Currently living in NW WA but interested in finding a second home in a warmer climate and AZ comes to mind. I have visited a couple of times but need some help to start our search. Would like to look at some high desert area's like Kingsman or Wickenburg (I think Wickenburg might be considered high desert)but also some warmer climates like maybe Bullhead but definitely want to stay away from Phoenix and Tucson. We are thinking a city of less than 40,000 or so with good medical facilities. Beyond that we are kind of wide open for suggestions.
I know there are some posters (and probably lurkers as well) from these area's so any information you can send our way would be appreciated.
Through the forum is fine or email gaboeh@aol.com works also.
We would like to plan a trip down in the next couple of months to visit some area's.
Thanks,
Greg
Is this for winter use, or year round, retirement, etc.
Central Oregon is high desert and might be worth a look 🙂 , most of AZ can get too hot in the summer, especially someplace like Bullhead City!!!
I have thought if I could afford it, maybe SC/NC would be decent to spend winters when the time comes to slow down, fairly inexpensive to live, wouldn't want to spend the summers there though!
SHG
Most likely winter snowbirding but don't want to rule out year round at some point.
Greg, I've lived in Kingman for 8 yrs, after moving from West Michigan. It has all the paramaters you've indicated, ie. population, medical, weather, etc. Unless you are self sufficient (retired), you'd be very disappointed in the job market.
Quite a bit of the local population is either on welfare, or work for the county/state/city. Unfortunately, many folks also maintain their own thriving drug dealing business. A common phrase amongst long time locals is that "people come here to hide, or just buy gas on the way to/from Vegas". The local politics is big time croonyism, and it is alive and well. Plus it is always windy, 15-25 mph winds are a common activity.
But the mountains are beautiful, and the location is perfect to go to 'real cities' like Las Vegas, Flagstaff, or even that armpit Phoenix. Everything is a couple hour drive. The Colorado River is 45 minutes. So the location is probably the best feature.
In my limited tenure here I've found the key is elevation. You'll want to be between 3,000 & 4,500 ft. Otherwise it's too hot, or too cold. Bullhead/Havasu commonly hit 125 deg in the summer, but the winters are nice. I'm at 3,500' and it rarely goes above 105. Huge huge difference, especially if you have to work in it. (I hit the wall around 102, no matter how much water I drink)
I'd recommend that you check out Meadview. It's 100 miles from Vegas, 60 miles from Kingman, and nestled in some beautiful Joshua tree high desert vegetation, with awesome mountains all around, and at about 3,800'. Mostly very friendly retired folks (about 4,000 full time residents), and only 6 miles from Lake Mead for all your fishing/boating pleasures.
Wickenburg is a bedroom community of Phoenix, but a bit more low key.
Send me an email if you want more info about my area. I've got tons of cool pictures I'll pass along.
ever been through Prescott? I love that town. may live there someday.
Yes, My wife and I ran in a relay a couple of years ago. It started in Prescott and ended in Mesa. We stayed in an old hotel the night we were there and enjoyed walking around town and checking out the local shops.
I spent a couple of months in Wickenburg once and I can assure you that it isn't "high desert". Prescott, about an hours drive north, is much higher and more bearable in mid-summer.
