Prescott AZ

[SHRED]

Any DU folks there?

We are considering relocating there but are concerned it's too right-wing?

We are retired and in SoCal but it's so crowded here.

[leftieNanner]

1. Consider Ashland, Oregon!

We are retired now. Been living here for 10 years and love it!

[SHRED]

2. We were there this last summer

At the lake.

We talked to folks who said we were lucky.
Bad fire smoke most summers

How bad is it?

[leftieNanner]

9. This summer has been glorious!!

Virtually no smoke. The few thunderstorms we have had came with significant rainfall so no fires were started. Last summer was rough though.

But Ashland isn't as hot as Arizona, and we don't have scorpions! We do get a little snow in the winter. And the Medford airport is frequently foggy in the winter. That was something we didn't know before we moved up here. We have been here for ten years now and don't regret the move at all.

There is a good number of retired people, so we have good medical facilities, wonderful OLLI classes, hiking, great local wineries, music, theater etc.

[Sedona]

3. I lived there a year in the early 90's

Couldn't take it and moved to liberal Sedona, 40 miles north.

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Kind of like a little Rednecky City.

Very Conservative. But,you got a Casino.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Try Sedona, or better yet, Tucson.

[SHRED]

6. Too hot

Not enough water.

We are too picky I know.

We were in Sedona last spring. Lovely place but too hot. Too many tourists (driving is hell there), and not enough water.

I love Tucson.
My wife couldn't handle the heat plus lack of rivers and such. We are considering Bend OR but 7-8 months of cold isn't appealing.

We are learning there is no perfect place and we are spoiled here with the weather on Encinitas, CA. It is truly some of the best weather on the planet. Just wish we could afford more than the Townhome we live in. Single detached homes here are rare under seven figures. Plus we'd like to cash out and enjoy our 21 years of equity we've built.

[in2herbs]

7. Prescott is a nice little town but if you need to go anywhere else I-17 is busy, five hour traffic

delays on holidays and weekends in both directions is not unheard of. A lot of people have cabins in Prescott but live in the Valley. The go around in case of a traffic accident adds about 3 hours to the travel. The traffic congestion/delays are hardest cuz the traffic is at a stand still in the summer heat. For me, traveling with horses, I avoid traveling I-17 during the summer for any weekend/holiday outings. On a long holiday weekend it is not uncommon for the traffic back up on I-17 to start slowing in Phoenix. Even the S/B traffic from Sunset Point on I-17 is heavily congested. The exit ramps for Prescott are also congested but they clear quicker than I-17. There's Prescott and then there's Prescott Valley. Which area are you considering?

If you can work your travel hours around less congested times or don't intend to travel out of Prescott very often it's a nice place to live. It's slightly cooler than the Valley.

My biggest caveat is to educate yourself about water rights before buying anything.

AZ is a red state and even though there are those saying that it will turn blue, the red mentality is still very present, but IMO the west side of AZ is better than the east side. Not to offend anyone, but lots of LDS in NE AZ and their ideals don't gel with most D or progressive ideas. Does Paul Gosart ring a bell to you?

I've lived in AZ over 30 years. You can DM me for more info if you want. I have a friend who had a cabin in Prescott for years and knows the town pretty well. the Prescott Rodeo is a big tourist draw.

[SHRED]

8. Thank you

AZ is fading quickly from our retirement dream.

[Bradshaw3]

10. Housing has gotten very expensive

A lot of people from Cali are moving here, jacking up the home and rental costs. It's a beautiful area, with lots of Ponderosa pine forests and mountains, many lakes not far from town. I came here for the nature aspect and its size, which is now growing rapidly.

Prescott is run by old West type families and others who don't like change; the main attraction is the historic courthouse square, with plenty of events on weekends. Otherwise it's Whiskey Row, which gets pretty rowdy on weekends. It's not as much a tourist town as Sedona and the climate is moderate all seasons, little snow, monsoons in July and August (although not this year).

It is mostly a retirement town and is very conservative (POS Gosar is its Representative), overly proud of its cowboy culture. There are good people here, but little diversity in ethnicity.

Edit: You can DM me if you want more detailed info.

[madeup64]

11. AZ lifer here (35+ years)

First off don't post much here on DU but I love your posts so I had to respond. Yavapai County where Prescott is located leans pretty rightward. I am a court runner living in Phoenix and on a few occassions I've had to go to Prescott to do a filing for various law firms. On one occasion it was right around MLK day. At the Yavapai Superior Court they had a sign about the court being closed for "Civil Rights Day," instead of MLK Day. I don't think I have to delve into the significance of that bs.

Don't get me wrong Prescott has some very cool old west history, it's got lots of national forest around it. Also it's about an hours drive from Phoenix, and the more lefties the better here in AZ (especially for statewide races) but it's certainly right leaning.

Good luck in wherever you choose!

[SHRED]

12. Thank you

[JonLP24]

13. Prescott is also the birthplace of The Door aka Potter's House church

Watch out for evangelical fundamentalist Pentecostals.

Flagstaff is better but boring if you don't like the heat.