Had an interesting offer from a recruiter in my general industry today. First thoughts: Money is right, 37% increase in base - trade 30% for 15% bonus - still positive Cost of Living is less although the numbers vary depending on which site you look at. I've seen from 7% less to equal. Water - never lived in the middle of a desert, only on the outskirts of high desert with water a constant reality around me. Water - Tuscon had a river (Santa Cruz) 100 years ago but it's disappeared due to poor farming/irrigation techniques. Water - overrated? lol I know no one in this city or area - networking reset. Anyone have any comments on Tuscon?
I lived out there as a wee-tiny version of myself, back in the early 80's. Buckeye area, actually. It was flat, far more people spoke English then, and the heat never bothered me. Kids are impervious to heat, immortal even. You know the deal. Ah, let's see...Palo Verde bush/tree thorns suck --got one in the knee once and it swelled up like a pomegranate. Oh, pomegranate trees and date trees should be plentiful, I remember those. Nope, got nothing, sorry.
I lived about 1.5 hours south of Tuscon for about 3 years total. I loved it. You will probably want to commute. Plenty of outdoor activities (a ton of public land). Real estate is high for what you get, but far enough out things get cheaper. Water is king... you need your own source (well). Every shooter knows that the best ranges are in AZ... wide and open. Looooonggg growing season (with irrigation). Hunting kind of sucks- draw for everything.... including whitetail. Easy enough to get, though.
Go for it! My brother, SIL, and mom all live out there in N. Tucson. Sweetie and I go visit a couple of times a year and we really like Tucson. Seems like housing costs are medium, weather is hot for 3 or 4 months, but mornings are beautiful, rest of the year the weather is great. Lots of shopping, lots to do. Also, if you're into gold prospecting, there's tons of places about an hour outside Tucson as well as a prospecting club there. Kajun
Counter offer...Recruiter,The company will pay for the drilling and completion of your water well.. You need $1,400.00 month truck usage,They pay for gas,tire's,oil.
What kind of money for housing are you talking about. There are low cost hosing. And sometimes the neighbors speak English. Check local real estate listings - North and North West are nice areas (Canyon Del Oro area) and the foothills. STAY away from the West side of the Tucson Mountains. Dragons live there - and mules, and Zetas... Crime is on the increase (My sis is a cop there) with more and more OTM showing up. Cost of living is a bit high, lots! of retired and college types. Climate is nice other than when temps are over 100 or so - but it's a dry heat. Evening very nice. Gas is usually the least expensive in the state. LOTS of people - that's my problem, I left when the population hit 400K - now the greater metro area is a million. I don't mid visiting - esp in Jan, but I just get creaped out with all the people - electirc goes out and no water.... well, you get the idea. Lots of good hiking, camping, and so on. Fly around town w/ Google Earth and look things over, you might be surprised - I'd pick Tucson over Denver or Phoenix in a heartbeat. Then look at the RE listings. Good luck - moving in blind is no fun - I would suggest renting for 6 months so -- this will let you figure out schools (not all that good) and neighborhoods& which ones you would rather live in/with. PM if you have any specific questions, I'll try and help.
This is my hesitation. I actually have rented for the past 4 years since I'm moved about 7 times since selling our house in early '08. We just purchased a house (like last month) finally but I could rent it for a grand over my mortgage. Would definitely rent for a year prior to purchasing - need to get a feel for the area first. I may go interview and check it out. I have a large list of questions and told the recruiter that it was going to take a lot to uproot me. She suggested I try to write my own ticket. Oh yeah, I haven't had a personal truck in 4.5 years and aren't interested in any position that doesn't come with a rig I get to take home.
I spent 4+ years researching land in Arizona.. I chose not to even consider anything near Tucson.... (It's a law enforcement issue for me.) Immigrants are a real problem for the county there, and I don't see it changing anytime soon....
Melbo, You had better take Momma, with you, on the Interview Trip, if you are actually trying to talk her out of her NEW Place, and that fancy Kitchen.... ...... YMMV......
