Florida Or Arizona

[GeorgeG]

I will retire in less than two years and our focus has been on Florida as the place to retire to. Between my arthritis and my wife's recent back surgery we know we want a warm climate. I guess dry heat as in Arizona is better for what ails us than the humidity we would get in Florida. Of course, everything we like is in Florida, WDW being at the top of the list.

I've never been out West except for California and Washington and those aren't in the running. I'm open to suggestions. Can anyone tell me what Arizona, or Nevada, or any place around there has to offer besides dry heat (we're not gamblers, so Las Vegas wouldn't have much appeal for us)?

 

[Dancind]

One consideraton, if you will be drawing an annuity, is the state personal income tax. AZ has one, NV and FL don't.

 

[AZKathy]

Do you like brown? Do you REALLY like brown? There is not a lot of green here and that may be a consideration. There is a difference between dry heat and humidity heat and I prefer the dry heat. If I had a choice to live in either state, I still would live in Florida over Arizona even with the humidity problems. I have lived in Arizona all my life and I am ready to live somewhere that is GREEN!!!!

 

[Az Pirates]

Another Arizona Dis-er checking in.

Do you like deserts? We definitely live in a desert here.

I do much prefer the dry heat to having heat AND humidity, so don't think I would want to live in Florida. Love to visit there - but never in the summer.

Of course if I had a choice I'd live somewhere with all 4 seasons - so that knocks both your choices out.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Lynn CC]

I've been to both places and I love them both, Disney or the Grand Canyon hmmmm, not much help here.......have fun deciding!

 

[ilovepcot]

As a Floridian that has had back surgery AND has arthritis, all I think about is moving to Arizona or New Mexico! Humid days (most seem to be!) and I'm in agony.....even with arthritis medications.

 

[Kitty 34]

If I'm not suffering from falling apart body parts p ) I will want to go to Florida. I love the colors blue and green a bit more than different shades of brown.

 

[chyam]

That would be a tough choice for me also.......I live in FL and the heat in humidiy is horrible, but at least the scenery is green and alive,and of course there is DISNEY! I like AZ too but I don't actually think I could stand the heat, even though it is dry you can't tell me that 110 degrees is not hot just because it is dry! I think the perfect solution is buy something reasonable and live here for 8 months and travel or live somewhere else for the summers......Also our winters can be chilly and with the dampness is bone cold! So I don't think I have helped you out all that much. After living here for 22 years I defineately miss the change of seasons.

 

[GeorgeG]

Thanks for the input. I guess I'm not going to have an easy decision. I'm at about 98% for Florida at this point, but if I can find enough good reasons to go someplace else I'll certainly consider anything.

Thanks again

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I love Southern Utah. I'm not sure if it is what you are looking for. It is a high altitude desert with Pinyon and Juniper trees growing there. It is beautiful, sparse and full of National monuments and parks. The weather didn't seem too extreme to me. I was there for six months from fall to spring.

 

[Rajah]

Can you take 2 weeks off from your work?

If so, take one week in the summer months (or August. August would probably be good, too) and go visit Florida. Then turn right around and go spend a week in Arizona. See where you do better and which you like better.

 

[DMickey28]

Give the health concerns I would go to Arizona.... What about areas like Sedona? Beautiful area and green. The mountains and ravins along with the green trees and red hills is stunning. However it is dry and hot..... no ocean but no humidity. I would probally go there first if I was in that position.

 

[suzannen]

Does it matter to you if you live near water? Personally, I could never retire anywhere without a coastline within 1 hour of my house.

I like to visit the desert, but it certainly is brown. I would also the miss green trees tremendously.

As far as cons for Florida - humidity, bugs, snakes and gators! But, I would still probably retire there over Florida.

Also, is either location closer to family? That would also play into my decision. All of my family is on the East Coast.

 

[my3kids]

Oh my goodness. My husband and I knew we would retire someplace warm, but didn't know where until we visited the Scottsdale/Phoenix area a couple of times. We love it there. The heat in the summer was really not uncomfortable at all compared to east coast humidity. I'll take 110 in Phoenix anyday over 85 and muggy in VA.

For us, the easy answer would be AZ. The beauty of the state is breathtaking, and in no other state have I seen the variation of terrain and geography that I saw in the state. From desert heat to snow topped mountains in an easy few hour drive.