Life In Phoenix – Our First 100 Days

Observations

1. Lizards are the new squirrels – and our dogs are obsessed.
2. Basements are not a thing.
3. Car washes and storage units are everywhere (see #2).
4. Sunshine every day is good for the soul.
5. Happy hour comes sooner when you are working on East Coast time.
6. We could eat out at a new restaurant every day for the rest of our lives.
7. Time in Arizona stands still but the rest of the world changes twice a year. It’s complicated.
8. Springtime in the desert is spectacular – everything is in bloom.
9. Wildlife is abundant in the city. (Bobcats, coyotes, and javalinas. Oh my!)
10. Dogs have a good life in Phoenix (except in the summer) with all the dog parks, trails and dog friendly restaurants.
11. Overpasses and roadsides on major roads are works of art.
12. Lemons are the new zucchini. People with lemon trees will give them to whoever will take them.
13. No bugs! (Well, almost).
14. The cold handle / setting on the sink faucet is strictly decorative. (Cold tap water doesn’t exist here.)
15. Parking lot spaces are smaller…or our Yukon got bigger.
16. Steeler Nation is alive and well in Phoenix.
17. Mailboxes come in clusters.
18. We don’t miss yard work.
19. Bulk trash week makes for interesting yard “art”.
20. Doors to master bathrooms are not a thing…and I’m not a fan.

Lessons Learned

21. Always, always, always take water with you.
22. City water doesn’t taste very good. But you can get 5 gallons of really good water for $1.25 at cute little kiosks.
23. We understand why Sun Devil Stadium is called The House of Heat.
24. Apparently, turn signals are optional, as are red lights. Drive with caution.
25. Restaurants are busy. Make reservations.
26. There is free parking available in Old Town Scottsdale.
27. Keep a list of restaurants you want to try – it simplifies deciding where to eat.
28. Car insurance is expensive (see #24).
29. The best sunsets are on cloudier days.
30. Dust storms are no joke.
31. Using a 3rd party service to get the DMV stuff done is totally worth the fee they charge.
32. Friends and family will visit – and we are glad they do!
33. Life in Phoenix (and Arizona) is tough on cars. (Read our post about car maintenance in Arizona.)
34. Downsized living is awesome…and liberating.
35. Defensive driving is a must (see #24).
36. Figure out the closest emergency room BEFORE you have an emergency.
37. Unheated pools aren’t warm enough to swim in until May (for me anyway).
38. The water is hard…really hard. A filtering shower head is a must if you don’t have a water softener.
39. The spring pollen is intense (see #8).
40. A lot of things are cheaper in Phoenix (but not gas).

tHINGS THAT ARE COOL

41. Lots of dog friendly restaurants
42. It snows in Arizona
43. A mountain view in every direction
44. Arizona wineries
45. Al fresco dining all year long
46. So many trails to hike
47. Knowing 100% that we made the right decision
48. Knowing that the sun will always come out tomorrow
49. Reconnecting with a high school classmate who lives in Phoenix
50. Fresh local produce in February
51. Farmer’s markets – lots of them
52. Having a good friend from home live here too
53. Finding a salon I like…on the first try!
54. Living 20 minutes from the airport
55. Finding the perfect spots for watching the sun set
56. Hummingbirds
57. The owl that hangs out in our neighborhood.
58. Mid-century modern style – it’s everywhere
59. Watching a baseball game in an air-conditioned stadium
60. Tempe Town Lake

FAVORITE RESTAURANTS / BREWERIES

61. O.H.S.O. (happy hour & brunch)
62. Paradise Valley Burger Co.
63. Krua Thai Cuisine (take out)
64. Amy’s Swine House (breakfast)
65. Parma Italian Roots
66. Pigtails (cocktails)
67. Cocina Madrigal (Mexican)
68. Culinary Dropout
69. Matt’s Big Breakfast
70. Taco Guild
71. Barrio Café
72. Pita Jungle
73. T-Bone Steak House
74. Wren House (craft beer)
75. Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company DTPHX Beer Garden (craft beer)
76. The Wayward Taphouse (craft beer)
77. Osteria Mia (Italian)
78. Ollie Vaughns (breakfast)
79. Fate Brewing (craft beer and food)
80. Los Taquitos (Mexican)

EXPERIENCES

81. Finding a jeweler to repair my grandmother’s vintage squash blossom necklace
82. Attended an ASU baseball game
83. An afternoon at the Desert Botanical Gardens followed by dinner at Gertrude’s
84. Visits from family and friends
85. Relief and excitement when we pulled into Phoenix after driving across the country
86. Seeing a pack of coyotes and a covey of quail on our first hike
87. Learning that a group of quail is a covey
88. A cool drive-through light installation put on by the ASU art school
89. Birdwatching (not even kidding)
90. Eating real sopapillas like my grandmother used to make
91. Empty nester living
92. Becoming a regular at our favorite breakfast place
93. Joining the “frequent buyers club” at Discount Tires (see #33)
94. Replacing 2 (TWO) windshields (see #33…again)
95. Finding the best apple fritters at the farmer’s market
96. Becoming Suns basketball fans
97. Having allergies for the first time in my life (see #39).
98. Buying a new mini lawnmower (aka weed whacker) for our rental house
99. Vintage shopping in Mesa
100. Going to our first Diamondbacks game