Rave: Arizona

[jim]

I have to tell you, I've always thought of Florida as my next destination but the more time I spend in Arizona the more I rethink that. My buddy took me up for a ride out in one of the trails northwest of Phoenix, absolutely stunningly beautiful. It captured my imagination, cowboys and indians and rattlers and everything else. Then, we went into town and ate Sushi. What else are you going to eat after a day of four wheeling in the Arizona desert? Then, off to a ballgame, and then a bar.

No bugs, 9 months of good to great weather, sky so blue that it hurts your eyes almost every day of the year. No hurricanes. Skiing 4 hours away, the beach 4 hours a way.

I love the beach and the ocean, but I'm starting to think the desert in such a bad spot either.

[Vidor]

Politics absolutely crazy as hell in that state, but that could change. And it certainly is beautiful.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

Ha. other than being warm, they're completely opposite climates. Desert vs Tropical. Might want to think about that. The lack of rain is certainly nice, I guess. But, everything is brown out there iirc.

[wart57]

Come here in July, August, and most of Septeber, you my re-think it. But you are right about the other 9 months, it is great.

[thrill]

I have my issues with Phoenix but I'd much rather live here than Florida. By a long way. I just like seasons and precipitation. I'm weird. If you just like warm weather, this place is tough to beat.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

I just like seasons and precipitation.

This seems like such an odd argument for AZ over FL. What part of the staet are you in thrill?

[wart57]

I have my issues with Phoenix but I'd much rather live here than Florida. By a long way. I just like seasons and precipitation. I'm weird. If you just like warm weather, this place is tough to beat.

I love the few rainy days per year we get....

[thrill]

I just like seasons and precipitation.

This seems like such an odd argument for AZ over FL. What part of the staet are you in thrill?

Phoenix.

When I say seasons, I mean I don't like hot weather and miss fall and winter. If given the choice between hot and humid and hot and dry, I'm going hot and dry any day. Plus this place is just prettier than Florida.

[jim]

Prettier? Overall I get it, but certain spots of Florida are hard to beat. The ocean is ... well it's the ocean. But I know that many have the wrong impression of the desert. I did, the first time I went out there 4 years ago I was really surprised at the beauty of the desert. Then this time my friend took me out on a trail and wow.

[SHOW]

I would need to experience the 3 hot months, but my friend swears it's just not as bad as it sounds. And you are going to get uncomfortable weather in Florida too ... those humid summer days feel like a weight you are carrying around. Maybe the factor that makes the most difference to me is the sun. I feel good when the sun is shining, and Phoenix the sun is shining 85% of the time compared to 70% in Miami. 211 clear days versus 74 in Miami. Chicago is 54%. It's depressing as hell.

[wart57]

The 3 hottest months are brutal, but we just don't spend much time outside then, or we are in the pool. I hate all the sunshine, but that is because I am so damn white I have to put on a bottle of sunscreen just to look out the window.