realize that Phoenix is like the 6th largest city in the USA...Maybe the largest university in the USA - Arizona State University...lots of stuff going on...As I am sure there also is in Tucson........ Flagstaff as Sam says is not the same as the desert communities...It is at an elevation of 6 or 7 thousand feet...One of the snowiest places in the entire USA...it gets lots and lots of snow...but it is very pretty country........Haven't been there in a couple years...last trip was in the fall to watch my Alma mater UCD play Northern Arizona University...a beautiful campus...only stayed one night...But it is only a couple hour drive from the Phoenix area...in the fall it is a bit chilly...A nice place to visit to escape the heat of August...But I would not want to live there despite the beautiful mountain views........... So to answer your question...Green Valley would be my first choice although I would not rule out Bisbee... I would need to visit and see exactly what was available to entertain me and keep my motor running...Flagstaff is a big no....... There are a couple other interesting desert areas...Lake Havasu and Prescott that have both become popular retirement areas...I have never visited either but know folks who live there and enjoy...You might want to give them a look see............And don't forget Las Vegas if you like entertainment...They are still giving away property there I think...........Vegas is only about a 4 or 5 hour drive from my house...I wander over now and again... So if you are interested in exploring Arizona more, you or JaiDee or Sam or anyone reading here are more than welcome to come and crash at my place...I got an empty bedroom with bath that is decorated with Thai trinkets...Just know that all I got to drink is tequila and rum and occasionally a Pacifico or Bohemia in the frig...Warm weather booze....... As I am want to say down here in the desert, sometimes it gets so cold, I have to wear socks...But that's a lie...I ain't never wore socks here........... 3 Quote Link to comment
bumblebee Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 Saw this today, it's a map of all devices in the world connected to the Internet. Quote Link to comment
Hefe Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Thanks for the info Kahuna, when I lived in Utah I ocasionally went down to the 4 Corners area & once quickly through Flagstaff (yes, it was snowing but the pinyon pine smelled great) but that's all. I have to schedule a circle tour through AZ & NM someday, I became fascinated by the SW desert I explored tho. A good friend lived in Bisbee for a few years & loved it but I know it is small, in the mountains could be like living on a island & I suspect it may be a bit high rent but I don't know that for a fact. I think all the old brothels there are now cafes & restaurants. I've always had a negative feeling about Phoenix that is based on nothing but hearsay, headlines & heat on the weatherman's chart but I know it is a large place & one only needs to find a proper niche. Penty of folks have a negative notion about where I live but it is pretty good most of the time. I have a nice set-up here but the winters are tiring & the taxes are only going to go up, but the local services are actually pretty good & I save thousands by not needing a car. I'm just thinking out loud kicking around notions for the future.... So if you are interested in exploring Arizona more, you or JaiDee or Sam or anyone reading here are more than welcome to come and crash at my place...I got an empty bedroom with bath that is decorated with Thai trinkets...Just know that all I got to drink is tequila and rum and occasionally a Pacifico or Bohemia in the frig...Warm weather booze....... Thanks for the offer, that's very generous..... who knows? That circle tour is on my to do list someday.... Quote Link to comment
SiamSam Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Prescott AZ is a very interesting place. I enjoyed my visits there. Another interesting/comfortable/beautiful town in Arizona is Sedona. It is slightly south of Flagstaff. 1 Quote Link to comment
Torurot Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 There is a shed load of un-connectedness out there Quote Link to comment
williethepimp Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Kahuna, on 03 Sept 2014 - 8:11 PM, said: So if you are interested in exploring Arizona more, you or JaiDee or Sam or anyone reading here are more than welcome to come and crash at my place...I got an empty bedroom with bath that is decorated with Thai trinkets...Just know that all I got to drink is tequila and rum and occasionally a Pacifico or Bohemia in the frig...Warm weather booze....... thats a helluva offer kahuna...i am 99.9% certain i will never avail myself of that offer,but its a nice gesture nonetheless.....from your posts,arizona seems like not a bad place at all.....Incidentally,since watching Breaking Bad,i fancy visiting Albequerque(sp?).....NM. Quote Link to comment
JaiDee Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Same same, Willie......that show has made me say to myself "that looks like an interesting state" many times, and I know the weather would suit me. I have considered AZ as well, problem is those 2 places are a FLIGHT away from my family while Florida is an easy DRIVE. Gotta remember, whenever I go home if I take a plane I need to rent a car; if I drive, I have my car. I can live anywhere, now I have to explore a few places and decide exactly where that place will be. Thanks for the offer Kahuna, I may take you up on that! Quote Link to comment
TEXASMAC Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Now that is forward thinking. 1 Quote Link to comment
ArchieBunker Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Willie, Albaquerque is a fucking dump. Been there MORE than once and wouldnt care if I never went back.... Quote Link to comment
