i wanted to start a thread about the next "chapter"... my wife and i will be moving out of San Francisco next month and headed to the phoenix, az area. i got offered a great job for an ecommerce site. we've got some family there, i'll have a place w/a 2 car garage, and save up to possibly buy a home and also start a family.

my last day at work is oct 15, and my new start date is the 29th.

i have a TON of stuff we're looking to give away/donate/sell.. if you need something for your house/apartment and are in the bay area let us know.


we're shipping our W124 on a carrier, shes driving the mazda3, and im tailing on my motorycle

__________________
93 300E 2.8 - The Beezy
05 Mazda3 Hatch - The Zoom

http://www.fuelly.com/smallsig-us/66774.png
http://www.fuelly.com/smallsig-us/24183.png

Unless there are multiple employers in the area doing the same thing and hiring, I'd be hesitant. Friend of mine moved to Phoenix for a job, bought a house, company folded and there weren't any other companies in the same industry who were hiring. Rough few years.

Plus the climate and too many wannabe cow-puncher types... Stay in CA or look at Tucson. Heaven on earth by comparison.

San Francisco to Phoenix huh? Interesting, I hope it's a good job and it all works out for you. I was just thinking the other day how great it would be to be able to get the hell out of here and move to someplace with a more decent climate - like San Francisco
- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

If you need any advice about being a "newbie" in PHX, let me know. I relocated from Honolulu in 2010, have gone through the shipping of cars, transitioning from a rental to a house, bulk pickup garbage days, the DMV, Mercedes service, the local MBCA section events . . .

Welcome to the land of Black Widow spiders, scorpions, rattle snakes as big around as your arm, centipedes that drop off the ceiling into your scrambled eggs. Coyotes and bobcats that will jump the 7 ft. block wall of your beige stucco home and eat your quivering little dog sleeping on the patio. Please prepare to add an hour each direction to your daily commute, no matter where you live.
If you've never experienced allergies in the past, you'll now have an opportunity to develop them, most newcomers do. There are plenty of allergist MDs though, if you don't mind the wait.
Night time august lows in 90's. Walk outside your freezing cold air conditioned home at 3 a.m. and immediately break a sweat.
The winter smog inversions are pretty special. The sun turns such a pretty yellow color.
If you don't carry a weapon, you probably ought to consider it. Cheap plastic semi auto pistols in 9mm are the number one fashion accessory in the Valley Of The Sun, and are easily obtainable by pretty much anyone tall enough to see over the counter at gun shops on nearly every corner.
You'll love it there.
No, really.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

How long has it been since you've lived in metro PHX? Oh, right I forgot about the memo . . . don't encourage those Cali people to move here anymore.

uh . . . we have terrible restaurants here . . . no decent seafood or barristas . . . don't even think of wearing a SF Giants or 49er's jersey . . . then there's the Republicans . . .

Having been to Phoenix quite a bit in the last 4 years, quality of food does NOT compare to other cities I know and love. Sorry to say. And speaking of baristas, don't get me started on Scottsdale barbie dolls ... I mean women ... or something.

Horrible climate, mosquitoes up the wazoo where there are misting systems or irrigation, few walkable neighborhoods that are also safe. No thx to "living" there.

Yes, so hard to get a sidewalk boiled hot dog here . . . or stale over salted pretzels.

Binkleys
Nobu at Teeter House
NOCA
Mastros
Biancos
Mrs. Wrights
Lo-Lo's
at least 10 microbreweries in PHX alone

At least NYC and other cities have sidewalks that are used by people other than drunks and day laborers Walkable = good.

I am looking to get some extra towels, pillowcases, and some silverware and perhaps some other items, for a reasonable price, and while I too, moved away from SF back in '04 - if you can help me find a parking place ( ) near where you are, while I am there, I'd like to hear from you.

I am retired and know the whole city of SF very well and can hop down in a jiffy.

In any case, best of luck to you down in Phx. Arizona is a entirely different scene. Not the least of which is the weather.....

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

ive been in SF for 4+ years now. originally from southern california, so the heat, dryness and surbubia are not foreign to me.

the company has been in business for nearly 10 years. and is a top ecommerce retail website. actually getting a raise, not a cut while moving from SF to AZ is a big plus. will definitely wait for about a year to buy a house if we decide to do that. my wife has several family members in the area for support as well.

definitely giving up restaurants galore here in SF, but we spend a ton on dining out because of it.

@ jim b - we have some dishes, and glasses. not sure of any silverware... we might have 1 set of spare sheets (queen size). i have some lamps, a brand new toaster oven, some fake plants.

__________________
93 300E 2.8 - The Beezy
05 Mazda3 Hatch - The Zoom

http://www.fuelly.com/smallsig-us/66774.png
http://www.fuelly.com/smallsig-us/24183.png

Never lived there except for a college stint at ASU eons ago. Lots of family business connections though, so like it or not I have to go there at least a few times a year. I also stop for gas on the way to Mexico.

I would take exception with spdrun's restaurant assessment. There are lots of good eats in the valley, but they're sometimes hard to ferret out.

__________________
You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

If I were moving to Phx, I'd be tempted to buy a house right about now. Rates are low, and prices are going up, or at least not going down anymore in most parts of the city. The house can always be rented out if you hate the town.

(pm/email sent)

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I will grant you that there are spring days in NYC when even the urine on the sidewalks smells just lovely . . .

Just two observations . . . having come from Honolulu, whose cost of living is second only to SFO, it was like getting a 25% raise moving to the lower 48. Second, there are local restaurants galore here to consume your food budget. Transplants from all over the planet brought their cuisine, including quite a few from The City. One of the more recent is Dottie's True Blue Cafe from downtown SF.