Moving to Las Vegas

Has anyone move dto Las Vegas and would you recommend it to others?
Is the economy that bad?

I understand housing is plentiful. You go to a neighborhood, pick out a vacant house, open or break open the door and you are good to go

I sure as hell wouldn't move there without having a job lined up...or plenty of retirement income. I have a buddy who has a cushy IT gig in Vegas and he loves it there. Of course, he has no kids to send to the crappy schools there ... and he has no health problems that would utilize the crappy hospitals there.

We moved here six years ago and love it, however I would never recommend it to anyone without knowing their situation or their reasons for wanting to relocate. Since retiring and moving here into a beautiful gated Golf Course community (Siena in Summerlin), I have worked numerous jobs including working for a cabinet manufacturer, working at Primm Valley Resort, Whiskey Pete's, Red Rock, and now driving a Limo for a transportation company. I may be in the minority with the fiscal situation, but my opinion is that if you want to find a job in Vegas, you will find one and relatively quickly. It may not be in your area of expertise or at a salary you expect, but if you want to work in Las Vegas, you can work in Las Vegas.

Outside of this being Las Vegas, you have beautiful weather, you are close to so many natural wonders including Yellowstone, Bryce, Zion, Grand Teton, Valley of Fire, Grand Canyon, Etc. Etc. Yes, the schools are not the best due to the transient nature of the town, but there are wonderful parks, communities and amenities out here. It may take some trial and error, but there are also wonderful physicians out here. You just have to do your research and find them. For us it was a great fit. Waking up in the Valley and looking at the mountains starts your day entirely different than waking up in the New York Metropolitan area (where we moved from). Every day out here is a gift.

Larry (Limo driver) from Las Vegas

We have a friend who just moved to LV. For him I believe it is going to be a huge mistake. He recently lost his home due to an online gambling problem and his wife. He is not welcome at the "local" games--as the guys running them know about his problems. He gave up a good job as a 911 operator and cashed out his retirement (he is only in his 30's). He thinks he is going to be the next big name in poker--he is a really bad player.

One the other hand, my hubby and I are hoping to retire to warm/sunny LV. Being a firefighter he will be able to retire when he turns 48 with 25 years in. Most people in our area are Florida snowbirds, but we joke we would rather be sand lizards than snow birds. LOL We lived in FL for over 3 years (navy time) and I hated it there with all the rain and bugs. Larry you are right with all the natural wonders (we love the outdoors), but with all the entertainment options including sporting events, museums and show there should be plenty to do.

I don't really think of Las Vegas being near Yellowstone.

But I guess it is closer than if one resides in Tampa. Closer. Still not near.

As Larry's attested, moving to Vegas was good for them. I think Sue would say the same. I know several people who'd echo the same sentiment. I also know people who've made the move and regretted it, and the now-happy ones were able to get out. I know people who thought about the move--personal experience here, too--and are damn happy they didn't. Some people look at the year-round geography and weather cycles and think it looks great. Those of us on the Left Coast look at it and see all the worst in our region's setting and weather. It's all solely and simply relative.

Vegas isn't heaven. Vegas isn't hell. It's a big American city with all the problems endemic to a big American city and some unique problems of its own other cities don't face. But plenty of people live well and happily in Vegas or the cities that annually make various "pundits'" worst-city-in-America list. Vegas has a higher level of suffering and more marginalized residents than most cities, that's for certain.

Where people make the mistake is looking at Vegas through the lens of all the bright lights and the vacation memories. I'll guarantee every time I'm in Hawai'i I think, "Wow, I wanna live here." Then I realize that, no, I don't want to live there. Lotta GREAT things in the islands but it doesn't have most of what's important to us. So we keep it as a beloved and cherished place we want to visit as often as possible.

It's the old story, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

I never thought of LV as having ideal weather.

I faintly recall my mother when she stepped off the plane from Philadelphia and arriving in Los Angeles in mid-December, 1951 and being greeted by a warm balmy 81 degrees and saying,
"Gee, this is so nice!!!!" LOL

I guess LV is OK for folks coming from
Ice Station Zebra.

LV is a fun town...to visit.

BTW, when planning a relocation, always rent
first.

I have friends who recently moved to Vegas, spent a year or so checking out other places before they made Vegas their retirement home. So far, they really like living there.

As far as weather goes--it snow here in southern Ohio today. I would take the heat any day.