Hefe Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I've heard the same about ABQ Arch, but it does have 4 moderate seasons & a low cost of living FWIW. But it's places like Sante Fe (off season) & the Taos general area that are very interesting to visit (ski in Taos too) & I'm especially curious about SIlver City which I've heard nice things about. I also want to visit Roswell since that's where the famous "UFO crash" of 1947 happened. Then there is White Sands & old Rte 66 which will take us into AZ, then: Prescott, Phoenix, Mesa, Tuscon, Bisbee. As Kahuna might suggest then go thru the border to Nogales to get cheap Cialis, sharp mudflaps, a painting of "Elvis Weeping" on black velvet & hashish & come back through Organ Pipe Cactus park & head north, flying out of Phoenix or Vegas. I hope the radio staions are good down there, that's a lot of driving... Quote Link to comment
SiamSam Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Hefe, If you do find yourself driving down towards Nogales you just gotta visit Tombstone and spend an afternoon there. It's a hoot and quite the experience. And if your in Northern Arizona please do yourself a favor and visit Monument Valley. It's a far bit of a drive but a fantastic place to inhale for a few hours. From Flagstaff you can get there and back in a day. And of course if you have not already visited the Grand Canyon that too is spectacular. The area of Northern Arizona and Southern Utah has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. At least for me. Happy trails. Quote Link to comment
JaiDee Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 The area of Northern Arizona and Southern Utah has to be one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Can concur, drove through there last fall and loved it. Wish I spent more time in Navajo country. I was on an elevator in Las Vegas around that time, a young couple of hispanic origin got in and we got to chatting......I asked 'em where they were from and they said Albuqurquee and I asked them about Breaking Bad and they laughed, the city has become a tourist attraction in recent years. Quote Link to comment
Hefe Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 I have to agree, I've traveled a bit & southern Utah towards the 4 Corners is one of the most spectacular places I have ever been, highly recommended for those visiting the US.... don't just go to a couple of cities. My suggestion for anyone is base yourself in Moab UT (nearest airport Grand Junction CO) & a tremendous amount of scenery is around you & within 1 day's drive. Monument Valley: been there a few times, awe inspiring really. First time was driving south from Moab, a couple of hours I think, and suddenly the grand vista opened up below us, we were perched on a high plateau looking down, there had been no gradual reveal, it was just suddenly there stretching out to the horizon, will never forget that. We had to take a relatively steep switchback zig-zag road waaaay down to the Valley. (photo) This was the last part of the continental US to be mapped (20th century) & it is a shame if people don't know about it or visit. (I'm talking about the whole red rock canyon Great Basin/Colorado River watershed area.) Just wandering around you might hear coyote howls echoing in the canyon acoustics, or suddenly realize the pockmarks in the sandstone are dinosaur tracks, ancient petroglyphs, Lake Powell has 2,000 miles of coastline.... all sorts of amazing things. Tombstone is on my list now! 2 Quote Link to comment
lance2546 Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 ^+1 Thanks for sharing Hefe. After 10+ years of jungle humidity and rain, I'm ready for some desert living :) Quote Link to comment
SiamSam Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Another great adventure is to rent a boat and spend the day exploring the canyons of Lake Powell. It's one thing to see that topography from dry land and it is a whole other phenomenon to see it from the water. Awe-inspiring to say the least. Quote Link to comment
SiamSam Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 And Hefe if you get to Tombstone please don't pass up the opportunity to visit Boot Hill. It's a little drive out of town but worth the visit. The epitaphs on the grave markers are truly witty. Things like: "Here lies SiamSam. He was innocent but we hung him anyway." Quote Link to comment
pdogg Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Here lies SiamSam. He was innocent but well hung :clapping: Quote Link to comment
Kahuna Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Y'all sure you want to visit Bisbee and Tombstone El Hefe? John Heath ain't actually buried in Tombstone...But he was hanged there from a telegraph pole that ain't around after 130 year either.........The tombstone is just a reminder not to mess with the folks from Bisbee... Quote Link to comment
SiamSam Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Yup. Classic stuff. Like this: Quote Link to comment
SiamSam Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Who knew there were Jewish gunslingers!?!? Quote Link to comment
JaiDee Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 The guys who owed 'em money? Quote Link to comment
JaiDee Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Here is a picture of a bus in Ireland Quote Link to comment
SiamSam Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Hahahahaha!!! Great photo Jai Dee!!. Quote Link to comment
JaiDee Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 Nothing like living up to the stereotypes, eh? The only thing that would have made that more funny would be a bus full of Guiness, but I imagine that would have been kinda leaky. Quote Link to comment
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